River Bluff High School Orchestra Handbook
Director Contact Information: Miss Sarah Wright (Belt) Lexington 1 Email: sbelt@lexington1.net Phone Number: (803) 821-0837 Classroom F205 Office F205A Website: http://rbhsorcehstras.weebly.com/ ORCHESTRA COURSE OFFERINGS String Orchestra: Prerequisites: Successful completion of a middle school orchestra program or comparable private instruction program and a positive recommendation from middle school or private instructor. This group is comprised mainly of underclassmen. Audition not required. Concert Orchestra: Prerequisites: All String Orchestra requirements listed above. Additionally, students gain entry into this course by audition only. Auditions are held annually in April for the upcoming school year. This course is more rigorous than the String Orchestra course and will require more practice time and at-home preparation. Private lessons are strongly encouraged. Students enrolled are also strongly encouraged to audition for SC District and Region Orchestra and participate in SC Solo and Ensemble Festival. This group is comprised of a mix of under and upperclassmen. Honors Philharmonic Orchestra 3: Prerequisites All String/Concert requirements listed above, entry is by audition only. This course carries honors credit, and membership is extremely selective. Students enrolled in Honors Philharmonic Orchestra must maintain at least a B average in orchestra throughout the year. This orchestra at RBHS and is comprised almost exclusively of
upperclassmen and select underclassman. This orchestra will perform with the Honors Chamber Orchestra at the 5 th grade recruitment concert in in December. Private lessons are highly recommended. Honors Philharmonic Orchestra-- Additional Course Requirements: Philharmonic Orchestra members are required to audition for SC Region Orchestra, required to participate in SC Solo and Ensemble Festival each year that they are a member and are strongly encouraged to participate in District Honors Orchestra. After and/or before school rehearsals are also required periodically throughout the year advance notice will always be given. Honors Chamber Orchestra: Prerequisites: All String/Concert requirements listed above, entry is by audition only. This course carries honors credit, and membership is extremely selective. Students enrolled in Honors Chamber Orchestra must maintain at least a 3 average on all Formative assessments and at least a B average to remain in Chamber the following year. This is the premiere orchestra at RBHS and is comprised almost exclusively of upperclassmen. Private lessons are highly recommended. Honors Chamber Orchestra-- Additional Course Requirements: Chamber Orchestra members are required to audition for SC Region Orchestra, required to participate in SC Solo and Ensemble Festival each year that they are a member. After and/or before school rehearsals are also required periodically throughout the year advance notice will always be given. COMMUNICATION Email is always the fastest method of communication between parents and the Director. The Director may not accept phone calls during instructional hours (7:45am- 4:00pm) or during after school rehearsal/concerts. Emails will be returned in within 24 hours during the school week.
The Director will maintain an updated webpage for communication purposes. http://rbhsorcehstras.weebly.com/ **** Please bookmark this website and refer to it often. An updated calendar, schedule of events, and assignments will be kept here for reference. While other methods of communicating these details will certainly be used, the website is the most efficient and complete place to find them. Please take time to view the website prior to contacting the Director personally many answers to questions or concerns may be found on the site. Please also make use of school supported web materials and calendars. More information about how to access these materials will be forthcoming. Email Lists: The Director will communicate regularly via email to parents and to students. If you feel you are not receiving communication from the Director at the desired email addresses OR your address changes, please notify the Director. Your address will not be shared with anyone else without your express permission. Facebook Page: We have a Facebook page! Please LIKE River Bluff High School Orchestras on Facebook and help share our presence in the community by inviting your friends and family to do the same! Please note that this page is monitored regularly by the Director and inappropriate comments or posts will not be tolerated. REQUIRED MATERIALS Violin and Viola Students: Bring to every class the following materials: Functional instrument outfit (instrument, bow, protective case) ALL RBHS Orchestra Music/Books Shoulder rest PencilS (keep extras, no community pencils!)
Rosin Keep an extra set of strings in your case 1 SOLID BLACK 3-ring binder (do not decorate or change the outside of notebook!) Keep at home the following materials: Folding, portable music stand Orchestral mute (bring to class when playing music that requires use of mute) Cleaning cloth/accessories Cello and Bass Students: A school-owned instrument will be provided to you for in-class use. You will also be provided a rock stop and rosin. Bass players will be given use of a stool and a quiver. Bring to every class: ALL RBHS Orchestra Music/Books PencilS 1 SOLID BLACK 3-ring binder (do not decorate or change the outside of notebook!) Bass players may bring and store a stool of their choice (optional) Keep at home: Functional instrument outfit (instrument, bow, protective case) Rosin Extra set of strings Rockstop Folding portable music stand Orchestral mute Cleaning cloth/accessories It is expected that students using school-owned materials will treat them with care. Students are responsible for any damage to school-owned property that occurs while items are in their care/use. Additionally, damage that results from student failure to store or secure instruments in the proper manner or from student negligence also becomes the student s financial responsibility. Maintenance of Personal Instruments: It is imperative that instruments be well maintained by students at all times. Make sure to have a spare set of strings in case one breaks it always happens when we
least expect it and in the most unfortunate times! Be prepared! The extra set of strings should be stored in your case so that there is no loss of practice or rehearsal time due to a broken string. Regarding string type: ABSOLUTELY NO RED LABEL STRINGS may be used at any time! By the time an orchestra student is in high school, an intermediate, semiprofessional, or professional grade of strings is a basic requirement for participation. There are several acceptable string types, but if you have questions, ask the Director for advice. Strings (regardless of whether they break or not) should be changed annually. Bow hair should be changed annually and all instruments should have a checkup with a luthier annually. String instruments are extremely sensitive to extreme temperatures. Do not leave instruments in the car not even for a few minutes!! Instrument Drop-Off/Pick-Up/Storage Students should not plan to leave instruments on campus overnight. RBHS is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged instruments stored on campus. Personal instruments should be brought home daily for home practice and completion of assignments. REMEMBER: If an instrument is left on campus, it cannot be used for home practice. Having said that, the Director understands the demands of individual student schedules and will take all reasonable measures to provide a secure location for instrument storage DURING THE SCHOOL DAY (8:15-3:45). However, the Director cannot guarantee security of instruments and all belongings left during the school day should be considered left and your own risk. Students may drop off instruments in the orchestra storage rooms before school between 8:00-8:15am. ONLY INSTRUMENTS AND MUSIC FOLDERS SHOULD BE STORED! Students may pick up instruments from the classroom between 3:45-4:30pm. If a
student needs to pick up or drop off an instrument at a different time, arrangements must be made with and approved by the Director in advance. These occasions should be limited. It is particularly important that, as we get started this year at RBHS, students do not leave instruments overnight. Due to the number of keys floating around and open access of the school after hours, all valuables should be considered vulnerable. ANY student instruments left on campus after hours must be considered left and his/her own risk. REQUIRED CONCERT ATTIRE FORMAL CONCERT ATTIRE Concert attire is Concert Black. Concert Black is strictly defined as the following: Women: Black dress, long (ankle length) skirt, or long black dress pants (no crop or Capri pants). Black blouse 3/4 length sleeves or longer. Black hose/socks and black dress shoes. Absolutely NO spaghetti straps or short sleeves. No flashy jewelry that may distract from the performance. Director must approve all jewelry prior to wearing it on stage. Gentlemen: TBD. INFORMAL CONCERT ATTIRE/SPIRIT WEAR ALL RBHS students must have a RBHS Orchestra Shirt for informal various performances such as: 8 th grade recruiting concerts, in-school performances, travel performances etc. Details on ordering a shirt will be forthcoming. The rest of this uniform may vary, depending upon the circumstances of the performance. You will need: 1. Black dress slacks 2. Khaki pants (long pants, no shorts or capris) OR 3. Blue jeans (no rips, tears, or other distortions to the fabric).
CLASSROOM CONDUCT & RESPONSIBILITIES FOOD & DRINK POLICY At RBHS, students have schedules that vary daily and do not explicitly list a lunch period. Therefore some meals will have to be consumed in classes. While students may eat freely in some areas of the school, the policy about food and drink in the Orchestra room/storage spaces is outlined below: Food and drink may ONLY be consumed in classes that are lecture format (for example: music theory lessons/practice, history lectures, self analysis of concert video footage etc.). DURING REHEARSALS food or drink must be consumed at the beginning or the end of the class period. Water bottles are fine to keep at your seat. IF food/drink are consumed at permitted times, students MUST be responsible for cleaning up trash. Unlike many other areas of the building, our room is CARPETED for sound reasons. Please make sure all containers with beverages have sealable lids and keep them closed when not drinking out of them! Gum is prohibited at all times. This is a Lexington 1 Policy. STUDENT REHEARSAL RESPONSIBILITIES: Students are expected to be in seats, unpacked, pencil out, music out, ready to rehearse within 3 minutes of the start of class time. Get in the habit of checking out the daily agenda when you enter the room and are unpacking each day. Follow the instructions listed on the agenda. Additional classroom procedures will be outlined in class. Students are expected to observe classroom procedures and norms at all times. Technology In the Classroom Students may use ipads, laptops, and smartphone technology when the Director requests that students use it to aid in instruction. Otherwise, these devices are
expected to remain put up and out of sight during class time. Use of technology outside of a designated time set by the Director may result in disciplinary action. Misuse of technology in an inappropriate or disruptive manner will result in immediate referral to administration. Fingernails, Jewelry, Attire During Rehearsal Students are expected to adhere to the school dress code at all times. Additionally the following policies should be observed in rehearsals and performances: n Fingernails should be kept trimmed at all times and should never interfere with playing n Jewelry should be minimal and should not interfere with playing. Rings and bracelets as well as chunky necklaces that bump up against instruments are highly discouraged and students may be asked to remove jewelry that interferes wth playing. n Hoodies and other bulky sweatshirts/jackets should not be worn while playing a string instrument. They interfere with posture and positioning, especially for upper string players. Students wearing a hoodie to school should have clothing on underneath it so it can be removed during the rehearsal. Conduct Off Campus As a performing ensemble and a performing arts course, students will experience many opportunities to travel and perform off campus. Students should always take responsibility for personal behavior and conduct and should act in a manner that represents the RBHS Orchestra program, music department, AND school in a positive manner. With each opportunity, the Director will communicate additional specific expectations regarding conduct. After School Rehearsals, Dress Rehearsals, and Performance Attendance Attendance at all required after-school dress rehearsals and performances is mandatory. Additional after-school rehearsals outside of this posted schedule may be called and advance notice will be given. In these instances, students are expected to attend the rehearsal unless an unavoidable conflict such as: athletic event (not practice, the Director will
work with Coaches about practice conflicts), doctor appointment, prior afterschool activity that cannot be cancelled, or family emergency. Too much homework or failure to arrange transportation are not reasons for an excused absence. Written advance notice from parents is required for an absence to be excused. Orchestra Dates for this school year to be updated soon! ASSESSMENT AND GRADING PROCEDURES RBHS Orchestra students are assessed and graded using the Grading for Learning format. Please refer to the syllabus and fine arts addendum for more information on this grading procedure. Examples of Formative Assessments may include the following: Assessment of student progress in rehearsal(s), practice logs, playing quizzes, written music theory assignments (worksheets etc.), self-assessments, peer assessments, writing assignment drafts, and other similar tasks. Examples of Summative Assessments may include the following: Playing tests, concerts/performances, projects, presentations, final drafts of papers, final drafts of musical critiques, portfolio of work, and written tests (typically assessing music theory concepts and terminology). Sample rubrics for summative assessments are available to parents and students upon request. Home Practice Expectations There is no minimum or maximum amount of home practice required for orchestra courses. This amount may vary widely based on the course and the student. However, students are expected to practice at home (and during ILT) on a regular basis. Rather than thinking in terms of minutes practiced or days practiced, the Director encourages students to consider the quality of practice required to
complete assignments for class. Also, work smarter, not harder! Home practice should take place in a quiet room free of distractions. Technology should be shut down unless used for a purpose within the practice (i.e. recording for selfassessment).
Return this portion to Miss Wright no later than Friday, August 26th. I have read and understand all of the policies and procedures outlined in the RBHS Orchestra Handbook and will adhere to them at all times. I understand that, if I am using school-owned instruments or equipment, I am responsible for the care of that instrument when it is in my possession. Student Name (please print) Student Signature Parent/Guardian Name (please print) Parent/Guardian Signature Parent/Guardian Email Address(es) (Please print legibly!) CREW Teacher Name Best phone number to reach parent/guardian Best phone number to reach student