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PHS Orchestras

A Handbook for Orchestra Members and Families

Description of Policies and Procedures Revised August 2011

I. PHS Orchestra Staff

Concert Orchestra
Miss Lesley Schultz, Director 864-2062, lschultz@princetonschools.net Mrs. Trista Emmons, Assistant Director 864-2061,temmons@princetonschools.net

Symphonic Orchestra
Dr. Angela Santangelo, Director 864-1569, asantangelo@princetonschools.net Mrs. Trista Emmons, Assistant Director 864-2061, temmons@princetonschools.net Dr. Robert Monroe, Director Emeritus 864-1071, bmonroe@princetonschools.net

Chamber Orchestra
Mrs. Trista Emmons, Director 864-2061, temmons@princetonschools.net

II. Respect
1)

People Yourself, Staff, Chaperones, Peers, Librarians

People respond to positive comments more than to negative comments. Help your peers when they need support. If you feel that you have been unfairly treated by a fellow student or adult, please tell a staff member. 2)

Instruments-Musical instruments are personal property

Whether you use your own instrument or one loaned to you by the department, you are personally responsible for it. Take care of it by keeping it clean, away from potentially damaging situations, packed and properly stored. Our department policy is Keep your instrument in your hands or in its case. NEVER touch anyone elses instrument without their permission.

III. Responsibility
1)

For the Instrument

Violin/ Viola: 1. A Locked Locker (Your instrument should be taken home daily and kept in your instrument locker during the school day.) 2. Rosin 3. Cleaning Cloth (any lint-free piece of fabric will suffice) 4. Shoulder Rest 5. New Strings (Strings should be replaced once a year. Please see your director for string selection guidance. Cello/ Bass: For your At-Home Cello/Bass: 1. Roc Stop 2. Rosin 3. Cleaning Cloth (any lint-free piece of fabric will suffice) 4. New Strings (Strings should be replaced once a year. Please see your director for string selection guidance. For your School Cello: 1. ***Your own personal Roc Stop Princeton will no longer supply cello Roc Stops. It is recommended that you purchase a second Roc Stop, label it with your name, and keep it in your school cello case or school locker. If you prefer, you may bring your home Roc Stop to class every day. 2)

For your Music Folder

Each student will receive their own folder to be used in-class and at-home for which they are responsible. This folder should be up-to-date and available at every rehearsal. Failure to have ones music folder in class will result in a 25% loss (5 pts.) in the daily participation grade. MUSIC IS ONLY TO BE MARKED WITH PENCIL. There will be a financial obligation for lost or damaged music or folder. 3)

For the Orchestra Uniform:

Ladies school issued black dress, black hose and black closed-toe dress shoes Gentlemen - school issued tux with bow tie, black socks and black dress shoes.

You were to be fitted already. If you have not taken care of this obligation, you must see Mrs. Bauer immediately. Jeans and tank tops are not acceptable undergarments. Non-compliance will yield a loss of 25% of your performance grade.
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4) For the Performance Calendar: Each student is IMPORTANT to the success of our ensembles. Therefore, we depend on each student to be at all scheduled events. Attendance at performances is mandatory and an integral part of our curriculum. Below is a tentative list of this years performance dates. If a conflict arises, you must notify your director as soon as you discover the conflict so that appropriate arrangements can be made. Advanced notice often eliminates conflicts!

Princeton High School Orchestra Events

10/10/11 10/17/11 10/25/11 12/2/11 12/5/11 12/8/11 12/14/11 Orchestra Fall Concert, Matthews, 7:00 pm (Symphonic, Concert, Chamber, Zero Bell) * Fall Orchestra Concert Make-up Date, Matthews, 7:00 pm Beatles Tribute Band Concert featuring The Newbees, Matthews, 7:00 pm (Symphonic Orchestra) Sharonville Renaissance Festival, 6:00 pm (Chamber) Instrumental Sounds of the Season Concert, Matthews, 7:00 pm (Concert Orchestra) Holiday Concert, Matthews, 7:00 (Symphonic Orchestra) * Holiday Orchestra Concert Make-up Date, Matthews, 7:00 pm (Symphonic, Concert, Chamber Orchestra) Elvis Tribute Concert, 3:00 pm and 8:00 pm (Chamber) Senior Solo Recital, Memorial Hall, 7:00 pm OMEA- HS S&E, Location TBA, Event times TBA Orchestra Concert, Matthews, 7:00 pm Symphonic Orchestra Trip OMEA State Orchestra Contest, Event time TBA PHS Spring Musical, Matthews, 7:00 pm Festival of Arts, PHS, Time TBD (Symphonic, Chamber) Spring Orchestra Concert, Matthews, 7:00 pm (Symphonic, Concert, Chamber, CO)

1/14/12 2/9/12 2/11/12 2/14/12 2/16 2/20/12 2/24 2/25/12 3/1 3/3/12 3/25/12 5/10/12

*Attendance at these performances includes your remaining in the auditorium for the entire concert. *Concert Make-Up Dates You must consider Concert Make-Up dates a performance commitment. Therefore, be sure to write these dates in your schedule. Concert Make-Up dates will only be used if the original concert has been cancelled due to an emergency. Once the original concert has occured, you no longer need to keep the Make-Up date available.
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IV. Ready to Learn

1) Grading Policy:
Grades are determined through a point system. Points are accrued through attendance, participation, effort, and improvement. The following chart describes the categories and percentages of your quarterly grade. Documents that are late are deducted by 10 points per day that they are late.

PARTICIPATION GRADE
25%

Be prepared with your instrument, music, pencil, and a good attitude. Daily class rehearsals are worth 20 points and dress rehearsals are worth 100 points each. MUSIC GRADE

50%

Your musical growth and playing progress is measured via playing tests and written assignments. CONCERT GRADE There is no substitute for the experience of a live performance. You will enjoy our concerts; they are the culmination of all our work and a chance for you to show what you and your group can do. Be on time, in correct concert dress and encourage your family to be in the audience. Each concert is worth 300 points.

25%

2) Attendance Policy:
Absences: If a student is absent, s/he does not receive the daily participation points. Any points lost due to an excused absence from school may be made up. See the below section regarding make-up work. Any points lost due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up. Tardies: Tardiness disrupts the learning process of the entire group. Each tardy to class will cost the student 25% of his/her participation grade for that day (5 points out of 20). Correspondingly, tardiness for a performance call time will result in the loss of 25% of his/her performance grade. Parents and students will be able to monitor their childs tardiness to by checking Progress Book regularly.

3) Make-up Work, Practicing, Extra Credit:

Make-up Work: If you have an excused absence from school you will still need to make-up the missed participation grade. To make-up an excused absence from a daily rehearsal document 45 minutes of extra home practice. This must be turned in on a practice log with the date of your absence listed. A form for make-up work is available on Progressbook. This form is due the last day of each quarter to which the abscences apply. Practicing: Orchestra students are expected to practice a minimum of 120 minutes a week outside of class; this is your homework. You need to practice as much as necessary for you to master the concept or piece we are working on in class. In order to get better at anything, you have to spend time working to improve. This does NOT solely take place in the classroom. You are expected to prepare and practice your music at home. Extra Credit: You can earn extra credit in several ways: 10 points for each private lesson attended (see the orchestra room bin for a private lesson form), play in a special group like Blue Ash Youth Symphony or Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, play a solo or in an ensemble for your church or a community group, attend an outside-of-school concert and provide a summary and your evaluation of the event. If you have an idea thats not listed, just ask your director. An easy way to earn extra credit is to be an Orchestra Librarian or join the Set-up Crew. If you are interested please see a director.

V. Orchestra Seating
A healthy dose of competition encourages students to achieve their best. In orchestra, we strive towards goals, both personal and collective. For some students, their goal may be participate and learn their part. For others, the idea of being first chair may motivate them. Seating is a result of playing test evaluations. Directors reserve the right to move any person at any time. At the end of Semester 1 there will be an opportunity to audition for a different orchestra. Playing Evaluations: There are two types of playing evaluations; announced and unannounced. Both types of playing tests will be taken directly from material we cover in class. There will be a minimum of 2 playing tests per quarter. These dates are posted on the orchestra board so you can start preparing immediately. Specific excerpts will be given at least two weeks in advance. If a student actively participates in rehearsals AND practices challenging spots at home, s/he should be successful. Practice early on, and then you have the opportunity to ask for specific help
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from a director. DONT WAIT!! We understand that some students may be nervous or apprehensive about playing tests that is normal! We carefully try to teach techniques that students may use to calm their nerves before being evaluated. Excellent preparation, focus, and breathing are great ways to calm your nerves and do your best. Due to the cooperative nature of orchestra class and concerts, failure to learn ones music is not an option. If a student receives lower than a Con a playing test, s/he will be required to stay after school for a minimum of 30 minutes, practice for the playing test, and then re-take the test. This pattern of a 30 minute practice session, followed by a re-take, will continue until the student passes the playing test. Most students will only need 1 after-school practice session to pass the test.

VI. Private lessons

It is our expectation that students in our top groups take private lessons in order to cultivate their talents. In orchestra, while we do address many instrument specific concepts, our main focus is on the collective sound of the ensemble. In order for the ensemble to perform at its peak, individuals must strive to achieve their best. Private lessons afford students the opportunity to learn more specific and advanced skills in an individualized manner. Listed below are several private teachers that we recommend and teach many of our students. This list is not exhaustive; for more information, please contact your director. Violin: Viola: Cello: Bass: Tera Hamilton 742-4793, Sherry Ellis 683-3799 Kevin Boden 252-6793 Kaylie Eriksen 807-7286 Debbie Taylor 779-8003

VII. Chamber Orchestra

The PHS Chamber Orchestra has an exciting year of events and concerts planned. Participation in this group is competitive and by audition only. Auditions for the 2011-2012 Chamber Orchestra will coincide with your first orchestra seating.

VIII. Emergency Medical Forms

Due to the numerous trips the orchestra takes, students are required to fill out an emergency medical authorization sheet for the orchestra AS WELL as the required PHS sheet. These are due Friday, August 19, 2011.

IX. Communication
Everything you need to know for orchestra class is in this handbook, or will be announced in class. For additional communication please visit us online at : Like us on Facebook: Princeton Vikings Orchestra For more in depth information, handbooks and forms please see our blog: http://www.princetonorchestras.blogspot.com