Orchestra
Welcome to Mr. Zhuri's orchestra class.
Orchestra Instruments:
Violin: Unaltered for centuries, the violin is perhaps the most widely recognized orchestral instrument. Whether you call it a violin or a fiddle, it is the string family's soprano or highest voice.
Viola: Played under the chin in much the same manner as the violin, the viola is slightly larger and tuned lower than its sister instrument. A larger tone chamber endows the viola with its mellow qualities and enables it to produce gorgeous, rich tones.
Cello: Tuned a full octave lower than the viola, the cello produces deep lower registers as well as rich mid register sonority. Unlike either the violin or the viola, the cello is supported on the floor by an end pin while the seated performer steadies the instrument with his/her knees.
Bass: The string family's largest instrument, the string bass may be played with a bow or plucked by hand in either the sitting or standing positions. The bass has great diversity in its ability to play with jazz, Dixieland, and rock groups, as well as, function as the foundation of the symphonic orchestra.
All instruments come in different sizes to accommodate every student.
There are deferent levels of the orchestras in the program.
Beginning Orchestra
Beginning orchestra is for students who have had no previous experience in instrumental music. Beginning orchestra classes are composed almost exclusively of sixth grade students, although seventh and eighth graders who did not start as sixth graders and now wish to learn to play a stringed instrument may enroll. Students will choose one of the four basic instruments for study: violin, viola, cello, and string bass. The district furnishes a limited number of violas, cellos, and string basses. Violins are furnished by the individual students and may be purchased or rented new from music stores through various rental plans. The emphasis in Beginning Orchestra is on the physical performance fundamentals associated with the chosen instrument. Beginning orchestra participates in the Halloween concert (Haunt-cert), solo and ensemble competition, district festival and a spring concert. The students participating in the concerts attend practice parties before the concert.
Intermediate/ Advanced Orchestra
The Symphonic and Philharmonic orchestra serves students in seventh and eighth grades. Placement is generally based upon a combination of instrumentation and performance ability. In addition to the continued emphasis on physical performance fundamentals, ensemble performance becomes an important component. Although both of the seventh and eighth grade orchestras will perform publicly, the Symphonic Orchestra is designed as a performing ensemble and as such, will perform several times during the year. The Symphonic Orchestra participates in UIL, concert and sight reading contests and in the Galveston Isle Orchestra Festival. Both ensembles participate in the Haunt-cert, Christmas concert, solo and ensemble competition and the Spring Concert. Symphonic Orchestra is for the serious music student, and membership is gained by audition. Symphonic Orchestra students attend rehearsals before or after school, usually once a week, and performances are scheduled in the evenings and weekends. The end of the year is celebrated by an end of the year trip.