th Grade. Orchestra Handbook and Syllabus. preston davis Director Phone:

Transcription

1 Karns Middle School th Grade Orchestra Handbook and Syllabus preston davis Director preston.davis@knoxschools.org Phone: P a g e 1

2 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students, Welcome to the Karns Middle School Orchestra! My name is Preston Davis and this is my first year as the Orchestra Director at Karns Middle School taking over for Erin Martin, who leaves a wonderfully growing program with a fun and exciting atmosphere. I was born and raised in Knoxville and graduated from South-Doyle High School. After high school, I attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where I earned a Bachelor of Music in Contrabass Performance. I then took my talents to New York where I had a successful career performing with the Long Island Philharmonic and the Brooklyn Philharmonic as well as various jazz bands and musical groups. I later returned to Knoxville and received a Master s Degree from UTK in Music Education. Prior to being at Karns, I was the Assistant Orchestra Director at Oak Ridge High School. I currently perform with various musical groups in the east Tennessee area. The following information will help you and your child understand my expectations and the activities involved with our middle school orchestra program. Please read through the information in this handbook and fill out the accompanying forms for my records so that I may better serve you and your child. Please return the attached forms and orchestra fee, by way of your child, on or before Friday, August 21 st. Also, please keep this handbook for your reference. If you have a question that you cannot find the answer to in the handbook, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am excited about the upcoming year with the growing Karns Middle School Orchestra Program! In order for the orchestra program to be successful, students need to be respectful, responsible, and above all remember to have a great time playing music with their friends. Only together can we develop the sense of pride and dedication necessary for an outstanding orchestra program. If this handbook is adhered to, the experience had by all will develop lifelong friendships, unique skills that can be used later to get college scholarships, and above all foster a love for music. I look forward to meeting this year s students and making music together! Musically, Preston Davis Orchestra Director Karns Middle School preston.davis@knoxschools.org P a g e 2

3 Course Description This class is designed to provide an opportunity for students to learn a string instrument (violin, viola, cello, bass) through the use of group and individual lessons. Students will also practice the performance of traditional, contemporary, small, and large ensemble string literature. Since this is a performance-based class, the majority of the time will be spent playing the student s respective instrument. However, throughout the year many other facets of music will be explored. In order to become a well-rounded musician, it is necessary to have a curriculum that covers a wide variety of musical subjects and concepts. How to help your child succeed in orchestra: Set aside practice time EVERY day. Practice is equivalent to homework. The skills and music that we are learning in class each day need to be repeated and practiced at home for your child to improve. Developing a routine and practicing the same time each evening is very beneficial. Stay involved. Ask your child what they are working on in class and have them show you or play parts of their music for you. Ask them about check-offs or playing tests that they may have coming up. Maybe they can even teach you how to hold the instrument or use the bow! Check on Aspen often. I will post concert reminders, fundraiser information, and class updates on the class page for your convenience. Often times when I send something home it can be found on Aspen as well. If you find that your child is struggling in orchestra please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be happy to speak with you about any concerns you or your child may have. Prior to being at Karns, I have had students who ride a late bus or stay for a sports practice come to the orchestra room at the end of the day and spend minutes practicing. I love seeing that happen! Here is a link that you may use to see the standards I will be using in this class. State Standards: GRADING POLICY & PROCEDURE Orchestra Grading: 40% Check-Off System 20% Daily Participation 20% Performance Attendance 10% Written Assignments/Quizzes 10% Book and Folder Check P a g e 3

4 1. Check-Off System At the beginning of each nine-week session, I will distribute a check-off sheet that will consist of scales, etudes, and musical pieces. In order for your child to receive an A for this part of the overall grade, they must fully complete each component of the check-off list. They will have many opportunities to receive full credit, because they can perform each task until they receive a passing mark. In order to achieve success for this part of your grade, orchestra students must practice at home! E (Excellent) is the equivalent of 100% P (Passing) is the equivalent of 85% R (Redo) is the equivalent of a 0, but students may redo the check off as many times as is needed to achieve a passing or excellent score. 2. Daily Participation Daily Participation includes attendance, being prepared for class, behaving appropriately, following rules and procedures, and the overall day-to-day routines of orchestra class. This will also include written work done in class and quizzes on related material. Each day, students are expected to have all materials required for class. Each day, your child will start with 10 participation points and if they are not doing what is expected of them, points will be deducted. In order for your child to have success in my orchestra class, this part of the grade is very important! 3. Performance Attendance Throughout the year we will perform several concerts. Being in orchestra is a lot like being involved in a team sport! In order to sound our best we need every member present at our concert performances. Concerts are very important and attendance is mandatory. Concerts are a time to show off what you have accomplished throughout the year. Concert dates will be decided within the first week of school. At performances, students are expected to: Arrive on time Perform their best Understand that classroom rules also apply to performances Refrain from talking and texting during concerts Behave in a manner that brings pride to our ensemble and respect for other groups who may be performing AN UNEXCUSED ABSENCE FROM A PERFORMANCE MAY DROP OVERALL GRADE UP TO 2 LETTER GRADES. See page 8 for attendance policy. P a g e 4

5 4. Written Assignments and Quizzes There will be written assignments and quizzes given from time to time that pertain to our lessons and activities in class. Written assignments and quizzes will cover topics such as music theory, music history, and music composition. 5. Book and Folder Check Students should make sure to always bring their own book and sheet music to class with them each day. At the end of every 9 weeks, there will be a book and folder check in which each student will show that they have a book and music in their possession. Orchestra Fees In order to supply your child with music and other supplies needed for orchestra class, there is a $25 fee that needs to be returned by Friday, August 21 st. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this fee please feel free to contact me. Also, if it turns out that your child needs to use a school instrument on a daily basis there is a $50 fee for the entire school year. This should only apply to students who play the cello and bass since they are more difficult to transport to school on a daily basis. Students who play cello and bass still need to have an instrument to practice on at home as well as for concerts. $25.00 Orchestra fee $50.00 School instrument use fee (should apply to cellists and bassists only) PLEASE MAKE OUT A SEPARATE CHECK TO KMS Orchestra Materials Needed for Orchestra Class The following materials are required for each class period. Remember, being prepared for class is part of your grade and is essential for success in my orchestra program. Materials: Rental instrument (rental information attached) Method book* (Essential Elements 2000 for Strings, Book 2) Folder (provided by teacher) Pencil Rosin* Cleaning cloth (old rag, handkerchief) Shoulder rest or sponge (violins and violas only) I recommend the Kun brand Wire stand for home use * End pin holder (cellos only) *Provided by rental company P a g e 5

6 Resources: We will be using the school computers in the library for some research based projects and papers. We will listen to recordings in class of examples from our lessons that may include, but are not limited to: classical, jazz, world music, 20 th century, modern. We will be watching several videos and clips throughout the school year as relevant to our lessons. We will be viewing select videos/clips from Youtube. These are all viewed by myself in advance and are chosen for our specific area of study and content. Books we will using in class include our method book for each grade level and The Great Composers by Wendy Thompson among others. Websites we will be using to conduct research throughout the school year include, but are not limited to: library.thinkquest.org/15413/history/music-history.htm *If you do not approve of a specific video/clip resource, etc. please make your request to me in writing and an alternate assignment and/or materials will be provided. The request should include your name, your child s name, the specific video/clip lesson in which you do not want your child to participate or to which you do not want them exposed, and the nature of your objection. CONCERT PROCEDURES Concerts are the most rewarding experiences you will have in orchestra. The opportunity to perform and showcase what you have been working on in front of your peers, parents, friends and faculty offers an experience that is unforgettable. Concert dates will be included in this handbook. Concert Dress Boys: Black dress pants, white dress shirt (no print or designs), black dress shoes and black socks. NO FLIP FLOPS!!! Girls: Black slacks or black knee-length skirt, white blouse/shirt (no print or design), black stockings or tights, and black shoes/black dress sandals. NO FLIP FLOPS!!! Note: girls who play cello need to choose pants/skirts appropriately as your instrument posture is different than others. **If you wear something inappropriate to a performance you will lose points and may be asked not to perform** **If you have a problem with this dress code please contact me and together we will work something out** P a g e 6

7 Concert Etiquette Etiquette for Musicians Performers in concert dress should remain with their orchestra until the conclusion of the concert. Musicians should never talk to audience members from the edge of the stage. DO NOT GO ON STAGE WITH CHEWING GUM or a CELL PHONE. Once on stage, musicians should warm up and get comfortable, until the concertmaster begins the tuning process. At the concertmaster's signal, musicians will begin tuning. When the conductor steps onto the stage, the principal cellist stands. The rest of the orchestra should stand, watch the principal cellist, and sit when he/she does. There should be NO TALKING during the performance. If a mistake is made, by yourself or others, do not draw attention to it by making faces or laughing. At the end of each piece, soloists should stand at the conductor's request. When a conductor shakes the hand of a principal player at the end of a concert, he/she is congratulating the entire section. When the audience is applauding, SMILE! The audience is congratulating you feel proud of your performance! Etiquette for Audience Members Turn off cell phones, beepers, watch alarms and any other sound emitting devices. Please do not text or during a performance. Unwrap candy and cough drops before the performance begins. Please do not talk, hum, sing, tap fingers or feet, or jangle jewelry. Wait until a pause or intermission before rifling through a purse or backpack. Try to finish reading the program before the music starts so that you can devote your attention to the music. Try not to rustle your program. Be conservative with the perfume and cologne some people are allergic. PLEASE STAY FOR THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE. Students work for months to prepare for performances and it is only fair to listen to all of the groups perform. It s also great for younger students to listen to the more advanced groups so that they can look forward to what they will sound like in several years! P a g e 7

8 Concert Attendance Policy Absences will not be tolerated and will result in the lowering of your grade by 2 letter grades. There are two types of absences for a concert: Unexcused and Excused. Unexcused Absences: Points lost due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up. An unexcused absence is when I do not have at least 4 weeks prior notice. Excuses such as I had to babysit, I could not find a ride, I forgot, etc. will not be tolerated. **It will count as an unexcused absence if you do not stay for the duration of the concert. Remember, it is important that we support each other! Certain situations may be acceptable if you speak to me beforehand** Excused Absences: Excused absences occur when a student is ill or there is a family emergency the day of the performance. A planned absence of which I have been notified at least 4 weeks in advance will also be considered an excused absence. Please look over the concert dates below and transfer into your personal calendars. ****If you have an unexcused absence the child may be able to make up his/her grade at the discretion of the teacher. This will have to be discussed with parent, student and teacher**** ADDITIONAL ORCHESTRA INFORMATION Private Lessons Private lessons are the lifeline of any performing orchestra. By taking extra time to perfect your own individual performance, you automatically raise the performing capabilities of the entire orchestra. The main benefit of a private lesson is weekly oneon-one instruction with a specialist on the same instrument who will assign technical exercises, musical pieces, and other activities to help the students improve their musical skills. In a group setting it is often difficult to spend much time helping students individually whereas in private instruction the student has 100% of the instructor s attention and is more likely to realize their full potential. Any students who are interested in studying music in college or at least plan on playing in a university orchestra (often times there is scholarship money available) should make private instruction a priority. Please contact me for a list of local private instructors in the area. P a g e 8

9 Student expectations: Discipline Policy Upon entering the classroom, students are expected to: To avoid being tardy, a student must be over the door s threshold before the bell rings. Follow instructions the first time they are given. Keep self and instrument quiet during the tuning process and rehearsal. Raise hand to be recognized before speaking. Keep food, drink and other class work out of the rehearsal area. Be respectful of the director, one another, the classroom, music and instruments. Be responsible for yourself and your actions. Be ready for class on time and have the appropriate materials. Consequences if expectations are not met: Students who choose to break a rule will receive the following disciplinary action(s): 1 st Time: Student/ Teacher Conference 2 nd Time: Parent Contacted 3 rd Time: Referral to Administrator and Parent Contacted. Instrument Rental Information You and your child are advised to rent an instrument from one of the recommended local music stores. Attached you will find rental information for stores that I believe are the best. The following three stores have agreed to stock quality instruments in the correct sizes and will also provide rosin, a wire music stand, and a string method book. Throughout the school year these rental companies will come to KMS and work to repair any problems that your child is having with his/her instrument. The Orchestra inventory is very small and I have a limited number of instruments for students to use this year. If you are a fee waiver student, the school will do everything possible to find you an instrument. If you already have an instrument, bring it to class! For your convenience, the rental procedure will be as follows: 1. After your child has been properly sized in class, contact the company of your choice and place an order for his/her instrument. 2. Please plan to pick the instrument up yourself from the rental company. Periodically the rental companies deliver instruments, but it is better to acquire the instruments from them yourselves to ensure your child is prepared for class. NOTE: The main office and I WILL NOT take money or agreement forms from your child. Both the payment and the form must be given to the rental company directly. P a g e 9

10 You may choose from the following rental companies: Wilhite Strings 2105 Keller Bend Rd. Knoxville, TN Phone: The String Workshop 225 Jackson Square Oak Ridge, TN Phone: The Baroque Violin Shop Erin Archer Southeast Representatives Phone: **Please, please, please do NOT purchase bargain instruments on the internet or at the Big Box stores. They are very poorly constructed and some area stores will refuse to service them when they break (and they will break). What originally looked like a great deal will turn into a waste of your money. If you are very interested in purchasing an instrument, please let me know and I can suggest several places to look** Topics and Skills Below you will find a list of the main topics that will be covered in orchestra class. Students will be working on these skills throughout the school year. Tone Quality: Plays forte and piano dynamic levels with good tone. Experiments with preliminary vibrato. Demonstrates proper tone production on all four strings. Rhythm and Bowing Demonstrates: Staccato Three and four note slurs Left hand pizzicato (+) Hooked bow Double open strings Triplets Finger Patterns and Scales Plays the following 2 octave major scales: D, G, C, A, F, Bb, Eb Plays octave harmonics on each string Violin III, V positions Cello III, IV positions, extensions Bass III, IV, ½ position Ear Training Imitates more complex rhythm patterns. Imitates and sings more complex melodic patterns. Imitates more complex bowing motions, including string crossings. Tunes each string with fine tuners. P a g e 10

11 Music Reading and Vocabulary Sightreads examples in Essential Elements 2000 book 2 Defines vocabulary in method book Music Theory and Music History Place notes on staff Draws clef Recognizes key signatures of music being learned Names notes in scales being played Identifies composers: Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn Concert Information/dates/times Junior Orchestra Clinic Registration Deadline Oct. 7 Highly Encouraged ($6.00) ***Audition required, more information will be handed out during the school year*** Knox County Schools Honors Orchestra TBD Farragut High School All day event Concert in the evening Fall Concert Tuesday, October 6 at KHS 7:00pm Jr. Clinic Auditions Saturday, November 7 ETSBOA Junior Orchestra Clinic Auditions Robertsville Middle School Times TBA Jr. Clinic November ETSBOA Junior Orchestra Clinic Weekend Location & Times TBD Winter Concert Thursday, December 17 at KHS 7:00pm Spring Concert Thursday, March 10 at HVA 7:00pm End of Year Concert Thursday, May 12 at KHS 7:00pm Spring Competition/Festival Trip TBD More information will be handed out during the school year *Please note the location of the concerts, as one of the concerts is at HVA. Concerts begin at 7:00pm, but students need to be there by 6:00pm so that I can get everyone tuned and set up. **Italics indicate required events and attendance is mandatory** P a g e 11

12 Student Information Sheet PLEASE RETURN BY Friday August 21 st Student s name: Parent/Guardian Name(s): 1) Phone Number: 2) Phone Number: Address: (s): Cell phone number: Please provide the name of the rental company that you and your child have chosen: Signatures: I have read and understand the contents of the Karns Middle School handbook and as the parent/guardian of. I recognize that it is his/her responsibility to attend class, be prepared, and to have all the required materials. I am aware that there is an orchestra fee and if I am unable to make that payment I will discuss with the orchestra director. I am aware that there will be three to four concerts this school year and will make sure that my child is on time for those events. Parent/Guardian Signature: Date: My parent/guardian and I have read the orchestra handbook and I understand its content. I understand the grading policy, the discipline policy and the teacher s expectations for me in class. I know that it is my responsibility to come to class on time, be prepared, and have all the required materials. Student Signature: Date: P a g e 12

13 Your help is needed! Parents/guardians, please check if you would be able to volunteer. Check all that apply: Help at concerts (hand out programs, collect donations) Decorate stage for concerts Stage assistant for concerts this may entail helping to keep kids in the correct areas before concerts, etc. Provide refreshments for classes the day following a concert Contribute baked goods for receptions Chaperone events (trips, contest, competitions, festivals) Help with fundraising Other: Parent/guardian name: Student s name: Phone number: Best way to reach me (circle): phone P a g e 13