Orchestra/Prelude Strings Curriculum

I Can Statements for Prelude Strings

Year 1 (Beginner)

I can demonstrate rest position: violin under my right arm and my strings pointed away from my side, cello between my knees while I sit tall on my chair.
I can identify the parts of my violin or cello.
l can identify my strings.
I can sing the “Ants Song".
I can name the order of my strings using the “Ants Song".
I can adjust my feet into playing position (zip-step) - violins only.
I can keep my feet on the floor in front of my chair's legs - cellos only.
I can demonstrate proper beginning playing position: Violin placed on the left shoulder (using "Statue of Liberty"), Cello at the sternum with C-peg behind head.
I can properly pluck the strings with my left hand pinky over the high dot sticker.
I can properly pluck the strings using my right hand.
I can demonstrate a "bunny bow-hold" without the bow.
I can hold the bow, keeping my fingers curved in the "bunny" shape.
I can sing the Rocket Song while holding my bow in the correct hand.
I can demonstrate the "Pepperoni Pizza" rhythm on each string.
I can memorize the "Ants Song", the "DAD Song", "Monkey Song", and "Chicken on a Fence Post".
I know how to take a bow at the end of a song when the audience applauds.

Year 2

I can do everything in year 1, and the following:
I can perform the “Flower Song” or “The Monkey Song” with a straight left wrist.
I can perform the “Flower Song” or “The Monkey Song” with my left hand fingers placed on the correct fingerboard tape marks.
I can demonstrate the A Major Scale (violin) or the D major Scale (cello).
I can sing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with silent bow practice or shoulder bow.
I can play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” & the Variations.
I can sing “Tricky Twinkle” using the "rhythm words"
I can play “Tricky Twinkle”.
I can get into playing position (feet, instrument, bow hands) with very little help from my teacher.

Year 3

I can do everything in year 2, and the following:
I can play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, “Variations”, and “Tricky Twinkle” with correct left hand posture.
I can demonstrate an arpeggio or the "skipping fingers" used in "Lightly Row".
I can demonstrate circle (lift) bows in "Song of the Wind".
I can use the form of the song (e.g. A-B-A for "Go Tell Aunt Rhody") to help me memorize my songs.

Year 4

I can do everything in year 3, and the following:
I can demonstrate the D Major Scale (violin) or the G major Scale (cello) as they pertain to some of my newersongs.
I can fix my own bow-hold and left-hand shape when reminded.
I can play my old songs from memory while the teacher or an older student plays the duet part.

I Can Statements for WAWM Orchestra Students

4th Grade Orchestra

I can identify the parts of the instrument and the bow.
I can prepare my bow (tighten & rosin) & instrument (shoulder rest) to play and to put away when I am done playing.
I can keep track of all of my materials (instrument, music, folder, etc)
I can correctly identify and perform using quarter notes, quarter rests in lesson books, and possibly eighth-notes and half-notes in my orchestra music.
I can correctly identify and perform in 4/4 time
I can correctly identify, read, and play the D major scale.
I can identify the down-bow and up-bow symbols.
I can perform pizzicato (plucking) or arco (bowing)with an age appropriate tone quality on my instrument.

5th Grade orchestra

I can do everything I did in 4th grade, and the following:
I can correctly identify and perform using quarter notes, quarter rests, eighth-notes, half-notes, dotted-half notes, and whole notes in lesson book and orchestra music.
I can correctly play my part with the rest of the orchestra in grade level .5 songs
I can correctly identify, create, and perform in 4/4, 3/4, and 2/4 time signatures
I can correctly identify, create, and perform the following key signatures: D Major and G Major
I can perform with a steady beat.
I can correctly identify, create, and perform slurs and ties on my instrument.