Unit Plan 2 (Grade 6 Orchestra): Technique Reset—Posture & Bow Hold

Focus: Reinforce posture, instrument position, bow hold, and left-hand shape to support characteristic tone and developing intonation.

Grade Level: 6

Subject Area: Orchestra (Technique Foundations • Tone • Intonation)

Total Unit Duration: 5 sessions (one week), 50–60 minutes per session

I. Introduction

In this unit, Grade 6 orchestra students reset and strengthen their fundamental technique so they can play with a more consistent, beautiful sound. Through step-by-step posture checks, instrument position adjustments, bow hold drills, and left-hand shape routines, students learn to feel what “correct” playing position looks and feels like. Short warm-ups, mirrors or partner feedback, and simple playing excerpts help them connect these physical habits to tone quality and intonation, laying a solid foundation for the rest of the year.

Essential Questions

• How do posture and instrument position affect my sound and endurance on my instrument?
• What does a healthy bow hold look and feel like, and how does it change my tone?
• How does left-hand shape (curved fingers, relaxed thumb, hand frame) help my intonation?
• What routines can I use to check and fix my technique during warm-ups and rehearsals?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate balanced posture and correct instrument position that support comfortable playing.
2. Show a consistent bow hold (finger placement, curved fingers, relaxed thumb) and apply it in open-string and simple-note exercises.
3. Maintain a curved left-hand shape with appropriate finger arch and thumb placement while playing simple patterns.
4. Produce a more characteristic tone by combining posture, bow hold, and left-hand shape in basic warm-ups and short excerpts.
5. Use a simple self-check routine to adjust posture, bow hold, and left-hand shape independently during rehearsal.

Standards Alignment — Grade 6 Orchestra (custom, NAfME-style)

• OR:Pr4.6a — Demonstrate consistent string technique (posture, instrument position, bow hold, left-hand shape) that supports characteristic tone and developing intonation.
  • Example: Students maintain curved left-hand fingers and even bow strokes across a full warm-up.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can sit or stand with balanced posture and hold my instrument in a way that feels comfortable and stable.
• I can show a correct bow hold with curved fingers and a relaxed thumb and keep it steady while I play.
• I can keep my left-hand fingers curved and my hand in a good frame so my notes sound more in tune.
• I can hear and feel when my tone improves because of better posture and bowing.
• I can use a short checklist to fix my posture, bow hold, and left hand on my own.