Overview
Serving students from Grades 6 through 12, the Mentor Schools Orchestra Program is one of the most respected music programs in Ohio. Mentor’s fine tradition of music performance can be attributed to the quality of its fine music staff and the commitment of the students that have passed through the program. Our performing groups have repeatedly been awarded top honors in competition on local, state, and national levels, and have represented our community with pride and distinction.
High School
- Director Matthew Yoke -
Concert Orchestra
This ensemble, containing only instruments from the string family, serves as a bridge from our middle school ensembles to our top tier high school ensembles. Students in this ensemble will not only be exposed to exercises that help improve their physical skills, but they will also be exposed to musical pieces that elevate their musicianship skills beyond the middle school level. With the conclusion of this course each year, every student will be given an opportunity to audition for the Symphony and Mannheim Orchestras.
This ensemble, containing only instruments from the string family, serves as a bridge from our middle school ensembles to our top tier high school ensembles. Students in this ensemble will not only be exposed to exercises that help improve their physical skills, but they will also be exposed to musical pieces that elevate their musicianship skills beyond the middle school level. With the conclusion of this course each year, every student will be given an opportunity to audition for the Symphony and Mannheim Orchestras.
Symphony Orchestra
This course is built with the top string, woodwind, brass, and percussion students in our district. The students perform professional-level compositions and each year will enter the OMEA State Orchestra Contest in the highest tier available. In order to be recommended for this course, students must score high enough on an entrance audition which requires a solo performance of music that is indicative of our OMEA class. These auditions occur in the spring and are open to any 8th grade string student as well as any student who has completed a year in the Concert Orchestra.
This course is built with the top string, woodwind, brass, and percussion students in our district. The students perform professional-level compositions and each year will enter the OMEA State Orchestra Contest in the highest tier available. In order to be recommended for this course, students must score high enough on an entrance audition which requires a solo performance of music that is indicative of our OMEA class. These auditions occur in the spring and are open to any 8th grade string student as well as any student who has completed a year in the Concert Orchestra.
Mannheim Chamber Orchestra
This is an extra-curricular ensemble built with the top string students in the district. The students perform professional level compositions and, like the Symphony Orchestra, enter the OMEA State Orchestra Contest each year in the highest tier available. In order to be considered for this extra curricular ensemble, students must score high enough on an entrance audition which requires a solo performance of music that is indicative of our OMEA class. These auditions occur in the spring and are open to any 8th grade string student as well as any student who has completed a year in the Concert or Symphony Orchestra.
This is an extra-curricular ensemble built with the top string students in the district. The students perform professional level compositions and, like the Symphony Orchestra, enter the OMEA State Orchestra Contest each year in the highest tier available. In order to be considered for this extra curricular ensemble, students must score high enough on an entrance audition which requires a solo performance of music that is indicative of our OMEA class. These auditions occur in the spring and are open to any 8th grade string student as well as any student who has completed a year in the Concert or Symphony Orchestra.
Cardinal Quartet
Coached by Mr. Singler
This is a four person, extra-curricular, ensemble created from the elite tier of string musicians in the Mentor Orchestra Program. Students will be selected through a very difficult audition process. After selected, the group will rehearse once a week after school hours. Mr. Singler, the group's coach, is a professional musician who has extensive experience and knowledge in chamber music and general string musicianship.
Coached by Mr. Singler
This is a four person, extra-curricular, ensemble created from the elite tier of string musicians in the Mentor Orchestra Program. Students will be selected through a very difficult audition process. After selected, the group will rehearse once a week after school hours. Mr. Singler, the group's coach, is a professional musician who has extensive experience and knowledge in chamber music and general string musicianship.
Middle School
6th Grade
A continuation of the foundation established in 5th grade. The early physical skills required to effectively perform on a string instrument are reexamined and taken to a higher level. Throughout the year, the students will also apply their skills to an ensemble that performs music appropriate for beginning level string ensembles.
A continuation of the foundation established in 5th grade. The early physical skills required to effectively perform on a string instrument are reexamined and taken to a higher level. Throughout the year, the students will also apply their skills to an ensemble that performs music appropriate for beginning level string ensembles.
7th and 8th Grade
Students are combined in this course to give the ensemble enough voices to create a balanced orchestral sound. Students will continue to explore new performance techniques while also refining the fine details of previously learned material. Intermediate level music is performed and much class time is used to express the ideas of effective rehearsing.
Students are combined in this course to give the ensemble enough voices to create a balanced orchestral sound. Students will continue to explore new performance techniques while also refining the fine details of previously learned material. Intermediate level music is performed and much class time is used to express the ideas of effective rehearsing.
Special Programs - Middle School
Chamber Orchestra
Directed by Ms. Driscoll, for middle school musicians who want to play music similar to what we play in class but with much more challenge. An audition is required to be accepted in the group. Interested students should be strong music readers, comfortable playing in several key signatures, and at least be familiar with shifting. Meets at Memorial on Tuesday nights. |
Rock Orchestra
Directed by Ms. Driscoll, is for middle school musicians who want to play popular music. Interested students should be solid music readers and be good at picking up on tricky rhythms by ear. We also work on some of the fundamentals of rock music including improvising, so bring your creativity! Meets at Memorial on Tuesday nights. |
What happened to 5th grade orchestra?
For the past few years the secondary music team has been setting goals, finding ways to do what we do better, and making positive changes to the way our students get involved in music. One of the things we looked critically at was our beginning music instruction. Most of you know that we have traditionally started our orchestra (and band) in 5th grade at the elementary schools. Beginning orchestra took place in 30-minute, once-per-week lessons in 5th grade before students got to middle school and could choose orchestra as part of their daily schedule.
When we looked at the structure of the program as well as some data about recruitment and retention we noticed some disadvantages to starting our beginners this way. We know from our own observations and from research, that students benefit from more repetition than a short, once-per-week lesson when they are first learning their instruments. The lack of support throughout the week meant some students experienced more frustration than they were expecting when they first joined. That could be a big contributing factor to our retention of 5th graders. When we looked at the data, we realized only 40-60% of students decided to continue with their instrument into 6th grade.
At the same time, we were looking at other districts with large and successful music programs similar to ours to see what they do. A lot of these programs have co-taught classes at the secondary level. That means there are multiple teachers in the room that serve several purposes. They have a variety of instrument specialties, help individualize instruction, offer enrichment to kids who are moving fast, and just generally supply more hands on deck to handle the challenges of large instrumental classes.
In the end, we decided that the resources and teacher hours spent on our 5th grade start would be so much more effective if we started in 6th grade instead and could implement co-teaching in those classes. We know it might be disappointing for any current 5th grader who was hoping to start an instrument this year. This just means that they will have to wait one more year. We believe when they do get started, our young musicians will ultimately have a better experience and be more likely to stick with music long term.
When we looked at the structure of the program as well as some data about recruitment and retention we noticed some disadvantages to starting our beginners this way. We know from our own observations and from research, that students benefit from more repetition than a short, once-per-week lesson when they are first learning their instruments. The lack of support throughout the week meant some students experienced more frustration than they were expecting when they first joined. That could be a big contributing factor to our retention of 5th graders. When we looked at the data, we realized only 40-60% of students decided to continue with their instrument into 6th grade.
At the same time, we were looking at other districts with large and successful music programs similar to ours to see what they do. A lot of these programs have co-taught classes at the secondary level. That means there are multiple teachers in the room that serve several purposes. They have a variety of instrument specialties, help individualize instruction, offer enrichment to kids who are moving fast, and just generally supply more hands on deck to handle the challenges of large instrumental classes.
In the end, we decided that the resources and teacher hours spent on our 5th grade start would be so much more effective if we started in 6th grade instead and could implement co-teaching in those classes. We know it might be disappointing for any current 5th grader who was hoping to start an instrument this year. This just means that they will have to wait one more year. We believe when they do get started, our young musicians will ultimately have a better experience and be more likely to stick with music long term.