Mrs. Rebecca Quinn
Email: rebeccaq@provo.edu
Office Hours: 11-4 PM (Monday - Friday)
Please contact me by email, as I am not at this school for the full day.
Welcome to the Dixon Middle School orchestra program! My name is Mrs. Rebecca
Quinn; I am so excited to be teaching here at Dixon. My teaching and grading procedures are different from Mrs. Stanfill’s, so please read carefully before signing the last page. In order to sign this disclosure, please go to my website, www.quinnorchestras.weebly.com
. You will be able to find all of this information and more posted there throughout the year.
In orchestra, students will be expected to:
Learn selected repertoire.
Learn to demonstrate specific musical styles in performance.
Increase in knowledge of composers, styles, periods of music, composers, and music
Perform to the best of their ability. theory.
Demonstrate proper rehearsal habits and concert etiquette.
S tudents must bring these materials to class every day:
Black 1” binder - this must be purchased by the student by the start of next week. Please contact me if there is a problem with this.
Instrument (Please contact Mrs. Quinn if you are interested in renting a school instrument)
Pencil
Violinists and violists: Shoulder rest, rosin, mutes, cleaning cloth, and spare strings
Cellists and bassists: rosin, mutes, rock stop, cleaning cloth, and spare strings
The following is required for all concert attire*:
Ladies:
White blouse with sleeves (no t-shirts!)
Black skirt (must be knee-length or longer) or dress pants (jeans or leggings are NOT acceptable!)
Black dress shoes

Gentlemen:
Black pants
White shirt
Black bow tie
Black socks and dress shoes
*Failure to wear appropriate clothing on concert dates will result in a lowered concert
(final exam) grade. Please see Mrs. Quinn for any problems or questions regarding the dress code.
Grading will be based on a point system:
Concert attendance (300 points each)
Dress rehearsal attendance (100 points each)
Concert assessment (100 points each)
Playing tests - will be announced in class (50 points each)
Worksheets and quizzes (30 points each)
Practice records (20 points each)
Citizenship (10 points every week)
Concerts count as a student’s final exam for each term. Therefore, attendance to both the dress rehearsal is mandatory. Just as a student would not miss his or her math final exam, it is completely unacceptable for a student to miss concerts and dress rehearsals unless in the case of an emergency. Mrs. Quinn will determine what is an emergency.
Those who share cellos at school will need to be prepared to bring their home instruments from dress rehearsals and concerts at the request of the teacher.
Each term, students will be required to attend at least one concert of high school level or higher. Students may attend orchestra, choir, band, jazz band, musical theatre, opera, solo instrument, or ensemble recitals. At least one term’s concert report must be an orchestra concert! Concert assessment forms as well as a list of free concerts can be found on Mrs. Quinn’s website.
About four times each term, students will be tested on the repertoire they are studying through the form of a playing test. Mrs. Quinn will decide how students will perform playing tests (e.g. in front of the class, in front of an iPad, etc.). The first playing test of each term will determine seating for that quarter. In my orchestras, strong players are seated throughout the orchestra. I am happy to answer any questions parents or

students may have about seating. If students do not pass their playing tests, they have up to one week to make up their tests for full credit by meeting with me before school.
Students who do not make up their playing tests in the first week will only receive a maximum score of 80%.
Throughout the year, students will occasionally complete worksheets to develop skills in music theory and dictation. There will also be surprise quizzes given in class (either in written or performance form). Late worksheets or quizzes will not be accepted without an excused absence.
Every student in the Provo High Orchestra program will need to fill out weekly practice records. I know that this is different from Mrs. Stanfill’s policy. Practice records will be turned in on my website, www.quinnorchestras.weebly.com
. If students have difficulty accessing the internet, then they may turn in a paper practice record form given to them.
Practice records are due each Tuesday by 11:59 PM. Any practice records for that week turned in after that time will not be accepted unless the student is ill or has a late voucher. Each student has a late voucher for one late practice record each term that may be turned in up to one week after the original practice record is due.
Parents must give their initials for each practice record. Please be aware that students who initial practice records without their parents’ knowledge or consent are CHEATING and are in violation of school rules.
Practice requirements:
30 minutes for 5 days each week (150 minutes total). May practice up to 30 extra minutes each week (180 minutes total) for 4 points extra credit.
In order for an orchestra to be successful, each member needs to devote their attention to the music and to learning new skills required for constant improvement. Therefore, if anyone does something to distract the group from learning and focusing on the music, that student’s weekly citizenship grade will be put at risk. Actions that will result in a warning and then a 0 for the week’s citizenship grade include:
Chewing gum, eating food, or drinking in class
Using a cell phone or any other electronic device in class
Doing homework for another class during orchestra
Purposefully distracting the class (talking out of turn, touching other students, inappropriately using your instrument, etc.)

There are two ways to earn extra credit in this class. Students may earn up to four points of extra credit for each practice record (see above). Or, students may turn in a two-page written report about a composer in order to earn up to 20 points of extra credit.
Students must see Mrs. Quinn for more details about the composer assignment before completing it.
Please mark the following dates on your calendar (the orchestra calendar may also be found on my website):
1st Term:
TBA - All-State Auditions
10/15/2014 – 1 st term Concert Evaluation due
10/23/2014 (Wednesday) - Fall concert dress rehearsal (during class time)
10/23/2014 (Wednesday) - Fall concert (7:00 PM at Dixon Middle School)
2nd Term:
12/8/2014 (Monday) - Winter concert dress rehearsal (during class time)
12/8/2014 (Monday) - Winter concert (7:00 PM at Provo High School)
12/12/2014 – 2 nd term Concert Evaluation due

(yes, this is a quiz)
Please turn in this entire page to Mrs. Quinn and have your binders ready no later than the first day of orchestra next week!
1.
What are you personally required to bring to class each day (please include your own instrument accessories)? _________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
2. What is the web address of Mrs. Quinn’s website? ________________________
3. How many minutes are you required to practice each week? _____ Where do you fill out practice records? _______________ How do you turn in a late practice record and when is it due? _____________________________________________
4. Name one thing that can result in the loss of your citizenship grade for the week:
_________________________________________________________
5.
What are the (only) two ways to earn extra credit in this class? ______________
__________________________________________________________
6.
What do I need to bring to class by the beginning of next week? ______________
__________________________________
I confirm that I have read and agree with all of the information listed in this disclosure document.
Student Signature: ____________________________ Date: ___________
Student Email (for emailing playing tests): ___________________________