Red Arrow Orchestra LMS 7 th and 8 th Handbook 2018-2019 Contact Information Please contact me whenever you have any questions, concerns, or ideas! E-mail is usually the preferred option to reach me quickly. E-mail, Mr. Joe Oprea: joprea@lowellschools.com School orchestra phone: 987-2830 (directly classroom line, goes directly to voicemail during school hours- for urgent matters or to reach a student during the day you must call the school office) School office: 987-2800 Class Materials All students are required to have the following every day in class and/or for concerts: Instrument, bow, case all in good working order Rosin and cleaning cloth Method book (Essential Elements book 2 for 7 th grade, Essential Techniques for 8 th grade) Shoulder rest (violin and viola only), End-pin stop or strap (cello and bass only) Pencil Students are also recommended to have the following: Electric tuner and metronome, or tuner-metronome combo Folding music stand Music bag to hold sheet music/books Grading Students will work to earn points in the following areas: 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: 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. Students will be allowed to turn in missed practice calendars up to two weeks after the due date without penalty, but will not receive any credit after two weeks late. Occasionally students will be asked to submit another type of practice log or assignment that will detail not only time spent, but tell more of the quality of practice. Students will record what was practiced and how it was practiced. 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 and should be put in your family calendar now.
Practice Students have a required amount of practice time for their grade, but practice should be more about quality achieved than minutes spent. Consider that the instrument is an investment, and the more time spent practicing, the better the return on that investment. I would recommend practicing at least 20-30 minutes, five times a week. Practice calendars will be given out each month to record practice times. Parent signatures will be required to earn practice points. The practice calendar is used to communicate up-coming events and other information so it is ideal that students and parents use this practice calendar to record practice, but any other paper with parent signature will work (students must include specific dates and times practiced- not just a total for the week). Quizzes and Tests Quizzes and tests are giving to make sure that every student is meeting benchmarks of learning. Tests may be written or playing tests. The goal is for all to succeed in learning what they need to know and because of that every test and quiz can be retaken until complete success is achieved. Each time a test is taken students will receive evaluation and can use that to guide further practice or study. Re-testing will never lower a student s grade. Concerts Concerts are a requirement, as much as a test in any other class and are generally worth 100 points each. All concert dates are available NOW and should be entered in a family calendar today. I will have reminders of up-coming concert dates on practice calendars and in reminder emails sent through Infinite Campus. Concerts should only be missed under extreme circumstances, such as an out-of-town wedding, state final championship game, or major illness. A note from home two weeks prior to the concert, or a phone call the day of if the student is ill will allow the student to pursue make-up credit such as performing the concert pieces in front of the class. Less than the required notice does not guarantee the student an opportunity to make up missed points! Every effort should be made to be a part of the concerts because each student s participation is important to the rest of their group. We are committed to working together, and we miss any one part of the team if they are not in attendance at our concerts. Concert attire consists of black pants (long), black socks, black shoes (not flip-flops), and a white shirt (no stripes, dots). If you have difficulty obtaining concert clothes, please contact Mr. Oprea because students often turn in clothes they have out-grown and some may be available. Girls may wear skirts only if they are longer than knee length when seated. No student will go on-stage without the proper concert clothes- students not in concert attire will be considered un-excused and receive no credit. MSBOA Festivals MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) hosts many events to supplement the school orchestra curriculum. Seventh and eighth grade orchestras will perform for MSBOA Orchestra Festival and individual students may elect to perform for Solo and Ensemble Festival. More information on all of these opportunities will come throughout the year. Music Boosters Lowell Music Boosters is an organization for the support of Lowell band, choir, and orchestra students. Money is raised to support students through scholarships to music camps and honors orchestras, and to fund special projects such as guest music artists and new equipment. 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.
LMS 7 th and 8 th Grade Orchestras Concert and Events Schedule 2018-2019 Required Events: Fall Orchestra Concert: 7 th /8 th Grade Orchestras - Tuesday, October 16, 2018 at 7pm, LPAC Winter Orchestra Concerts: 8 th Grade and HS Concert/Chamber Orchestras - Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 7pm, LPAC 6 th /7 th Grade Orchestras (1 st, 2 nd & 6 th hours) - Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 7pm, LPAC 6 th Grade (5 th hour) and HS Symphony Orchestras - Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at 7pm, LPAC Pre-Festival Concert: 7 th /8 th Grade Orchestra - Wednesday, February 6, 2019 at 7:00pm, LPAC Festival Competition: 2/27-3/1 or 3/5-3/7 Exact date and time to be announced Collage Concert: Tuesday, March 19, 2019, 7pm at LPAC Middle School Spring Concerts: 8 th Grade Orchestra - Wednesday, May 8, 2019 at 7pm, LPAC 7 th Grade and HS Concert Orchestras - Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 7pm, LPAC All Strings Concert: All 6/7/8 and HS- Monday, May 20, 2019 at 7pm, LHS Main Gym Optional Events: Fiddle Club: practices during Seminar and performs for events such as the Homecoming Parade, the Community Expo and Murray Lake Learning Fair. All-State Orchestra Auditions: Thursday, October 25 and Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Zeeland HS Lowell Expo: Saturday, March 23, 2019 at LHS Solo and Ensemble Festival: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Concert uniform do s and don ts: DO: Wear black pants or long skirt, black shoes/socks and all white shirt DON T: Wear short skirt or pants, white socks, contrasting cami/undershirt, polka dots or stripes, tight skirts, flip-flop sandals
Orchestra students and parents: Please return this form with all signatures completed by Friday, August 31 st. ***Also, if students do not have their required method book they need to bring in $7 by Thursday, August 31 st. (Required books are: Essential Elements book 2 for 7 th grade and Essential Techniques for 8 th grade). Student s name (please print) Grade Instrument Parent s name (please print) Preferred phone number 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 class photos on the Red Arrow Orchestra website, Lowell Ledger and LAS Directions articles, 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 is greatly appreciated in making our orchestra program run smoothly! If you are able to help in any of these areas, please check the box. Thanks! Mr. Oprea Piano accompaniment Assistance during class time Transportation of equipment Photography for newsletters Music Boosters- working as team with other parents to support students and teachers Music Boosters- refreshment sales at LMS sporting events Music Boosters- Collage Concert (in March) Music Boosters- Poinsettia Sales (in December) Other Parent name, email and phone number for music boosters contact: (name) (phone number) (e-mail)