Pumas Playing On
- Academics
- Fine Arts
- Middle School
Nancy Schatz Alton, Writer/Editor
Every day, outstanding teaching and learning take place both on campus and in the world beyond our walls. This article highlights how our educators foster academic growth, creativity, and curiosity in their students. UPrep’s challenging educational program in an inclusive environment encourages students to grow confident as they discover their passions and purpose. Read on to learn more about our Middle School Orchestra Class, where students learn to lead a life of learning as they become skilled musicians.
The Class: Middle School Orchestra
The Middle School Orchestra is UPrep’s advanced Middle School performing ensemble. The orchestra competes in regional competitions and travels to one overnight destination each year. This ensemble is open to all orchestral instruments and requires an audition or teacher approval for enrollment.
The Task: Learn Musicianship
During Middle School, students learn what it takes to be a musician, said Instrumental Music Teacher Thane Lewis. “Students learn the basics of rhythm, intonation, and pitch. They learn how to communicate musically and play with each other. By the end of 8th grade, they understand a musician’s work ethic and process,” he said. “Middle School Orchestra class is a crucible where everything is taken apart and reassembled and mixed.”
The Outcomes
As a professional musician, Thane knows that performing can feel personal, so he works to make the learning space safe by getting to know the students. “Mr. Lewis creates a great balance between getting to know the students and having conversations with us while helping us learn how to play better and incorporate new techniques,” said Kiran M., 7th grade. “He makes sure each person is playing correctly, and if something like your bow grip is a little off, he will correct it and check on it more than once so the person makes progress.”
When Thane challenges students with a piece of information like they are playing out of tune, he explains the physics behind the assessment. “There’s a moment when I give them critical advice. If they are out of tune, I tell them it’s about hertz: cycles per second. To be in tune, the sound waves need to be traveling at a certain frequency. I tell them it’s not going to be easy at first, but if you repeat a passage correctly enough times, you’ll align yourself with the physical reality of sound and be able to play that part in tune,” said Thane. “I tell them we are all in the same boat, and every musician I know goes through discomfort and struggle to progress as a musician.”
Kiran said that Mr. Lewis is also good at identifying what people need to learn. “If a person plays quietly, he teaches them how to play louder. Maybe they might have lower self-confidence, like me, and learning that I needed to play much louder during a solo helped me learn this skill, too,” she said. “He helps everyone progress in their abilities.”
Thane shares everything he has learned from being a professional musician, from teaching students how to record music and how microphones work to how to promote shows. He worked with some students to create a promotional video about this past fall’s Harry Potter Night, where students performed a medley of Harry Potter–themed music and then the students and their audience watched Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. “I tell them that we are content producers and show them all that goes into becoming a professional musician,” said Thane.
Eighth-grade student Keylly said that learning and performing together helps create community. “We all help each other. We make these great memories, especially when we go to Western Washington University for the State Orchestra Festival or when we do concerts at UPrep,” she said.
In fact, Kiran said her favorite part of orchestra is playing at concerts. “I remember how difficult it was on the first day, and now I think it’s simple and I’m really doing a good job. I like it when we blend all the individual parts together. It just sounds so amazing,” she said. “Orchestra gives me the space and time to express myself through music.”
- Academics
- Fine Arts
- Middle School