When does orchestra become challenging

[Anonymous]

I have a child who plays violin, has taken private lessons for four years. She is currently in 6th grade beginning orchestra and is playing with kids who just obtained a violin a couple of weeks ago. It’s dreadfully slow…when does orchestra pick up the pace and become more challenging and when are students grouped by skill level so that it’s more enjoyable for her. TIA!

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Depend on your school, DD’s MS (TPMS) has like 3 levels of orchestra, same for HS

[Anonymous]

Depends on the school. Some schools have many advanced string students, so advanced orchestra is exactly that. Mine found orchestra engaging at TPMS and Blair, but they had several tiers of orchestras, and their advanced/chamber orchestras have all kids taking private. Mine started at 4.5 years old. Some schools don't have that depth of musicians or level of interest in instrumental music in the student population. The may only have 1 orchestra, in which case, it will likely not challenge a kid taking private unless the teacher comes up w/ creative solo work. My kid's ES teacher did that. He was amazing. But, you can't expect that level of individual attention from a teacher or that level of play from the student body. Some kids who study privately don't take orchestra for this reason.

[Anonymous]

Never, that's why many go to MCYO and PVYO.

[Anonymous]

Never. My DD has done MCYO for years. She also does orchestra in her middle school, county and all-state. They're all varying levels of easy, even MCYO... but she likes it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Never. My DD has done MCYO for years. She also does orchestra in her middle school, county and all-state. They're all varying levels of easy, even MCYO... but she likes it.

Op here. What does this mean?

[Anonymous]

You know she doesn’t have to play the same instrument. Maybe this is an opportunity for her to try the cello or something. This year’s 6th graders were 4th graders the virtual year. It messed up a lot of opportunities for kids WRT instrumental music. I think it’s great that kids are just picking up instruments and also great that your child has found joy in her last 4 years of private lessons. But what exactly did you expect? That all the students would have come in at that level, especially with a pandemic in the middle?

[Anonymous]

Ask the teacher if your child can be moved to the advanced orchestra-- mostly 8th graders, so your school may have a policy against it. (Ours allows it.)

[Anonymous]

My DD is in the same boat. She finds it incredibly boring and wants to quit orchestra. She is in 8th and in advanced orchestra and there is still a noticeable difference in skill level. We're hoping by HS things will change but I don't think that it will. MS advanced orchestra is definitely better than ES orchestra so at least there's that.

[Anonymous]

New instrument is a great idea. For a violin player, have her switch to the viola. She will learn to steadily play the bass clef.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Never. My DD has done MCYO for years. She also does orchestra in her middle school, county and all-state. They're all varying levels of easy, even MCYO... but she likes it.

Op here. What does this mean?

Starting in 6th (7th grade for all-state), public school kids can audition or be nominated to perform in orchestral groups that draw from across the county, or across the state. They are by definition more advanced than individual school orchestras, but not at the level of MCYO's Philharmonic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Never. My DD has done MCYO for years. She also does orchestra in her middle school, county and all-state. They're all varying levels of easy, even MCYO... but she likes it.

Op here. What does this mean?

Starting in 6th (7th grade for all-state), public school kids can audition or be nominated to perform in orchestral groups that draw from across the county, or across the state. They are by definition more advanced than individual school orchestras, but not at the level of MCYO's Philharmonic.

Yes, but this is for only one weekend out of the year (at least in FCPS) so doesn't solve the issue of how slow orchestra is during the rest of the school year.

[Anonymous]

OP this is a unique year for the county's sixth grade band and orchestra programs. Pre-pandemic, students would come to sixth grade band and orchestra with two years of school instrumental music lessons under their belt. They understood the basics. Some came with private lesson experience and others (especially in wealthier parts of the county) started private lessons in 6th grade. The classes became increasingly challenging each year.

This year, directors are taking more sixth grade beginners than ever, becuase pf the attrition rate from distance learning and last year. The best middle school directors are quickly bringing the students up to speed. It's a mammoth task and it will take a couple years to work out.

Some middle schools allow students with significant experience to "play up" a year. Your DD might be a candidate for a schedule change to the 7th grade orchestra. Otherwise, ask the director about the audition requirements and dates for all-county middle school orchestra. Also, there is a county-run solo judging event that your DD may want to enter. https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/curriculum/finearts/instrumental.aspx

[Anonymous]

It’s painfully slow for your DC bc they started 4 years ago and the others start now.