Elementary Strings Newsletter

A big round of applause for our elementary students for their stellar (or should we say "spectacular"?) performance at Tuesday night's concert. It was so amazing to see all of our students up on stage together (tight as it was) and I think also just wonderful to hear how far our students have progressed over the last six months.

The video of the whole performance is embedded below. There is one additional video as we missed a soloist on Tuesday night and wanted to give her a chance to play her solo for everyone!

Here is a link to the digital program

Photo Album

What an amazing week in our elementary string world!

Our students were wonderful audience members on our trip to the symphony on March 30th. We listened to the Boston Symphony perform excerpts from Beethoven's Symphony No. 1, Marquez's Danzon No. 2, and a super cool piece featuring a DJ set up called Warehouse Medicine by Mason Bates.

Thanks to our nearly 40 parent chaperones who helped us get everyone there and back safely, and thank you to everyone who sent in snacks! A big big thank you to our FAPA coordinator, Rick Saunders, for driving one of our Hosmer buses, and Cunniff music teacher, Liz Schorr, for being our lead chaperone on the Cunniff bus.

Looking forward to next year's adventure!

Schedule Changes

APRIL:

• ALL LOWELL students will meet Friday, April 7
• HOSMER WEDNESDAY students will meet on Monday, April 10th, 2023, instead of Wednesday, April 12, 2023
  
• The practice club will meet only on Monday, April 10th

MAY:

• HOSMER WEDNESDAY 5th Graders will meet on Monday, May 22, 2023, instead of Wednesday, May 24, 2023 (4th grade will still meet on that Wednesday)
• CUNNIFF 5TH GRADE students will not meet on Thursday, May 25, 2023

As our upper string (viola/violin) players start to move up into the full-size instruments, they should be looking into getting a shoulder rest. These are items that hook onto the lower bout of the instrument to help players support the instrument in their shoulder vs. with their arm and hand, allowing for more flexible motion in the wrist and fingers. You can get them for any size instrument, but they typically make adjustable sizes for 3/4 - 4/4 violins and 15 - 16" violas. All upper-string players should be using a shoulder rest by the time they get to the full-size violin (4/4) or 15" viola to help with posture and avoid back/neck pain.

I recommend Everest (pictured) or Kun (both under or very close to $30), but there are many options. Let me know if you have any questions!

MusicFest is a lively and eclectic evening of music with performances on multiple stages. What makes MusicFest so great is the participation of a variety of performers. We often have professional ensembles and students from local conservatories along with
high school bands, student ensembles, and individual performers. CLICK HERE for the registration link. You may even see some familiar teacher faces performing that night!

All City Orchestra: Ms. Byham

All City Orchestra is an after-school group that meets on Tuesdays from 4:25 - 5:30. We are welcoming any and all string students who'd like to participate to join us! We will perform at the WMS/WHS Spring Concert on Weds. May 24th (7pm - 8pm).

We meet in the Watertown Middle School auditorium. All students who are in 4th and 5th grade are welcome to join! There is no cost to be a part of this group.

Practice Club: Mr. Frontz

Mr. Frontz leads our morning "practice club," an opportunity to practice your instrument, learn new music, and receive some individual instruction. This is not mandatory, as it is not a replacement for your regular school day lesson; however, it is a great opportunity to get some more time playing your instrument at school. Students must sign up in order to participate in this free practice club.

Hosmer students should enter through the doors leading into the cafeteria from outside. The door faces Mt. Auburn street. Students at Lowell W and Cunniff can enter through the main doors of the building.

• Hosmer: Monday or Wednesday 7:45 - 8:15 AM in the caf (only the day of your lesson)
• Lowell: Tuesdays 7:45 - 8:15 AM in the music room (you can join even if your regular lesson is on Fridays)
• Cunniff: Thursdays 7:45 - 8:15 AM music practice room

Check out these play-along tracks!

• Boil 'em Cabbage
• Twinkle Jam
• Rockin' Strings

BOWS!

• We are working on our bow holds in 4th grade!
• Here is a Quiet Coyote Bow Hold video for students to reference
• Here is a slideshow with very clear photos and directions for how to form a good bow hold
• Once students are prepared to play their instrument with their bow, we will sign their bow license : )

Being near the city we have lots of amazing orchestras performing all of the time! These groups are made up of community members; all musicians, but not all musicians in a professional sense. It's always amazing to see the Boston Symphony, but our local groups showcase how we can continue being musicians as a hobby throughout our lives, while still working in our chosen fields.

• Lexington Symphony: Sat. April 15/7:30 PM @ Cary Hall, Lexington
• Boston Civic Symphony: Sun. April 30/3 PM @ Northeastern
• Rivers Symphony: Sat. May 20/7 PM @ Kraft Dining Hall, Rivers School (Pops!)
• Brookline Symphony: Sat. May 20/8 PM @ All Saints Parish, Brookline
• Lowell Philharmonic: Sat. May 20/2 PM @ Fushion Church, Lowell (Pops!)
• Longwood Symphony: Sat. May 20/8 PM @ Kresge Auditorium, MIT
• Firebird Pops (all pops, all the time!): Keep an eye out for upcoming events

If your child is really enjoying playing their instrument and wants some additional play and instruction time outside of the school day, we recommend looking to private or small group lessons.

Here is a link to private teachers in the area

You can also check out Attacca School of Music in Belmont (at the Trapelo/Bartlett intersection near CVS) or Powers Music School in Belmont (on Concord Street near Belmont Center).

Practice Page

Mr. Frontz put together a really helpful practice page for our students, especially our beginners. This page is basically how we start our class each lesson. We've given a copy to each student, but in case they lose it or want to look on their computer, here are the PDFs:

• Practice Page Folder

Friends of Watertown Music

The Friends of Watertown Music is a parent organization that has been a major supporter of the fine arts program in Watertown for over ten years. FoWM is beginning to plan for our first MusicFest since 2019 and invites all parents who would like to help in any way. Email HelloWatertownMusic@gmail.com or call Chris Lowry at 617-923-0502 to learn more.

Practicing

We recommend students play their instrument 3+ times a week for at least 10 - 15 minutes each time to build muscle memory and reinforce habits taught in lessons. You can see what we worked on in lessons and what students should be practicing by clicking the button below.

Note Reading Game

• Staff Wars is an interactive app-based game to help students learn how to read the notes on their staff. It is $0.99. Absolutely not required, but a fun learning tool if interested.
• Apple devices
• Android devices

• Tuning your instrument at home: follow this YouTube tutorial
• Here is a tutorial on how to hold the bow
  
• Here is a list of private teachers in the area
  
• Rhythm Packet #1
• Rhythm Packet #2
• Sight Singing Packet #1
• Sight Singing Packet #2
• Ms. Byham's favorite metronome app for iPhone
• Ms. Byham's favorite metronome app for Android

Our lessons are grouped by classroom teacher. The schedule is as follows:

• Mondays (Hosmer) are Spillane/Thiemann, Doherty, Bellis, and Twomey's classes
• Tuesdays (Lowell West) are Corcoran, Spatz, and Burton's classes
• Wednesdays (Hosmer) are Mattson, Stone, O'Leary, Psychoghios/Hogan, and Gill's classes
• Thursdays (Cunniff) are all classrooms
• Fridays (Lowell) are Antonellis, Sudbay, and Brodeur's classes

Our lessons take place in the first part of the school day, between 8:30 and 10 AM.

I'm Mr. Frontz, and I'm happy to be co-teaching elementary school strings in Watertown this year. In the last two years, I've graduated with my Masters degree in Music Education and my Bachelor's degree in Cello Performance from Boston University. I am a cellist as well as a general strings specialist, and I worked with Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras for several years as a Cello Coach. I'm excited to teach students how to play their instruments, and hope to teach them to play songs they love as well as develop their technique.

Culley Byham is one of our two string and orchestra teachers in the district. She grew up in Pennsylvania and began playing the viola in the third grade. She played in school and youth orchestras through elementary, middle, and high school before attending Penn State to study Music Education. Ms. Byham taught middle school music and orchestra in South Carolina for five years before moving to Watertown, where she is now in her tenth year of teaching music.

In addition to teaching, Ms. Byham has continued playing viola in community orchestras. She is currently a member of the Rivers Symphony and the Brookline Symphony here in the Boston area. She also enjoys taking long bike rides, walking her dog, and practicing photography.

Her absolute favorite thing about teaching string and orchestra classes is watching her students go from having no idea about the instrument, to being able to play with ease and confidence. She loves that she gets to work with the students for so long, seeing them grow and learn over the course of many years, making friends, and building community along the way.

Our string program in Watertown is open to all students in grades 4 - 12. Though we begin our program in the fourth grade, students can join in at any level - it's never too late! It is not necessary for students to know anything about music or playing an instrument in order to sign up, we'll teach them everything they need to know.

Website: https://tinyurl.com/watertownorchestra
Phone: 617.564.1713
Facebook: facebook.com/WatertownFineArts