Elementary Strings Newsletter

Continue reading for schedule changes coming up!

Schedule Changes Coming Up

• Hosmer students in Ms. O'Leary's class will join our class on Monday, November 14th instead of Wednesday, November 16th. Thanks, Ms. O'Leary!
• Lowell students will have lessons on both Tuesday and Friday next week (11/15 and 11/18) to make up for the lessons missed on Election Day (11/8) and Veteran's Day (11/11).
• Thanksgiving week:
  Hosmer students will be able to meet as usual
  All Lowell students will likely be able to meet on Tuesday, 11/22
  Cunniff students will not have a lesson this week
• All City Orchestra will meet on Tuesday, 11/15

Concerts

We are hoping to host winter informances at each elementary school in December. We will have more information on these concerts soon!

• Lowell: Tuesday, December 13, 2022 during lesson times (9AM or so)
• Cunniff: Thursday, December 15, 2022 9:45 - 10:25 AM
• Hosmer: TBD

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.

We Love Music!

We are so fortunate to be able to support all of our students interested in music making by providing lessons for our elementary string students during their school day. We strive to be able to support our students in their musical endeavors in the most equitable ways possible. Here are some reasons why music learning is so beneficial to our students and why it's so important that everyone has the opportunity to explore their musical interests:

• Students learn to improve their work: Learning music promotes craftsmanship, and students learn to want to create good work instead of mediocre work. This desire can be applied to all subjects of study.
  
• A sense of achievement: Learning to play pieces of music on a new instrument can be a challenging, but achievable goal. Students who master even the smallest goal in music will be able to feel proud of their achievements.
  
• Kids can learn teamwork: Many musical education programs require teamwork as part of a band, orchestra, chorus, etc. In these groups, students will learn how to work together and build camaraderie.

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 (see a photo here). This door is accessible at the back of the parking lot off Boylston Street. Mr. Frontz will be there to let the children in. 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

As a reminder, you MUST sign up using the form linked below. If you are late to sign up or join later that is ok, but please sign up at least 24 hours before the first class you will be attending. This is important as it helps us communicate with the front office staff. Once you've signed up, you do not need to sign up again.

All City Orchestra: Ms. Byham

All City Orchestra is an after-school group that meets on Tuesdays from 4:25 - 5:30. 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.

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. For instance, the Longwood Symphony is comprised of many talented musicians who now work in healthcare and research fields. 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.

• Boston Philharmonic: November 12, 2022 @ 8:00 PM/Symphony Hall
• Rivers Symphony: November 13, 2022 @ 3:00PM/Needham Town Hall
• Boston Civic Symphony: November 13, 22 @ 3:00PM/Jordan Hall (New England Conservatory)
• Lexington Symphony: November 19, 2022 @ 7:30PM/Cary Hall

It's also time for Holiday Pops! Many of these orchestras have a concert in mid-December featuring holiday classics like Sleigh Ride, Polar Express, Nutcracker, and more!

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).

All 4th and 5th grade students are using or will be using Essential Elements Book 1. We ask that all students have their own copy since we will be using it for 2 - 3 years from 4th - 6th grade.

• Violin Book 1
• Viola Book 1
• Cello Book 1
• Bass Book 1

• 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