Summer Lesson Plans

DAY 1
OBJECTIVES:
~Introductions
~Understand goals/expectations/procedures
~Demonstrate orchestra website for them
~Receive all materials (folder, music, packet, pencil and instrument)
~Know how to correctly open the case and take out instrument
~Violin/Viola: Know how to put on shoulder rest/sponge
~Cello/Bass: Know how to work endpin.
~Learn parts of the instrument
~Care of the instrument
FLOW
*Come in, have a seat and wait silently.
*Introductions: (5 minutes)
Have each of them say their name, what school, favorite color and
one other thing about themselves.
*Pass out Information Packets/Pencils/Folders/Surveys (5 minutes)
-Write name on the front of Folder with marker
-Write name on packet with pencil
-Go over packet
-Survey will be filled out for tomorrow
*Welcome/Expectations/Goals (5-10 minutes) READ THEM!
Expectations: -Listen/Follow Rules/Participate
-Dont talk when I talk
-No gum/food/drinks
-If questions, raise your hand
-Go to bathroom before lesson.
Goals:

-To learn the basics of playing a string instrument.

-Note reading skills
-Posture, posture, posture!!
-To work as a team
-Effective Practice

-To have fun!!!!!

*Pass out instruments/music/stand (5-10 minutes)
-Make sure instrument is the correct one.
-Make sure they have the correct book.
-Take out stand: write name on it with marker and put together.
SHOW HOW TO PUT STAND TOGETHER.
(dont need box, will carry it in bag)
*Take out instrument and go through parts of it. (15-20 minutes)
-Put case on the floor and lay it on its side
-NEVER OPEN UP IN LAP
-Open up case and take out violin/viola/cello/bass
-Violin/Viola: put on shoulder rest/sponge
SHOW HOW TO PUT SHOULDER REST!!!
-Cello/Bass: endpin at right length. Mark with marker.
Explain about rock stop!
-Open up to page 2 and go through parts of instrument. Make sure
students say and point to each part. Say together!
-Have them read about care of instrument on page 2.
*Care of instrument! Read SI Book (page 2). (3 minutes)
*HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
-Fill out survey.
-Know how to put together music stand.
-Know how to open up case CORRECTLY!
-Violin/Viola: Know how to put on shoulder rest.
-Cello/Bass: Know how to work the endpin.
-Study the names of the instrument and be able to name them tomorrow!
-Bring FOLDER with papers, book and a PENCIL to each class!!
*See you tomorrow!

DAY 2
OBJECTIVES:
~Review parts of instrument. Students should be able to name them.
~Learn how to count properly using metronome and to keep steady beat.
~Be able to clap while counting and to mimic the teacher.
~Know how to hold instrument in rest position
~Know and demonstrate correct posture!
~Learn the names of the open strings.
~Learn about and be able to demonstrate pizzicato.
FLOW
*Come in, have a seat and put case on the floor next to you.
Read the board for instructions.
*Movement Games (7-10 minutes)
-Mimic the teacher doing certain movements. Clapping, standing,
sitting, tapping toes, warm ups (pages 2-3)
-Have students start and everyone else mimic them.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Games (10 minutes)
-Demonstrate metronome and how it works.
-Demonstrate clapping and counting together (1,2,3,4)
-Have students only clap on beats 1 and 3, 1 and 4, 1 and 2, 1 only
and do different combinations. Have them say it too.
-Tap toes, keep steady beat.
*Review of instrument/parts (7- 10 minutes)
-Take instrument out. Can they do it correctly?
-Violin/Viola: Can you put on your shoulder rest?
-Cello/Bass: Do you know how to work your endpin?
-Go through parts of instrument. Ask students what they are and
have them point to it.
*Rest position/Pizzicato (5 minutes)
-Demonstrate proper posture while in rest position for each inst.
-Explain pizzicato and how to do that in rest position.
-Teach the open strings and the phrases. Have students pluck each

string and say the names of the string while in rest position.
*Play with CD (5-10 minutes)
-Pluck open strings with song #3
-Do rhythm exercises and warmups.
*Make up songs using open strings (5 minutes)
*Explain quarter notes, half notes and whole notes. Draw them on board
and have students identify them. (3 minutes)
*Explain about playing position for violin/viola if time.
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
~Practice counting and keeping a steady beat.
~Practice holding your instrument in rest position and know how to do that.
~Study the names of the open strings and memorize the phrases!
~Practice playing pizzicato.

DAY 3
OBJECTIVES:
~Demonstrate proper rest and playing position
~Name the open strings and know how to pluck
~Demonstrate Left and right hand warmups and stretches
~Play page 8 and 10 in book
~Know the music staff and the names of the lines and spaces
~Demonstrate proper left hand technique and be able to name the notes
and what finger it is.
FLOW
*Come in and read the board. Put instrument on floor next to you.
*Movement Exercises (5 minutes)
-pick a variety of movement games and warmups.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Exercises (10 minutes)
-Do various clapping and counting exercises.
-Show baton (conducting pattern) and have students demonstrate
the four beat pattern.
-Only clap or pluck when they see my baton move. Learn to watch!
*Rest position/Playing Position (10-15 minutes)
-Review rest position and have students demonstrate
-Do warmups on page 6.
-Introduce playing position (page 6)
Show steps of playing position!
(violin/viola: 1/in front, 2/over head, 3/over to left, 4/on shoulder
cello/bass: 1/out, 2/in, 3/left hand up in air and touch scroll,
4/fingers on
-Play page 8 in rest and playing position using cd
-Play page 10 in rest and playing position using cd.

*Left hand position/note names (15-20 minutes)

-Demonstrate proper left hand technique.
-Do warmups on page 6.
-Name notes and fingers at the same time.
-Do rote teaching with fingers on the D string. Have students say the
names of the notes while fingering along.
-Play different combinations of notes.
-Look at page 12 for notes and play songs if time.
*MUSIC STAFF/SYMBOLS (5-10 minutes)
-Have students draw a music staff with the time signature, clef, lines
and spaces.
-Make sure they understand all concepts.
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
~Study rest and playing position
~Know how to draw a music staff and symbols
~Memorize the note names on the staff and the phrases.
~Know the notes on the D string and the fingers.
~Practice Page 12 and 14.

DAY 4
OBJECTIVES:
~Learn the steps of rest position and be able to do them correctly.
~Know the fingers of the left hand and what the notes are on the staff.
~Learn Hot Cross Buns by rote!
~Play the songs on page 12 and 14.
~Know how to hold the pencil in shape of the bow hold.
FLOW
*Come in and read the board. Put instrument on floor next to you.
*Movement Exercises (5 minutes)
-pick a variety of movement games and warmups.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Exercises (10 minutes)
-Do various clapping and counting exercises.
-Show baton (conducting pattern) and have students demonstrate
the four beat pattern.
-Only clap or pluck when they see my baton move. Learn to watch!
*POSTURE/POSITIONS (10 minutes)
-Review rest and playing positions.
-Learn the steps of positions:
Violin/Viola: 1, in front
2, over head
3, over to left (above left shoulder)
4, on shoulder
Cello/Bass: 1, out
2, in
3, left hand up and touch the scroll
4, left hand in position
- Play Page 10 as a warmup.
- Have students DEMONSTRATE AND CORRECT IF WRONG!

*Left hand review (10 minutes)

-Review shape of left hand and ask students to demonstrate.
-Review the notes on the D string.
-I play, you play using the notes of the D string.
-Have students start it and have them say the names of notes while
playing.
*Play songs with the CD! (5-10 minutes)
-Play the songs on page 12 and check to make sure they have the
right positions and fix if wrong.
-Play the songs on page 14 and do the same.
*Hot Cross Buns (5-10 minutes)
-Teach the students Hot Cross Buns by rote
-Go through the letters (say together and count!)
*Start talking about the beginning bow hold if time. Page 7.
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
~Review posture and positions. Make sure they are doing this correctly!
~Know the steps of posture so far. Explain there will be more.
~Be able to play all the songs with the CD so far.
~Learn and memorize Hot Cross Buns!
~Bring a cloth for next class!

DAY 5
OBJECTIVES:
~To know how to hold the pencil correctly and to shape the right hand.
~To know the correct motion when using their right hand for bowing.
~To be able to do right hand warmups that will help with the bow hold.
~To be able to use a practice bow and get the right motion.
~To know what shadow bowing is and how to do it.
FLOW
*Come in and read the board. Put instrument on floor next to you.
*Movement Exercises (2 minutes)
-pick a variety of movement games and warmups.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Exercises (5 minutes)
-Do various clapping and counting exercises.
-Show baton (conducting pattern) and have students demonstrate
the four beat pattern.
-Only clap or pluck when they see my baton move. Learn to watch!
*Warmup with songs (5 minutes)
-Have students pick their favorite song to play as a warmup.
*Hot Cross Buns (10 minutes)
-Review the song with the students
-Have each one play it by themselves while saying the notes.
*BOW HOLD! (20 minutes)
-Have students do a few warmups on page 7 to prepare their right
hands and to warm up.
-Have students practice holding a pencil and shape it like the picture
in the book on page 7.
-Using the practice bows, go over the right way to use their right arm
And how to bow correctly on their instrument.

-Learn about shadow bowing and practice doing that with the practice
Bows and make up different rhythms using them.
-Learn about down bow and up bow.
*BOW (10 minutes)
-Talk about care and parts of the bow.pages 2 and 3.
-Never touch the bow hair! When not using it, either in case or on
the music stand.
-Go through the parts of the bow on page 2.
-Explain about tightening and loosening the bow.
-Explain about rosining the bow. Have students all try that and be
able to demonstrate that correctly.
-ROSIN RAPS/SHADOW BOWING WITH ROSIN.
*USING THE BOW
-If time, use the bow and try to make some sounds on it.
-Try just playing open strings. NO LEFT HAND FINGERS YET!
VIDEOS????
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE
~Know how to care for the bow.
~Know the parts of the bow.
~Know how to correctly shape their right hand by holding the pencil and
then holding the bow.
~Be able to distinguish between down and up bow.
~Try making some sounds by using the bow.

DAY 6
OBJECTIVES:
~To demonstrate how to hold the bow correctly.
~To use the practice bow and have the right motion with their right arm.
~Demonstrate how to use the bow and their left hand at the same time.
~To learn more posture positions.
FLOW
*Come in and read the board. Put instrument on floor next to you.
*Movement Exercises (2 minutes)
-pick a variety of movement games and warmups.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Exercises (5 minutes)
-Do various clapping and counting exercises.
-Show baton (conducting pattern) and have students demonstrate
the four beat pattern.
-Only clap or pluck when they see my baton move. Learn to watch!
*Warmup with songs (5 minutes)
-Have students pick their favorite song to play as a warmup.
*Hot Cross Buns (2 minutes)
-Have the students play it.
*BOW (20 minutes)
-Review how to care for the bow and tighten/loosen, etc.
-Review how to rosin the bow.
-Have students demonstrate those steps correctly!
-Review how to hold the bow and have students demonstrate.
-Play page 11 and do different rhythms and different strings.
-I play you play with the bow.
-Do rhythms with down and up bows.

-Count and bow!

*Play with CD with the bow! (5-10 minutes)
-Play page 9 and 10 with the bow and with the cd.
-Stop to make sure students are playing correctly and are
Demonstrating proper bow technique.
*Posture positions (5-10 minutes)
-Introduce other positions:
Violin/Viola: 1, in front
2, over head
3, over to left (above shoulder)
4, on shoulder
5, grab bow, hold it standing up on right leg
6, put bow on strings
Cello/Bass: 1, out
2, in
3, left hand out and touching the scroll
4, left hand on fingerboard in position
5, grab bow, hold it standing up on right leg
6, put bow on strings
*Play other songs if time.
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
~Practice doing bow warmups and exercises
~Practice holding the bow correctly.
~Getting the right sound and bowing correctly on the strings.
~Try using the left hand along with the bow.
~Try Hot Cross Buns with the bow!

DAY 7
OBJECTIVES:
~To demonstrate using the bow correctly and bowing in the lanes!
~To understand the difference of bow levels.
~To play songs with the bow.
~To know how to get a good sound with the bow and how to fix it if they
arent.
~To be able to identify notes on the page.
FLOW
*Come in and read the board. Put instrument on floor next to you.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Exercises (5 minutes)
-Do various clapping and counting exercises.
-Show baton (conducting pattern) and have students demonstrate
the four beat pattern.
-Only clap or pluck when they see my baton move. Learn to watch!
-Play with the bow while watching the baton. Just play open strings.
*Warmup with songs (5 minutes)
-Have students pick their favorite song to play as a warmup.
*Bow Warmups (5 minutes)
-Shadow bow while saying notes and fingering on the instrument.
-Do different rhythms while shadow bowing and work on saying
down and up for the different directions.
-I play you play with the bow. Open strings first then fingers.
*Hot Cross Buns (5 minutes)
-Review the song while plucking.
-Play with the bow in sections.
-Work on saying the notes.

*Songs with the Bow (20 minutes)

-Learn about the different levels with the bow and learn about staying
within the lanes on the instrument.
-Try open strings first with the bow and have each student pick four
notes to play and demonstrate their bowing skills. Go around and
correct students who need extra help.
-Play Page 13 with the bow.
-Review the fingerings with the bow and do I play you play first.
-Make sure the students are saying the notes while playing.
-Try page 12 with the bow. The goal is to get the right sound!!
-IF TIME, go to page 14 and try those with the bow.
*Note Reading Quiz (5-10 minutes)
-Using flashcards or written notes on the board, quiz the students
on the notes. Have them name the note and then where it is on
their instrument.
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
~Work on using the bow and getting the good sound.
~Stay in the lanes and know the difference in bow levels.
~Be able to play songs with the bow! Pages 11-14.
~Give the students music staff paper and have them write a 2-4 measure
song using the notes they have learned so far. Start the staff in class and
then have them finish the rest at home. Have them create a name for it!
~Work on Hot Cross Buns with the bow.

DAY 8
OBJECTIVE:
~To write a short song and be able to play it in class, plucking or bowing!
~To know the notes on the staff and on the instrument.
~To play Hot Cross Buns from memory while plucking and bowing.
~To learn about other styles of music.
~To watch videos of other musicians playing and to learn names of famous
musicians.
~Meet high school students and learn from them!!
FLOW
*Come in and read the board. Put instrument on floor next to you.
*Clapping/Counting/Rhythm Exercises (5 minutes)
-Do various clapping and counting exercises.
-Show baton (conducting pattern) and have students demonstrate
the four beat pattern.
-Only clap or pluck when they see my baton move. Learn to watch!
-Play with the bow while watching the baton. Just play open strings.
*Warmup with songs (5 minutes)
-Have students pick their favorite song to play as a warmup.
*Bow Warmups (5 minutes)
-Shadow bow while saying notes and fingering on the instrument.
-Do different rhythms while shadow bowing and work on saying
down and up for the different directions.
-I play you play with the bow. Open strings first then fingers.
*Pass out Concert Info and go through with students (10 minutes)
-Give students concert sheet for Friday and explain how it will go.
-Go through songs and answer questions anyone may have.

-Ask for help now because tomorrow will be run through!!

*Songs with plucking and bowing (10 minutes)
-Play through songs while plucking and bowing. Pages 14-16 in
book. Play with cd!
-Do call/answer songs with the students!
*Show Videos of other musicians (10-15 minutes)
-Find YouTube clips of famous musicians to show the students.
-Violin: Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, Barrage, Piano Guys,
Regina Carter, FIDDLE!
-Viola: Noboku Imai, Yuri Bashmet, Lawrence Power
-Cello/Bass: Yo-Yo Ma, Piano Guys, Edgar Meyer, Alisa
Weilerstein, Esperanza Spalding,
*HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS!!!!!!!!!
HOMEWORK/PRACTICE:
~Know the concert songs.
~Practice playing all the songs with pizzicato and arco.
~See if you can find a name of another famous person that we didnt
name today in class.

DAY 9
OBJECTIVE:
~Run through of the concert songs.
~Make sure the students know what to do and answer any questions they
might have.
~Meet everyone in big group for big rehearsals.
~Learn more about smartmusic and watch a demo.
FLOW
*RUN THROUGH! Meet as a big group and go through concert order.
*Have Larry and I demonstrate smartmusic to the kids so they know what it
is. Explain that is highly recommended for them as a practice tool and a
way to practice more at home and to use technology. Give them
information on it to take home. MAKE SURE TO TALK ABOUT IT AT THE
CONCERT!
*Also, show them other music sites:
www.musicracer.com
http://www.sphinxkids.org/MM_Instruments.html

*Give out information on the fall and make sure to have handouts for all
students!!!

*Talk about private lessons!!