4th Grade
Our program starts with pull-out instruction in each of the 6 elementary schools. Twice a week for about 20 minutes, Mrs. Dunsford, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Landers, and Mr. Ahrens teach the basics of violin, viola, and cello to kids wherever they can find room in the school. For some this means in meeting rooms and for others it's in a hallway, but no matter where they are, the students and their teachers begin the transformation from curious about the instrument to skillful!
The kids begin by learning the parts of the instrument, then learn how to pizzicato the notes, and after what seems like forever (probably only a month or so), they finally get to use the bow! This progression helps lessen the screeches so often associated with learning a new instrument. The winter concert is the first time you see the group play together, and the difference you hear between that show and the one in the spring will amaze you!
At the beginning of the 2nd semester, Mrs. Dunsford offers an after school Advanced Orchestra with the intention of extending the experience for those who want a challenge. Entrance into this orchestra is based on teacher recommendation. Once recommended, there is an audition to determine initial seating. Auditioning at this age, without the fear of not getting in, is great experience for the kids. The kids meet once per week on Mondays at Truman Middle School and also play at the 4th Grade Spring Concert.
The kids begin by learning the parts of the instrument, then learn how to pizzicato the notes, and after what seems like forever (probably only a month or so), they finally get to use the bow! This progression helps lessen the screeches so often associated with learning a new instrument. The winter concert is the first time you see the group play together, and the difference you hear between that show and the one in the spring will amaze you!
At the beginning of the 2nd semester, Mrs. Dunsford offers an after school Advanced Orchestra with the intention of extending the experience for those who want a challenge. Entrance into this orchestra is based on teacher recommendation. Once recommended, there is an audition to determine initial seating. Auditioning at this age, without the fear of not getting in, is great experience for the kids. The kids meet once per week on Mondays at Truman Middle School and also play at the 4th Grade Spring Concert.
5th Grade
The elementary program continues in fifth grade much as it did in fourth, with pull-out instruction twice a week. Elementary students thrive with the attention and instruction of the orchestra teachers.
Instruction during this year reviews the basic note reading skills learned in 4th grade and expands to the higher and lower strings of each instrument. Students continue to work from their method book in lessons and prepare for their concerts using repertoire that focuses on more advanced fingering and bowing skills.
In late September, the first auditions for the Elementary Honors Orchestra are held by Mrs. Howard. Anyone in 5th grade may audition for EHO. The group meets after school on Wednesdays at Truman Middle School and play at both the Winter and the Spring Concert. There is another opportunity to join EHO for the 2nd semester in January. New students and students who weren't ready to try out in the Fall and/or didn't make it in then, are able to audition.
Instruction during this year reviews the basic note reading skills learned in 4th grade and expands to the higher and lower strings of each instrument. Students continue to work from their method book in lessons and prepare for their concerts using repertoire that focuses on more advanced fingering and bowing skills.
In late September, the first auditions for the Elementary Honors Orchestra are held by Mrs. Howard. Anyone in 5th grade may audition for EHO. The group meets after school on Wednesdays at Truman Middle School and play at both the Winter and the Spring Concert. There is another opportunity to join EHO for the 2nd semester in January. New students and students who weren't ready to try out in the Fall and/or didn't make it in then, are able to audition.
Middle School
Orchestra becomes a daily class in middle school. Mrs. Morgan, Sperreng’s orchestra teacher, and Mrs. Howard, Truman’s orchestra teacher, help the students discover and enjoy the experience of playing much more complex and full arrangements. Mr. Ahrens helps both schools by working on strings techniques. The repertoire often includes memorable film scores like pieces from Harry Potter or Pirates of the Caribbean in addition to arrangements of classical works.
At this age, students also can get some experience playing for judges by practicing and performing for the Solo and Ensemble Festival held every year in April. Experience with playing in ensembles, both large and small, teach students to focus, maintain commitments, and to bear a certain amount of scrutiny with poise and grace as judges rate their performances. A few students will also be recommended to audition for extra-curricular orchestras like the St. Louis All-Suburban Orchestra.
All students are able to join the after school Fiddlers program directed by Mrs. Howard. The Fiddlers are an ensemble of around 100 students who learn traditional methods of fiddling and play traditional folk and fiddle tunes like “Turkey in the Straw” and “Flop-eared Mule.” An extension of this group is the audition-only Advanced Fiddlers in which extra-committed 7th and 8th graders learn solos and harmonies to enhance the fiddle tunes of the whole group. The Fiddlers meet once per week on Thursdays after school until 4pm, and the Advanced Fiddlers stay until 4:45pm. The Activity Bus brings the Sperreng students over to Truman so they can be a part of the group as well.
Together, these students play around 20 performances a year at community festivals and assisted-living facilities. Through this performance experience, students learn how the power of music brings joy to others as well as how surroundings affect their instrument's ability to stay in tune!
The Colonial Fiddlers are a smaller group of Fiddlers that are booked to play certain historical venues in full 18th century attire. Any Fiddler can be a part of this group. The Feast of the Harvest Moon in West Lafayette, IN, is one of the places that the Colonial Fiddlers play. It is a re-creation of the annual fall gathering of the French and Native Americans which took place Fort Ouiatenon, a fur-trading outpost in the mid – 1700s. It is held annually on the banks of the Wabash River. Mrs. Howard played here as a Middle Schooler herself! It is usually held around the 1st weekend in October every year.
At this age, students also can get some experience playing for judges by practicing and performing for the Solo and Ensemble Festival held every year in April. Experience with playing in ensembles, both large and small, teach students to focus, maintain commitments, and to bear a certain amount of scrutiny with poise and grace as judges rate their performances. A few students will also be recommended to audition for extra-curricular orchestras like the St. Louis All-Suburban Orchestra.
All students are able to join the after school Fiddlers program directed by Mrs. Howard. The Fiddlers are an ensemble of around 100 students who learn traditional methods of fiddling and play traditional folk and fiddle tunes like “Turkey in the Straw” and “Flop-eared Mule.” An extension of this group is the audition-only Advanced Fiddlers in which extra-committed 7th and 8th graders learn solos and harmonies to enhance the fiddle tunes of the whole group. The Fiddlers meet once per week on Thursdays after school until 4pm, and the Advanced Fiddlers stay until 4:45pm. The Activity Bus brings the Sperreng students over to Truman so they can be a part of the group as well.
Together, these students play around 20 performances a year at community festivals and assisted-living facilities. Through this performance experience, students learn how the power of music brings joy to others as well as how surroundings affect their instrument's ability to stay in tune!
The Colonial Fiddlers are a smaller group of Fiddlers that are booked to play certain historical venues in full 18th century attire. Any Fiddler can be a part of this group. The Feast of the Harvest Moon in West Lafayette, IN, is one of the places that the Colonial Fiddlers play. It is a re-creation of the annual fall gathering of the French and Native Americans which took place Fort Ouiatenon, a fur-trading outpost in the mid – 1700s. It is held annually on the banks of the Wabash River. Mrs. Howard played here as a Middle Schooler herself! It is usually held around the 1st weekend in October every year.
High School
In high school, students may experience the fruits of their labors and still continue to grow and learn new skills and techniques. All freshman take the Freshman Orchestra class. In 10th through 12th grade, students can choose to be a part of the Chamber Orchestra or audition for the Symphony Orchestra. Auditions take place in January of their 9th - 11th grade years because students choose their classes for the following year during that time frame.
In all of the orchestra classes, students really showcase their years of practice and instruction! In three or four orchestra concerts per year, the students perform challenging arrangements of mostly classical pieces with a few medleys of holiday music or themes from films for good measure. Watching the level of accomplishments grow each year culminates in the high school concert experience. You might wonder how you got away without paying for tickets because the pieces are played so amazingly!
Outside of school, students can also participate in the Solo and Ensemble Festival in March every year and the Large Group Festival, which is often hosted at Lindbergh. Some of the participants receive ratings that make them eligible for competition at the state level, which is held at the end of April. Auditions for the St. Louis All-Suburban and the Missouri All-State Orchestra also occur each year in November and December.
The main extracurricular experience at the high school is the Strolling Strings. Founded more than two decades ago, Strolling Strings performs a repertoire of more modern pop, fiddle, and bluegrass tunes from the United States and the United Kingdom. Like its middle school counterparts (the Fiddlers), Strolling Strings plays festivals, events, and performances around 20 times per year around St. Louis. Auditions are held in Spring for the following school year.
While the program may grow and change from year to year, rest assured the structure is sound, and the state of our program is strong! It’s a program with something for a variety of levels of interest, skill, and commitment!
In all of the orchestra classes, students really showcase their years of practice and instruction! In three or four orchestra concerts per year, the students perform challenging arrangements of mostly classical pieces with a few medleys of holiday music or themes from films for good measure. Watching the level of accomplishments grow each year culminates in the high school concert experience. You might wonder how you got away without paying for tickets because the pieces are played so amazingly!
Outside of school, students can also participate in the Solo and Ensemble Festival in March every year and the Large Group Festival, which is often hosted at Lindbergh. Some of the participants receive ratings that make them eligible for competition at the state level, which is held at the end of April. Auditions for the St. Louis All-Suburban and the Missouri All-State Orchestra also occur each year in November and December.
The main extracurricular experience at the high school is the Strolling Strings. Founded more than two decades ago, Strolling Strings performs a repertoire of more modern pop, fiddle, and bluegrass tunes from the United States and the United Kingdom. Like its middle school counterparts (the Fiddlers), Strolling Strings plays festivals, events, and performances around 20 times per year around St. Louis. Auditions are held in Spring for the following school year.
While the program may grow and change from year to year, rest assured the structure is sound, and the state of our program is strong! It’s a program with something for a variety of levels of interest, skill, and commitment!
