Indian Trail & Ravinia School Orchestra
Learning a new instrument is an experience that can be life altering in a wonderful way. It boosts self-esteem and confidence, provides students with a social circle of like-minded individuals and enhances learning through both stimulated brain activity and appreciation for art, music, history, language and more.
Here in North Shore School District 112, we strive to provide each student with a enriching arts experience. Fourth grade students have the option to sign up orchestra and try out the violin, viola, cello or bass. If your child has never played an instrument or does not know how to read music this is the perfect opportunity for them to learn in a nurturing, organized and supportive environment.
What You Need To Know About Joining Orchestra
Hello and welcome to Mrs. Steckel's Orchestra Page!
I'm excited that you're taking the time to check this out and I hope it means you're signing up for orchestra (sorry parents, only students can sign up).
The 2021-2022 School year is going to look a little different, but sometimes different is good. I saw so many students thrive with their instruments while working from home. For some it's an outlet, a challenge and an escape. Music can be what you want it to be, so let's get started!
How this works...
Students rehearse in socially distant groups of common instruments one day a week.
We will review the previous week's lesson, allow students to individually perform and I will introduce new material.
Students are expected to practice their instruments at home between weekly lessons. This is an independent activity that requires self-discipline and dedication towards achieving a weekly goal.
Orchestra recruitment occurs in September. I will share a presentation on everything you need to know about orchestra and meet with families over Zoom to answer questions.
Students must wait until 4th grade to join orchestra. Students who move into the district or transfer from another school are welcome to join mid-year. Students entering 5th grade can also join orchestra, but may rehearse with the First Year Orchestra depending on their skill set.
We are anticipating hosting a concert in January with more information to come as we watch Covid metrics and follow health guidelines for performances.
Where Do We Perform?
Traditionally, we have performed on the Edgewood School stage for our Winter and Spring concerts.
Our 5th Grade All City concert is held at Oak Terrace School to accommodate the ​number of students and families attending.
The Second Year Orchestra has the option of purchasing reduced price tickets and performing before a Chicago Wolves Hockey game in April. This is held at the Allstate Arena. Once students have performed, they pack up their instruments and enjoy watching the game with their friends and family.
Choosing An Instrument
How Do I Choose The Best Instrument For Me?
The violin, sometimes known as a fiddle, is a wooden string instrument in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular use.
The viola is a string instrument that is bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. It is slightly larger than a violin and has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of the violin family, between the violin (which is tuned a perfect fifth above) and the cello (which is tuned an octave below).
The cello or violoncello is a bowed string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C₂, G₂, D₃ and A₃, an octave lower than the viola. Music for the cello is generally written in the bass clef, with tenor clef and treble clef used for higher-range passages.
The double bass, also known simply as the bass (or by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed, (or plucked) string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra. The bass is a standard member of the orchestra's string section, as well as the concert band, and is featured in concertos, solo, and chamber music in Western classical music.
A performance on the Violin.
A performance on the Viola
A performance on the Cello
A performance on the Bass