Washoe County School District

Music Department

Updated: 9/7/16

Exploratory Violin Teacher Information

  • You can access the violin website by clicking “Violin” under “Units” on the General Music website.
  • The Exploratory Violin Program is taught to fifth grade general music students.
  • The number of violins in a set may vary. An excellent option is to have two students share a violin. One student is the teacher or helper while the other plays.
  • The teacher starting the violin unit is responsible for their transportation. Please remember that the relocation department requires advance notice for instrument relocation. Teachers are responsible for the set of violins and the auxiliary material: rosin, sponges, etc.
  • Teachers are expected to consult the schedule at the beginning of the school year to determine when they will have Exploratory Strings at their site.
  • If a violin is not working properly for any reason, please have your school string teacher look at it or contact Danielle Cates. Do not attempt to repair the instrument under any circumstance, and especially avoid fixing pegs, bridges, or using any type of glue on the instrument. Students should be instructed not to touch bow hairs, bridge, pegs, or fine tuners and toloosen the bow after each use.
  • You may choose to finish your unit with an informal performance, sometimes called an informance. Families may be invited to see the learning process and participate with their children.

2. PLAYING INSTRUMENTS: Students perform a varied repertoire of music on instruments alone and with others.

2.5.1 Play rhythmic, melodic and chordal patterns. · Perform all forms of the

bordun: solid, broken,

2.5.1a Play rhythmic, melodic, and chordal patterns on classroom instruments.

2.5.1b Play the violin as an introduction to string instruments.

2.5.4 Play or accompany folk, traditional, and multicultural music.

5. READING: Students read and notate music.

5.5.1 Read whole, half, dotted half, quarter, eighth notes and rests, four sixteenths and

syncopa using Kodaly syllables, number counting and/or other counting method in 2/4,

3/4 and 4/4.

5.5.3 Use complex music symbols (e.g. dynamics, tempo).

5.5.4 Sight read rhythmic and melodic patterns.

PREPARATION FOR EXPLORATORY STRING PROJECT

Emphasis should be on note reading skills:

  1. Basic Vocabulary
  1. Staff
  2. Clef (treble)
  3. Time Signature
  4. Rhythm
  5. Repeat
  6. Da Capo
  7. Coda
  8. Fermata
  9. Endings, 1st and 2nd
  10. Dynamics
  11. Slur
  12. Ritardando
  1. Fine
  1. Lines and Spaces
  1. Names of lines and spaces – treble clef
  1. Ledger lines down to G below staff, A above the staff
  1. Listening

a. String Literature of all types: Symphony, Concerto, Operatic,

Country and Folk