ALL-CITY ORCHESTRA
-
Please check this page often. Mr. Livingston's email address is [ [
(Link for the All-City Band-
(Return to the beginning of Mr. Livingston's music page
UPDATED APRIL 28, 2013
The All-City Orchestra season is over for this year. Thank you to all the wonderful students who came every Wednesday to make music! To those who are on their way to other schools, I wish you very best of good luck as you go forward. To everyone else, I hope I see you in the fall for another season in the All-City Orchestra! Keep practicing, and go to concerts as often as you can.
The All-City Orchestra is an after-school ensemble for kids who would like
to play in an orchestra outside their own school boundaries. It is for
kids in grades 4-8 who either attend the Newton Public Schools or who are
home-schooled Newton residents. Private school students are not eligible,
even those who are Newton residents. Students must already be dedicated
participants in their own school group. The orchestra rehearses from 3:45
to 5:00 PM on Wednesday afternoons at Bigelow Middle School.
Beginning with the 2011-12 school year, the Newton School Committee has
implemented a $200 participation fee for students selected to the All-City
music ensembles. Newton Public Schools does not wish for this new fee to
prevent students from participating in this program and will provide an
application for a fee waiver/partial waiver.
Please call Mrs. Horwitz at 617-969-7298 to schedule an audition. Please
prepare a short solo of your choice. Kids should be ready to play scales
in G, D, A, C, F, and B flat. Woodwinds should be able to play a chromatic
scale over the working range of the instrument. All students should play
their scales in eighth note patterns with the metronome set at 100 (two
notes per click)
Pianists should be able to play Clementi sonatinas in exact rhythm without
any mistakes. Even then, it must be remembered that piano parts for
school orchestras are intended for adults to play. I don't want to have a
student pianist become discouraged. Besides, pianists make great bass
players and we can always use good bass players in our ensembles!
I would like to have all my students learn two contrasting movements of a
Baroque sonata, as soon as they are ready to do so. That is standard
audition fare in the music world, and having those contrasting movements
under the fingers at all times will insure that a musician is always ready
to audition for something, perform somewhere, or try out a new instrument.
I suggest choosing from among the many sonatas by Marcello, Vivaldi,
Corelli, and Handel.
The All-City Orchestra emphasizes ear training, following the baton,
ensemble playing, intonation, rhythm, and music history. We will sing our
parts as well as play them. We will have several recitals that students
can sign up to play. We will perform with the Newton North High School
Orchestra, and will also present concerts with the New Philharmonia
Orchestra and the All-City Band.
Thank you for your interest in the All-City Orchestra!
Auditions- will be held at Bigelow Middle School
in September
Rehearsals
The ACO rehearses every Wednesday afternoon from 3:45 to 5:00 PM at
Bigelow Middle School.
Concerts (will be published in September)
Concert Dress
Concert Dress for the ACO is;
GIRLS- white blouse, black skirt, black shoes
BOYS- white dress shirt, black pants, black shoes, black bow tie
(we will provide the ties)
Attendance
There are only 22 rehearsals. If you miss more than 3, you will be
hurting the group. If a child is absent and can't attend rehearsal,
please notify Mr. Livingston via email. Otherwise, we will expect to see
every child every week.
All members of the All-City Orchestra are expected to:
-take private lessons on their instrument
-play in their own school's ensemble
-attend all rehearsals and concerts (except for illness; then, notify Mr.
L)
-prepare the music to the very best of their ability
RIGHT NOW, WE ARE WORKING ON
(TBA!)
(return to Bigelow Middle School main page)
Please email me if you have any questions
| 