Unit Plan 2 (Grade 8 Orchestra): Technique Tune-Up

Focus: Refine posture, bow control, left-hand shape, and endurance so students can produce consistent tone and intonation across longer excerpts, with readiness for shifting and vibrato where appropriate.

Grade Level: 8

Subject Area: Orchestra (Performing • Rehearsing)

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

I. Introduction

In this unit, Grade 8 orchestra students take a focused “technique tune-up” to raise the technical floor of the ensemble. They revisit and refine playing position, bow arm mechanics, left-hand shape, and setup for shifting/vibrato, connecting each habit directly to tone quality, intonation, and endurance in real excerpts. Through targeted warm-ups, short technical drills, and guided self-assessment, students learn to diagnose and adjust their own setup so that strong technique becomes automatic in rehearsal and performance.

Essential Questions

• How do posture and instrument position affect tone, intonation, and physical comfort on a string instrument?
• What does refined bow control look and feel like, and how does it change our tone and articulation?
• How does left-hand shape (finger curvature, thumb, wrist) support reliable intonation and readiness for shifting/vibrato?
• What habits help build endurance so we can maintain good technique through longer excerpts and full rehearsals?
• How can I monitor and adjust my own technique during rehearsal instead of waiting for the teacher to fix everything?

II. Objectives and Standards

Learning Objectives — Students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate balanced posture and correct instrument position (standing or sitting) that supports free bow and left-hand movement.
2. Use bow distribution, contact point, and bow angle to produce a consistent tone at various dynamics and bow speeds.
3. Maintain a healthy left-hand shape (curved fingers, aligned wrist, relaxed thumb) that supports accurate intonation in first position and basic shifts as appropriate.
4. Sustain good tone and intonation for at least one longer excerpt or exercise without significant technical breakdown, showing improved endurance.
5. Use a simple self-check routine (posture–bow–left hand–sound) to identify and correct technique issues during warm-ups and repertoire.
6. Explain how refining these technique elements supports their musical goals and readiness for more advanced repertoire later in the year.

Standards Alignment — Grade 8 Orchestra (custom, NAfME-style)

• OR:Pr4.8a — Demonstrate refined string technique (posture, instrument position, bow control, left-hand shape) with strong endurance and reliable intonation, including readiness for shifting/vibrato as appropriate.
  • Example: Students maintain consistent tone and accurate intonation through longer excerpts including position changes.

Success Criteria — Student Language

• I can set up with balanced posture and correct instrument position that feels stable and relaxed.
• I can use my bow arm (placement, speed, weight, contact point) to get a clear, consistent tone at different dynamics.
• I can keep a healthy left-hand shape and adjust my fingers for accurate intonation, including simple shifts where needed.
• I can play a longer passage without my technique falling apart (no collapsing wrist, tense shoulders, or wild intonation).
• I can use a quick self-check to fix my own posture, bowing, or left-hand issues during rehearsal.