Teaching the “Wire Choir”

Or as we say in Florida, it’s time for MPA (i.e., Music Performance Assessment). Part of our preparation is to perform our pieces at a pre-MPA concert. The high school director that my middle school feeds hosts this event. A couple of judges (usually other district string teachers who are certified adjudicators) listen and make written and taped comments.

This past Tuesday (Feb. 19) was our pre-MPA concert. It was a great experience for my students as they heard the high school symphony and chamber orchestras perform. They also were able to hear another middle school orchestra. I relish the opportunity for my students to hear high school groups because it gives them a better sense of what they could become as they progress. Hearing other middle school orchestras allows them to get a sense of where they fit in the scheme of relative progress on their instruments.

My students did well especially considering that we have four more weeks before MPA. The judges comments were excellent (the students listened to them in class the day after the concert). As a result of the judges comments, we have identified poor intonation as “public enemy #1.” Our rehearsals the rest of the week were very profitable and if we keep up the good work, the students should have a very positive experience at MPA.