WILLARD GRIZZELL MIDDLE SCHOOL STRING ORCHESTRA CLASSES 2015-­‐2016 HANDBOOK Ms. Kathryn Liddle, Teacher Welcome to the 2015-­‐2016 school year! This handbook will provide you with useful information about participation in Grizzell Middle School’s Orchestra Program. Read this over carefully with your student – when you have read through the entire handbook, there is a short assignment listed at the end. Please complete this assignment by Friday, September 4th, 2015. Performance Attendance is REQUIRED as an extension of this academic class. This year, there will be several evening performances at Grizzell – please mark these dates in your calendar now! November 9 [Monday], 7:30pm – Silver/Gold Orchestras November 19 [Thursday], 7:30pm – Green/White Orchestras March 19 or April 16, TBD [Saturday], All Day – OMEA Solo & Ensemble May 5 [Thursday], 7:30pm – All Orchestras Combined Failure to attend a required performance will result in a lowering of the quarter grade by two letters. Students who miss a performance for an excused absence (personal illness or death in the family) are subject to a make-­‐up assignment (written or performance-­‐based) to be determined by Ms. Liddle. The Spring trip is dependent on the number of students who can commit to go. If we do not have enough students for a balanced group, we will not be able to perform in a musical competition. May 7 [Saturday], All Day – 7th/8th grade Orchestras @ Cedar Point GMS Green Orchestra: The Green Orchestra is primarily for first-­‐year students – current 5th grade strings students as well as beginning 6th grade strings students (Level 1). GMS White Orchestra: The White Orchestra is primarily for second-­‐year 6th grade students (Level 2) – those students who completed the 5th grade strings course in the previous school year. Current 5th grade strings students who are advanced and have taken lessons may be asked to perform with the White Orchestra on concerts. GMS Silver Orchestra: The Silver Orchestra will primarily consist of 7th grade students. This combines 6th grade students who were in both the Green and White Orchestras during the previous school year. Advanced 6th grade students may also be given Silver music by Ms. Liddle. GMS Gold Orchestra: The Gold Orchestra will consist primarily of 8th grade students. Dublin Youth String Orchestra (DYSO) DYSO is an extra-­‐curricular ensemble focused on learning and performing a variety of challenging repertoire above and beyond what is being experienced in the orchestra classroom. Rehearsals are held at Karrer Middle school on Thursdays evenings, beginning in October. This year, the group will be led by Mr. Matt Hawley (Karrer Orchestra) and Mr. Mike Brosius (Davis Orchestra). Students who are already participating in their school orchestra program in grades 5-­‐9 may audition to be a part of this group: See Ms. Liddle for audition information if you are interested! Student Guidelines 1. Keep a PENCIL with an eraser in your folder or on your stand to use for marking music or written work. NEVER USE PEN, CRAYON, COLORED PENCIL, HIGHLIGHTER OR MARKER! 2. Bring your stuff to class. Take responsibility for being prepared for class on a daily basis. This is the only way the whole class can be successful as a group. 3. Respect music equipment and school property at all times. (If it’s not yours, don’t touch it! Grades for Middle School Orchestra are based on the following areas: 55% -­‐ Daily Class Participation 10% -­‐ Homework/Practice Records 20% -­‐ Assessments 15% -­‐ Concert Attendance/Participation Extra Credit can be earned. MATERIALS: For this course, each student is required to rent (or purchase -­‐ not recommended) an instrument for classes and daily practice. Cello and Bass players will be provided with a school instrument for use during classes, so the rental instrument can remain at home for practicing. Violin and Viola players will need to transport their instruments from home to school and back again. These instruments can be taken on the bus, or dropped off before school and picked up after school. With the A-­‐Day/B-­‐Day scheduling, it is very important for violin and viola players to think ahead to when they have string classes and remember to bring their instrument on the correct day! In addition to the instrument, students are required to purchase their own copy of Essential Elements for Strings by Allen/Gillespie/Tellejohn-­‐Hayes and a folding music stand for practice at home (the school provides music stands for use during class). Students should bring their school academic planner (and a pencil!) to every strings class for keeping track of daily practice and homework assignments. • Beginning 5th and 6th grade students will be using Essential Elements, Book 1 • Continuing 6th and 7th grade students will be using Essential Elements, Book 2 • 8th grade students will be using Essential Technique for Strings and may reach Advanced Technique for Strings in the Spring. I know many of you have already been fitted for your rental instruments and purchased the rest of your materials. If you have not yet taken care of any of this, please contact me as soon as possible and I will pass along information about music stores in the area that offer instrument rental services. CONCERT UNIFORM: Unless notified otherwise, the uniform for each public performance is: Girls: Plain white dress shirt or sweater (long or short sleeves – NO tank tops/spaghetti straps/sleeveless shirts), black dress pants or skirt (AT LEAST knee-­‐length – NO mini-­‐skirts), black socks or pantyhose, and black dress shoes. Boys: Plain white dress shirt or sweater (long or short sleeves – NO tank tops), any color necktie, black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoes. ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION: All students are required to have their instrument, music, academic planner, and a pencil for every rehearsal. Students who do not have instruments and music at each rehearsal will lose daily class preparation or participation points. Learning an instrument is an active process; participation is required for learning new skills, and frequent forgetfulness about bringing the instrument to class will be very detrimental to student progress. If a student is absent, he or she is responsible for finding out about any assignments or quizzes that were missed AS SOON AS he/she returns to school. Materials needed every day in class 1. Instrument 2. Music book and concert music 3. Pencil ABILITY: Each student has his/her own unique musical talent, and grades will reflect his/her own progress throughout each term. Student performance will also be assessed through playing quizzes and written tests. Students who perform well consistently or who demonstrate improvement will see this reflected in their grade. PRACTICE: Weekly practicing outside of classroom time is essential for students to reach their full potential on any musical instrument. (Practicing is Orchestra “homework”) During class, students will be given specific practice assignments, and we’ll talk in class about how much time should be spent practicing per week. Practicing is required of each student each term in order to qualify for a grade of “A.” A practice record signed by a parent or guardian is due each week, always on Friday (or the last day of a week if there is no school on Friday). Practice record forms will always be available in the orchestra room, or a student can make up their own format or write down their practicing schedule on a piece of notebook paper. Please encourage your child to perform for the family and give “mini-­‐concerts” to demonstrate his/her progress, and to show what we are learning in class. If done on a regular basis, this type of practice is beneficial for everyone! EXTRA CREDIT: In the Columbus area, there are many opportunities to see other musical groups perform. We have the Columbus Symphony, the ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, student recitals and orchestra concerts at colleges such as Ohio State, Capital, and Otterbein, as well as music concerts presented by the students at our own Dublin schools and other school districts in the area. Observing other musicians is a great way to expand musical horizons and get inspired about your own instrumental progress. I will post information about area concerts throughout the year, and attendance at any outside musical performance can earn extra credit points through showing me a program or a ticket stub and sharing your experience with the class. BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS: For students who have difficulty upholding school rules and demonstrating appropriate classroom behavior and respect for others, the school’s discipline plan will be followed. This may include communication with parents, detentions or writing assignments, communication with Academic Team Teachers and office referrals. Email is the best way to reach me (liddle_kathryn@dublinschools.net) – if you have any questions, please let me know! Please complete Assignment #1 by Friday, September 4th, 2015. Go to this web address and fill out the form: http://tinyurl.com/OrchestraSurvey Thanks, Ms. Kathryn Liddle WGMS Orchestra Email: liddle_kathryn@dublinschools.net Voice Mail: 614-­‐760-­‐6247 Tips for Success 1. Regular practice is important. Set up a routine for practicing and stick to it. A general guide is this: Beginning students (first year) should practice approximately 10-­‐15 minutes per day, five days per week. Intermediate students (second year) should practice approximately 15-­‐20 minutes per day, five days per week. Advanced students (third year and beyond) should practice approximately 30 minutes per day, five days per week. 2. Parents, please actively encourage your child. Children need lots of positive reinforcement. Learning to play an instrument can be difficult and frustrating in the beginning. When enthusiasm wears thin or wavers, support at home will help motivate your child to persevere. 3. Instruments should be taken home regularly for practice and routine maintenance. Students will have weekly practice assignments and parents can help by insisting the instrument is brought home regularly. Students should be allowed enough time at the end of the day to pick up their instruments before catching the bus. If you have any difficulties, they can often be worked out if you communicate with their last period teachers. 4. Ask for help as soon as you see a problem. The best time to see the teacher for help with a problem is before or after school, or to make an appointment. PLEASE DO NOT TRY TO TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL PROBLEMS AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS! The teacher has a responsibility to start rehearsals on time. 5. If possible, take advantage of the opportunity to take private lessons on your instrument. Students generally make better progress when group instruction is supplemented by individual instruction. 6. There are hundreds of instruments stored in the instrument room daily. Many of the cases look exactly alike! Know your instrument’s serial identification number; record it in a safe place and check with your insurance company regarding coverage. ALL INSTRUMENTS STORED AT SCHOOL MUST HAVE A NAME TAG ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CASE AT ALL TIMES with name and address clearly visible. (Luggage tags work well.) Failure to do this will result in the removal of the instrument from the storage room.