Virtual Band/Orchestra/Choir
Sydney Gardner '23 Staff Writer
During virtual learning, Howard High’s band, orchestra and choir have been keeping their skills sharp to prepare for future concerts. While the prospect of in-person performances being held in the near future is slim, the students are still working hard in these courses to further their musical knowledge.
In a typical virtual orchestra class, students practice sight reading, rhythm and technique by listening to a composer and analyzing his/her music piece. After discussing the piece as a class, each student is placed in a breakout room with their assigned section to break down the technique of the composer and consider how to incorporate the skills in their own performances. They improve their sight reading by using a helpful tip called “bopping.” Nathanial Smith, a member of the Orchestra at Howard, defines bopping as the act of “hit[ting] the tempo of the notes but us[ing] a small amount of bow movement on the string.'' This technique helps teach the class rhythm and tempo. After practicing bopping, the students play through the piece at a slower tempo than assigned to focus on hitting the notes and finding the right rhythm. Smith also states, “Sight reading is a time to learn music; we try to stay focused on what we are doing, but we are not aiming for a perfectly put-together piece.” In general, the students in orchestra thoroughly enjoy the class even with the switch to online schooling. Senior Daniel Cho says, “I enjoy the class but sight reading is sometimes difficult, even though it helps us.”
In choir class, students participate in Pear Decks and workshops to practice sight reading and rhythm. The former skill is split up in 8 simple steps that senior Brianna Fisher, a choir student, has memorized perfectly: “1. Familiarize yourself with a variety of rhythms. 2. Memorize the key signatures. 3. Know your scales. 4. Practice without a safety net. 5. Practice sight reading. 6. Examine the piece you’re sight reading. 7. Identify annotations in the piece. 8. Make markings on the paper.” Using the techniques they learn in class and workshops, the students compose their own songs.
Like orchestra, band students listen to music pieces and dissect them as a class. After a class discussion of the piece, students are broken up into separate Google Meets based on their sections and play the piece. According to Brian Romero, sight reading is important in band as well: “Students spend a great amount of time practicing this skill — usually with volunteers in the class — playing from 3-5 mins.” When they are not attending Google Meets, band students listen to a piece and complete assignments that involve writing or taking turns playing instruments with other students in their sections. Although band class is genuinely enjoyed by most students, Romero states, “It feels pointless since we never play together.”
Howard students care about band, orchestra and choir because they look forward to seeing their friends perform and wonder how they prepare for concerts. After learning how much time, thought and effort students in the music department put into their work, the Howard community will surely develop greater respect for their talent. In the meantime, student musicians plan on waiting patiently for the approval of concerts so that they can finally play and sing together.
In a typical virtual orchestra class, students practice sight reading, rhythm and technique by listening to a composer and analyzing his/her music piece. After discussing the piece as a class, each student is placed in a breakout room with their assigned section to break down the technique of the composer and consider how to incorporate the skills in their own performances. They improve their sight reading by using a helpful tip called “bopping.” Nathanial Smith, a member of the Orchestra at Howard, defines bopping as the act of “hit[ting] the tempo of the notes but us[ing] a small amount of bow movement on the string.'' This technique helps teach the class rhythm and tempo. After practicing bopping, the students play through the piece at a slower tempo than assigned to focus on hitting the notes and finding the right rhythm. Smith also states, “Sight reading is a time to learn music; we try to stay focused on what we are doing, but we are not aiming for a perfectly put-together piece.” In general, the students in orchestra thoroughly enjoy the class even with the switch to online schooling. Senior Daniel Cho says, “I enjoy the class but sight reading is sometimes difficult, even though it helps us.”
In choir class, students participate in Pear Decks and workshops to practice sight reading and rhythm. The former skill is split up in 8 simple steps that senior Brianna Fisher, a choir student, has memorized perfectly: “1. Familiarize yourself with a variety of rhythms. 2. Memorize the key signatures. 3. Know your scales. 4. Practice without a safety net. 5. Practice sight reading. 6. Examine the piece you’re sight reading. 7. Identify annotations in the piece. 8. Make markings on the paper.” Using the techniques they learn in class and workshops, the students compose their own songs.
Like orchestra, band students listen to music pieces and dissect them as a class. After a class discussion of the piece, students are broken up into separate Google Meets based on their sections and play the piece. According to Brian Romero, sight reading is important in band as well: “Students spend a great amount of time practicing this skill — usually with volunteers in the class — playing from 3-5 mins.” When they are not attending Google Meets, band students listen to a piece and complete assignments that involve writing or taking turns playing instruments with other students in their sections. Although band class is genuinely enjoyed by most students, Romero states, “It feels pointless since we never play together.”
Howard students care about band, orchestra and choir because they look forward to seeing their friends perform and wonder how they prepare for concerts. After learning how much time, thought and effort students in the music department put into their work, the Howard community will surely develop greater respect for their talent. In the meantime, student musicians plan on waiting patiently for the approval of concerts so that they can finally play and sing together.