Music Handbook - Orchestra

Students will receive a copy of the music department handbook.

Performance Music Student

·         I acknowledge & understand the performance music guidelines regarding rehearsal attendance, concerts, and dress code.

·         I acknowledge & understand the information in the Jefferson Junior High School Performance Music handbook.

·         I have taken the music department music calendar home to my parents/guardian and have marked the dates on the family calendar.

·         I will do my best to be a contributing member of my performance music ensemble.

________________________________               _________

Student, printed name                                    Date

____________________________                       Grade in school_____

Student, signature

If you’re in Band or Orchestra, what instrument do you play?___________________________

Parents/Guardians:  I am aware of the JJHS music department policies and guidelines

including the performance dates.

___________________________________

Parent/Guardian, printed name

___________________________________

Parent/Guardian, signature

_________________________________________________

Parent/Guardian E-mail Address

Please print clearly.  Also, please differentiate between certain numbers and letters if they are  in your address such as the number “one” and lower case “L”, the number” zero” and the letter “O”, etc.

Please return this signed form to your director by FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

The Jefferson Music Staff is pleased that you and your child have chosen to be in Performance Music.  We are very proud of our Band, Orchestra, and Chorus programs and believe that your child will have an extremely rewarding experience this school year.

GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR MEMBERSHIP IN JJHS PERFORMANCE MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS

·         Chorus, Band and Orchestra are full year classes.

·         Students and/or parents should address all questions regarding membership or

      attendance to their respective director.

INSTRUMENT SECURITY

·         Jefferson Junior High School provides a secured storage area for musical instruments.  Band and Orchestra members will need a JJHS Band “Master” combination lock which can be purchased from the school.  LOCKS MUST BE ISSUED BY THE JJHS BAND DEPARTMENT. Please do not buy a lock from the hardware store.  All student owned instruments must be in a locker with a lock.  Students will not be allowed to store their personal instruments in the band room area without locking them in their lockers.

·         While we do supply lockers, the school is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen instruments.  Model, make, and serial number of your child’s instrument should be registered at home.

PERFORMANCES

Attendance at all concerts is required. The annual Solo/Ensemble Festival for Band and Orchestra members is a required performance as well. A student is excused from a performance if he/she is ill and is absent from school or is out of town with his/her family. The director must be notified of the absence well in advance.  Other absences are unexcused.  FAMILY PARTIES, SOCIAL EVENTS AND ATHLETIC ACTIVITES would not be considered an excused absence. An unexcused absence will cause the grade to be dropped by two letters for that grading period. Please note: Students who are absent from school on the day of a concert may not participate in the evening performance.  Students must be in attendance for at least five periods on the day of a musical performance event.

ORCHESTRA

Orchestra: Open to all 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade string players. Each week, string players attend one small group lesson and two full orchestra rehearsals (beginners join full orchestra during the 3^rd trimester).

Symphonic Orchestra:  Open to selected 8^th grade Wind Ensemble players.  Symphonic Orchestra gives students the opportunity to play full orchestra literature with soloistic wind and percussion parts.  Meets during the 2^nd trimester during supervised study and performs at the March orchestra concert.

Bluegrass Strings: Open to all Orchestra members.  No audition is required for membership.

CONCERT UNIFORM FOR ALL PERFORMING GROUPS

The concert uniform consists of a red music department polo shirt, black pants, black shoes and socks. Flip-flops are not allowed for music performances.  The music department shirt can be purchased through the school. The shirt order form is included in your Performance Music handbook.

MUSIC DEPARTMENT STAFF PHONE NUMBERS & E-MAIL ADDRESSES

You can reach Karen Campbell and Randy Kulik by dialing (630) 420-6365.

Follow the prompts to contact the individual instructor.  For Nancy Havener,

dial (630) 848-5643.  To reach Beth Connolly, Music Department Coordinator,

dial (630) 420-2957.

Mrs. Connolly, Chorus, mconnolly@naperville203.org

Miss Havener, Band, nhavener@naperville203.org

Mrs. Campbell, Orchestra, kcampbell@naperville203.org

Mr. Kulik, Band, rkulik@naperville203.org

We are pleased that your child has chosen to participate in a performance group at Jefferson.  Please read and sign the “Performance Music” form (1^st page) and have your child return it to his/her music teacher by Friday, September 18, 2009.

Important Information for Orchestra Members

SMALL GROUP LESSONS

All Orchestra members have a small group lesson one period each week.  Orchestra members are given a small group lesson schedule which lists their specific lesson periods.  Since Orchestra members come for a lesson during one of their classes, they go to their class first, “check in”, hand in homework, write down the next day’s assignment, and come to the band room for a lesson.  Orchestra members are excused from a lesson if they have a test, quiz, special speaker, or a class project that can only completed that day.  Since students are missing class time to come for a lesson, we are flexible.  Orchestra lessons can be made up if a student cannot come during their regular lesson time. Also, the small group lesson schedule rotates periods so that Orchestra members do not miss the same class more than approximately once a month.

FULL ORCHESTRA REHEARSALS

6^th Grade Orchestra:  Tuesday & Thursday, 8^th Period.

7^th Grade Orchestra:  Tuesday & Thursday, 6^th Period

8^th Grade Orchestra:  Tuesday & Thursday, 5^th Period

ORCHESTRA GRADING SYSTEM

Points are given for full orchestra rehearsals, small group lessons, concerts, tests/quizzes, and overall attitude.

Attendance

All Orchestra members are expected to be at all full orchestra rehearsals, small group lessons (unless there is a conflict), orchestra concerts, and the Solo/Ensemble Festival.  Concerts are considered trimester assessments.  Therefore, an unexcused absence from a concert will result in a student’s orchestra letter grade being lowered by two letters.  Orchestra members should always bring in a note from home to explain an absence from a concert.

Trimester Performance Requirements

During each trimester orchestra members will study exercises from their orchestra method books. All orchestra members will be assessed on specific exercises and scales during their small group lessons, and this will be part of the trimester grade.  Students will also receive a daily grade for both their large group orchestra rehearsals and small group lessons.  Factors which make up the daily grade will include being on time, having all materials, being free of candy and gum, showing respect and participating in class.

Attitude

Orchestra students who work hard, practice regularly and perform their best can count on earning a good grade for the trimester.  The Jefferson orchestra department puts much emphasis on EFFORT and a POSITIVE ATTITUDE!