Music

Experience Required: NONE!

This year-long course is open to any current 6th, 7th, or 8th grade student who wants to learn how to play a brass, woodwind, or percussion instrument.  No prior experience playing an instrument or reading music required. Over the course of the school year, students will learn how to assemble, clean, and maintain their instruments, how to read basic music notation, and how to make a characteristic sound on their instrument.  Students will perform in four concerts throughout the school year, as well as during school wide assemblies and other events. 

Experience required: one year of school band (5th grade) and basic note-reading skills

Our 6th grade band is geared towards students who have at least some experience playing an instrument prior to the 6th grade. Students will cover the same concepts of learning how to read and understand music notation (rhythms, pitches, vocabulary, etc.), making a characteristic sound on their instrument, and performing in four separate concerts. Our 6th grade band is a year-long course, offering free instruction on all the major brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. School instruments are available, but some students may need to provide an instrument.

Students may select from any of the following instruments to learn (depending on availability at KMS and/or local music stores):

• Woodwind: Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone, Bari Saxophone
• Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba
• Percussion: students will need a snare drum/bell kit for home practice as well as a stick bag with timpani/snare drum/xylophone mallets, but will perform on percussion instruments from Komachin while at school.

Students may select any of the following instruments to learn (depending on availability at Komachin and/or local music stores):

• Violin
• Viola
• Cello
• String bass

Experience required: one year of school orchestra (5th grade) and basic note-reading skills. (Contact Mrs. Schooler if your student is interested in joining but does not meet the requirements.)

6th Grade Orchestra is a year-long class where orchestra students will expand their string skills including tuning themselves, expanding knowledge of notes, rhythms, and bowing styles. Students are required to have an instrument which can typically be rented from a music store or school and should be willing to commit to daily practice. Participation in concerts is required and is part of the students’ grade in the course. All students must have an Orchestra-only binder to be used for our classes and concerts.

Experience required: two years of school orchestra (5th and 6th grade) and note-reading skills.

Continue expanding on the skills developed in 6th grade Orchestra—shifting, vibrato, bowing styles and focus on the refinement of tone quality, technique, aural skills and music literacy. Students are required to have an instrument which can typically be rented from a music store or the school and should be willing to commit to daily practice. Participation in concerts is required and is part of the students’ grade in the course. All students must have an Orchestra-only binder to be used for our classes and concerts. Students may be in this orchestra for two years.
 

Experience required: two years of school orchestra and solid note-reading skills (students are placed in this class based on exceptional effort seen during their time in 6th Grade Orchestra and/or Intermediate Orchestra).

Instruction concentrates on advanced technical and expressive skills in an ensemble-focused setting, applying all previously learned skills and techniques. Each year we begin with a new/review of vibrato and shifting (the main skills of Intermediate Orchestra). Symphonic students will have the opportunity to travel to the elementary schools to present concerts (December), to perform at the Chinook Region Orchestra Festival (March), and, if selected, members will perform in the North Thurston 8th Grade Honors Orchestra (May). Participation in concerts is required and is part of the students’ grade in the course. All students must have an Orchestra-only binder to be used for our classes and concerts. Students may be in this orchestra for two years.