Kate Bond Middle School Orchestra 2018-2019 WELCOME! Teacher: Mrs. Robyn Greene Subject: Middle School Orchestra I, II, III Grade Level: 6, 7, 8 School: Kate Bond Middle School School Phone: 416-0640 Email: greenerm@scsk12.org or greenestrings99@gmail.com Please read all of the information in this packet as an introduction to the basic operation of the KBMS orchestra program. I will stay in touch with you constantly throughout the year with details and updates as they pertain to your child so he or she can become a successful student musician at Kate Bond Middle School. Please check email often for classroom news, announcements and updates to the schedule. CLASSROOM Students are expected to actively participate in class every day with their own instruments, music, and supplies. Students participating each day with all of their supplies will earn 100% credit toward their daily grade in orchestra. The daily grade is a percentage of the nine weeks report card grade. Required supplies include instrument, ID tag for case, music book,1-inch black binder, shoulder rest/rock stop, rosin, cleaning cloth, pencil, and any assigned class work or homework that is due. Violins and violas should keep an extra set of strings, and cellos should have an extra A string in case a string breaks at school and there is no time for parents to get to a music store immediately. Daily Grades will begin immediately for all students. Only instruments and music may be stored in the orchestra room. All other personal items and materials for other classes must be stored in lockers. All instrument cases, accessories, and supplies should be labeled with the student s name. Instruments must be placed on racks. Music must be placed in the cabinet. Students are not to be in the orchestra room for any reason during the school day if Mrs. Greene is not on campus, except for dropping off their instruments before the 8:15 a.m. tardy bell. Students who are late to school should carry their instruments with them until
orchestra class. Instruments will not be secure if left unattended in the hallway in the morning. INSTRUMENTS For best quality, it is recommended that violins and violas be rented or purchased by the student s family. There are a limited number of school-owned violins, violas, cellos and basses that may be used by students during the year. Students using school instruments will be expected to provide the instruments with proper care. The cost of repair for damage to an instrument through mishandling or negligence of any kind will be carried by the student s family. GRADING Nine weeks grades will be based on a combination of daily class participation and class work, supervised practice, practice at home, after school rehearsals, playing tests, written work, projects, and performances. Assignments and performing requirements will vary each nine weeks. Students and parents will be notified of the requirements in advance. We will soon begin to have weekly after school rehearsals for select students only. These rehearsals will run from 3:30-4:15 pm on Tuesday afternoons. You will receive advance notice as to when rehearsals will begin. Students who are not in aftercare should be off campus by 4:30 p.m. on these days. Students will meet rides outside the Main Entrance doors. If you cannot pick up your child by 4:30, please make other arrangements or send me an email ASAP to let me know. Any changes to the after school rehearsal schedule will be sent home via the weekly newsletter. ORCHESTRA CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS 1. Demonstrate self-discipline. 2. Keep the classroom neat and clean. 3. Stay seated. 4. Socialize at another time. 5. No gum chewing or eating or drinking in the orchestra room. 6. Class begins as soon as the bell rings. Do not be late. Do not waste time after entering the classroom. 7. Be polite and receptive when working with coaches, faculty or substitutes.
I will call or email if I need some at-home support in encouraging your child to meet the expectations. You are welcome to contact me at any time with your concerns as well. School-wide expectation: Gum-chewing is not permitted, and uniform policy compliance is strictly monitored. Please refer to the Kate Bond Student Handbook for details about school wide policies. Students with continuing conduct problems will not be invited to represent the KBMS Orchestra at special events or performances outside of class time. PERFORMANCES All performances are required and will be a major part of the nine weeks grade in which the performance takes place. Students are expected to be present for the entire performance and dressed in the appropriate attire. (See section about uniform below.) The performance schedule is usually heavier in the spring semester than in the fall, especially for first year students. ABSENCES AND SCHEDULE CONFLICTS Absences from required rehearsals, performances, and other events will not be excused unless advance notice is given and the reason is one that the school would also excuse. Missing an event due to not having a ride or the required attire is not excused. UNIFORM The casual uniform will be black pants, orchestra polo shirt, and nice black socks/shoes. We will order an orchestra shirt at the beginning of the year. The formal/dress uniform is called concert black. This means black dress, blouse/sweater and skirt/dress pants for ladies with black or dark hosiery and black shoes. Gentlemen will wear black dress pants, black button down dress shirt, black socks and shoes. Families are expected to shop for the required attire individually, except for the polo shirt, which will be ordered as a group through the school. In addition, all students must keep their fingernails short on the left hand in order to properly place the fingers on the instrument and to play in tune. Mrs. Greene will keep nail clippers in the orchestra room, but students are encouraged to take care of this personal business beforehand.
ORCHESTRA EXPENSES KBMS Orchestra families are expected to provide students with the instrument (if possible) and necessary accessories as described earlier in this document. The orchestra polo shirt will cost approximately $12-15, payable when the shirts are ordered. Families will be responsible for supplying the concert black uniform as well. Orchestra I students will need the Essential Elements 2000 Volume I technique book for their own instrument. Orchestra II students will be using EE 2000 books 2 & 3. Orchestra III students will be using EE 2000 book 3 but will also work from other technique books loaned by the school. They may purchase these books from the music store of their choice or online. Most students will participate in the West Tennessee Solo and Ensemble festival April 2019. Registration for the event is $10.00 per student. Orchestra 3 students can try out for the All-West Tennessee Honors Orchestra in November, 2018. They will need $10.00 for an audition fee. Mrs. Greene will advise you about registration details in the coming weeks. Other events and field trip bus costs will require $5.00-$10.00 per event. Please expect these additional expenses periodically throughout the year. Kate Bond Middle School is a cash only school for all activities. Money orders are accepted also. Personal checks are not accepted. PARENT MEETINGS All student organizations are only as strong as the parents and families that support them. This is also true for the KBMS Orchestra program. We need all the parents to get involved this year as we work together to build our orchestra program to one of great strength that will be well known in our community. We will have a KBMS parents get-acquainted meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 5:30 pm. At this meeting I will go over the course requirements in detail, answer your questions, and listen to your ideas about incorporating parent and family support into our orchestra program. The orchestra students are in great need of your physical and financial support so they can learn and do the things that will allow them to have a successful year in music.
COMMUNICATION Please call me at Kate Bond Middle School if you need further information now or at any time during the year. The school number is 416-0640. I will return phone calls as soon as I am able after I receive your message. However, the quickest way to reach me is via email. My school email address is greenerm@scsk12.org. My personal email address is greenestrings99@gmail.com. Visit our KBMS Website at: kbmsarts.weebly.com Here you will be able to learn more about our Fine Arts staff, our calendar events, our community supporters and MORE! CALENDAR (Always Changing!) Tuesday, August 21 5:30 PM Fine Arts Parent Meeting 6-8 PM Open House & Title 1 for all KBMS Families Thursday, October 4 6:30 PM Orchestra Concert
KATE BOND MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA 2018-2019 STUDENT DATA SHEET Please return this form by Monday, August 13, 2018 Student s Name Address PLUS Zip Code Homeroom Section Homeroom Teacher Parent/Guardian s Name Phone Number(s): (Please specify which adult belongs to each number.) Home: Cell: Work: Emergency: **Parent/Guardian email address Student Signature Date signed Parent/Guardian Signature Date signed