Handbook

Description

The orchestra is a major performing ensemble at Westland High School. The group consists of freshmen through seniors who are dedicated to improving their performance abilities. Expectations are of the highest standards and members should take pride in being the best example of Westland High School. The GREEN Orchestra performs a variety of literature alone and will join the WHITE Orchestra for some performances.

Grading

Participation: 70%

If you attend class regularly and abide by the performance/after school rehearsals policy, follow classroom rules and engage yourself in the rehearsal, you should have no problem receiving full credit for this portion of your grade.

Taped Excerpts: 15%

All students are required to submit a tape once per six weeks. The tape will be their performance of excerpts designated by the director. These excerpts will be from scales, warm-ups and music played during the current six weeks grading period. The rubric for the tapes will be as follows:

	Weak		Strong
Tone Quality	1	2	3	4	5
Articulation	1	2	3	4	5
Technique	1	2	3	4	5
Musicality	1	2	3	4	5
Timing/Rhythms	1	2	3	4	5
	Total				/25

Written Evaluations: 15%

Students will be given a written assessment that they are to either complete during class (similar to that of a quiz), or in project form. Details for this portion of the grade will be provided each six weeks.
The following behaviors will result in lost points:
- Tardies (3 per six weeks are freebies)
  - deduction of 3 points
- Disrespectful behavior
  - deduction of 3 points and write up
- No music/No pencil
  - deduction of 3 points

Classroom Rules

Come ready to learn
- Dedication to your personal education is what makes learning interesting and worthy of investment.
  “I don’t expect perfection, I expect improvement”
Be On Time
- Students are expected to be in their seat once class begins.
Be Prepared
- Each student must have their instrument, music and pencil every day.
Be Respectful
- Show respect to yourself, your peers as well as teachers. Be respectful of others' property, including the school's.
No food, drink or gum
- Water is the only drink allowed.
- First offense is a written warning; the second is a lunch detention.

Performance Attire

To create a more unified ensemble, the students will be purchasing uniforms for performances that will be used all four year of high school. These uniforms will all be ordered at the same time from a specific vendor that is giving us a group discount. We will be fundraising within the first month of school for those families that choose to raise the money instead of paying for it out of pocket. All students must have their money and sizes in before the end of the first six weeks (October 5th).

Ladies: The dress will cost $50.00. Black, closed-toed shoes and black hose will be worn with the dresses.

Gentlemen: The four-piece ensemble will include a tuxedo shirt, a black vest, a tie and adjustable tuxedo pants. Cost is $55.00. Black dress shoes and socks are to be worn with the ensemble.

If anyone has questions or concerns in regards to paying for the uniform, please contact me directly for additional options.

Chamber Orchestra Auditions

Auditions will he held for the Chamber Orchestra the week of Wednesday, September 5th from 3:30-5:30pm. Students will be asked to perform two scales, sight-reading and excerpts. If a student is chosen to participate, they must agree to participate in weekly rehearsals after school. Due to lack of rehearsal time, students that are selected to participate are expected to practice their music between each rehearsal. These students must show the utmost dedication to the program and their practicing habits.

Private Lessons

Students are highly encouraged to participate in private lessons. Students who need instruction outside of class will find more success in the Orchestra program if they start taking lessons. Accelerated students are also encouraged to take lessons to have more advanced methods introduced through a professional performer on their instrument.

Lessons are great for all young musicians, they find greater success if they have individual time with a professional musician that specialized on a particular instrument. I will be providing a list of instructors to send home with each student. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested, even before you receive the information.

Students that are interested in performing in the Symphonic Orchestra are seriously encouraged to participate in private lessons before auditions and throughout the school year to further develop their skills.

Attendance

Attendance is required at all performances and after school rehearsals. Because of this, attendance is a crucial part of the student's grade in Orchestra. In the case of severe illness or a family emergency, the absence will be considered excused. In these rare instances, the family is asked to contact the director as soon as possible.

If a student misses an after school performance or rehearsal for a reason not deemed as excused, the student's grade will automatically drop two (2) letter grades from the percent the student earned over the six weeks time period.

Any conflicts with the schedule must be brought to the attention of the director at least three weeks prior to the date the conflict would occur.

Orchestra Officers

This year I would like to create a group of student officers. This group of students will be elected by their peers to represent the interests of the entire ensemble and to help further develop the program. These will be the students that will help prepare social events, organize after school rehearsals, and help finalize the trip in addition to other responsibilities throughout the school year.

“Operation Sanitation!!”

Please help me keep the music wind clean. Here are some simple guidelines that will aid us in our quest for a cleaner, more environmentally sound, music wing:

Throw away trash
Throw away other’s trash and kindly remind them to do it on their own
Pick up your belongings
Keep lockers clean and organized
Help keep the rooms clean and organized
Put things back where they belong