Orchestra

Chamber Orchestra

Grade level: 9-12

Course units: 10 Credits – Year Course

Graduation requirement: VPA

UC/CSU a-g requirement: f

Prerequisite: Instructor’s consent by audition

Suggested Course Preparation/Critical Skills:  A chamber orchestra is essentially a chamber group of stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, and bass). Students in a chamber orchestra must be able to learn, rehearse, and perform in this chamber setting. Students should demonstrate mastery of rehearsal and performance etiquette, and be able to sight-read and perform at an advanced high school level.

Course Description:  Students will rehearse and perform a variety of music from the orchestra repertoire. Students will develop technical skills on their instrument as well as study music theory, music history, and rehearsal and performance techniques. Students will be given the opportunity to audition for all-state honor ensembles and/or participate in local youth orchestras upon instructor's approval. Students need to bring their own instruments to school. At specified times during the year, the strings may be augmented by winds and percussion to form a full symphony orchestra. May be repeated for credit. May be repeated for credit.

Major Projects/Assignments: Chamber orchestra performs outside of class throughout the school year, including but not limited to evening concerts, school related performances (back to school night, musical pit orchestra, etc), CMEA (and/or comparable) Festivals. Participation in all performances is mandatory. 

Approximate homework assigned daily: Students are expected to learn their individual parts on their own and demonstrate regular progress in rehearsals. The amount of outside of class practice time will vary with the individual student.