Teacher’s Academic Daily Schedule:
1st Period 8:25-8:55 Planning
2nd Period 9:00-9:47 8th Grade Guitar Class
3rd Period 9:51-10:38 8th Grade Orchestra
Planning/Lunch 10:41-11:33
4th Period 11:36-12:23 7th Grade Orchestra
5th Period 12:27-1:14 7th Grade Orchestra
Planning 1:17-1:34
6th Period 1:37-2:24 6th Grade Orchestra
7th Period 2:28-3:15 6th Grade Orchestra
Spring Orchestra Concert
Thursday, May 16th, 2024 at 6pm
In the cafeteria
Our Spring orchestra concert is on Thursday, May 16th at 6pm in the Cafeteria at Northwood Middle School. This concert will feature the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade strings. Students need to arrive by 5:30pm so we can tune and get setup.
The concert dress is: a white polo shirt or a white dress shirt and black pants or a black skirt for ladies (no jeans), and black shoes (no tennis shoes or sneakers please). Please let me know if you have any questions (pmurch@greenville.k12.sc.us) and I look forward to seeing everyone at the rehearsals and concert!
Congratulations to these students who performed in Solo & Ensemble!!
The following students received the highest level of Superior:
Scarlett Moore - violin
Mary Raydon Catron 2 Superior Performances - violin
Landon Dutton - violin
Kristi Dang - viola
Weson Childs - cello
Liam Simpson - cello
Matthew Miranda - bass
The following students received the level of Excellent.
Titus Eenigenburg - violin
Leandro Figueroa - violin
Isabella Vo and Ruya Erdogen (duet) - violin
Adriana Loflin - viola
Titus Aim - cello
Nola Southerland - bass
Congratulation to the 8th grade orchestra who received an Excellent Rating at Furman University at Concert Performance Assessment on March 7th!!
Carowinds Trip for All Grades Saturday, May 4th, 2024
Click Here for the full information.
Concert Performance Assessment Rehearsals
Any seventh grade students that want to perform with the eighth grade orchestra for this event will need to come to the following morning rehearsals:
Week 1 - Monday and Tuesday - February 12 and 13 - (Violins Only)
Wednesday - February 14 - (Viola, Celli, and Bass Only)
Week 2 - Tuesday and Wednesday - February 20 and 21 - (Violins Only)
Friday - February 23 - (Viola, Celli, and Bass Only)
Week 3 - Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday February 26, 27, and 28 - (Violins Only)
Friday - March 1 - (Viola, Celli, and Bass Only)
Week 4 - Monday and Tuesday - March 4 and 5 - (All Instruments)
The rehearsals are seventh and eighth grade orchestras combined and are required:
Tuesday, February 27 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Thursday, February 29 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Tuesday, March 5 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Thursday, March 7 - Concert Performance Assessment
Winter Orchestra Concert
Thursday, December 14th at 6pm
In the cafeteria
Our Winter orchestra concert is on Thursday, December 14th at 6pm in the Cafeteria at Northwood Middle School. This concert will feature the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade strings. Students need to arrive by 5:30pm so we can tune and get setup.
The following grades will have an after school rehearsal to help us prepare. These are the rehearsals:
- 7th grade after school rehearsal is Thursday, December 7th from 3:30-4:45pm in the orchestra room.
- 6th grade after school rehearsal is Tuesday, December 12th from 3:30-4:45pm in the orchestra room.
The concert dress is: a white polo shirt or a white dress shirt and black pants or a black skirt for ladies (no jeans), and black shoes (no tennis shoes or sneakers please). Students may wear a Santa or festive hat if they want. Please let me know if you have any questions and I look forward to seeing everyone at the rehearsals and concert!
Sincerely,
Patrick W. Murch
Fundraiser Turn in is Monday and Tuesday, Oct 30-31st!!!
Fall Concert is Thursday, October 26 at 6pm in the Northwood Cafeteria!!
This concert is for the 7th and 8th grade orchestras only. Students need to arrive by 5:30pm so we can tune and setup. The concert dress is Halloween costume attire. There will be awards given for categories such as: spookiest costume, most creative, etc. Get creative and have fun!!
Our Fall Fundraiser has begun!!
Students received their fundraiser packets yesterday and all the information from Emily's Fundraising. Click here for the full information sheet. The fundraiser ends on Monday, October 30th. Please turn in any money on or before that date.
Anyone that would prefer to do a donation to our orchestra needs instead of fundraising, here is a link to do that, Click here. Good luck and thank you for support the orchestra!!
7th and 8th grade after school rehearsal this Thursday, October 19 from 3:30-4:45pm in the Orchestra Room
Congratulations to our two students who made All Region Orchestra!!
Mathew Miranda - Double Bass
Nola Southerland - Double Bass
Congratulations to our two eighth grade bass players who spent the day at the Governor's school for the Arts and Humanities practicing and performing!
Congratulations to our two 7th grade and two eighth grade cello players who spent the day at Furman university practicing and performing!
All students 8th Grade Honors and any other students that want to try out need to complete the form below that I gave out in class. Please get this to me asap. The form is linked below:
6th Grade students renting instruments
Please look at renting your instruments at a local string store in our area. Here are a few that are close by and are very good:
If you are planning on buying an instrument instead of renting one, please send me the link for the instrument if it is online so that I can check the quality of the instrument. Here is my email address pmurch@greenville.k12.sc.us
Here is the school rental instrument form for students that are in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade and are using a cello or bass. The one time fee is not $50, it is $40. It is a first come first serve basis, as we do not have enough school instrument for everyone to rent from the school. It is best to start look at the local music stores to look at renting an instrument. If you are going to rent a school instrument, you could rent using the "My School Bucks" link here or send cash or check. Checks should be made to Northwood Middle School.
Everyone that plays violin or viola still needs a shoulder rest for the size instrument that you have as well as the book "Essential Elements" book 1 by Gillespie, Hayes, Allen.
Good shoulder rests brands are: Everest, Kun, and FOM and there are others. The book and the shoulder rest can be bought at any music store or online like amazon.com, etc.
School Guitar Rental for and link for payment
If you would like to use a school guitar, you need to complete this instrument rental form and have your student bring it to me. You can make the one time payment of $20 for the semester though "My School Buck" link here.
7th Grade supplies needed
Instrument and bow
Essential Elements for Strings by book 2 by Michael W. Allen, Pamela Tellejohn Hayes, and Robert Gillespie
8th Grade supplies needed
Instrument and bow
Essential Technique for Strings by book 3 by Michael W. Allen, Pamela Tellejohn Hayes, and Robert Gillespie
Essentials for Strings by Gerald Anderson
Here is a link to your weekly lesson plans
2023-2024 Orchestra calendar
Semester One
Tuesday, August 8 - First Day of School
Monday, September 11 - Region Orchestra Audition Registration and Money Due (Required for Honors Students)
Saturday, September 16 - Cello Choir at Furman University (Required for Honors Cellists)
Saturday, September 23 - Double Bass Workshop at Governor's School (Required for Honors Bassists)
Saturday, October 7 - Region Orchestra Auditions at League Academy (Required for all Honors Students)
Thursday, October 19 - 7th & 8th Grade Orchestras Combined Rehearsal 3:30-4:45pm (Required for 7th & 8th Grade)
Thursday, October 26 - Fall Concert at 6pm (Required for 7th & 8th Grade)
Friday-Saturday, November 3-4 - Region Orchestra Weekend at Anderson University (Required for Honors Students who are chosen from the audition)
Monday, November 6 - All-County Orchestra Videos Due (Required for all Honors Students)
Thursday, December 7 - 7th & 8th Grade Orchestras Combined Rehearsal 3:30-4:45pm
Monday, December 11 - All-State Orchestra Audition Registration (Required if you participated in Region Orchestra)
Tuesday, December 12 - 6th Grade Orchestras Combined Rehearsal 3:30-4:45pm
Winter Concert - December 14th at 6pm (Required for All Students)
Semester Two
Saturday, January 6 - All-State Orchestra Auditions at Irmo High School
Friday, January 26 - All-County Orchestra Event at Riverside High School (Required for all Honors Students who auditioned and were chosen)
Saturday, January 27 - Violin/Viola Choir at North Greenville University (Required for all Honors Violinists and Violists)
Thursday, February 15 - Concert Performance Assessment Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Thursday, February 22 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Friday-Sunday, February 23-25 - All-State Orchestra Event (Required for Honors Students who are chosen after auditions)
Tuesday, February 27 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Thursday, February 29 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Tuesday, March 5 - CPA Rehearsal 7th & 8th Grade 3:30-4:45pm
Thursday, March 7 - Concert Performance Assessment (Required for 7th & 8th Grade)
Monday, March 1 - Registration for Solo & Ensemble Due (Form and $5)(Required for all Honors Students and open for all grades)
March 18-22 - Spring Break
Friday, April 26 - Solo & Ensemble at Riverside High School (Required for all Honors Students and open for all grades)
Tuesday, May 7 - 7th & 8th Grade Orchestras Combined Rehearsal 3:30-4:45pm
Thursday, May 9 - 6th Grade Orchestras Combined Rehearsal 3:30-4:45pm
Spring Concert - May 16th at 6pm (Required for All Students)