Dear Students and Parents, ERMS Orchestra Handbook 2016-2017 School Year Welcome to orchestra, a year-long co-curricular elective. We have an exciting year ahead of us. Because we are co-curricular, many required events take place outside of the regular school day. Some events will require fees that may be off-set by fundraising. A full calendar of events and fees associated with events will be distributed to students and posted on our web-page the first week of September. Please read all of the following information carefully then sign and return the forms provided. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns. I look forward to working with you and your students! Karen Ginther ERMS/Elementary Orchestra Director 892-6630 x-346 karen.ginther@rrps.net Class Fees $10/semester Payment Due Tues, August 23 rd All students enrolled in orchestra will be charged a class fee of $20 per year ($10 a semester) to assist with basic supply expenses including, but not limited to folders, sheet music, method books. Checks are to be made to ERMS Orchestra. Instruments Required For This Class Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Store Rental, ERMS Rental, Purchase Information All students must make arrangements to acquire an instrument by August 31 st or the student may be changed to another class. It is strongly suggested that you rent an instrument (rather than buy) during the first year. Instruments come in many sizes to accommodate the size of each child. Smaller violins and violas rent as low as $15 a month! (This money can be put towards the purchase of the instrument.) It is recommended that you be wary of internet and pawn shop purchases as well as boxed instruments available at large discount chain stores. A high percentage of these instruments are virtually unplayable due to innumerable structural and set-up problems. Often, the cost of repairing these problems far exceed both the price of these instruments and the price of a properly made and set-up instrument. Price ranges vary. Higher priced instruments will have a more pleasant sound and are easier to play. The string shops listed on page 2 sell well-constructed student instruments that are attractive, easy to play, and have a beautiful sound. It is necessary to have a functional instrument in order to be a member of this class! See page 2 for music store information. See page 3 for ERMS rental information. 1
Some Recommended Music Stores with Rental/Purchase Options Local String Specialty Store: Robertson and Sons Violin Shop 3201 Carlisle Blvd. NE Albuquerque 889-2999 www.robertsonviolins.com Two fabulous additional sources: Shar Products Company 2465 S. Industrial Ann Arbor, MI 48104 800-248-7427 www.sharmusic.com Southwest Strings 1721 S. Cherrybell Strav. Tucson, AZ 85713-1935 800-528-3430 www.swstrings.com Shopping elsewhere Be sure the seller allows you to try an instrument out without the obligation to buy. This gives you the opportunity to get the instrument looked over by a teacher and at least one other qualified string specialist before making a final decision. Some sellers do not understand string instruments and their value. Pretty and shiny does not mean that the instrument is playable! Be careful. Many instruments have come through our program that were unplayable (I could not make them work at all-think about the frustration of a beginner child when their shiny new equipment won t work!). 2
ERMS Rentals Procedure and Cost A Limited Amount of Instruments Are Available 1. Fill out and return the rental request portion of the enclosed Student Information Form by Wednesday, August 17th! 2. The first semester class fee ($10) must be included with the forms in this packet. 3. Once your request has been received, every effort will be made to match the student to an instrument of correct size and the original instrument requested. If a match is found for your student, they will receive an invitation to Instrument Rental Night by Friday, August 19 th. 4. Parents must check-out the instrument in person at our Instrument Rental Night (Tuesday, August 23 rd from 6:00 to 7:30 PM- 6 th grade may be on 22 nd at the barbecue). 5. Parents must bring a payment of $50 on rental night (do not send this money with your Student Information Sheet/Rental Request Form as this money will be deposited in a different activity account for instrument maintenance). Bass students may need to rent from ERMS as basses often cannot be rented from area stores. Students who check out a bass for home practice will need to pack and pick up their bass on rental night. Bass players who do not receive a practice bass will still need to complete written paperwork and will need to pay rental as well. Those students may check out a bass on weekends and for off-campus concerts. A number of basses will remain in the ERMS music room for daily class use. Cello students who own/rent (from a music store) their own instrument may borrow a school instrument for class use IF WE HAVE ENOUGH INSTRUMENTS AVAILABLE. Otherwise, they will provide their own instrument for daily class use. Violinists and violists who own or rent instruments will bring their own equipment from home daily. We do not have enough small instruments to justify school- use- only loans. We cannot double up or borrow other students equipment for this class. Instrument Storage The orchestra room will remain locked or supervised when not in use. I feel confident that your instruments will be safe; however, it is to your advantage to add instruments (this includes both store and school rental instruments) to your homeowners insurance policy. Students are to bring their instrument to the music room each morning before school. Instruments are to be kept in an assigned padlocked music locker or in storage room 345 in an assigned slot. Never store instruments in hallway lockers or classrooms! If you rent from ERMS and leave your instrument in an inappropriate area regularly, you will be required to return the instrument. 3
Other Required Materials Accessories (See page 2 for vendors) All students (regardless of whether they rent, borrow, or own an instrument) need the following accessories daily: rosin, shoulder rest or sponge (violins and violas), an endpin stopper (cello and bass), a soft cloth and a clearly labeled luggage tag for their case. Students should also invest in a folding music stand for home practice. Books and Sheet Music The teacher will purchase with fee $$ Each student will receive a folder, sheet music, ERMS Orchestra Workbook, and a method book. Homework Individual Practice Daily Home Practice Required! It is required that each student practices his/her assignments at home. Middle school students are expected to practice at least 20 minutes daily to reinforce skills learned in class. Graded Classwork Performance Evaluations/Chair Testing Each student will periodically perform assigned excerpts in front of the class or students will be recorded (may be audio or audio/video) for teacher evaluation. Students will be evaluated in the areas of posture and position, intonation, tone, and musical literacy. Section leaders will be chosen based on rubric scores. Written Work Students will need a pencil daily to take notes in their music as well as for written assignments (concert reviews, vocabulary, music theory) in their workbooks. All written work will be graded. Daily Participation Grade Students will earn 16 points daily in the following areas: Facilitating Learning, Making Use of Time, Participation/Active Involvement, and Music Engagement. 4
Concerts/Rehearsals are Graded Events Concerts/Rehearsals These are Mandatory! All students are expected to attend scheduled concerts and rehearsals. In order to receive an A, the student must be in attendance for the entire rehearsal/concert. If a student cannot participate due to a serious conflict (for example, a religious conflict or illness) an alternate project will be assigned. If there is an emergency the day of an event, please contact Mrs. Ginther as soon as possible (leave a message at my school extension). A make-up assignment will be given when the student returns to school. Students will receive two test scores for each performance (appropriate warm-up participation and appropriate performance/audience participation). We will have one- two evening concerts each grading period. A detailed concert schedule will be sent home the first week of September. Concert Dress Shop now and be prepared! Boys White Dress Shirt/ White Polo Shirt Black Dress Pants Black Socks Black Shoes (solid black-if they lace, the laces must be solid black) Girls White Dress Shirt (must be school appropriate according to RRPS code) Black Skirt (knee length or longer) or Dress Pants Black Stockings/Socks (legs must be covered down to the ankles!!) Black Dress Shoes No T-shirts, logos on clothing, prints (solid black/white only),athletic shoes, leather or denim attire, shorts or capri pants. Students who do not dress appropriately for concert events may not be allowed to perform. Students who do not perform will not receive credit. ** PLEASE DONATE ANY OUTGROWN CONCERT CLOTHING, SHOES, BLACK SOCKS TO THE PROGRAM. I WILL KEEP THESE IN THE ORCHESTRA ROOM FOR STUDENTS IN NEED. 5
Other Important Information Fingernails Students must keep fingernails a reasonable length (to be determined by the teacher). Long nails and nail extensions do not permit students to play with correct technique and intonation. Since performance grades are based on proper technique and intonation, long fingernails will negatively affect the student's grade. Fundraising We need additional funds to provide our students the best music education experience possible. Money will be used for new equipment, wear and tear repairs, quality orchestral music, clinicians, festival fees, and transportation costs. Donations will graciously be accepted as well. Field Trips Scheduled field trips give students the opportunity to work with and observe other musicians in the community as well as provide educational programs for ERMS feeder schools. All field trips are considered part of each students educational experience and attendance is graded. Events Requiring Additional Fees Honor Orchestra (optional and by audition only)- $15 fee for selected students Hummingbird Music Camp (graded clinics/field trip- all ERMS Orchestra Students)- $50 Solo and Ensemble Festival (optional)- $7 per event Rock Concert Event (all RRPS students perform/no cost to students)- $8 ticket price per audience member Please fill out, sign, and return pages 7&8 ASAP! Students who wish to rent instruments from ERMS must return forms with the class fee by Wednesday, August 17 th. All forms and class fees are due by Tuesday, August 23 rd. 6
Receipt of Information We received and read the 2016-2017 Orchestra Handbook. Student Name Student Signature Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Permission to Photograph Many of our activities and events are of interest to the public. From time to time, we record digital images of students participating in these events and desire to share these with the community via our website (district or school level) to provide information to the public about our programs and services. The orchestra also makes DVD recordings of our Spookfest concert and Electrify Your Strings concerts which are made available to the public. Local newspapers such as the Observer and Albuquerque Journal and local television stations may periodically photograph/film our students during special events as well. Your signature below gives the orchestra consent to photograph/film your student during special musical events. Student Name Parent Name (Please Print) Parent Signature 7
ERMS Orchestra Student Information Return this page with the $10 class fee by Tuesday, August 23 rd. Those making a request for an ERMS instrument must return forms and $10 fee by Wednesday, August 17 th. Name Grade Class (Beg/Adv) Period Parent/Guardian Names Phone Number(s) day/ eve/ E-Mail Instrument Will you provide your own instrument for this class? How many years of experience do you have on this instrument? Payment of $10 (semester) $20 (for full year) Received in the form of Cash Check Check # Request for ERMS Instrument Rental Filling out this portion of the form does not guarantee that you will receive a school instrument. This is a request form only. Students may not receive their first choice of instrument. Every attempt will be made to match a student with their first choice of instrument. Instruments come in different sizes and it is important that the student receives an instrument that matches the hand and body size of the student. Parents must be present at Instrument Rental Night to sign contracts and pay the $50 rental fee. If an instrument is available that matches your child s needs, you will receive an invitation to Instrument Rental Night by Friday, August 19 th. Please number in order of preference (1 for first choice): Violin Viola Cello Bass 8