Student Expectations and Policies
Practice
Regular practice is necessary to build muscles and skills in a logical and safe way. Your skills will improve by practicing this way. Also, our large groups will not improve unless everyone does their part outside of class. The practice expectation is 60 minutes per week for ALL orchestra students. Most teachers, give you quite a bit more homework than that.
Rehearsal Expectations
It is important to have a quiet and attentive environment to rehearse. It is expected that all students will respect everyones right to learn in a positive and effective atmosphere.
More Specifically specific rehearsal expectations are:.
If you have a question about what we are working on at the moment ASK IT! If it’s not about something we’re working on at the time, please wait until after rehearsal.
Relax, Have Fun, but focus. Our time is limited, and we need to make productive use of it.
Students are expected to have all of their equipment (instrument, bow, rosin, sharpened pencil, etc…) and their music at every rehearsal.
When in the music rooms, students will behave in a careful, and controlled manner, careful not to damage the property of others, or of the school.
Music
Our library of sheet music is one of our most valuable resources, and needs to be cared for. Fines may be assessed for any music that is lost, to cover the cost of replacement.
Concert Dress
Below are the expectations. If you’re not sure whether something is appropriate, or don’t have appropriate clothes, please see me far enough in advance to that we can come up with a solution. PLEASE NOTE: The night of the concert, is not far enough in advance :-)
6th Grade – Something nice (No Shorts/Gym Shoes/Jeans/T-Shirts)
7th and 8th Grade – Middle School Music Shirt and a nice pair of pants (preferably khaki) for all concerts except the end of the year 4-12 concert. For that concert, something nice (No Shorts/Gym Shoes/Jeans/T-Shirts)
High School – Concert Black
Men – Black Pants/Socks/Shoes and a White or Black Shirt.
Women – Black Pants/Skirt/Dress with Black or White Top.
Instrument Storage and Security
Space is provided for Middle School and High Schools students to store their instruments in the music rooms. While the music rooms are regularly monitored by the music staff, there are times when these rooms are not secured during the school day, and after school when they are in use.
While instances of theft or vandalism are rare, storage of an instrument at school both during and outside of the school day is at your own risk. If you have concerns, alternate arrangements can often be made for the storage of your instrument.
Required Materials
6th Grade Orchestra Supplies
A properly maintained and set-up Instrument
Essential Strings 2000 Book II
Rosin
Shoulder Rest (strongly recommended for violins and violas)
A Pencil (I will provide the first one for you each year)
Orchestra folder & music (provided)
7th and 8th Grade Orchestra Supplies
A properly maintained and set-up Instrument
Essential Strings 2000 Book II (from 6th Grade)
Solos and Etudes Book II (Don’t buy this until I tell you to)
Rosin
Shoulder Rest (required for violins and violas)
A Pencil (I will provide the first one for you each year)
Orchestra folder & music (provided)
High School Orchestra Supplies
A properly maintained and set-up Instrument
Solos and Etudes Book II or Chorals for Strings (Don’t buy this until I tell you to)
Rosin
Shoulder Rest (required for violins and viola)
A Pencil (I will provide the first one for you each year)
Orchestra folder & music (provided)
Attendance at Required Events
With an ensemble, ever member’s contribution is important to the group’s performance. In respect to every other student, please make the best effort to attend our performances. All required events are noted on the Orchestra Events calendar that is on the last page of this handbook.
Acceptable reasons for missing a concert or required event include:
Illness
Family Emergency
Parental Excuse prior to the concert
Students: it is your responsibility to submit a note from a parent after an absence, or else the status remains un-excused. Once the reason for the absence is confirmed, you will complete a reasonable make-up assignment, typically a review of a recording of the performance before the absence is cleared.
Things like illness, and Family emergencies, obviously can’t be anticipated. If an absence from a concert is anticipated, you music notify me at least 2 weeks in advance, so that we can find an alternate assignment for you to complete, and more importantly, prepare for your absence at our concert. Failure to give advanced notice, even if excused by a parent note, may result in a lowering of your grade.
The Below are music department wide policies for all groups Band, Orchestra, and Choir.
High School: Students who have an unexcused absence from a concert or other required event will receive an “F” for that grading period.
Middle School: Students who have an unexcused absence from a concert or other required event will receive an “D” for that grading period.
Practice
Regular practice is necessary to build muscles and skills in a logical and safe way. Your skills will improve by practicing this way. Also, our large groups will not improve unless everyone does their part outside of class. The practice expectation is 60 minutes per week for ALL orchestra students. Most teachers, give you quite a bit more homework than that.
Rehearsal Expectations
It is important to have a quiet and attentive environment to rehearse. It is expected that all students will respect everyones right to learn in a positive and effective atmosphere.
More Specifically specific rehearsal expectations are:.
If you have a question about what we are working on at the moment ASK IT! If it’s not about something we’re working on at the time, please wait until after rehearsal.
Relax, Have Fun, but focus. Our time is limited, and we need to make productive use of it.
Students are expected to have all of their equipment (instrument, bow, rosin, sharpened pencil, etc…) and their music at every rehearsal.
When in the music rooms, students will behave in a careful, and controlled manner, careful not to damage the property of others, or of the school.
Music
Our library of sheet music is one of our most valuable resources, and needs to be cared for. Fines may be assessed for any music that is lost, to cover the cost of replacement.
Concert Dress
Below are the expectations. If you’re not sure whether something is appropriate, or don’t have appropriate clothes, please see me far enough in advance to that we can come up with a solution. PLEASE NOTE: The night of the concert, is not far enough in advance :-)
6th Grade – Something nice (No Shorts/Gym Shoes/Jeans/T-Shirts)
7th and 8th Grade – Middle School Music Shirt and a nice pair of pants (preferably khaki) for all concerts except the end of the year 4-12 concert. For that concert, something nice (No Shorts/Gym Shoes/Jeans/T-Shirts)
High School – Concert Black
Men – Black Pants/Socks/Shoes and a White or Black Shirt.
Women – Black Pants/Skirt/Dress with Black or White Top.
Instrument Storage and Security
Space is provided for Middle School and High Schools students to store their instruments in the music rooms. While the music rooms are regularly monitored by the music staff, there are times when these rooms are not secured during the school day, and after school when they are in use.
While instances of theft or vandalism are rare, storage of an instrument at school both during and outside of the school day is at your own risk. If you have concerns, alternate arrangements can often be made for the storage of your instrument.
Required Materials
6th Grade Orchestra Supplies
A properly maintained and set-up Instrument
Essential Strings 2000 Book II
Rosin
Shoulder Rest (strongly recommended for violins and violas)
A Pencil (I will provide the first one for you each year)
Orchestra folder & music (provided)
7th and 8th Grade Orchestra Supplies
A properly maintained and set-up Instrument
Essential Strings 2000 Book II (from 6th Grade)
Solos and Etudes Book II (Don’t buy this until I tell you to)
Rosin
Shoulder Rest (required for violins and violas)
A Pencil (I will provide the first one for you each year)
Orchestra folder & music (provided)
High School Orchestra Supplies
A properly maintained and set-up Instrument
Solos and Etudes Book II or Chorals for Strings (Don’t buy this until I tell you to)
Rosin
Shoulder Rest (required for violins and viola)
A Pencil (I will provide the first one for you each year)
Orchestra folder & music (provided)
Attendance at Required Events
With an ensemble, ever member’s contribution is important to the group’s performance. In respect to every other student, please make the best effort to attend our performances. All required events are noted on the Orchestra Events calendar that is on the last page of this handbook.
Acceptable reasons for missing a concert or required event include:
Illness
Family Emergency
Parental Excuse prior to the concert
Students: it is your responsibility to submit a note from a parent after an absence, or else the status remains un-excused. Once the reason for the absence is confirmed, you will complete a reasonable make-up assignment, typically a review of a recording of the performance before the absence is cleared.
Things like illness, and Family emergencies, obviously can’t be anticipated. If an absence from a concert is anticipated, you music notify me at least 2 weeks in advance, so that we can find an alternate assignment for you to complete, and more importantly, prepare for your absence at our concert. Failure to give advanced notice, even if excused by a parent note, may result in a lowering of your grade.
The Below are music department wide policies for all groups Band, Orchestra, and Choir.
High School: Students who have an unexcused absence from a concert or other required event will receive an “F” for that grading period.
Middle School: Students who have an unexcused absence from a concert or other required event will receive an “D” for that grading period.