Symphony Orchestra Curriculum
Welcome to the Harrison Symphony Orchestra Department!
The Harrison Symphony Orchestra is made up of approximately 80 students grades 9-12. All of the orchestral instruments are represented including woodwinds, brass, and percussion. This award-winning ensemble performs extensively in and around the Central Florida area. All genres of music are performed each year. A high standard of performance has been maintained throughout the years. Groups from Harrison have performed at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, and at the Florida Music Educators Association All-State Convention.
Symphony Orchestra Department audition requirements can be found here
The Harrison Symphony Orchestra Curriculum
Instrumental Technique
Music Theory I-II
Instrumental Ensemble
Orchestra I-IV
Electronic Music
Music Appreciation (Music History)
Advanced Placement Music Theory
Year I
Instrumental Technique I (1/2 Credit)
This course is designed to give the string, percussion, and wind student the necessary technical and sight-reading skills, which will enable the student to better evolve into the curriculum orchestral performance. This course is individualized to each student's ability level.
Music Theory I (1/2 Credit)
Study will include compositional practices and concepts from c. 1600 - 1900 beginning with rudimental musical principles and culminating in common-practice harmony and four-part vocal writing.
Orchestra I
This class is taken every year and serves as the primary instructional course for techniques and elements of performing orchestral music.
Year II
Music Theory II
A continuation of Music Theory I, Music Theory II will have students studying compositional practices and concepts from c. 1600 - 1900. These concepts begin with rudimental musical principles and culminate in common-practice harmony and four-part vocal writing.
Orchestra II
This class is taken every year and serves as the primary instructional course for techniques and elements of performing orchestral music.
Year III
Electronic Music I
Study in this course will focus on the application of principles gleaned in Theory I and II through original music composition. Students will compose using compositional software as well as synthesizer technology.
Orchestra III or Orchestra V Honors
This class is taken every year and serves as the primary instructional course for techniques and elements of performing orchestral music.
Music Electives for Year III (students choose one)
World Music Ensemble
The purpose of this choir is to explore through performance the various styles and cultures of different regions of the world. Students will develop basic fundamental skills in vocal production, choral performance techniques and an appreciation for the influence of the arts upon all cultures.
AP Music Theory
This class serves as a culminating Music Theory experience. Study will include basic musical principles through advanced harmonic study/composition. Students will take the AP Music Theory test and may receive college credit, providing a passing score on the test is achieved.
Year IV
Music Appreciation (Music History)
The purpose of this course is for students to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to value the historical contributions made by cultures and composers from 500 AD to present. Course content includes enabling students to acquire the skills and knowledge needed to identify music fundamentals, styles, composers, and performers. It also encompasses encouraging students to develop musical judgment and values, and requiring them to listen to live and recorded musical styles from various historical time periods.
Orchestra IV or Orchestra VI Honors
This class is taken every year and serves as the primary instructional course for techniques and elements of performing orchestral music.
Chamber Ensemble (1/2 credit)
Students will develop musicianship in a small-group setting. Class/ensemble repertoire will vary but will generally focus on standard literature.
Instrumental Techniques III - Advanced Piano (1/2 credit)
This course is designed to give the novice piano student the necessary technical and reading skills, which will strengthen their understanding of music theory and overall musicianship. This course is individualized to each student's ability level while meeting the required proficiency skills.
Performing Groups
Harrison Symphony Orchestra
This is the primary ensemble in the Orchestra Department. The group focuses on full orchestra music from 1600 - present with an emphasis on high-quality group performance through dedicated individual practice and musicianship.
Symphony Strings
This ensemble is comprised of the string students of the HSO. The group focuses on string literature that will challenge more advanced players and assist in the pedagogical development of younger players.
Harrison Wind Ensemble
This ensemble is comprised of the wind and percussion students of the Harrison Symphony and the Harrison Jazz Ensemble. The group focuses on band and wind ensemble literature that will challenge all players musically and pedagogically.
Chamber Strings
This ensemble is reserved for the top string players in the HSO. The group rehearses mainly after school, performs around the community, and at the annual Chamber Orchestra concert. Seating is as follows: 6 1st Violins, 6 2nd Violins, 4 Violas, 4 Cellos, 2 Basses.
The Music Department at the Harrison Arts Center will provide music students with the opportunity to develop their talent in an academic and artistic environment. We pledge an uncompromising commitment to quality music instruction and music performance while encouraging self-discipline and dedication to the success of the individual as well as the department.
Supplies
Orchestra/Jazz Band
• All instruments must be in working condition.
• Pencils
Reed Instruments
• Students need 3 to 4 quality playable reeds.
Brass Instruments
• Students need valve oil and mouthpiece.
Percussion Instruments
• Students need a pair of general purpose snare drum sticks, general purpose timpani mallets, hard plastic bell mallets, medium yarn mallets and an appropriate stick bag.
String Instruments
• All violinists and violists must have a quality shoulder rest, and cellists and bassists must have a rock stop. All string players must also own their own rosin. Use only quality brands such as Hill, Bernardel, or Moytra Gold (violin, viola, and cello) or Pop's (bass). Strings should be replaced every year with the following preferred brand of strings:
• Violin: Pirastro Evah Pirazzi, Tomastik Dominant (A, D, G), or Westminster (E)
• Viola: Pirastro Obbligato, Larsen, Jargar, or Tomastik Dominant
• Cello: Larsen (A or D), Jargar, Tomastik Spirocore (G or C), or Tomastik Dominant
• Bass: D'Addario Helicore, Pirastro Permanent
Instrumental Techniques - Strings/Winds/Percussion/Jazz
• All instruments must be in working condition
• Folder
• Pencil
Electronic Music
• Folder
• Journal or notebook
• Flash memory (no more than 1G is needed)
AP Music Theory
• Folder
• Staff Paper (found free online)
• Pencils
Inst. Tech./Piano Ensemble
• Stereo headset
• ¼ ' Stereo adapter
Theory I
• Manuscript paper (8.5"x11")
• 3-ring notebook
• Pencils only
Theory II
• Manuscript paper (8.5"x11")
• 3-ring notebook
• Pencils only
• Stereo headset
• ¼" stereo adapter
Faculty
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B.M. Indiana University, M.M.E. Florida State University
In addition to conducting the Harrison Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Mr. Davis also teaches music theory, music composition, and chamber music. Under his direction, the Harrison Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and the 2010 Festival des Anches in La Croix Valmer, France. Currently, Mr. Davis is on the faculty of the Florida State University Summer Music Camps, where he co-conducts the Symphony String, Guarneri and Chamber orchestras. An active All-County clinician, Mr. Davis has conducted middle school and high school honors orchestras in Tampa, Fort Myers, and Naples, Florida as well as San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Davis holds a Master of Music Education from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music in cello performance from Indiana University.
Mr. Davis was recently awarded a Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship to travel to the Netherlands to study Baroque cello at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He has also been named Harrison School for the Arts Teacher of the Year for 2011-12. Previously, Mr. Davis served as Director of Orchestras at Denton High School in Denton, Texas, during which time his orchestra was named first runner-up in the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition. In 2004, Mr. Davis was presented with the Marjorie Keller Young Teacher Award by the Texas chapter of the American String Teachers Association.
As a cellist, Mr. Davis has studied with Lubomir Georgiev, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Helga Winold, Nathaniel Rosen, and Richard Aaron and served as the assistant principal cello of the Tallahassee Symphony. He performed on tour with the American Russian Young Artists Orchestra in the United States, Russia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic, and in chamber music programs at the Encore School for Strings, the Quartet Program, and the Chautauqua Institute. Mr. Davis is a member of the American String Teachers Association and the Florida Music Educators Association. He currently serves as the All-State Music Committee Chair and District 12 Chair for the Florida Orchestra Association.
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B.M.E. Florida Southern College, M.M. University of South Florida, NBCT
Rob Lambert is the Director of Winds & Percussion and the Director of Jazz Studies. In 1996 Mr. Lambert founded the Chamber Winds and presented clinic/concerts with the group at the Midwest Clinic, an International Band and Orchestra Conference, in 2000 and 2005. The Harrison Symphony Orchestra performed at the FMEA President’s Concert in 2004 and performed the opening concert at the Midwest Clinic in 2007. In 2010, the Symphony performed in La Croix Valmer, France at the Festival des Anches d’Azur. In 2011, the Symphony made a second appearance at the FMEA President’s Concert. Also under Mr. Lambert’s direction, the Harrison Jazz Ensembles have consistently received superior ratings at FBA District and State Music Performance Assessments and perform regularly around the central Florida area. Mr. Lambert was named conductor for the Youth Philharmonic Orchestra with the Sarasota Orchestra organization in August 2011.
In addition to conducting, Mr. Lambert teaches AP Music Theory at Harrison. He has also served as an Adjunct Faculty member at various local post-secondary institutions. He is a FBA certified Solo & Ensemble adjudicator in the area of percussion and also adjudicates various marching, concert, and jazz band events around the state.
Mr. Lambert holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida Southern College. As well, he has obtained Music/EAYA certification from the NBPTS. He was Harrison School for the Arts Teacher of the Year and is listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. He is a member of the FMEA, the FBA, and the FOA.
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