The orchestra program at Rome Corners Intermediate School consists of 5th and 6th grade students in Oregon, WI.  Most students are in their 2nd and 3rd year of playing.  Performance activites include a winter concert,  recitals in March and final spring concert in May. 

5th grade orchestra curriculum strives to help students learn how to play as an orchestra, studying the characteristics and functions of a melody and a harmony.  Students will begin to understand the relationships between the key signatures and finger patterns, particularity between D major and G major keys.  Music selection for 5th grade students will draw from many familiar American folk songs and fiddle tunes as students learn about the United States in their social studies classes.  Technical skills will also include adding spiccato and slurs as well as dynamics.  Finally, all orchestra students will compose their own music that is at least 8 measures long.  Mrs. Fenske and Mrs. Mann will assist with the notation element of this assignment.

6th grade orchestra curriculum will build on the technical skills learned in 5th grade.  Students will learn how to perform chamber music in small groups and begin using gestures to start playing as an ensemble. Music learned in class will expand to Latin American and Canadian folk and fiddle songs as an integrated portion of their 6th grade social studies units.  Students will also learn  about the expressive elements in the music played as well as learning about the symbols found in the music of string players.  Orchestral music will add more complicated rhythms and bowings. Students will also study the historical and cultural relationship to the music being played in class.

Additional activities students participate in are after school fiddling classes, performing in the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestras, summer music camps, and private lessons from high school students or professional musicians.

Orchestra teachers for the 2007-2008 school year are Margaret Fenske and Adele Mann. Contact information is maf@oregon.k12.wi.us or 608-835-4721