Wyamusic

   In High School, our string players play in the High School Orchestra.  The High School Orchestra is a String Orchestra Ensemble with violins, violas, cellos, and basses.  The class meets as an ensemble as a daily class, and we share students that are in labs, gym class, and Chorus.  In Orchestra we take the basics learned in Elementary School and Jr. High and broaden and deepen them.  As the years progress students work toward increasingly self-directed learning: developing problem solving, self discipline, and musical skills that will serve them their entire lives.  

   Orchestra students need to meet progressive standards as well as proficiency in practice material and concert music in the form of Assignments and "Benchmarks".  Both are posted to our Google Classroom for accessibility and submissions. Benchmark exams are video files submitted to the teacher electronically.  While home internet access and access to a device for recording digital video (usually mobile phones in this day and age) is preferred, students unable to access these things are provided several ways to record these during school time, or in the half hour immediately following school by appointment.  These benchmarks are evaluated and the evaluations are returned to the student via Classroom.  

   There are normally two performances each year, one preceding Christmas Break, and one at the end of the year in May.  While students are developing their personal skills, technique, and musicality, they also are developing ensemble and teamworking skills in the orchestra all of which reaches fruition in these concert performances.