Red Arrow Orchestra



Red Arrow Orchestra

LMS 7th and 8th Handbook

2016-2017

Contact Information

Please contact me whenever you have any questions, concerns, or ideas! E-mail is usually the preferred option to reach us quickly.

E-mail, Mr. Joe Oprea: joprea@

School orchestra phone: 987-2830 (directly classroom line, goes directly to voicemail during school hours- for urgent matters or to reach a student during the day you must call the school office) School office: 987-2800

Class Materials

All students are required to have the following every day in class and/or for concerts:

Instrument, bow, case all in good working order

Rosin and cleaning cloth

Method book (Essential Elements 2 for 7th grade, Essential Techniques for 8th grade)

Shoulder rest (violin and viola only), End-pin stop or strap (cello and bass only)

Note paper, pencil

Students are also recommended to have the following:

Electric tuner and metronome, or tuner-metronome combo

Folding music stand

Music bag to hold sheet music/books

Grading

Students will work to earn points in the following areas:

Employability Skills (35% of the trimester points):

Rehearsal Skills: Students will earn 5 points per day for being on time and participating in rehearsal, focusing on the task at hand, behaving in a professional manner, taking notes and writing in the music as necessary, coming prepared with sheet music, pencil, instrument. Students who are tardy, do not bring materials, act in a disrespectful or distracted manor (electronic devices for instance) can and will lose points from their grade. Every minute of rehearsal is beneficial to the group so leaving class for any reason (bathroom, locker, or otherwise) can also result in a loss of points. If you are doing anything to take away the productive use of rehearsal, you are taking away from the group’s productivity and from your employability skills as part of the ensemble.

Practice: Points will be awarded for practice based on a minute scale where 100 minutes= 10 points. Extra practice will count for extra minutes up to 200 total minutes per week so that practice can be made up after busy weeks. Students will be allowed to turn in missed practice calendars up to two weeks after the due date without penalty, but will not receive any credit after two weeks late. Occasionally students will be asked to submit another type of practice log or assignment that will detail not only time spent, but tell more of the quality of practice. Students will record what was practiced and how it was practiced.

Performance (65% of the trimester points):

Performance points include tests, quizzes, projects/papers, and concerts. Tests and quizzes may be taken over for higher points by the student’s choice and arrangement. Concerts generally count for 100 points each and are required. The list of required concerts is at the end of this syllabus and should be put in your family calendar now.

Practice

Students have a required amount of practice time for their grade, but practice should be more about quality achieved than minutes spent. Consider that the instrument is an investment, and the more time spent practicing, the better the return on that investment. I would recommend practicing at least 20-30 minutes, five times a week.

Practice calendars will be given out each month to record practice times. Parent signatures will be required to earn practice points. The practice calendar is used to communicate up-coming events and other information so it is ideal that students and parents use this practice calendar to record practice, but any other paper with parent signature will work (students must include specific dates and times practiced- not just a total for the week).

Quizzes and Tests

Quizzes and tests are giving to make sure that every student is meeting benchmarks of learning. Tests may be written or playing tests. The goal is for all to succeed in learning what they need to know and because of that every test and quiz can be retaken until complete success is achieved. Each time a test is taken students will receive evaluation and can use that to guide further practice or study. Re-testing will never lower a student’s grade.

Concerts

Concerts are a requirement, as much as a test in any other class and are generally worth 100 points each. All concert dates are available NOW and should be entered in a family calendar today. I will have reminders of up-coming concert dates on practice calendars and in reminder emails sent through Infinite Campus. Concerts should only be missed under extreme circumstances, such as an out-of-town wedding, state final championship game, or major illness. A note from home two weeks prior to the concert, or a phone call the day of if the student is ill will allow the student to pursue make-up credit such as performing the concert pieces in front of the class. Less than the required notice does not guarantee the student an opportunity to make up missed points! Every effort should be made to be a part of the concerts because each student’s participation is important to the rest of their group. We are committed to working together, and we miss any one part of the team if they are not in attendance at our concerts.

Concert attire consists of black pants (long), black socks, black shoes (not flip-flops), and a white shirt (no stripes, dots). If you have difficulty obtaining concert clothes please contact Mrs. Tenney or Mr. Oprea because students often turn in clothes they have out-grown and some may be available. Girls may wear skirts only if they are longer than knee length when seated. No student will go on-stage without the proper concert clothes- students not in concert attire will be considered un-excused and receive no credit.

MSBOA Festivals

MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) hosts many events to supplement the school orchestra curriculum. Seventh and eighth grade orchestras will perform for MSBOA Orchestra Festival and individual students may elect to perform for Solo and Ensemble Festival. More information on all of these opportunities will come throughout the year.

Music Boosters

Lowell Music Boosters is an organization for the support of Lowell band, choir, and orchestra students. Money is raised to support students through scholarships to music camps and honors orchestras, and to fund special projects such as guest music artists and new equipment. If you would like to be involved parents are needed especially in the area of making phone calls, selling refreshments at concerts and LMS sporting events, and serving as officers for Music Booster meetings. Meetings are on a monthly basis. Indicate on the parent form if you are interested in being a part of Music Boosters.

LMS 7th and 8th Grade Orchestras

Concert and Events Schedule

2016-2017

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Required Events:

Fall Orchestra Concert:

7th and 8th Grade Orchestras- Thursday, October 20, 2016, LPAC

6:30pm start (6:00pm arrival) for 1st and 3rd hour

7:30pm start (7:00pm arrival) for 2nd and 4th hour

Holiday Orchestra Concerts:

8th Grade and HS Chamber Orchestra- Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 7pm, LPAC

6th/7th Grade Orchestras- Tuesday, December 6, 2016

6:30pm start (6:00pm arrival) for 1st and 5th hour

7:30pm start (7:00pm arrival) for 2nd and 6th hour

Festival Concert:

8th Grade Orchestra- Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 6:30pm, LPAC

7th Grade Orchestras- Tuesday, February 14, 2017 at 7:30pm, LPAC

Festival Competition: date and time to be announced

Collage Concert:

Tuesday, March 21, 2017, 7pm at LPAC

Middle School Spring Concerts:

8th Grade Orchestra- Thursday, May 11, 2017 at 7pm, LPAC

6th and 7th Grade Orchestras- Monday, May 15, 2017, LPAC

6:30pm start (6:00pm arrival) for 1st and 5th hour

7:30pm start (7:00pm arrival) for 2nd and 6th hour

All Strings Concert:

All 6/7/8 and HS- Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 7pm, LHS Main Gym

Optional Events:

Fiddle Club: practices afterschool and performs for events such as the Homecoming Parade, the Community Expo and Murray Lake Learning Fair. The exact fay of the week is TBD.

All-State Orchestra Auditions: Thursday, October 27 and Saturday, October 29, 2016 at East Kentwood HS

Lowell Expo: Saturday, March 25, 2017 at LHS

Solo and Ensemble Festival: Saturday, April 22, 2017, NorthPointe Christian HS

Concert uniform do’s and don’ts:

DO: Wear black pants or long skirt, black shoes/socks and all white shirt

DON’T: Wear short skirt or pants, white socks, contrasting cami/undershirt, polka dots or stripes, tight skirts, flip-flop sandals

Orchestra students and parents:

Please return this form with all signatures completed by Thursday, September 15th.

***Also, if students do not have their required method book they need to bring in $8 by Thursday, September 15th. (Required books are: Essential Elements book 2 for 7th grade and Essential Techniques for 8th grade).

_____________________________ _______ ___________________

Student’s name (please print) Grade Instrument

____________________________ __________________________________

Parent’s name (please print) Preferred phone number ______________________________________________________________________

Email addresses are listed in Infinite Campus for most parents. Is this an acceptable means of communicating important information (such as reminders of upcoming concert dates), or do you require paper notes to go home?

_____ Email through Infinite Campus works for me

_____ I do not consistently check email and need paper notification when possible

I have reviewed all of the information in the orchestra handbook and understand the procedures for participation in orchestra at Lowell Area Schools. I have the concert dates and my child will be at ALL required concerts, or the proper 2-week notice will be given for any concerts that must be missed, or I understand that no points will be awarded for the performance.

_________________________ _________________________ __________

Parent’s signature Student’s signature Date

I give permission for my child to be included in class photos on the Red Arrow Orchestra website, Lowell Ledger and LAS Directions articles, and in poster concert promotions. (If you do not want your child’s photo to be used, do not sign this section.)

__________________________ __________

Parent’s signature Date

Parent Volunteer Opportunities

Your help is greatly appreciated in making our orchestra program run smoothly! If you are able to help in any of these areas, please check the box. Thanks! –Mr. Oprea

Parent name, email and phone number for music boosters contact:

____________________________________(name)__________________________ (phone number)

_______________________________________________ (e-mail)

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← Piano accompaniment

← Assistance during class time

← Transportation of equipment

← Photography for newsletters

← Music Boosters- working as team with other parents to support students and teachers

← Music Boosters- refreshment sales at LMS sporting events

← Music Boosters- Collage Concert (in March)

← Music Boosters- Poinsettia Sales (in December)

← Other_________________________

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