Next, he leads the Michael Allen Warm-up at a tempo of 162. The students sit on the front of their chairs to play the warm-up. Mr. DeJong asks the group to play the first note of the warm-up and to sing the next note. Overall, the students work hard during the warm-up. Mr. DeJong takes Christmas music requests from the group.
Students yell out the titles of the pieces they want to rehearse.
Before rehearsing Christmas music, the orchestra plays Happy Birthday to the female student. Next, the orchestra begins rehearsing. Mr. DeJong asks the last three first violins to play a difficult section, of the piece, while the rest of the section shadow-bows. Mr. DeJong instructs the first violins to sing a particular rhythm and then to play the rhythm. Next, he leads the second violins through the same procedure.