If your child has previous playing experience before entering the 6th grade, please contact us to set up an audition so we can place them in the appropriate class.

Office: 281-641-3922 E-mail: Email Ms. Henry

What Is Orchestra All About?

Pride

You will learn to play your instrument at a very high level. Everyone will want to hear you play! Your concerts will have all your friends and family talking for a long time! The first concert will be in November, after only 2 months of school! Your parents will be so proud of your progress, but more importantly, so will you!

Great Music

You won't believe all the music you'll play! Everyone talks about how much they like to listen to music, but it is 100 times more fun to play it!

Friends

You will find great friends in Orchestra. Most Orchestra students are not only involved in music, they also enjoy sports, drama, art, cheer leading and many other interesting hobbies. This will be a unique, outstanding group with which you can work and play throughout the school years.

Have Questions?

Is previous piano or instrument study required?

No experience is required to be in the TMS Orchestra (although it does help!). We will teach everything from the very beginning.

Does the school provide any instruments for the students?

Bass students will be given a school owned instrument to use at home. Violin, Viola, and Cello students are required to rent/purchase an instrument for home use. In addition, Cello and Bass students will be provided a school owned instrument to use during class.

Should I get my 5th grader lessons over the summer to get them ahead?

In our professional opinion it is not a good idea to start a student in lessons the summer before they enter Orchestra as a beginner. Private lessons teachers aren't able to provide the day-to-day reinforcement that the classroom does (which is fine for experienced students, but not for beginners). Also, your child will not learn enough over the summer to be placed in an advanced class, but they will learn enough to be bored for the first 3 months of school! We recommend that students wait until after our first concert to begin lessons.

Are private lessons required?

Lessons are not required, but if students and their parents wish for them to excel beyond standard achievements it is highly recommended that they do! We always have a list of teachers in the area, all you have to do is ask!

When will my child need the instrument?

We start with the instruments the first week of school. Because of this we start the registration/rental process late in their 5th grade year (starting in April) to ensure that every student has an instrument. We will send out a letter starting in March for those that have signed up for Orchestra to come to our Instrument Night and reserve an instrument with one of our trusted shops. For information regarding prices please see their websites:

Fishburn Violin Shop

Lisle Violin Shop

Can my child use an instrument that has been in the family/we got from someone we know?

The short answer is yes. However, you always want to bring the instrument to the school to have the Orchestra teachers look at it. Sometimes these instruments fall into disrepair or some parts of it were not made very well; these issues can lead to it becoming difficult for your child to learn on that instrument and ultimately not enjoying Orchestra because they are unsuccessful.

Renting sounds like a pricy endeavor; I found a great deal on an instrument online, can my child use that?

Again, the short answer is yes, however, the saying goes that you get what you pay for, and this is very true in the instrument world. The most common problem with great deal instruments is that the pegs and the peg holes are not made properly (nor with the right material) and will not stay in tune no matter what we do to it. We might be able to get it in tune during class, but the moment they unpack it at home it is no longer in tune and they will not be motivated to practice. Besides that, there are many benefits that come with renting. Scroll to the bottom for more information regarding the wonderful rental programs offered by the two shops mentioned above.

How important is practicing at home? Should parents be involved in it?

Most games that our children are exposed to are designed to be mastered, to some degree, in a matter of minutes; that is part of what makes them so addicting! However, in the real world there is nothing that can be mastered so easily. In order to succeed in Orchestra each student must practice every day at home. This is probably the most challenging skill your child will work on during the year: dedicating time, every day, to improving their craft. And sometimes the improvement may take quite a while! Therefore, parent involvement in this process is needed for every student to be successful. Parents should be there to continually encourage their children to continue their efforts, and offer any correction in bad practice habits.

About the instruments

Timberwood Middle School

Orchestra

Contact Us

General Information

Region Orchestra

Practice Tips

Private Lessons

Local Shops for Musical Resources

5th Grade Student/Parent Interest Information

Rental Information