SSC Youth Orchestra

Harmony is a dynamic ensemble that strives to cultivate a passion for music in young string musicians with one or two years of playing experience. Our mission is to provide a nurturing and inclusive environment that fosters individual musical exploration within a collective setting.
We believe in the power of music as a tool for growth and self-expression. As such, we encourage our students to build upon their existing skills, such as reading notes confidently on the D and A strings and interpreting rhythms including quarter, eighth, and half notes.
Harmony aims to foster a love for music, promote teamwork, and inspire our students to continually challenge themselves and push their musical boundaries. We focus on not just teaching notes and rhythms but also instilling an understanding and appreciation of the beauty and complexity of music.
Our commitment is to guide each student on their unique musical journey, providing them with the skills, knowledge, and experiences that will enable them to express their creativity, enhance their musicality, and nurture their love for music.

Harmony: Harmony is a beginning string ensemble for students with one or two full years of playing experience. Students play in an ensemble setting while exploring their unique musicianship. Students should be confident reading notes on their D and A string, as well as reading rhythms that include quarter, eight, and half notes.

Student ability level:
Beginner students with one or two full years of playing experience
Confident reading notes on the D and A strings
Reading quarter notes, eighth notes, half notes, with confidence
Can play pizzicato and with bow
Familiarity with whole notes, sixteenth notes, awareness of all four open strings
Plays with a steady beat

Goals/Skills to work on in this ensemble
Ensemble listening and expectations
Start the year with grade 1 music, end with grade 2
Melodies moving from stepwise motion to skips
Practicing notes on extended strings (E, G, C)
Practicing more divisions and elongations of notes (whole notes, sixteenth notes, dotted rhythms)
Finger patterns: 1-2, 2-3, and 3-4/extension patterns
Bow skills: slurs, hooks, staccato, legato

Repertory: The goal of this orchestra is to inspire students to love listening and playing music. Students strengthen the necessary skills and are introduced to more advanced techniques and repertoire in a full orchestra setting. Students are connected with mentors from the symphony orchestra.
Target skill level:

• Intermediate strings, winds/brass students with 2+ years of playing experience


• String players: confident reading notes in first position on all strings with a basic understanding of shifting and/or vibrato


• Winds/brass and strings players: confident reading and playing 1 or 2-octave scales with key signatures up to 3 sharps and 3 flats


• Comfortably read and play method book tunes at a book 2 level or higher

Goals/Skills to work on in this ensemble

• Start the year with grade 2 music, end with grade 3


• performing pieces with 2 - 4 part harmony


• Develop shifting skills and playing in higher registers


• Develop ensemble skills: moving, breathing, and cuing


• Develop a clear understanding of beat/rhythm subdivision and execution (duple and triple meters)


• Develop close listening skills: balance, blend, and tuning between strings, winds/brass sections.


• Become comfortable reading/playing dotted and syncopated rhythms


• Focus on musical expression: tone, phrasing, vibrato, articulation, and dynamics

South Shore Conservatory's Symphony Orchestra is dedicated to nurturing the highest level of musicianship and artistic growth in advanced young musicians. Open to students in grades 10 through College, this program offers rigorous training in advanced string, wind, and percussion techniques.

Goals and Skills:
Students in this ensemble will focus on developing:

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  • String Techniques: Advanced bowing, intonation, shifting, vibrato control, and ensemble cohesion.
  
  
  • Wind Techniques: Breath control, articulation, tone production, and phrasing, with an emphasis on blending within a symphonic setting.
  
  
  • Percussion Techniques: Precision in rhythm, dynamics, and timbre, with adaptability to diverse orchestral roles.
  
  
  • Critical Listening and Analysis: Enhancing the ability to critically assess and interpret music, enabling students to make informed artistic decisions and contribute meaningfully to the ensemble.
  
  
  • Ensemble Skills and Interpersonal Connection: Building strong ensemble cohesion through communication, collaboration, and mutual respect, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among members.
  
  

  Ensemble Experience:
  Admission to the Symphony Orchestra is by audition, ensuring a high-caliber ensemble where students are seated according to skill and experience. The repertoire is chosen from the finest orchestral works, offering a rich variety of styles, genres, and composers. This experience broadens musical horizons and deepens students' understanding of orchestral music.
  Through performance, community engagement, and unique artistic experiences, we aim to inspire and empower each musician to reach their full potential. By integrating technical skill development with critical listening, analysis, and interpersonal connections, we cultivate not only accomplished musicians but also thoughtful and collaborative artists who are prepared for future professional or collegiate-level ensembles.

Mission Statement:
Under the direction of Leigh Schoepflin, our Chamber Music program places students in mixed-instrument chamber ensembles where they cultivate ensemble performance skills and core musicianship. Through a combination of coached and un-coached rehearsals, students are encouraged to develop independence, critical listening, and self-analysis techniques. The program also emphasizes stage presence and performance skills, preparing students for both the artistic and technical demands of chamber music.

In-Depth Skills List for Auditions:

1. Technical Proficiency:
   
   
   • Mastery of fundamental techniques on your instrument (e.g., bowing for strings, breath control for winds/brass, finger technique for all instruments).
   
   
   • Ability to execute a wide range of dynamics, articulations, and phrasing.


2. Musical Interpretation:
   
   
   • Understanding of stylistic nuances across various musical periods and genres.
   
   
   • Ability to convey the emotional and expressive content of the music.


3. Ensemble Skills:
   
   
   
   • Experience in playing within a small group setting, with a focus on balance, blend, and intonation.
   
   
   • Ability to follow and lead within an ensemble, showing awareness of other players’ roles.


4. Sight-Reading:
   
   
   
   • Proficiency in sight-reading complex rhythms, melodies, and harmonies.
   
   
   • Ability to quickly adapt to new music in a group setting.


5. Critical Listening and Analysis:
   
   
   
   • Skill in listening to both your own playing and that of others to adjust intonation, rhythm, and dynamics.
   
   
   • Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback during rehearsals.


6. Stage Presence:
   
   
   
   • Confidence and poise during performances, with an understanding of audience engagement.
   
   
   • Familiarity with performance etiquette and the ability to present yourself and your ensemble professionally.


7. Commitment and Independence:
   
   
   
   • Dedication to regular practice and preparation outside of rehearsals.
   
   
   • Ability to work independently, including self-directed learning and problem-solving during un-coached sessions.