6th Grade Beginner Orchestra

The beginning orchestra program at Utley Middle School is unique and serves as the foundation for the entire orchestra program.  Composed of beginning orchestras at Howard Dobbs Elementary, Lupe Garcia Elementary, Dorris A Jones Elementary, Virginia Reinhardt Elementary & Billie Stevenson Elementary, the beginning orchestra program is structured to teach each student the fundamental music skills required to be successful on their instrument.  Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

During the school year, the beginning orchestra has the following goals and objectives:

• To learn and demonstrate the orchestra content standards as outlined by the Texas State Board of Education
• To learn and demonstrate the process of creating and perfecting music through various concerts and performance opportunities
• To introduce and master fundamental instrumental techniques and musical ability
• To develop and grow music vocabulary and theory
• To prepare for middle school orchestra playing standards

Utley Middle School Orchestras

Philharmonic Orchestra
Philharmonic Orchestra emphasizes the development of individual and full-orchestra performance skills in preparation for promotion into the Sinfonia and Chamber Orchestras.  The class is geared to students who did have 6th grade beginning orchestra, but need additional reinforcement of fundamentals.  The class is taught at tan accelerated pace, and therefore private lessons are strongly encouraged.  The students learn basic fundamentals, and the basic elements of melody and harmony are introduced.  Basic level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities. 

Sinfonia Orchestra
This intermediate-level orchestra class emphasizes the development of full-orchestra performance skills in preparation for concerts and UIL contest.  The orchestra is a full ensemble which plays grade 1-2 literature.  The students continue to reinforce basic fundamentals, increase music ability and range, and prepare students for high school orchestra or Chamber Orchestra.  The elements of more basic melody and harmony and interpretation are reinforced, and a higher level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities.  Individual growth and achievement are encouraged through solo and ensemble performace, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, All-District orchestra auditions, TMEA Region 3 orchestra auditions and All-District concerts.  Private lessons are strongly encouraged.

Chamber Orchestra
This advanced-level orchestra class emphasizes the development of full-orchestra performance skill in preparation for concerts and UIL contests.  The orchestra is a full ensemble which plays grade 2-3 literature.  The students continue developing solid fundamentals, increase music ability and range, and prepare students for high school orchestra.  The elements of more complex melody and harmony and interpretation are addressed, and a higher level of technical playing proficiency is developed and enjoyed in multiple performing opportunities.  Individual growth and achievement are encourage through solo and ensemble performance, Pre-UIL Contest, UIL Concert and Sight-Reading Contest, All-District orchestra auditions, TMEA Region 3 orchestra auditions, and All-District concerts.  Students will attend one weekly co-curricular section practice, or "sectional," which will last for 45 minutes either before or after school.  These are scheduled the first week of school and will be the same day each week and will continue into the month of May. Attendance at these are mandatory, graded and are considered and extension of classroom instruction.  Due to the rigor of Chamber Orchestra, private lessons are strongly encouraged.