CRESTDALE MIDDLE SCHOOL STRINGS PROGRAM
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6th Grade Orchestra Karate

Interested in Orchestra?

What is "Strings Karate?"

The Karate Belt system is used in martial arts training to mark progress. In Strings, the same idea is applied to learning an instrument! Throughout the school year, students will have the opportunity to advance by playing specific exercises from our method book (Sound Innovations for String Orchestra) and demonstrating mastery of various skills. Once checked off on all requirements for each level, students earn a colored belt as a reward and sign of achieving practice goals!  (Belts will be tied to the scroll of the instruments to show accomplishments)

Students will start on the lowest belt (white) and progress through the ranks to make it to the highest belt (black). There are NINE levels of belts, each more difficult than the previous one. Students must show improvement and achievement to earn the next belt. This will require a lot of practice at home and self-motivation!!!  Those who wish to go above and beyond the belt system can also earn up to four additional awards. 

Order of Belts:
White, Yellow, Green, Blue, Purple, Red, Orange,  Brown, Black
Karate Rules
To earn each belt, students must perform the songs listed on each belt page at a level 3 or 4 (see rubric).

The RULES are:
1. Students must practice AT HOME to perfect each skill.
2. Students may only earn belts in order (although students may pass off on specific skills from future belts at any time).
3. Students may ask Mr. Todd for extra help at ANY time!!!.
4. When testing for a belt challenge, students are only allowed to start over ONCE.
5. Students may work ahead of the rest of the class.
6. Students may retake quizzes as many times as needed the skills needed are mastered. (only one do-over on each attempt is allowed (see rule #4))

Parent/Guardian Assistance
Many of the videos that students need to watch will need to be viewed at home. There are a few places for parents to sign off on specific assignments - only on those specifically marked boxes.

Some weeks will have built-in time for belt challenges. Students are always welcome to record them at home and submit them electronically.

General Links

  • Information about 6th Grade Strings Karate
  • Mr. Todd's Youtube Channel
  • Complete Sound Innovations videos on Youtube

Links for Karate video/audio recordings on this page:

White Belt:
1. Watch how to properly assemble, disassemble and care for your instrument:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Watch "Left Hand Setup" video from page 6 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Demonstrate proper posture and playing position with left-hand finger taps on all D-string notes, keeping hand shape consistent.
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #17, Jolly Fellows:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Practice recordings for #18, Boil Them Cabbage Down:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
7. Video for Theory Lesson #1 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #2 tutorial here.
9. Video for Theory Lesson #3 tutorial here.
10. Video for White Belt Clapping help here.


Yellow Belt
1. Place left hand straight onto fingerboard in correct shape and in the correct position onto the finger tapes on any string: 
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Hold a pencil with correct bow hold while performing bow flexibility exercises:
     Violin & Viola     /    Cello & Bass
3. Practice recordings for #28, Au Claire de la Lune:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #30, Going Up The D Scale:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #32, Twinkle, Twinkle:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #4 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #5 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #6 tutorial here.
10. Video for Yellow Belt Clapping help here.

Green Belt:
1. Watch "Bow Hold and Bow Movement" videos from pages 12-16 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Hold a bow with correct bow hold while performing flexibility exercises:
     Violin & Viola     /    Cello & Bass
4. Practice recordings for #36, Dayenu:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #49, Lifts and Levels:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
7. Video for Theory Lesson #7 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #8 tutorial here.
9. Video for Theory Lesson #9 tutorial here.
10. Watch a professional (of your instrument) playing any solo off of this playlist for at least ten minutes:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass 
(You only need to watch one of the videos for a stamp, but you're welcome to watch more!)
11. Video for Green Belt Clapping help here.

Blue Belt:
1. Watch "Bow Speed" videos from page 18 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for Twinkle Variation #1 - Running-Running, Walk-Walk:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Video demonstrations for Twinkle Variation #1 - Running-Running, Walk-Walk:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass  
3. Practice recordings for #41, Cripple Creek:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #62, D Major Scale:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #64, Hot Cross Buns:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #10 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #11 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #12 tutorial here.
9. Attend a school orchestra or band concert (that you’re not performing in). 
    Link to the local performance calendar here.

10. Video for Blue Belt Clapping help here.

Purple Belt:
1. Watch the "4th Finger A" videos from page 21 for upper strings, or... 
    Watch a video on how to shift to A on the D-String for low strings. 

     Violin     /     Viola     /      Cello     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #75, A New Way to Play A:
     Violin     /     Viola     /      Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for Twinkle Theme:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Video demonstrations for Twinkle Theme:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Video demonstrations for straight bows on all four strings-
    up and down in center lane
     
Violin     /     Cello
4. Practice recordings for #68, Can-Can:
     Violin     /     Viola     /      Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #72, Oats, Peas & Beans:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #13 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #14 tutorial here.
8. Watch a college or adult symphony perform a live concert.
    Link to the local performance calendar here.

9. Video for Purple Belt Clapping help here.

Red Belt:
1. Watch "Using different parts of the bow" on page 22 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Bow usage exercises from page 22 :
     Violin & Viola   /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Practice recordings for Lightly Row:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Video demonstrations for Lightly Row:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #76, Frere Jacques:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #82, Reuben and Rachel:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #15 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #16 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #17 tutorial here.
9. Watch a video of any chamber group on this playlist for at least 10 minutes here.
10. Video for Blue Red Clapping help here.

Orange Belt:
1. Practice recordings for D Major Scale (arco and pizz):
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Videos for D Major Scale (arco and pizz):
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #78, Shepherd's Hey:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Practice recordings for #84, This Old Man:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #88, French Folk Song:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for Song of the Wind:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Video demonstrations for Song of the Wind:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for tuning tutorial here.
    **Although the video shows how to tune with pegs, please DON'T do it!

8. Video for Theory Lesson #18 tutorial here.
9. Video for Theory Lesson #19 tutorial here.
10. Video for Theory Lesson #20 tutorial here.
12. Video for Orange Belt Clapping help here.

Brown Belt:
1. Watch the video of "Placing Fingers on the G String" from page 25 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #98, G Major Scale:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #99, G Major Arpeggio:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Practice recordings for #96, Goin' Low:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for Go Tell Aunt Rhody:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Video demonstrations for Go Tell Aunt Rhody:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for Chromatic Scale:
      Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Practice videos for Chromatic Scale:
      Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #21 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #22 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #23 tutorial here.
10. Video for Brown Belt Clapping help here.


Black Belt:
1. Watch the video on "Slurring and Hooked Bows" from page 28 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #103, Buffalo Gals:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Practice recordings for #109, Slurs and Hooks:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #113, More String Slurs:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for Suzuki Allegro:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Video demonstrations for Suzuki Allegro:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #24 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #25 tutorial here.
8. Watch a professional (of your instrument) playing any solo on this playlist for at least fifteen minutes:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
(You only need to watch one of the videos for a stamp, but you're welcome to watch more!)
10. Video for Black Belt Clapping help here.




Peg Monster #1:
1. Watch the video on playing your fourth (and final) string:
     E String on page 37:   Violin    /     Bass 
     C String on page 39:   Viola     /     Cello
2. Practice recordings for #120, Finger Rock:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Practice recordings for #124, Ode to Joy:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #149, New Note F#:
     Violin    /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #162, Going up the C String:
     Viola     /     Cello
5. Watch how to produce "ringing tones" on your instrument:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello      /     Bass
    Ringing Tone charts for your instrument:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for tuning (while playing) tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #26 tutorial here.
8. Video for Theory Lesson #27 tutorial here.
9. Video for Theory Lesson #28 tutorial here.
10. Attend a school orchestra or band concert (that you’re not performing in). 
    Link to the local performance calendar here.

11. Video for PM#1 Clapping help here.




Peg Monster #2: 
1. Watch the video on "Bowing Lanes" from page 32 for:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #154, Aura Lee:
     Violin     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #166, Texian Boys:
     Viola     /     Cello
3. Practice recordings for #155, The Erie Canal:
     Violin     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #167, Sweetly Sings the Donkey:
     Viola     /     Cello
4. Practice recordings for #127, C Major Scale:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for #128, C Major Arpeggio:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #110, Minuet No. 1:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Video for Theory Lesson #29 tutorial here.
7. Video for Theory Lesson #30 tutorial here.
8. Watch a college or adult symphony perform a live concert.
    Link to the local performance calendar here.

10. Video for PM#2 Clapping help here.

Peg Monster #3: 
1. Practice recordings for #130, Sakura:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #169, Single Eighth Notes and Rests:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
3. Practice recordings for #170, Alouette:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #172, May Song:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Practice recordings for #179, Double the Fun:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
6. Practice recordings for #180, Boil Them Cabbage Down:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
7. Video demonstrations for the Chromatic Scale (part 2):
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass   
    Sheet Music for the Chromatic Scale (part 2):
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
    Practice recordings for Chromatic Scale (part 2):
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
9. Watch a video of any symphony performance on this playlist for at least 10 minutes here.
11. Video for PM#3 Clapping help here.

Peg Monster #4:
1. Practice recordings for #140, Chester:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #144, Accidental Frere Jacques:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
2. Practice recordings for #173, Playing Dotted Quarter Notes:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
4. Practice recordings for #177, Going Home:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
5. Video for finger position exercises:
     Violin & Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
9. Video for PM#4 Clapping help here.
10. Practice recordings for #185, your FINAL song!!:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
     Videos for #185, your FINAL song!!:
     Violin     /     Viola     /     Cello     /     Bass
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  • Home Page
  • Auditions
    • Youth Orchestras
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  • Classes
    • Morning Tutoring Information
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    • Suggested Instruments and Stores
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    • Summer Camps
    • FAQs
    • About Ms. Spinks
  • Incoming Students