Johnson City Middle School Orchestra

What are section leaders?

Section leaders help their instrument sections stay organized, work together, and support each other during rehearsals.

Meet the section leaders

Section leader names will be added here. During rehearsals, section leaders help their group follow bowings, mark changes in the music, and prepare tricky passages.

Violin I
Violin II
Viola
Cello
Double Bass

Lesson Schedule

Only this week’s lessons are shown. The schedule switches to the new week on Sundays.

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Lesson Groups

Lesson group details will be posted here. Before your lesson, check the schedule for your group’s date, time, and location.

What to bring

Your instrument and bow
Your lesson music and a pencil
One passage or question you’d like help with

Practice Guide

Why do we practice?

Working through a few measures at home gives us more time in rehearsal to listen, match the group, and make music together.

A 10-minute routine

2 minutes · Warm up with slow open strings.
5 minutes · Choose a tricky passage and repeat it slowly.
3 minutes · Play it with the measures before and after it.

What to practice

Grade 6

Impulse
French Folk Song
Ode to Joy

Grade 7

Celtica
Danse Infernale
Moonlit Skies

Grade 8

Celtica
Silent Promise
Danse Infernale

Orchestra Sign-up

Sign-up instructions will be posted here. If you’re interested, take a look at the four string instruments and ask Mr. Buck about getting started or borrowing an instrument.

Explore the instruments →

Concert Dates

Performance dates, locations, and arrival details.

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District music calendar ↗

Before the concert

Check the performance time and any separate arrival instructions from Mr. Buck. Pack your instrument, bow, and music before you leave.

Meet the Strings

Four instruments, from the highest voice to the lowest.

Violin

The smallest of the four, with a bright, high sound.

Open strings, low to high: G–D–A–E
In the orchestra: Violin I often carries the main tune. Violin II may play harmony, rhythmic figures, or a melody of its own.
What to notice: Listen for a high tune that rises above the rest of the strings.

Viola

Slightly larger than the violin, with a warmer, lower sound.

Open strings, low to high: C–G–D–A
In the orchestra: Violas often fill in the middle of a chord. The low C string gives them a voice below the violin.
What to notice: Viola parts usually use alto clef, with middle C on the middle line.

Cello

Played seated, with a rich sound that can carry a melody or bass line.

Open strings, low to high: C–G–D–A, one octave below viola
In the orchestra: The cello can anchor a chord with low notes or take over the melody. Its endpin rests on the floor while the player sits.
What to notice: Listen for the change when the cello moves from low accompaniment into a higher melody.

Double Bass

The largest and lowest instrument in the string section.

Open strings, low to high: E–A–D–G on a standard four-string bass
In the orchestra: Basses reinforce the bottom of the harmony and help establish the pulse. Players usually stand or sit on a tall stool.
What to notice: Unlike the other three, the standard double bass is tuned in fourths.

Bow or pluck?

All four can be played with a bow or plucked with a finger. In sheet music, pizzicato means to pluck, and arco tells players to return to the bow.

Musicians to Hear

Hear how four performers bring out the character of each string instrument.

Hilary Hahn Violin: Listen for how she makes several musical lines stand out in Bach’s solo violin works.
Tabea Zimmermann Viola: Listen for the contrast between the viola’s warm low register and its brighter high notes.
Yo-Yo Ma Cello: Try the Prelude from Bach’s First Cello Suite and notice how he shapes the repeating patterns.
Edgar Meyer Double bass: Listen for the double bass carrying a melody and moving beyond its usual role in the orchestra.

Meet the instruments →

Think, Breathe, Play.

Today’s Lessons

Upcoming Concerts

Orchestra News

About the Orchestra