Preview: orchestra concert
The Cedar Shoals High School orchestra will host their first concert of the year on Oct. 8 at 6:30PM. The orchestra is split into two classes, each performing three songs. The second period class will be playing “Medieval Kings,” “St. Lawrence Overture” and “Exhilaration.” The third period class will perform “Blue Rhythmico,” “Waltz of the Wicked” and “New World Symphony.”
Preparing for this concert since August, orchestra director Rebecca Floyd’s classes spent the first few weeks of the year gauging how advanced new members are. They tried out songs to figure out which ones worked with the class’ skill sets as well as which ones they liked. They started learning one song at a time with each section of instruments learning their parts individually before coming together as a group.
“It has to be a song that, style wise, is fun to play and it needs to be something that is challenging and interesting for every section,” Floyd said.
Floyd described how challenging it can be to find a piece that is at the right skill level for all of the members.
“It gets really hard, because a lot of times to find music that’s challenging for some of the voices, it means the first violin part is too challenging. And so you have to balance that,” Floyd said.
FANTASTIC FLOYD: Rebecca Floyd stands in front of her class, guiding them through the pieces. Floyd expressed her excitement to see her students perform, “It’s interesting to see at the concert how everybody sort of rises to the occasion. Even kids who are absolutely the ones you’re always on to in class, in the concert are just super focused,” Floyd said Photo by Cedar Shoals yearbook staff.
Junior Arleth Aguilar is a violinist in the orchestra and has been playing for five years. She feels confident in her performance knowing that the people in her section are there to back each other up.
“My section, the second violins, we play really well, and so if I mess up something, I know that somebody next to me or in front of me or behind me has everyone’s back,” Aguilar said.
One of her favorite parts of performing is the rush of adrenaline it gives her.
“You do feel a sort of adrenaline playing, because playing the violin isn’t easy, It’s pretty hard. And when you have a favorite part or a favorite measure, you feel adrenaline,” Aguilar said. “That’s my favorite part of playing the violin, feeling that and feeling excited to play a certain measure because I know I’m locked in and I know how to play it and I know how to play it correctly.”
Floyd believes that both classes are very well prepared for this upcoming concert.
“It could always be better, because that’s how music is, we can find a million things to think on, and that’s how it should be. You’re always trying to be better, so it won’t be perfect, but I’m not worried at all,” Floyd said.
