Dear Parents, Welcome Back! It s hard to believe that yet another school year is here! Congratulations on enrolling your child in the orchestra! Orchestra is one of the most rewarding and exciting educational opportunities offered by our schools, and we are proud of our tremendous tradition of excellence in this program. Your investment will pay tremendous dividends in your child s life for many years to come. Music provides students with a wealth of benefits. In addition to obtaining the musical skills needed to become a performer, a child learns skills that can be used in every facet of life. Teamwork, dedication, self-discipline, and responsibility prepare a child for a successful future in any profession he/she may choose. A variety of research shows that music students are among the academically strongest in their schools and score higher on the SAT than other students. Most colleges and universities now look for more than good grades on a child s transcript. They want well-rounded students that have been able to accomplish more than textbook knowledge. You do not have to know anything about music to assist your child in this endeavor. Please arrange a time and place where practice can be done without interruptions. Practice should become a part of each child s daily routine. He/she should never merely put in the required time, but should practice with the goal of always improving. When practicing, music should be placed at eye level on a music stand. Please do not allow your child to put the music on a table, bed, etc. This encourages poor playing posture. Remember, practice doesn t necessarily make perfect, but PERFECT practice does! Private lessons to supplement the group experience are very much encouraged when at all possible. Please visit the orchestra website at http://carmelorchestra.weebly.com. Please be sure to bookmark this page and refer to it often. The website contains all dates, documents, and the most important information regarding your child s orchestra class. I strive to communicate as clearly as possible and encourage you to contact me at any time should you have any questions or concerns. I will also send a weekly email update to help keep you in the loop. Again, I congratulate you on enrolling your child in the orchestra. It is my goal to create positively life-changing experiences through this musical experience. As the year progresses, I hope you will feel free to contact me whenever necessary. Sincerely, Joel A. Powell Director of Orchestras Carmel Middle School jpowell@ccs.k12.in.us
Performing Arts Policies It is our goal to achieve and maintain a high standard of excellence in the music ensembles at Carmel Middle School. The following expectations are made in keeping with our school policy: Attendance policy for Rehearsals, Sectionals, Concerts, and Contests Performing arts classes are unique co-curricular courses that allow students to participate in an ensemble both inside and outside of the school day. Because of this, a student receives academic credit for daily classroom activities as well as out of school rehearsals and performances. Therefore, all members of the ensemble are required to attend all scheduled rehearsals, sectionals, concerts and contests. If a student does not attend, his/her grade will be affected. Additionally, participation in an ensemble is like being a member of a team. Every member of the team is important and when one team member is not present, it affects the entire team. During a concert, students are graded not only on their performance, but also on their concert etiquette while listening to other ensembles. Because listening to other ensembles is an extremely important part of the concert event, students are not permitted to leave after their ensemble has performed. Students are required to stay for the entire duration of a concert performance. Students who leave early may not receive full credit for the concert grade. Please plan ahead with homework and other events so that a concert performance becomes the number one priority of the evening. If there are two concerts planned on one evening, students are only required to attend the concert in which their ensemble is performing. If it is absolutely necessary for a student to leave early please contact the director before the concert regarding the specific situation. Excused and Unexcused Absences Occasionally conflicts with out of school events arise. As soon as a conflict arises, communication about these matters is crucial. Please contact the director immediately so that both parties are aware of the conflicting events. At that time, the director and family will discuss possible solutions. In order for an absence to be considered excused, a pre-arranged form is to be filled out and submitted by the parent or guardian two (2) weeks prior to the event. After the form has been submitted, the director will determine whether the absence will be excused or unexcused and return the pre-arranged form to the family. The performing arts directors will do their best to be flexible in balancing conflicting events. Absences will be excused for a death in the family, religious holidays, unavoidable school activity conflicts (which have been previously discussed with the director, student and sponsor), and other pre-approved situations. In the event that a student is not able to attend both events and the director has had ample notification (at least 2 weeks in advance), the student may be asked to complete an assignment to make up for the missed grade. The assignment will be fair and reasonable and will be determined by the director. If a student is absent from school on the day of a performance (or the day before a weekend performance), a parent should notify their child s director by telephone or email to let him/her know. Absences due to illness will be considered excused. Absences that are not prearranged or due to an illness will be considered unexcused and will result in a zero for the performance grade.
Procedures Auditions Co-Curricular Grade Level Orchestras: (This includes: 6 th Grade String Orchestra, 7 th Grade Philharmonic Orchestra and 8 th Grade Symphony Orchestra) Students are placed into their grade appropriate ensemble and no audition is required. Extra-Curricular - Carmel Middle School Chamber Orchestra: This ensemble is made up of the top 28 (or so) string students at Carmel Middle School. The Chamber Orchestra has already been formed (auditions happened last year) and will be performing at the 71 st Annual Midwest Clinic. Chair Placements Each student plays an important part in the ensemble; therefore, rotating chairs will be a regular occurrence during daily rehearsals. Students should expect to change seats (and sections for violins) often throughout the year. Students in String Orchestra (6 th Grade) will likely not have chair placement auditions for concert seating. Students in Philharmonic Orchestra (7 th Grade) may have chair placement auditions for concert seating, although rotating chairs will be a more regular occurrence. Students in Symphony Orchestra will have chair placement auditions throughout the year. The audition, along with behavior and leadership skills, will be taken in account and used to assign specific chair placements. Playing Exams Because orchestra is a performance-based class, students will be asked to prepare for playing exams throughout the year. Exams are an opportunity for students to demonstrate their progress and diligent at-home practice. All materials on the exam will be covered in class and students will usually be notified well in advance of a test. Playing exams may or may not be used for chair placement. Students may be asked to perform their exam in class or through a digital upload on Canvas. Private lessons Although private lessons are not required for participation in orchestra, they are strongly recommended! Class sizes are often large and therefore do not lend time for a lot of individual attention. While students will receive some individual attention, a weekly meeting with a private instructor is extremely beneficial in supplementing what is being learned in the classroom. Studying privately often helps students reinforce concepts, move along at a quicker pace, and learn solo repertoire that might not otherwise be learned in school. If you are interested in private lessons, please contact the director for a list of suggested private instructors in the area. Sectionals Sectionals are important rehearsals where one specific section (such as 1 st violins, violas, cellos etc.) will meet in order to better learn the music. Sectionals are not listed on the calendar, but may be necessary to schedule during the year. If a sectional is scheduled, it will take place before or after school. Students will be informed of any upcoming sectional rehearsals in advance and every effort will be made to avoid other school conflicts. The attendance policy applies to all sectional rehearsals, so please review this policy carefully and notify the director of any potential conflicts.
Events After School Rehearsals Students meet as two separate orchestra classes during the school day and do not have the opportunity to rehearse together as a group. Therefore, after school rehearsals are necessary. After school rehearsals take place from 3:15-4:05 and will be held in the orchestra room or the auditorium. Students are required to attend all rehearsals. All after school rehearsals have been scheduled and are on the calendar for this year. Please mark these on your calendar and plan accordingly. Students receive a grade for their attendance and performance at rehearsal, so please notify the director of any conflicts at least two weeks in advance. Concerts Throughout the year, each orchestra will participate in three or four evening concerts. Students are required to attend all concerts in which their ensemble is performing. All concert dates are already set and are listed on the orchestra calendar. Please make sure to record all concert performances on your calendar as soon as possible. A significant portion of a student s orchestra grade comes from concert performances. Any absence from a concert performance that is not pre-arranged or due to an illness will result in a zero. Also, students are expected to stay for the entire concert, which includes listening to all other ensembles that are performing that evening. Although students are only responsible for the concerts in which their ensemble is performing, attendance at other concerts is encouraged! Festivals and Contests Group Performances Each orchestra at Carmel Middle School will perform in one evaluated contest or festival during the year. These events are extremely beneficial and will help us work towards a long-term goal. The contest or festival is a required event that takes place on a weekend. All event dates are set and listed on the orchestra calendar. Please make sure to record all concert performances on your calendar as soon as possible. Symphony and Philharmonic will perform at the ISSMA (Indiana State School Music Association) Organizational contest. Students in the String Orchestra will participate in the IMEA (Indiana Music Educators Association) Non-Competitive Festival. Solo and Ensemble Contest Each year, ISSMA holds this event which gives students the opportunity to perform a solo or in a small ensemble (such as a quartet or trio) in front of a judge. While participation in this contest is not required, it is highly encouraged and is extremely beneficial to every student who chooses to participate. Students wishing to do a solo should prepare carefully with their private instructor. If a student does not have a private instructor and wishes to participate, he/she will need to speak with the director before entering the contest. Students are also encouraged to participate in small ensembles for this event; however, the students are responsible for creating their own groups and setting a rehearsal schedule. The group must also be approved by the director before students may sign up for the contest. Once the group is approved, the director can provide assistance with music selections, rehearsal space, and a coaching. All-Region Honor Orchestra Each year the American String Teachers Association (ASTA) sponsors a regional honor orchestra. The event takes place in mid-november and is made up of select middle school musicians from the Central Indiana area. Acceptance into this honor orchestra requires an application. Accepted students are invited to come together for a day of rehearsal and work with guest conductors and clinicians before performing in an evening concert. Additional practice time is required to learn additional music repertoire for this event. Students who wish to apply for this event should look for application information in early October. 8 th Grade Performing Arts Trip Each year the 8 th grade performing arts ensembles (orchestra, choir, and band) participate in an overnight trip to a music festival. Participation in this trip is not required, but it is our hope that all students who would like to are able to participate in this event. Trip locations and cost vary from year to year. Scholarship opportunities are available on an as needed basis.
Uniforms Uniforms are a necessary part of performing in an ensemble. Each student must wear the designated outfit for his/her particular group at all public performances. Specific information regarding fees and fitting will be sent home in September. Students will provide: Khaki dress pants Dress Socks Black or Brown Dress Shoes Students will purchase through school: Performing Arts Polo (will be worn for two years) 7 th and 8 th Grade Orchestra (8 th Grade Should Already Have the Uniform) Boys will provide: Black Dress Socks Black Dress Shoes Boys will purchase through school: Black Dress Shirt Dress Pants Tie Girls will provide: Black dress shoes (closed toe, conservative heel) Girls will purchase through school: Specifically designed black dress
Grading Policies Students will be graded on the following criteria: Category Percent of Grade Written materials 10% Playing Exams 15% Practice Charts 20% Daily Participation 25% Performance and Attendance 30% Written Materials This includes required forms, permission slips, worksheets, written assignments, and quizzes. Students should complete and turn in all assignments on time. Check the director s website for upcoming assignments and additional forms. Playing Exams Students should turn in exams on time, perform excerpts and assigned materials to the best of their ability, and demonstrate improvement or mastery of a skill. Practice Records Practice records are required weekly. Students should complete the appropriate time requirements and assigned practice materials. Daily Participation Students will receive credit for participating fully in class each day. This includes having all required materials, being prepared for class and playing to the best of your ability. Performance and Attendance All rehearsals, concerts, and contests are graded events. Students are expected to arrive on time, stay through the entire performance (even if other groups are performing), dress according to uniform guidelines, and perform to the best of his/her ability. A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F Grading Scale for Overall Grade 93%-100% Excellent 90%-92% 87%-89% Good 83%-86% 80%-82% 77%-79% Average 73%-76% 70%-72% 67%-69% Passing 63%-66% 60%-62% 59% and below Failing Late work policy Late work will be accepted, but not for full credit. Late work will be graded accordingly: Days late Grade Reduction 1 10% 2 20% 3 30% 4 40% 5 or more 50%
Practice Requirements At-Home Practice All orchestra students are expected to practice their instruments outside of the classroom. Because this practice takes place at home, students must maintain an accurate record of this practice time and submit it on a weekly basis. At home practice is required daily homework so therefore practice records account for 20% of a student s grade each grading period. Students will submit their practice time online each week to Charms Office (www.charmsoffice.com). Practice records for each week must be completed online by Sunday evening at midnight (12:00 a.m.), but students may enter their practice time online at any point during the current week. Students who do not have access to the internet or experience computer difficulties may turn in written practice records. The written records are provided by the director and must be used when turning it in on paper. All written practice records are due on Monday of each week. Late practice records will be handled in accordance with the school s late homework policy. Any individual practice time may be included on the practice record. The director will daily assign practice spots and exercises in class, along with instruction on how to practice specific sections. Students should practice their class assignments first, but are also encouraged to go beyond classroom assignments during their practice time (if appropriate). This includes any material that is assigned by a private instructor or serves as enrichment. Time spent in private lessons or additional ensembles may not be included as daily practice, unless approved by the director. 6 th Grade Practice Requirements 20 minutes daily/6 days a week Grade Range of Minutes Practiced 100% 2 + Hours 90% 1 hour 40 minutes 80% 1 hour 20 minutes 70% 1 hour 60% 40 minutes 50% 30 minutes or below 7 th Grade Practice Requirements 25 minutes daily/6 days a week Grade Range of Minutes Practiced 100% 2 hours 30 minutes 90% 2 hours 5 minutes 80% 1 hour 40 minutes 70% 1 hour 15 minutes 60% 50 minutes 50% 45 minutes or below 8 th Grade Practice Requirements 30 minutes daily/6 days a week Grade Range of Minutes Practiced 100% 3 hours + 90% 2 hours 30 minutes 80% 2 hours 70% 1 hour 30 minutes 60% 1 hour 50% 55 minutes or below
Logging Practice Records Charms Office Assistant is an online music office assistant that allows students and parents to communicate with the director. Weekly practice time will be recorded using this system, so please follow these directions for using Charms (www.charmsoffice.com). How to Log-In to Charms Office 1. Log on to www.charmsoffice.com 2. Choose ENTER from the top menu bar 3. Select Parents/Students/Members 4. Type in the school code: carmelmsorch 5. Enter your child s school id number Communication through Charms Office It is very important that all students and parents complete the personal info section of Charms Office. The director uses the information provided to communicate regularly with students and families throughout the year. Please fill in all the requested information, especially the email address you would like to receive information on. Recording Weekly Practice Time Students are encouraged to use Charms Office as the primary tool for logging weekly practice time. Students may record entries or make changes to practice records any time during the current week only. Once the current week is over (Sunday at 12:00 a.m.), students are not allowed to log any practice time from the previous week. It is recommended that students keep track of their practice time daily, whether online or on paper. In event that Charms Office does not work or is unavailable to a student, paper practice records are accepted. Paper practice records are available at school or on the director s website and are accepted on Mondays for full credit. Logging Practice Time in Charms: 1. Log-In to Charms Office 2. Click on the practice log icon to record practice time. 3. Select the date using the calendar icon* 4. Type in the title of the music that was practiced 5. Skip filling in the tempo information, unless assigned to practice with a metronome 6. Enter the amount of time practiced 7. Click on the Enter Time button
Classroom Expectations Classroom Rules 1. Follow directions the first time they are given. 2. An instrument, pencil, cougar caper and music are required in class every day. 3. Be seated two (2) minutes after the bell with all of your required materials ready. 4. Do not chew gum or eat food. 5. Raise your hand and be recognized before speaking. Consequences for Misbehavior 1. Verbal warning and name is written down as a warning. 2. Stay in class one minute after the bell rings. 3. Lunch detention. 4. Contact parents. 5. Send to principal or administrator. SEVERE CLAUSE: A student will be sent directly to the principal or administrator. Materials needed for class every day: 1. Instrument (correctly sized) 2. Pencil 3. 1-inch 3-Ring Binder 4. 20 sheets of notebook paper 5. Grade-Specific Method Book and Sheet Music 6. A Personal Lock (if you want one for your orchestra locker) 7. Cougar Caper (provided by school) Required materials for your instrument: Rosin Kun Brand Shoulder Rest (violin/viola) Rock stop (cello/bass) A soft cloth to wipe instrument A computer or smart device (Charms Office) for recording practice records and playing exams Suggested materials: Spare strings (one of each) Metronome Tuner
Director Contact Information As the orchestra director, I pride myself upon being EXTREMELY responsive and communicative. When any questions or concerns arise, please contact me immediately, and you will often get a response the same day. Joel Powell, Director Email: jpowell@ccs.k12.in.us Phone: 317-846-7331, Ext. 6534 If you need anything at all as the year progresses, please do not hesitate to let me know.
Carmel Middle School Orchestras Code of Conduct These procedures and rules demonstrate how the class operates to ensure the most instruction and music making time in each class. 1. Adhere to all policies set forth. 2. Always give your best. 3. Absolutely no talking when the teacher is working. 4. Students are in attention position when the teacher stops conducting. 5. Students will conduct themselves in a mature, respectful manner in regards to others and classroom equipment. 6. Students will come to orchestra class prepared and ready to rehearse. 7. Gum, food, or drinks are not allowed in the band area. 8. Students will attend all performances and extra curricular rehearsals and be ready to play at the start of the warm-up session. The goal of our ensembles is to achieve musical excellence through working as a team. These procedures and rules are our method of achieving this goal. Working with this code ensures a safe, productive, and fun class. Failure to follow this code will result in a recorded check, communication home, and detention if the issues persist. The directors must approve any missed performances at least one month prior to the performance. An alternative assignment will be given. Failure to notify the directors will result in a grade deduction.
2017-2018 Calendar Revised July 19, 2017 All dates and times are subject to change. You will be notified immediately in the event of a change. October 24 8 th Grade Orchestra Festival 1:00 PM 6:00 PM Palladium 8 th Grade Orchestra 7:00 PM- concert November 1 and 2 Music Photos All Grades During School CaMS Auditorium November 28 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM Orchestra Room November 29 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium 7 th Grade Orchestra November 30 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium December 1 Winter Concert 6:00 PM CaMS Auditorium December 1 Winter Concert 7:15 PM CaMS Auditorium 7 th Grade & 8 th Grade December 5 Midwest Clinic Preview Concert 7:00 PM CaMS Auditorium Chamber Orchestra Only December 20-22 Chamber Trip and Performance Perform at 12:00 PM on 12/22 Chicago, IL Chamber Orchestra Only Ballroom W190 January 27 ISSMA Solo and Ensemble (strings) TBA Noblesville High School February 3 ISSMA Solo and Ensemble (piano) TBA TBA February 17 ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble (piano) TBA TBA February 24 ISSMA State Solo and Ensemble (strings) TBA Northview Middle School March 1 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium 8 th Grade Orchestra March 5 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium 7 th Grade Orchestra March 6 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium March 7 Preview Concert 6:00 PM CaMS Auditorium March 7 Preview Concert 7:15 PM CaMS Auditorium 7 th Grade, 8 th Grade, Chamber March 16 or 17 (TBA) ISSMA Contest 4:00 PM 9:00 PM (if 16 th ) Clay Middle School ALL Orchestras 8:00 AM 4:00 PM (if 17 th ) (exact time and date TBA) May 2 Performing Arts Trip Meeting 7:00 PM CaMS Auditorium 8 th Grade Orchestra May 4-5 Performing Arts Trip TBA TBA 8 th Grade Orchestra May 10 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM Orchestra Room 8 th Grade Orchestra May 14 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium May 15 After School Rehearsal 3:15 PM 4:05 PM CaMS Auditorium 7 th Grade Orchestra May 16 Spring Concert 6:00 PM CaMS Auditorium May 16 Spring Concert 7:15 PM CaMS Auditorium 7 th Grade, 8 th Grade, & Chamber Dates listed in BOLD are required for the noted grade level and will count for a significant portion of each student s grade. If you have a conflict with one of these events, please fill out a pre-arranged absence form and notify the director as soon as you are aware of the conflict. At least 2 weeks prior notification is required in order for an absence to be assessed by the director as excused or unexcused, but more time is preferred.