Office of the Superintendent

Wheaton, Illinois 60189-6400

FRANKLIN MIDDLE SCHOOL Community Unit School District 200

David Bendis Joe Kish Principal Assistant Principal

January 2013

As the principal of Franklin Middle School and on behalf of the Franklin orchestra, I would like to express our gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of the Illinois Music Educators Association All-State Conference. It is a tremendous honor to be selected to perform at this prestigious event. Our orchestra director, Mrs. Carrie Provost, and her musicians are committed to excellence and I am thrilled that they are receiving recognition for their hard work and dedication.

Our school community is proud of the students who will perform at this year’s IMEA All-State Conference, as we are of our entire music department. The Franklin Middle School orchestra has earned many awards, recognitions, and honors over the years and we will add this performance to those honors. This level of success does not come by accident. It takes dedicated students and committed parents, but the lion’s share of credit goes to our orchestra director, Mrs. Carrie Provost.

Mrs. Provost has developed an exemplary, multi-faceted orchestra at Franklin Middle School. It truly is one of the highlights of our school that is why she has been given the incredible honor of speaking at this year’s IMEA All-State Conference. Her topic is how to build a vibrant middle school orchestra. I have worked at four outstanding middle schools during my career and I can attest that Mrs. Provost is an expert on this subject matter.

At Franklin Middle School, we believe the arts are an essential part of the educational process. We applaud the enthusiasm and devotion of the students and teachers in music departments around the state of Illinois.

Once again, we thank you for giving our students and Mrs. Provost this tremendous honor.

Respectfully, David A. Bendis Principal Franklin Middle School

211 E. Franklin Street Wheaton, Illinois 60187 (630) 682-2060 FAX (630) 682-2340

They'll be coming out of the woodwork!

Ideas for Creating a Vibrant Orchestra Culture in Your School

About today’s repertoire:

I. Scenes from the Emerald Isle, arr. by Carrie Lane Gruselle, FJH Publ. Hannah Burden, Abigail Haworth, Ellis Heyen, Allison Li, Victoria MacDonald, Violin Solos; Mark

Chiodras, Katie Sullivan, Bailey Wellen, Viola Solos; Timothy Hudson, Cello Solo

I always gravitate towards Carrie Lane Gruselle’s compositions, and this is one of her best. The beginning section is exquisitely beautiful and deceptively hard! There are multiple solos, which I chose to spread throughout many top players. This piece is a favorite among my students, for good reason!

The students say: “This beautiful song always brings to mind full, green, grassy meadows and bagpipes singing

in the distance. I love this song’s Irish taste.” – Hannah Burden “A trip to Ireland – an interesting, beautiful chorus of song celebrating the excitement in

simplicity and everyday life.” – Abby Haworth

II. Leap of Faith – by Randy Sabien, Alfred Publ. I was happy to see that one of Randy Sabien’s latest pieces features the viola section! The piece’s title, “Leap of

Faith” is a play on words for the numerous shifts to third position. A great “Coldplay”-ish sound with syncopated brush stroke bowing.

The students say: “I really enjoy this song! I love the viola part and when all the sections come together it sounds

amazing.” – Teagan Kafer

“The piece ‘Leap of Faith’ starts with a calm and beautiful sound then suddenly hits you with a fun fast beat that makes you never want to forget the wonderful sounds and tempo changes.” – Jackson Stoll

Performance/Clinic Franklin Middle School Chamber Orchestra

Wheaton, ILCarrie Provost, Director

January 26, 2013

III. Ice Sculptures, by Brian Balmages, FJH Publ. Alexander Daigle, Cello; Victoria MacDonald, Piano

Brian Balmages continues to amaze with his wonderful pieces for band and orchestra. “Ice Sculptures” has a haunting quality to the beginning and end, featuring a sublime cello solo and important piano line. These slow sections bookend a spritely festive theme reminiscent of a winter celebration. A winner!

The students say: “Although there may be no ice in sight it really gets me in the mood for winter.” – Addison Lorentsen “The ultimate winter lullaby – smooth and sweet.” – Abby Haworth

“The beginning of the song is so beautiful, especially the cello part. When the music quickens I like to think of it as an ice festival, very lively, fun and exciting.” – Kiersten Oslund

IV. Catharsis – by Amy Cann, arr. by Bob Phillips, Alfred Publ. A great Bob Phillips arrangement of the Amy Cann tune – a mesmerizing reel in G minor. Students love the

catchy tune, and I love the bowing techniques they are learning!

The students say: “I love the fast, upbeat rhythm of this song!” – Bailey Wellen

“Although it’s very repetitive, I just love it and I can’t get it out of my head. It gets everyone moving.” – Addison Lorentsen

V. The Cello Song – J.S. Bach; arr. by Steven Sharp Nelson From the popular Piano Guys comes this challenging and updated arrangement of Bach’s “Prelude” and Gounod’s

“Ave Maria”. I wanted to feature my outstanding cello section, and this piece fit the bill! Sheet music by the Piano Guys is available from their website, www.stevensharpnelson.com

The students say: “A beautiful song that features cellos like never before! It uses the cello in ways that would’ve never

been thought possible.” – Niamh Kane

“I think ‘The Cello Song’ is awesome and it shows the cello is the best instrument.” – Patrick McNally

“I love this piece! I am glad to be a cello and play it. It is so creative.” – Morghin Klein

VI. Five Ukrainians in a Bell Tower – M.D. Leontovych; arr. by Rick England, Alfred Publ. 1st Violin Solos: Greyson Cox, Casey Johnson, Allison Li 2nd Violin Solos: Hannah Burden, Britta Heggeland Viola Solos: Mark Chiodras, Katie Sullivan Cello Solos: Alexander Daigle, Timothy Hudson Piano: Abigail Haworth

A clever re-working of two classics, “Carol of the Bells” and “Take Five”. Who have thunk it? Rick England sets the piece in a “concerto grosso” format, although I’ve chosen to expand the solo trio into a small group. Totally original and a fun tribute to the late Dave Brubeck.

The students say: “A jazzy potpourri of “classical” and “plain fun.” – Abby Haworth “’Five Ukrainians in a Bell Tower’ is a fun upbeat piece that will make you sway to the fun and merry

tempo.” – Jackson Stoll

VII. Point Lookout – A Fantasy on Civil War Songs – Brian Balmages, FJH Publ. This is one of my favorite pieces for upper level middle school or early high school students. Brian Balmages has

set several Civil War era tunes into a seamless medley, including several tonal centers (G Major, E Flat Major, C Major, G Minor). The piece is rhythmically challenging and stretches the phrasing ability of maturing musicians.

The students say: “A great song of American patriotism. Each time I play this piece I reflect on how thankful for the

freedom I have, and remember those who have died fighting for it.” – Hannah Burden

“Includes so many different songs and tempos that the audience cannot look away for one second, absolutely breathtaking.” – Ellis Heyen

“This song is my favorite. The beginning is haunting and the song goes on to be such a wonderful combination of American and military-style songs.” – Alexandra Fuller

VIII. Final Countdown – Joey Tempest, arr. by Paul Lavender and Robert Longfield, Hal Leonard Publ. The 80’s Europe hit written in an accessible way for middle school orchestra. Students of many levels absolutely

love playing this rock anthem. At our final concert last year, we added electric guitars and electric bass for the optimal effect!

The students say: “For a song that wasn’t originally written for strings, it sounds pretty cool played by an orchestra.

Such an awesome song.” – Alexandra Fuller

“This is a fun song that brings out the rock star in all of us.” – Hannah Burden

Carrie Provost earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Ur-bana, and a Master’s Degree in Music Education from Northern Illinois University. Mrs. Provost has been a member of the string faculty in Wheaton-Warrenville School District 200 for the past 26 years, teaching at Franklin Middle School and three feeder elementary schools. She also taught for six years in the Wheaton College Suzuki Program, and for three years in Naperville School District 203. Mrs. Provost was a finalist for the Golden Apple Excellence in Teaching Award in 1999, and received the Illinois ASTA “School Orchestra Teacher” Award for 2009. She has served on the conducting faculty at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison Summer Clinic. Her eighth grade orchestra at Franklin Middle School in Wheaton has received many honors over the years, including being invited to perform at the IMEA All-State Convention in 1999, 2003, 2006, and in the “Music Education Day at the Capitol” in 2001. The orchestra was also honored to present the world premiere of “Americana Suite”, by Norman Leyden in 2005, the first piece written by him for middle school orchestra since 1960. Other commissions by the Franklin Orchestra program include pieces by David O’Fallon and Jeffrey Bishop. Approximately 150 students out of 780 in the student body are involved in the orchestra program at Franklin. Each grade level has a non-auditioned, inclusive orchestra. The group performing today are currently eighth grade students (38 members), and include a classical guitar player. Orchestra students participate each year in the IGSMA Solo/Ensemble Contest, Organizational Contest, State Contest, and the “Music in the Parks” Festivals. In addition to traditional orchestral activities, an extracurricular fiddling group is offered to any interested students. Mrs. Provost is a frequent adjudicator at contests, as well as a guest conductor for orchestra festivals. She served on the board of the Illinois Chapter of the American String Teachers Association, and is a violinist in the DuPage Symphony Orchestra. She is married to Bob, an orchestra teacher in Indian Prairie School District 204, and they have three daughters and two grandchildren. Wheaton-Warrenville C.U.S.D. #200 is proud of its music program. The Orchestra program begins in fifth grade, with elementary students receiving one half-hour lesson and one large group rehearsal weekly. Sixth grade stu-dents continue to receive one lesson weekly, in addition to three full rehearsals a week. From seventh grade up through high school, orchestra students meet daily as a graded class receiving full academic credit. The combined string enroll-ment in District 200 is over 1200 students. Orchestra faculty members in District 200 are: Grace Chu, Jeanne Johan-nesen, Carrie Provost, Christy Reichenbach, Philip Rudd, Deborah Schmaltz, Lisa Volle and Joanne Wegscheid.

Outline of Power Point Presentation“They’ll be coming out of the woodwork – ideas for creating a vibrant orchestra culture in your school”

Carrie ProvostJanuary 26, 2013

I. Philosophy A. Inclusiveness 1. Guitarists admitted into orchestra 2. Guitar Unit 3. Open access to Franklin Fiddlers 4. ELL Students welcome 5. No auditions B. Do the Unexpected! 1. Pep Assemblies 2. Alternative Styles 3. Decorate instruments for the holidays 4. “Carol” throughout the school C. Highlight your strengths 1. Choose repertoire that features your strongest section

II. Music Theory/Terminology A. Birthday Terminology B. Beginning of Year Posters C. Key Signature Banner – mnemonic devices D. C#! – use of humor E. Color Game F. Conducting Unit – Understanding meters G. Accidentals – Spinner Game

III. Team Building A. Folder Decorating – Duct Tape B. Hoodie Design Contest C. SEL Goals D. Letters to Composers/Commissioning music Some featured composers; Norman Leyden, David O’Fallon, Jeffrey Bishop, even John Williams E. Bring in guest clinicians

IV. Leadership A. Section leaders/ rotating seating B. Violin teams: equal, switch C. Solo/Ensemble Contest – virtually everyone participates in an ensemble. 1. All groups perform for the class prior to contest, and are critiqued by their classmates 2. Use more advanced students to help coach ensembles D. Share the wealth – allow several students to play solos

V. Technology A. SmartMusic 1. Frequent small tests on SmartMusic are advantageous 2. Differentiation of tests for various levels

VI. Repertoire A. Choose a variety of music that is on the upper edge of the group’s capabilities B. Write out parts for advanced students, or have them play in a different clef C. Keep up with new trends; i.e, movies, youtube, etc.

Have fun!