Deer Park High School Orchestra Handbook 2017-2018
Deer Park High School Orchestra Handbook Deer Park High School South Campus 710 W. San Augustine Deer Park, TX 77536 South Campus Main 832-668-7200 SC Orchestra 832-668-7228 Deer Park High School North Campus 402 Ivy Ave. Deer Park, TX 77536 North Campus Main 832-668-7300 NC Orchestra 832-668-7200 x7-3416 Orchestra Website http://www.dpisd.org/domain/1865 Mr. John Chung-Hang Law jlaw@dpisd.org South Campus Orchestras and Music Theory Directors of Orchestra Ms. Meghan Gomen mgomen@dpisd.org North Campus Orchestras and South Campus Philharmonic and Chamber Orchestras Administration Ms. Jurga Miakonkich jmiakonkich@dpisd.org South Campus Symphony Orchestra and Cello Specialist Principal, South Campus Mr. Steve Corry scorry@dpisd.org Associate Principal, South Campus Mr. Tommy Grisham tgrisham@dpisd.org Dean of Instruction, South Campus Ms. Jill Marsh jmarsh@dpisd.org Principal, North Campus Dr. Ernie Salazar salazar@dpisd.org Fine Arts Director Mr. Barry Talley btalley@dpisd.org Fine Arts Secretary Ms. Sabrina McBride smcbride@dpisd.org
Expectations Take instrument home EVERYDAY and PRACTICE Attend and participate in all performances, rehearsals and sectionals o be punctual and in proper dress o stay through the entire concert and support your fellow orchestra comrades. Everyone has homework and other activities; therefore, we will always do our best to keep the concerts running efficiently and smoothly. Your schedule is your responsibility; you are required to resolve any schedule conflicts. Have a willingness to improve your musical skills and a work ethic that will improve yourself and the orchestra team. Come to rehearsal with music prepared Leave bags, backpacks, etc. and other classwork out of the rehearsal area Be in your seat with all YOUR (aka not somebody else s) required materials, ready to tune when the bell rings No cell phones during tuning or after the start of rehearsal. Avoid trash noise during rehearsal (off-task talking, plucking out of turn, etc.) Be supportive of your colleagues and of yourselves. Be courteous to everyone in the room. This includes WHEN and HOW you speak. Stay eligible a.k.a. pass ALL of your classes o Note: In order to compete (perform) with the orchestra at UIL, solo and ensemble, and the spring trip, you must maintain your eligibility No food, gum or non-water drink is allowed. Treat our room and equipment with respect. Keep it neat and tidy. Clean up after yourself. You break it, you bought it, you fix it. Sign up for Remind. Follow the DPISD Fine Arts Code of Conduct Failure to meet these expectations may result in grade penalty, disciplinary action, exclusion from activities and/or removal from the program. Students who are unable to follow the rules regularly may not be allowed to participate in extra-curricular orchestra events. Bathroom policy Use the bathroom before or after class. In cases of extreme emergency, ask the director on the podium for permission. Eligibility Eligibility is determined by your grades at the end of certain periods of time (the eligibility calendar is on the orchestra website). Students who are not passing at the cutoff time become ineligible. Passing is defined as a 60 or above in PAP/AP classes and a 70 or above in all other classes. Ineligible students are not allowed to compete with the orchestra. This includes activities like UIL, Region and Solo and Ensemble. Eligibility does not affect the student s ability to participate in curricular performances like our concerts and rehearsals.
Information about DPHS Orchestra Classes NO STUDENT WILL BE DENIED A PLACE IN ORCHESTRA BECAUSE OF THEIR AUDITION. Auditions are the best way for directors to properly place students of similar playing ability in the same class. All orchestra classes start at their current level of skill and from there develop new techniques, refine old skills and work to develop mature musicality. Class placements are based on the audition and current director input regarding students behavior and work ethic, with consideration taken to maintain proper balance between instrumental sections. Freshmen are eligible for any orchestra class. Students who do not audition will be placed at the director s discretion. Directors reserve the right to move students from a class at any point during the year. Private lessons are strongly encouraged for all orchestra classes. DPHS Orchestra Classes Chamber Symphony Philharmonic Concert Sinfonietta (North) Camerata (North) Rehearsal requirements Summer rehearsals and performance(s) X Region workshops X Available to anyone wishing to audition for All-Region Orchestra. Any extra rehearsals/sectionals as needed X X X X X X Full Orchestra and/or Musical Pit Orchestra X As needed Performance requirements 4 school concerts X X X X X X Solo and ensemble contest (ensemble or X X X X X X grade 1 solo required) UIL concert and sight-reading competition X X X X Region Auditions X Strongly encouraged Strongly encouraged Veterans Day assemblies X As needed Convocation X Texian Navy Day, Industry of the Year X Luncheon, San Jacinto Day and any other performance needs the Deer Park community may have Practice Expectations At least 30-45 minutes per day, outside of X X X class time At least 20 minutes per day, outside of class time X X X Please note that the Chamber Orchestra is the varsity level orchestra and as such represents the orchestra program in performance situations where it is not possible to include the entire program and has the most performance and rehearsal expectations. A note about practicing. We expect students to come to class with their part prepared. These practice expectations are guidelines and will vary depending on the time of year and amount of music the students are preparing. Students are always welcome to practice in the orchestra room before and after school. All instruments are expected to go home every day, unless you have a second instrument at home on which to practice.
Uniform Each fall, students will receive an orchestra uniform to be returned in the spring. Students are responsible for shoes and socks/hosiery. Fall Concert Winter Concert Mid-Winter Concert UIL Solo and Ensemble Spring Trip Performance Spring Concert Orchestra Performances (tuxes and dresses) wear Sunday clothes or formal uniform Polo shirt and jeans or khakis Chamber only Performances Texian Navy Day Polo shirt and jeans or khakis Veterans Day Assemblies 5 th grade Holiday Concert Holiday Tour TBD San Jacinto Day Polo shirt and jeans or khakis Fees Item Fee Details Program Fee $20.00 Includes first solo and ensemble event, the uniform dry cleaning fee, and class rosin Orchestra Polo Shirt $25.00 Purchase is required. If you already own one, you do not need to purchase another. This is our casual uniform. Orchestra Hoodie $25.00 Region entry fee $10.00 Late Region Entries $20.00 Solo and Ensemble (additional events) $7.00 Cost is per student and per event (i.e. students in an ensemble will owe $7 each) Spring Trip $400 More details to come soon. Banquet $25-35 (subject to change) Uniform replacement Up to $150 In the event that you lose or damage your uniform, School Instrument Rental you will be expected to replace it. $50 Per year, we have cellos and basses, some violas and very limited violins
Trips Each year, the orchestra takes a trip to perform at a music festival. DPISD policy states that: Organizations are allowed to take their entire group on one overnight in-state trip every two years. The Varsity groups of Escorts, Orchestra and Choir will be allowed to take an out of state trip every two years (opposite in state trip years). Any out-of-state travel must have the approval of the Superintendent. All trips should merit special significance and honor. On years beginning with an even year, the varsity group may travel out of state. On odd years, the entire orchestra can travel out of town, but must stay in state. On the even years, non-varsity groups will perform at an in town festival. All students who go on the trip will perform on the trip. Please try to make every effort to participate in concerts and festivals at which their group is performing. If there are not enough participants, the trip may be subject to cancellation. We understand that trips can be expensive, so we will do our best to provide fundraising opportunities to help offset this cost. DPISD policy: All funding for trips will be provided through: Fund-raising and individual payments by students Revenue generated from concerts/performances Booster club donations Please understand that once committed to a trip, the orchestra becomes responsible for certain costs and it will not be possible to give a full refund. In the event that a student does need to cancel a trip, we will make every effort to refund the fullest amount possible to the student at that date. Students who have committed to their participation at a festival cannot expect to be refunded already expended funds paid on their behalf. The trip balance must be paid in full by the due date.