Beginning 6th Grade Orchestra is designed to teach basic skills to students with little or no previous playing experience, although 6th grade string players of all experience levels are included in this class. Instruments taught in this class and in the Summer Orchestra Program are violin, viola, cello, and string bass. The 6th grade Core Knowledge requirements will be taught through the thoughtful application to performance in Orchestra. Students will learn the basics of position, fingering and bowing techniques, ear training, and music reading. Beginning 6th Grade Orchestra students will perform at least three times each year: In a winter concert first semester, in the Solo & Ensemble Festival and a spring concert in second semester.
Concert Orchestra is designed for students with a minimum of one year of playing experience on a stringed instrument. Concert Orchestra builds on the knowledge and skills learned in the first year(s) and challenges the students with higher level performance music. The 7th grade Core Knowledge requirements will be taught through the thoughtful application to performance in Orchestra. Students will build on the basic skills taught in 6th grade to develop better intonation, intermediate bowing skills, deeper music theory understanding, and to explore higher positions (alternate fingerings). Concert Orchestra students will perform at least three three times per year: a winter concert in first semester, Solo & Ensemble Festival and a spring concert in second semester. Students are welcome to audition for the PSD Honor Orchestra.
Philharmonia Orchestra is an honors-style, intermediate-level course designed for students with a minimum of one year of playing experience on a stringed instrument. Philharmonia Orchestra students have demonstrated their initiative for self-directed learning and excellent practice habits. Philharmonia learns more sheet music at a faster pace, expecting that students are preparing their music independently as well. Emphasis is placed on improving tone quality, playing as an ensemble, and learning more advanced bowing techniques and alternate fingerings. The Core Knowledge Music curriculum will continue to guide the students' learning. Students in Philharmonia Orchestra are strongly encouraged to audition for the PSD Honor Orchestra in second semester Philharmonia Orchestra will perform at least four times per year: a fall and winter concert, Solo & Ensemble Festival, and a spring concert.
Symphony Orchestra is an advanced level course designed for students with a minimum of two years of playing experience on a stringed instrument. Symphony Orchestra students have made a conscious decision to make music an integral part of their daily lives. Emphasis is placed on tone quality, expressiveness, unity of the ensemble, higher positions and alternate fingerings, advanced bowing techniques, and a wider variety of musical styles. The Core Knowledge Music curriculum will continue to guide the students' learning. Students in Symphony Orchestra will be expected to audition for the PSD Honor Orchestra in second semester as well as strongly encouraged to participate in the PSD Solo & Ensemble Festival. Select members will form the Chamber Orchestra which performs at the annual Kinard Madrigal Dinner. Symphony Orchestra will perform at a minimum of three evening concerts during the year as well as at least one festival.
OUR ENSEMBLES
OUR MUSIC PROGRAM
The Kinard Music Program involves 650 of our school's 760 students. All sixth and seventh grade students participate in Band, Orchestra, or Choir, all of which are performing ensembles. The curriculum of Core Knowledge Music is taught through the experience of learning and performing in an ensemble. In eighth grade, most students elect to continue their musical studies in one of our advanced ensembles. Students in all music groups have opportunities to participate in many events outside of the normal classroom including large group festivals, solo & ensemble festivals, district and state honor groups, the Madrigal Dinner, and various community performances locally and abroad. Each music discipline is taught by a highly-qualified music educator. Mr. Wheeler (Choir & Drama), Mr. Perez (Band), and Mrs. Griffey (Orchestra) each have more than 20 years of experience in music education, all are skilled in various musical genres (instrumental, vocal, theater arts, classical, jazz, popular, and more styles), and all are performing musicians. The Music Team has been working together for more than 14 years to ensure high levels of learning for all Kinard Music students!
OUR SCHOOL
Kinard Core Knowledge Middle School is a Poudre School District school of choice. Students from 27 different area elementary schools choose to attend Kinard instead of their neighborhood middle school. Our namesake, Mr. Hal Kinard, was a Poudre School District educator and coach and continues to inspire and motivate our students and staff with his regular visits to our school and his motto of "We Can and We Will"!
Kinard is a preferred choice for many students because of our Core Knowledge Curriculum, our exceptionally high test scores, our sincere and dedicated staff, and our supportive culture. At Kinard, all students are educated in the six Core Knowledge subjects of Language Arts, History & Geography, Science, Math, Visual Art, and Music. As we also value the Whole Child and Poudre School District's "District Ends", all students also receive education in Health & Wellness, Technology, and World Languages. Some of Kinard's achievements include the 2015 National Blue Ribbon award, 2013 National Green Ribbon School award, the Colorado John Irwin Award of Excellence every year since opening in 2005, recognition as a Professional Learning Community by Solution Tree, and recognition as a visitation site for Core Knowledge Curriculum. Click the button below to visit our school's webpage.