LHS Orchestras 2018-2019 Syllabus Contact Information If at any point you need to contact Mrs. Tenney, please use one of the following methods. E-mail: wtenney@lowellschools.com Cell phone: 821-9537 (call or text, not after 9pm please!) Course objectives Orchestra is a performing class, which means that learning is centered in experience. We will learn about music notation, composers, music history and musicians, but primarily our focus will be on the experience of making music. Students will focus on their individual skills and knowledge of their instrument, and will also focus on learning to work together as an ensemble. Musical skills will be accompanied by life skills such as teamwork, discipline, professionalism, communication, respect, effort and enjoyment. More detailed description of our learning goals can be found on Mrs. Tenney s teacher page within the LHS website. Classroom materials Please come prepared for class with the following materials: 1. instrument, bow, rosin, shoulder rest (violin and viola) 2. music (always in a folder) 3. pencil 4. extra paper 5. method book (available for purchase in class) Remember that you are responsible for all school music. For any piece that is not returned or is damaged you may be charged $1 per song. Grades Trimester grades will be based on practice, performance and daily classroom responsibility. The final grade will include the trimester grade (80%) and final exam (20%). Trimester grades will be broken down into the following weighted categories: Employability Skills (35% of the trimester points): Rehearsal Skills: Students will earn 5 points per day for being on time and participating in rehearsal, focusing on the task at hand, behaving in a professional manner, taking notes and writing in the music as necessary, coming prepared with sheet music, pencil, instrument. Students who are tardy, do not bring materials, act in a disrespectful or distracted manor (electronic devices for instance) can and will lose points from their grade. Every minute of rehearsal is beneficial to the group so leaving class for any reason (bathroom, locker, or otherwise) can also result in a loss of points. If you are doing anything to take away the productive use of rehearsal, you are taking away from the group s productivity and from your employability skills as part of the ensemble. Practice: Practice calendars will be given out each month to record practice times. Points will be awarded for practice based on a minute scale where 100 minutes= 10 points. Extra practice will count for extra minutes up to 200 total minutes per week so that practice can be made up after busy weeks. Practice calendars will be checked weekly and must be signed by a parent to receive credit. Each week practice calendars will be checked for signed practice times and students will have two additional weeks to turn in signed forms without penalty. Sheets more than two weeks late will not be considered for the grade.
Performance (65% of the trimester points): Performance points include tests, quizzes, projects/papers, and concerts. Tests and quizzes may be taken over for higher points by the student s choice and arrangement. Concerts generally count for 100 points each and are required. The list of required concerts is at the end of this syllabus- please put them in your calendar now. If you must miss a concert due to planned event or emergency a signed parent note is required explaining the absence before a student can negotiate a way to make-up the points lost. In the case of unavoidable conflicts (such as a family wedding) a signed note from the parent must be turned in as soon as possible, but no later than two weeks before the concert date. It is up to the director to determine if the absence will be excused and what the make-up options will be for the concert points. Students who miss a concert without an excused absence will receive a zero for the concert performance. This policy is important for ensuring a good experience and a successful performance for all students in the ensemble. MSBOA festivals, including state festival for qualifying ensembles, will count as concert grades and are required for all ensemble members on the same basis as concerts. Due to the shorter turn-around time for festival schedules students will be expected to notify the director within one week of learning the date/time of district and state festival performances to appeal for an excused absence if one is requested. Trimester Finals: In addition to these points, each trimester will include a final exam that will include both playing and written portions. The final exam will include scales, music theory, composer and history knowledge or other skills and knowledge learned during the trimester. Extra-credit: Extra points are awarded for several things, including private lessons, youth symphony membership, summer music camp, written research reports on composers, attendance at other orchestra concerts, assisting at middle school orchestra concerts and extra practice. See Mrs. Tenney for full descriptions of requirements for these points. It is the student s responsibility to report extra credit activities to Mrs. Tenney. Concerts Concert attire for high school orchestra is ALL BLACK (black pants/skirt, black socks and shoes, black shirt). Any skirts must fall below the knee when seated, meaning you will NOT be allowed on stage in a skirt shorter than this. Shirts must be at least short sleeve (no tank tops, no open shoulder) and cannot be low cut. Students must arrive on time and in uniform to receive points for performing at any concert or festival. Students are expected to stay for the entirety of every concert, including other orchestras performances. MSBOA Festivals MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) hosts many events to supplement the school orchestra curriculum. Lowell High School orchestras will perform for MSBOA Orchestra Festival and individual students may elect to perform for Solo and Ensemble Festival. If the orchestra qualifies at the district level for state orchestra festival it is expected that all students will work together to compete at the next level, as they would for any other concert performance. Music Boosters Lowell Music Boosters is an organization for the support of Lowell band, choir, and orchestra students. Money is raised to fund special projects such as guest music artists and new equipment and provides some student scholarships. If you would like to be involved parents are needed especially in the area of making phone calls, selling refreshments at concerts and LMS sporting events, and serving as officers for Music Booster meetings. Meetings are on a monthly basis. Indicate on the parent form if you are interested in being a part of Music Boosters.
Concert uniform do s and don ts:
LHS Orchestras Events Schedule 2018-2019 Required Events for High School Orchestras: October [9] HS Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra [10] Concert Orchestra and Informance 6 th Orchestra- 5 th hour [11] Fusion and Informance 6 th Orchestra- 6 th hour December [6] 8 th grade Orchestra, HS Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra [12] 6 th grade- 5 th hour & HS Symphony Orchestra February [4] 6:30 HS Symphony Orchestra, Symphonic Band Pre-festival [4] 7:30 HS Concert Orchestra, Concert Band Pre-festival [6] 7 th /8 th Grade Orchestras, Chamber Orchestra Pre-festival March [12] HS Jazz band and HS Fusion orchestra- Elementary recruitment concerts [19] Collage Concert April [30] Senior Solo Night HS Symphony/Chamber Orchestras May [15] 7 th Grade Orchestras, Concert Orchestra [20] All Strings @ LHS Gym Students are expected to be in attendance for the entirety of every concert, including watching other orchestras perform. Optional Events: October 2018- All State Orchestra Auditions (see Mrs. Tenney immediately for details if interested) February 9, 2019-HS Solo and Ensemble Festival- location TBD March 16, 2019- State HS Solo and Ensemble Festival- location TBD
(This form is only needed if you do not complete the online Handbook Acknowledgement Form) Orchestra students and parents: Please return this form with all signatures completed by Tuesday, August 28 th. Please also include cash or a check to Lowell Orchestras for $8 for the required method book- Essentials for Strings for Concert Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra; Advanced Techniques for Chamber. (If you cannot afford the book please include a note.) Student s name (please print) Grade Class Instrument and size Parent s name(s) (please print) Rental company (list name), or owned/paid off? Email addresses are listed in Infinite Campus for most parents. Is this an acceptable means of communicating important information (such as reminders of upcoming concert dates), or do you require paper notes to go home? Email through Infinite Campus works for me I do not consistently check email and need paper notification when possible I have reviewed all of the information in the orchestra handbook and understand the procedures for participation in orchestra at Lowell Area Schools. I have the concert dates and my child will be at ALL required concerts, or the proper 2-week notice will be given for any concerts that must be missed, or I understand that no points will be awarded for the performance. Parent s signature Student s signature Date I give permission for my child to be included in photos for Lowell Ledger and LAS Directions articles, social media, and in poster concert promotions. (If you do not want your child s photo to be used, do not sign this section.) Parent s signature Date Parent Volunteer Opportunities Your help allows the orchestra program to continue running smoothly. I appreciate when parents offer their help, as sometimes I get too busy to think of asking! Help can come in the form of contacting the Ledger about events and achievements, writing articles for the school newsletter, or any number of other areas. If you think of something you would like to do, please let me know! I will at times send out emails when specific help is needed (parents to chaperone or monitor students at concerts, festivals, etc). If you are able to help in any of these areas, please check the box. Thanks! Mrs. Tenney Music Boosters- working as team with other parents to support students and teachers Music Boosters- refreshment sales at LMS sporting events Music Boosters- Fallasburg Festival (September) Poinsettia Sales (December) Music Boosters- Collage Concert (March) Piano accompaniment Website development Newsletters and other mailings Assistance during class time Photography for newsletters Other Parent name, email and phone number for music boosters contact: (name) (phone number) (e-mail)