CURTIS JUNIOR HIGH-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA MANUAL

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1 CURTIS JUNIOR HIGH-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA MANUAL Dear Curtis Junior High and High School Orchestra Students and Parents, Welcome to the school year! My name is Mr. Grenzner, and I am the orchestra director at both Curtis JH and HS. I am looking forward to working with all of the amazing orchestra students here in UPSD, and making this a great year for all of the students here in the orchestra program. The Orchestra Handbook you are about to read is an effort to acquaint you with our program and answer any questions you might have regarding our activities, policies, goals and objectives. Please read and familiarize yourself with its contents as thoroughly as possible. Every effort has been made to address all aspects governing the operation of the Curtis JH and HS programs. I hope this handbook will be of help to you and your student during their participation in our program, and I wish you the very best for a most rewarding and enjoyable orchestra experience. GOALS OF THE ORCHESTRA PROGRAM I. To provide a student-centered program in which individual growth, achievement and the development of character are of the utmost importance. II. To encourage students to develop an appreciation for many kinds of music. III. To share the best possible musical skills and accomplishments of the orchestra with the school and community. IV. To foster student independence in the areas of musical expression, technical development and creative license as a basis for lifelong enjoyment of music. V. To provide a base for the development of character through understanding of the balance between the individual and the group.

2 GRADING PROCEDURE A grading procedure has been established to best evaluate your commitment to personal musical growth and to the musical growth of the group. Understand that by signing up for orchestra you have committed your talents not only to the director, but to your peers as well, who are counting on you to fulfill your commitments to the group. Students who display improper bow hold and/or instrument position will result in not being eligible for full points or an A. Student who receive a quarter or semester grade of a C or below in orchestra will need a parent conference to continue the course. This is the percentage breakdown for all of the Junior High and High School Orchestras: I. Rehearsal Expectations Rehearsal, Class Materials 30% II. Tests Playing, Theory, Vocabulary 20% III. Performance Obligations Uniform, Behavior 20% IV. Instrument Take Home Practice 30% I. REHEARSAL EXPECTASTIONS As a member of the Curtis JH and HS Orchestra Program, you are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct during rehearsals and performances. Forgotten music or instrument will result in the lowering of a quarter grades by up to 5%. Always be on time and ready to go for rehearsal. Always have your music and a pencil on your stand every rehearsal. Always be respectful of the rehearsal process. Never bring food, gum, or cell phones to class. II. TESTS The goal of playing tests is to see what areas are improving and what areas still need more attention. Playing tests may also be used to determine seating at any point during the year, without prior notice. These playing tests will include in class, practice room, recorded, or SMART Music tests. Written vocabulary and theory tests may be issued as well. PERFORMANCE OBLIGATIONS III. As a member of the Curtis Orchestra Program, all concerts listed on our calendar are mandatory. Since you are being notified about all concerts at the beginning of the year, you should have no conflicts. If there are, you need to let me know about them no later than 3 weeks prior to the concert in order to receive any form of credit for the performance. An unexcused absence from a performance will not only result in a 0 for that performance, but also a drop in the quarter grade of two full letters, and may result in dismissal from the group. There is no make up for a missed concert. IV. INSTRUMENT TAKE HOME A practice card will be issued monthly. You will calculate grades for each week, and then a final overall monthly grade. On average, JH students should be practicing between 30 and 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week while HS students should be practicing between 45 and 60 minutes a day, 5 days week. Spreading these minutes out over multiple practice days will ensure you a better grade and better overall practice habits. Practicing everything in on session does not show good practice techniques, thus will not earn you a passing grade. Practice Record checks will also take place periodically throughout the month.

3 CONCERT EXPECTATIONS Curtis Junior and Senior High Schools enjoy an excellent tradition in its music programs, and every performance is mandatory. When you are involved in a performance, you are expected to adhere to the following guidelines, and not adhering to these expectations will result in the lowering of your performance grade, and possible removal from top ensembles: Be ready to play at the time of the call, not just walking in the door. Call times are typically 30 minutes before the concert is to start. Take pride in your appearance and be fully dressed before arriving to the performance (90% of your performance is what the audience sees from you, not what they hear). Demonstrate proper concert etiquette by quietly listening to all other groups. Keep in mind that you are onstage and performing throughout the entire concert. You are also demonstrating to the audience what proper etiquette is. If you talk, they will talk. If you sit respectfully, they will as well. Arrive in full concert uniform to the performance site, as well as leaving the performance site still in complete uniform. ORCHESTRA TRIPS At various times during the year, students will be asked to perform at venues outside of the Curtis campus. For each trip students will be required to fill out and return the Field Trip Release and Emergency Forms. Destinations may be within the district, within our region, or outside of our region. Whenever these trips take place during the school day, it is the responsibility of the student to see that all of their classes are in good standing and that all the work missed while on trips is made up in a timely manner. A form entitled Student Contract for Music Events Causing the Student to Miss Class Time can be found at the end of this packet. Unlike the other trip forms, this one only needs to fill out once for the entire year. WHAT YOU WILL NEED FOR ORCHESTRA The following is a list of accessories you will need to have during each rehearsal. Students playing schoolowned instrument are still responsible for having all proper materials for their instrument. They will not be provided with the instrument. Instrument Violin, Viola Cello, Bass Everyone Accessories Shoulder rest, rosin, cleaning cloth, tuner/metronome. Rock Stop, rosin, cleaning cloth, tuner/metronome. A sharpened pencil. Tuners and metronomes are readily available on Smart devices now, and are strongly suggested for class and home use. Method Books: CJH Orchestra students will need to purchase the method book, A Scale in Time, for in class use. CHS Orchestra Students will need to purchase the method book, Habits of a Successful String Musician. These method books will be used for warm ups and testing throughout the school year. They can be found online or through your local music store.

4 CONCERT ATTIRE CURTIS JUNIOR HIGH ORCHESTRAS: All Students: White wing tip tux shirt. Black vest and bow tie. Black from the waist down dress slacks, dress shoes and socks/stockings. CURTIS HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS: All Students: Black Tux with white wing tip tux shirt. Black vest and bow tie. Black from the waist down dress slacks, dress shoes and socks/stockings. Students are able to purchase tuxes, vests and ties through Ted Brown Music, the rest of the uniform must be purchased on your own. A representative will come by each class at the beginning of the school year to measure all students for the correct sizes. More information will be sent home closer to this time. PLEASE NOTE: Dress slacks are not jeans, leggings, jeggins, or yoga pants of any kind. Dress shoes are not tennis shoes, boots, flip flops, or anything that is not pure black. No other colors should appear on the shoes, like the white stripe on Converse shoes. Any student who is not in correct concert attire will have 50 points taken off of their concert grade. In case of financial hardship, funds can be made available. It is the student s responsibility to contact Mr. Grenzner in a timely manner with any questions. OTHER OPPORTUNITIES Solo & Ensemble Contest: Every year the Mountain Region Music Educators host a solo and ensemble contest at one of the league s junior high or high schools. The date and location are located on the Concert Calendar. Students interested in participating will need to notify Mr. Grenzner in January at the latest. Students will need to prepare music on their own time. Private Instruction: Although not a requirement for membership in the Curtis orchestra program, private lessons on the student s primary instrument are highly recommended to help the student excel in orchestra. There are a number of fine instructors in the greater Tacoma area, but many of their studios fill up quickly during the school year. If you need assistance in this matter, please contact Mr. Grenzner. Pacific Lutheran University Honor Orchestra: Each year PLU hosts high school students (9-12) from all over the state to participate in an Honor Orchestra. The students are selected by their teachers to participate. They will rehearse with a guest clinician for 2 days, spend time on the PLU campus, and hold a performance on the second day. Please let Mr. Grenzner know if this something you would like to participate in.

5 School Instruments and Equipment The school owns a limited number of violins, violas, cellos and basses for use by students who are unable to procure their own instruments, or are unable to transport larger instruments to and from school on a daily basis. These instruments are issued by the orchestra instructor during the first week(s) of school. Students and parent(s) are required to sign a Rental Agreement contract, and pay the rental fee in full before the instrument can be used. From that point until the instrument is checked back in, the student will be held responsible for the care of the instrument. University Place School District charges $130 per year for use of school-owned instruments. These funds go to the maintenance and repair of the instruments each summer. High School Letter Requirements: It is possible to earn a Letter in Orchestra. The following are the requirements that you need to complete in order to earn your Orchestra Letter. Participation in two or more years of Orchestra at the HS level. o (9 th grade = year 1, 10 th grade = year 2, ect.) Prepare music, and audition for the All State/All Northwest Orchestra. Participation in the Mountain Region Solo & Ensemble, and earn a grade no lower than a II. Participation in all scheduled concerts for your current class. Maintaining at least an 86% (B) each year in Orchestra. CONTACTING MR. GRENZNER You MUST contact Mr. Grenzner for the following reasons: An EMERGENCY, SUDDEN ILLNESS OR UNAVOIDABLE CONFLICT has arisen and you need to notify him that you will miss performance. You need to give him adequate notice that you will be missing a performance. Mr. Grenzner is also happy to take your phone call/ for other reasons. You have questions about the Curtis Orchestra program. You have questions about your progress in class. You or your parents need advice about instrument repair, a new instrument or private lessons. The best ways to contact Mr. Grenzner are: Through mgrenzner@upsd.wednet.edu Written note REMEMBER: If you miss a concert because of an emergency, you must notify Mr. Grenzner at your earliest convenience, either by or written note. Please, do not just say please excuse without any explanation. This will not be accepted, and will be counted as a missed concert. Some things that are not excused are: birthdays, transportation issues, previous commitments, etc. A solution can be found for every problem, if we have enough notice to create a solution!

6 Curtis JH & HS Performance Calendar Date Event Time - Location Friday, October 13 th PLU Orchestra Invitational (CHS) All Day PLU Tuesday, October 17 th CHS Fall Concert I 7:00pm CHS Wednesday, October 18 th CJH Fall Orchestra Concert 7:00pm CJH Thursday, October 19 th CHS Fall Concert II 7:00pm CHS November 16 th 18 th CHS Musical (Selected Musicians) Times Vary CHS Thursday, December 7 th CJH Holiday Concert 7:00pm CJH Wednesday, December 13 th CHS Holiday Concert I 7:00pm CHS Thursday, December 14 th CHS Holiday Concert II 7:00pm CHS Friday, December 15 th CHS Performing Arts Assembly During School CHS Sat/Sun, January 27 th & 28 th PLU Honor Orchestra (9 th 12 th ) All Day PLU Saturday, January 27 th HS Instrumental Solo & Ensemble All Day Spanaway Lake Thursday, February 8 th District Orchestra Festival 7:00pm CJH Tuesday, March 15 th CHS & CJH Orchestra Concert 7:00pm CHS Saturday, March 17 th WWU Orchestra Festival All Day WWU Saturday, March 10 th JH Instrumental Solo & Ensemble All Day CJH Saturday, May 12 th CHS/CJH Orchestra Large Group Festival All Day CHS Thursday, May 31 st CHS Orchestra Finale 7:00pm CHS Tuesday, June 5 th CJH Orchestra Finale 7:00pm CJH Friday, June 15 th CHS Graduation Evening Tacoma Dome Please note that these dates are subject to change. There may also be concerts added or taken away from this schedule at any time. Advanced notice will be given if there are any changes to be made to this Performance Calendar. In return, please notify me if there are any conflicts in result of changed concerts.

7 Curtis Junior High and High School Orchestra Expectations Acknowledgement Student s Full Name (Please print) Circle One: CHS: Philharmonic Orchestra Concert Orchestra CJH: Concert Orchestra String Orchestra Cougar Orchestra After having familiarized yourself with the Orchestra Manual and Performance Calendar, please initial, sign, date and return this form, no later than Friday, September 8 th. Parent Initials Student Initials We understand what supplies and equipment, including uniforms, will be required for orchestra this year. We have read and understand the grading policy for orchestra classes at Curtis Junior High and High School. We have found the attached Calendar of events for the year, and understand that each performance is mandatory for all orchestra members. We understand that performances and rehearsals outside of school are required and are part of the student s orchestra grade. We understand that concert and event dates may change and/or be added throughout the course of the year. We understand the behavior expectations for orchestra members at Curtis Junior High and High School. We have read and understand the policy on music events causing students to miss class time. We recognize that being in orchestra at Curtis is a yearlong commitment. I have read the Orchestra Manual and understand what Mr. Grenzner expects from me this year. I will do my best to meet or exceed these expectations and encourage others to do the same. X (Student Signature) Date X (Parent/Guardian Signature) Date

8 Student Contract for Music Events Causing the Student to Miss Class Time This is a contract in that you are accepting responsibility to make up any missed homework assignments, lectures, quizzes, tests, etc., as a result of your being absent due to an excused music event. This is your responsibility. I. I understand that I am responsible for contacting my teachers BEFORE I am absent from class, and that I am to ask the teacher for any missed assignments, which may be due upon my return. II. III. IV. I understand that I alone accept the responsibility for completing homework and accept the consequences for not completing all of it correctly. I understand that due to the planned absence I may not receive the full benefit of learning that the other students in my classes may receive by attending class. I understand that if I do not meet the terms of this contract that I may not be eligible to miss class in the future. V. I understand that if I do not complete the terms of this contract that I may be referred to the Vice Principal, and that my parents may be contacted, and/or I may be asked to complete additional work. The above statements have been read and discussed in class by Mr. Grenzner and I understand them. X (Print Student Name) X (Student Signature)