Warwick School District

Curriculum❯Orchestra

Orchestra

Grade Levels: 07 | 08 |

Course Description

WMS Orchestra is the string music performance ensemble comprised of string instruments. The orchestra performs two concerts in the school the year possibly at annual LLMEA or PMEA festivals or music performance assessment festivals. The ensemble rehearses during flex period on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The orchestra performs diverse repertoire of music such as classic orchestral literature, symphonies, multicultural music, holiday and new literature. 

Core Curriculum Content Standards

Arts and Humanities (2002)

  • Production, Performance and Exhibition of Dance, Music, Theatre and Visual Arts

    • GRADE 8

      • Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities. Elements -Dance: • energy/force • space • time -Music: • duration • intensity • pitch • timbre -Theatre: • scenario • script/text • set design -Visual Arts: • color • form/shape • line • space • texture • value Principles -Dance: • choreography • form • genre • improvisation • style • technique -Music: • composition • form • genre • harmony • rhythm • texture -Theatre: • balance • collaboration • discipline • emphasis • focus • intention • movement • rhythm • style • voice -Visual Arts: • balance • contrast • emphasis/focal point • movement/rhythm • proportion/scale • repetition • unity/harmony(9.1.8.A)
      • Recognize, know, use and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review and revise original works in the arts. -Dance: • move • perform • read and notate dance • create and choreograph • improvise -Music: • sing • play an instrument • read and notate music • compose and arrange •improvise -Theatre: • stage productions • read and write scripts • improvise • interpret a role • design sets • direct -Visual Arts: • paint • draw • craft • sculpt • print • design for environment, communication, multi-media(9.1.8.B)
      • Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the arts forms.(9.1.8.C)
      • Demonstrate knowledge of at least two styles within each art form through performance or exhibition of unique works.(9.1.8.D)
      • Explain works of others within each art form through performance or exhibition.(9.1.8.F)
      • Explain the function and benefits of rehearsal and practice sessions.(9.1.8.G)
      • Incorporate specific uses of traditional and contemporary technologies within the design for producing, performing and exhibiting works in the arts or the works of others. -Explain and demonstrate traditional technologies (e.g., paint, tools, sponges, weaving designs, instruments, natural pigments/glazes). -Explain and demonstrate contemporary technologies (e.g., MIDI keyboards, Internet design, computers, interactive technologies, audio/sound equipment, board-mixer, video equipment, computerized lighting design).(9.1.8.J)

  • Historical and Cultural Contexts

    • GRADE 8

      • Explain the historical, cultural and social context of an individual work in the arts.(9.2.8.A)
      • Relate works in the arts chronologically to historical events (e.g., 10,000 B.C. to present).(9.2.8.B)
      • Analyze how historical events and culture impact forms, techniques and purposes of works in the arts (e.g., Gilbert and Sullivan operettas)(9.2.8.E)
      • Relate works in the arts to geographic regions: -Africa -Asia -Australia -Central America -Europe -North America -South America(9.2.8.G)
      • Identify, describe and analyze the work of Pennsylvania Artists in dance, music, theatre and visual arts.(9.2.8.H)
      • Identify, explain and analyze philosophical beliefs as they relate to works in the arts (e.g., classical architecture, rock music, Native American dance, contemporary American musical theatre).(9.2.8.I)
      • Identify, explain and analyze historical and cultural differences as they relate to works in the arts (e.g., PLAYS BY Shakespeare, works by Michelangelo, ethnic dance and music).(9.2.8.J)
      • Identify, explain and analyze traditions as they relate to works in the arts (e.g., story telling – plays, oral histories- poetry, work songs- blue grass).(9.2.8.K)
      • Identify, explain and analyze common themes, forms and techniques from works in the arts (e.g., Copland and Graham’s Appalachian Spring and Millet’s The Gleaners).(9.2.8.L)

  • Critical Response

    • GRADE 8

      • Know and use the critical process of the examination of works in the arts and humanities. -Compare and contrast -Analyze -Interpret -Form and test hypotheses -Evaluate/form judgments(9.3.8.A)
      • Analyze and interpret specific characteristics of works in the arts within each art form (e.g., pentatonic scales in Korean and Indonesian music).(9.3.8.B)
      • Identify and classify styles, forms, types and genre within art forms (e.g., modern dance and the ethnic dance, a ballad and a patriotic song).(9.3.8.C)
      • Interpret and use various types of critical analysis in the arts and humanities. -Contextual criticism -Formal criticism -Intuitive criticism(9.3.8.E)
      • Apply the process of criticism to identify characteristics among works in the arts.(9.3.8.F)
      • Compare and contrast critical positions or opinions about selected works in the arts and humanities (e.g., critic’s review and comparison of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations to Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake).(9.3.8.G)

  • Aesthetic Response

    • GRADE 8

      • Compare and contrast examples of group and individual philosophical meanings of works in the arts and humanities (e.g., group discussions on musical theatre versus the individual’s concept of musical theatre).(9.4.8.A)
      • Describe how the attributes of the audience’s environment influence aesthetic responses (e.g., the ambiance of the theatre in a performance of Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Cats).(9.4.8.C)

Standards for Music (2013-14)

  • Grades 5-8

    • Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music(MUSIC.5-8.1)
    • Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music(MUSIC.5-8.2)
    • Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments(MUSIC.5-8.3)
    • Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines(MUSIC.5-8.4)
    • Reading and notating music(MUSIC.5-8.5)
    • Listening to, analyzing, and describing music(MUSIC.5-8.6)
    • Evaluating music and music performances(MUSIC.5-8.7)
    • Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts(MUSIC.5-8.8)
    • Understanding music in relation to history and culture(MUSIC.5-8.9)

Units

Unit #1 - Performing on Instruments, alone and with others.

Unit #2 - Reading and notating music

Unit #3 - Listening to, analyzing and describing music.

Unit #4 - Evaluating music and musical performances

Unit #5 - Understanding relationships between music, the other arts

Unit #6 - Understanding music in relation to history and cultures

Unit #7 - Composing and arranging music within specific guidelines

Unit #8 - Improvising melodies, variations and accompaniment

Unit #9 - Singing alone and with others, a varied repertoire