Orchestra

BK Orchestra

Meet the Teacher


Klapper

Email: Joseph Klapper
Visit Our District Wide Arts Site

In addition to having played the double bass in orchestras around the world, (ex. Israel, Italy, and NYC) I am also an oil painter (I paint every night after my children go to bed), a competitive chess player, and a happy father of two young string players.

One of my favorite parts of the school year is when I offer free string lessons to my student's parents. I offer this in the fall every year and teach the parents how to play Twinkle, Twinkle. My goal with this project is to provide my string students with supportive and knowledgeable homes to develop their string skills. Plus it is super cute to see parents playing their kid's tiny violins and cellos. This is always a very popular event with families.




Barkley Orchestra

Barkley Orchestra

Course Description

Students may join the string program in the 3rd grade and continue on through 4th and 5th Grade. Within this program we have two performing groups, The Beginner Orchestra, which consists of 1st year musicians (3rd Grade) and The Advanced Orchestra (4th and 5th Grades). During the first year of lessons students are taught how to build a healthy foundation in string playing. Emphasis is placed on proper technique, posture and basic note reading skills. In Beginner Orchestra they learn how to perform in a large ensemble, mostly performing monophonic compositions. In the 4th and 5th grades students build on this foundation, learning complex 1st position compositions, with a focus on tone, pitch, note reading and rhythmic accuracy. In Orchestra they begin performing multi-part compositions with dynamic variation. All students are given a thirty minute pull-out lesson once every six days of school as well as a  limited number of before school group rehearsals. String students perform two concerts a year, in front of both the schools they attend and an evening performamce for their parents and community.

What is the difference between a violin, viola, cello and a bass? 
Perhaps these videos will help. They show each instrument playing the same piece of music by J.S. Bach. Each instrument has its own unique technique and sound!
Violin
Viola
Cello 
Double Bass
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