Performing Arts

The following orchestra classes are currently offered at LPMS:

• 5th Grade Music Introduction (Quarter 1)
• 5th Grade Beginning Orchestra (Quarter 2,3,4)
• 6th Grade Beginning Orchestra – High Strings/Violin and Viola (Year Long)
• 6th Grade Beginning Orchestra – Low Strings/Cello and Bass (Year Long)
• 7th Grade Intermediate Orchestra (Year Long)
• 8th Grade Advanced Orchestra (Year Long)

Course Description:

Students have the opportunity to learn to play violin, viola, cello, or string bass in orchestra.  Beginning classes are offered in 5th and 6th grade, and students who choose to continue in the program through 7th and 8th grade will develop the musical skills necessary to participate in a high school orchestra program.  Orchestra students of all grade levels will learn basic music theory and history and will learn to play a variety of musical styles ranging from classical to modern popular music.  By participating in orchestra, students learn to be a part of a team.  Students will practice teamwork and self discipline as they prepare for performances.  Most importantly, learning a musical instrument is a wonderful creative outlet for students.  Music not only helps develop the brain, but it is a very fun and rewarding activity!

At Longs Peak, students are expected to practice their instruments at home in order to continually build on their new skills.  6th, 7th, and 8th grade orchestra students will complete weekly practice example videos and will receive constructive feedback from Mrs. Crim.  

Daily class time is most often spent rehearsing in a large group setting.  Students will be engaged in the hands on activity of playing their instruments for the entire class period.  

Orchestra students in all grade levels will also have the opportunity to participate in a small ensembles unit during the 3rd quarter of the school year.  During this unit, students will practice and perform in a small, student directed group.  At the end of this unit, student ensembles are invited to participate in the St. Vrain Valley Solo and Ensemble Festival.  This festival is an opportunity for music students all over the district to perform for a professional musician and receive feedback about their performance.  This is an incredibly valuable experience, and all LPMS orchestra students are encouraged to participate.

LPMS Guitar (7th and 8th grade)

Guitar is a semester long class offered to all 7th and 8th grade students who are interested in learning to play the guitar.  This is a beginning class, and students do not need any prior music instruction in order to join guitar.  Students will begin the semester by learning how to read music, and by the end of the semester students will have the skills necessary to play melodies, basic chords, and also pieces written in guitar Tab.  Students will work daily on improving their physical skills on the instrument and will have a lot of fun!

5th Grade Music Introduction (Quarter 1)

All 5th grade students will rotate through Band, Choir, and Orchestra during Quarter 1. Students will learn basic music literacy skills and gain fundamental skills on all instruments. After an introduction to all three music classes, students will select one music class for the remainder of the school year.

5th Grade Beginning Band (Quarters 2-4)

Students will learn and improve on musical literacy skills, proper playing and practicing habits, rehearsal etiquette, and make daily physical progress on a musical instrument. Students are expected to perform 2 evening concerts, and have the opportunity to perform at 1 Saturday festival.

6th Grade Beginning Band (Year Long)

Students will learn and improve on musical literacy skills, proper playing and practicing habits, rehearsal etiquette, and make daily physical progress on a musical instrument. Students are expected to perform 2 evening concerts, and have the opportunity to perform at 1 Saturday festival. Students that took 5th Grade Beginning Band will have additional opportunities with advanced music and solo or small ensemble performances.

7th Grade Concert Band (Year Long)

Concert Band is designed for students with previous experience on a band instrument in a school ensemble or teacher recommended private lessons. Students will expand on their knowledge, literacy skills, and physical development on a band instrument. Students are expected to perform 3 evening concerts, 1 Saturday festival, and have the opportunity to audition for the Northern Colorado Combined League Honor Band.

Jazz Band (Year Long)

Jazz Band is an audition-based ensemble open to current band and orchestra students. Jazz Band students are required to also participate in a regular band or orchestra ensemble. The LPMS Jazz Band performs approx. 8 – 10 concerts, including the SVVSD Jazz Night, LPMS Concerts, Skyline Jazz Festival, Elementary School performances, and a performance at Oskar Blues or Dickens Operahouse. Jazz students are expected to participate in 2 weekend jazz camps and maintain a practice routine on both jazz and regular ensemble music. The Jazz Band ensemble focuses on expanding both the understanding and ability to play different styles and genres of music, as well as explore written and improvised solos.

8th Grade Symphonic Band (Year Long)

Symphonic Band is designed for students with previous experience on a band instrument in a school ensemble or teacher recommended private lessons. Students will expand on their knowledge, literacy skills, and physical development on a band instrument. Students are expected to perform 3 evening concerts, 1 Saturday festival, and have the opportunity to audition for the SVVSD Honor Band. By the end of 8th Grade, students are expected to have the knowledge and physical skills to join a high school band and/or audition for an advanced band ensemble.

8th Grade Percussion Ensemble (Quarter)

Percussion Ensemble is open to any 8th grade music student interested in learning to play percussion instruments. Students are not required to audition, but are only accepted at the approval of their music teacher based on practice habits, daily participation in class, previous concert attendance, and ability to maintain growth on 2 (or more) instruments. Students are expected to perform 1-2 pieces at 1-2 concerts.

Students learn and practice all the aspects of singing and reading music

Singing – vowel production, how to change a vowel so that it sounds good when you sing and is still understandable, the phonetic alphabet and pure vowels, dipthongs(two vowels for one word or syllable) for words like joy (oh ee) and tripthongs(three vowel sounds), consonant production – those with pitch, z, th, d, and v, those without, t, c, ch, k, those to avoid, r and s. Singing is other languages including italian, french, spanish, german, latin, zulu, swahili, and others. Matching pitch, singing a phrase of music. Harmonizing – sing one note while another person or group sings a different note. Learning to sing a major scale when given any starting pitch. Learning the solfege syllables(Do Re Mi, etc) for the major and ultimately the minor scale using both the syllables and hand gestures.

Reading Music – Notes and rhythm.  Learning the major key signatures and their relationships in the circle of fifths. Being able to to identify Do in any key. Following and singing the correct rhythms – whole, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth notes, dotted notes and rhythmic patterns such as dotted 8th, 16th. Read music in different time signatures. Read music in treble and bass clef, depending on voicing. Follow a vocal part and piano and rhythm section where there is multiple staves. Identify your relative starting pitch based on the other voices and instruments given. Read a line or a piece of music cold, having never sung or heard it before. Read a line of music using solfege syllables and hand gestures.