Senior High Course Syllabus for Orchestra 2015-16 School Year Mrs. Wilcox s Contact Information PHONE 749-5437 extension 1248 WEBSITE staff.vmps.org/swilcox EMAIL ADDRESSES swilcox@vmps.org OR swilcox@egschool.org Grading Criteria Technical/Musical Proficiency 30% Students will be evaluated on their improvement of assigned scales, orchestral & ensemble pieces. Evaluation be of a student s pitch accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, tone quality, bowing & articulation, style & expression, and tempo. Assessments will be turned in via the app Schoology through recordings made outside of class on the student s ipad. Classroom Performance 40% Students will be evaluated on their responsibility, attendance, attitude and behavior in class. Students will start out each class period with 5 points. All or some points will be forfeited for not attending class, forgetting their instrument, pencils, assignments, and by not staying on task or preventing others from staying on task. No cell phones are allowed in class. Points deducted for attendance reasons can be made up before or after school. Critical Listening/Describing/Analyzing/Interpreting 10% Students will analyze and evaluate performances. This includes filling out a worksheet after listening to and evaluating their own playing tests and our concerts. Required Project 10% Students will complete a project of the director s choosing every quarter. Examples are theory, history, form & analysis, or composition assignments. Choice Project 10% Students will complete a project of their choosing every quarter. Examples are taking lessons, mentoring an elementary student, composing music, researching a musical subject or composer, performing with other ensembles such as the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, attending UMD or UWS Honor Orchestras, conducting projects, helping out at elementary and junior high events/concerts, membership on the Music Listening Team, etc. Concert Attendance Attendance at all listed performances is mandatory. Exceptions are a severe illness, or extenuating circumstances verified by a note from a parent/guardian. Failure to adhere to this rule will result in a lowered quarter grade and loss of all Varsity letter points. Athletic conflicts are not an excuse, so visit www.ironrangeconference.org now and check out your sports schedules. The Athletic Directors and coaches are happy to work with us when they become aware of conflicts well in advance. Incompletes Students who are out of school due to illness or extenuating circumstances at the end of the quarter may be granted an incomplete. Upon return to school the student has two weeks to complete the work. Grading Scale The following grading scale will be used: A+ 97-100, A 93-96, A- 90-92, B+ 87-89, B 83-86, B- 80-82, C+ 77-79, C 73-76, C- 70-72, D+ 67-69, D 63-66, D- 60-62, F 0-59.
Materials Needed (If you are unable to get the materials needed for class, please contact Mrs. Wilcox.) an extra set of strings (for students who own their instruments) a mute (these are provided for the school cello and bass instruments) a shoulder rest for violinists and violists a combination lock for your Malone Hall orchestra locker (violins and violas only) a rock stop for cellists and bassists (These need to be brought to each performance.) a folding music stand for home practice and performances outside of school a cleaning rag in your case (Cellists and bassists need one at home and one at school.) pencils for your school folder Attendance/Credit Policy Orchestra is a year-long class. Any student who drops out of orchestra after the 2 weeks will receive no credit for the class and will receive a failing grade. Any student having more than 20 non-medical absences will lose all credit and be given a failing grade unless the time is made up after school. Concert attire (If you are unable to get the needed clothing for concerts, please contact Mrs. Wilcox.) Concert dress for all performances is all black, semi-formal dress clothes and shoes. Boys should wear a dark suit, white shirt and tie, or a tuxedo. (Mrs. Wilcox has information on ordering tuxedos.) Absolutely no patterned fabrics, flesh colored hose, or bare legs are allowed at the concerts. Concerts (subject to change) Saturday Nigh Country Live (optional) UWS Honor Orchestra Day (optional) UMD Honor Orchestra Day (optional) Fall Concert for grades 6-12 Pops Concert for grades 5-12 Solo/Ensemble Recital MSHSL Region 7-A Music Contest Spring Concert for grades 9-12 EGHS Commencement Saturday, Oct. 10, 2015 at 5:45-6:45pm Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015 depart 8am, return 6pm To Be Determined Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2015, 7 pm, Gilbert Jr. High Aud. Monday, Feb. 8, 2016, 7 pm, VHS Aud. To Be Determined Monday-Tuesday, March 14-15, 2016, Mesabi East Monday, May 16, 2016, 7 pm at the VHS Aud. Thursday, June 2, 2016, 7pm EGHS Gym
Behavior criteria Be on time. The office considers a tardy after lunch an unexcused absence. No food, candy, gum or beverages are allowed in Malone Hall at any time. Bring needed materials to class each day. (instrument, music, pencil, assignments) Follow directions cheerfully, the first time they are given. (Delayed obedience is disobedience.) Respect others who are speaking. Raise your hand and wait to be called on. Display appropriate social skills. Respect your classmate s and the school s property (including stands, chairs, instruments, lockers, etc.) Remain on task and allow others to remain on task. Keep your orchestra locker clean. No food, drink or clutter. Cell phones are not allowed in Orchestra. Rewards for good behavior: Praise and special privileges. Consequences for poor behavior: Verbal warning, loss of participation points, a call to parents, detention or other consequence, a conference with the Principal/Dean of Students, removal from the class. Severe infractions such as fighting, verbal abuse and destruction of property will result in immediate removal to the Office. Seating Students will not have to audition for their seats, or defend them in a challenge. Instead we will rotate seats weekly to ensure that each player has ample opportunity to experience being both a leader and a follower. Exceptions to that rule are students who must sit in the front at all times due to special needs (such as vision, or hearing). Violinists will rotate between first violin (melody) and second violin (harmony) at different times during the year. Orchestra Letter Criteria To be eligible for a Varsity letter in Orchestra you must be an enrolled member of the High School Orchestra. All letters are awarded at the discretion of the activities director and the orchestra director. Letters are awarded each spring to those who have earned 10 points, or to any graduating seniors. Points (including those over 10) can be carried over to the next year. It is the student s responsibility to turn in to the orchestra director a list of points earned for that school year by the end of the school year. It is also the student s responsibility to turn in necessary documentation of the activities below (programs, etc.)
1 point for participating in a non-required school performance 1 point for participating in an Honor Orchestra Day (UMD, UWS, etc.) 1 point for winning the EROPA scholarship competition 3 points for taking weekly private lessons outside of school 7 points for admission into All-State Orchestra 2 points for selection as an alternate to All-State Orchestra 3 points for being a member of the Mesabi Symphony Orchestra, Mesabi Symphony, Too, the Duluth-Superior Youth Orchestra or a comparable performing group for a year 2 points for admission into the MNSOTA Middle Level Honor Orchestra 1 point for accompanying a soloist or ensemble at music contest, regardless of the rating the group receives 1 point for receiving an Excellent rating per solo and/or ensemble at the Region MSHSL Music Contest 2 points for receiving a Superior rating per solo and/or ensemble at the Region MSHSL Music Contest All points will be forfeited in the event of: 1. A MSHSL rules violation (chemical violation) 2. An unexcused absence from a required performance Fine Arts Policy for Chemical Ineligibility In accordance with the MSHSL bylaw 205.00, music activities are a Category II activity. That means that a member school does not have a schedule of interscholastic contests, exclusive of League-sponsored tournaments; therefore each member school shall develop penalties which it will apply to the participants in these activities. Our policy is: 1. In the event that a student has become ineligible due to a chemical violation, it will be determined that the student will not be eligible to perform in the MSHSL sponsored solo and ensemble contests, excluding events 1-5 (mixed choir, men s choir, women s choir, orchestra, band) at the subsection and region contests for that year. If the violation occurs after the year s contest has taken place, then the student will not be eligible to perform at the following year s contest. 2. Any student who becomes ineligible due to a chemical violation will remain eligible to compete in MSHSL sponsored large group contests in events 1-5 as long as these ensembles are considered a part of that student s curricular day and the groups have been prepared by the instructor in rehearsals that take place within the hours of the school day. In the case that events 6-9 (jazz band, chamber choir, chamber orchestra, and pop/show/ swing choir) become part of the curricular day, the student would become eligible to compete in these events.
Acknowledgement Page Please detach and return to Mrs. Wilcox by September 11, 2015 I have read, understood, and agreed to the course requirements for Sr. High Orchestra. I will attend all required performances. I will make arrangements to get the needed materials for class. Student Signature: Date: Parent Signature: Date: