We welcome children and parents alike to join our rondalla! Throughout the IP school year, classes are held during IP sessions to train new rondalla players – teaching students how to play the banduria, octavina and laud. IP highly encourages students to learn to play these native instruments! The IP Rondalla Program classes are an additional option for IP families and require an additional registration fee.
To join our rondalla lessons, prior music experience is not required. However, students must be at least eight years of age to enroll in our rondalla classes, should posses basic note-reading skills for the treble clef, and must be enrolled in IP’s School Age Children’s Program. We conduct pre-assessments at the beginning of each school year to determine class groupings and inform curriculum planning. Students are promoted through the Rondalla Class Groups based on ability and progress, not age or year level. Our rondalla students may play the acoustic guitar, banduria, double bass, or octavina.
The Rondalla Ensemble performing at Northeastern University in 2019.
You can find more information about our Rondalla Classes below:
We expect all rondalla students to practice at least thirty minutes everyday and make up for missed practice time at home. Consistent attendance to rondalla classes is mandatory as well. We may ask students who accumulate an excessive number of absences from rondalla classes to withdraw from the program for the duration of the school year.
IP has a limited number of loaner bandurias and octavinas available for students to borrow for the academic year, so students may begin to take classes and try out the instruments. However, students will eventually need to purchase their own instruments (from the Philippines) or borrow from another IP family. We also expect our rondalla students to provide their own: black three-ring binder, music stand, tuner, pencil, and writing papers.
New students signing up as beginner rondalla students are assessed for their eligibility to join the beginner class based on their knowledge of music theory (ability to read notes on the treble clef and rhythms). Beginner students learn: the strings of the banduria or octavina, pressing down on the frets to make various notes, tremolo and plucking, and introductory songs.
The Hele Class meets before regular IP class sessions. Along with all Rondalla Levels, the Hele Class performs at IP special events, such as Pasko Na Naman and Graduation.
Students of the Korido Class begin learning how to stand while playing! These students are not expected to memorize music, but may begin to memorize short songs.
The Korido Class meets before regular IP class sessions. Along with all Rondalla Levels, the Korido Class performs at IP special events, such as Pasko Na Naman and Graduation.
Students in the Talindaw Class build upon their skills to dance while playing and memorize songs.
The Talindaw Class meets after regular IP class sessions and have additional rehearsals throughout the summer and around performance times. Along with all Rondalla Levels, the Talindaw Class performs at IP special events, such as Pasko Na Naman and Graduation. The Talindaw Class also performs during IP Christmas Caroling Performances to strengthen their skills. These performances prepare them for the larger-scale performances that the Kundiman Class does! On occasion, the Talindaw Class also joins the Kundiman Class’s large-scale performances at local community events.
Level 4 (Kundiman Class, aka: The IP Rondalla Ensemble)
The Kundiman Class is our traveling Rondalla Ensemble and are fully able to dance while playing, memorize set lists of music, and perform large-scale performances. These students represent our community around the world.
The Kundiman Class meets after regular IP class sessions and have additional rehearsals on non-IP days. These additional rehearsals typically occur during the weeks before public performances. Students in the Kundiman Class, during their senior year of high school, are often given the opportunity to teach an “Introduction to Banduria & Octavina” class to the Hele Class before regular IP class sessions. This teaching opportunity is under the guidance of our Rondalla instructors.
Upon graduating from Iskwelahang Pilipino, students become Rondalla Alumni.
We encourage Rondalla Alumni to participate in IP rondalla practices and performances! Alumni are important leaders and models for our younger players. We highly welcome Alumni to come back to the Rondalla as instructors to our current students. We firmly believe that practicing and performing together strengthens inter-generational bonds within the group.
We also encourage parents to join the rondalla to support their children and our community. Committed parent volunteers are essential to the performance ensemble! Volunteers are required for: instrument, prop, and costume repair and maintenance; stage set and lighting design; backstage logistics; transportation; and food provision.
