Indian Hills Junior High Orchestra Program and Schedule Guide. Indian Hills Junior High School Instrumental Music Department

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1 Indian Hills Junior High Orchestra Program and Schedule Guide Indian Hills Junior High School Instrumental Music Department Dear Orchestra Students and Parents, Welcome to the Orchestra program at Indian Hills Junior High School. We have an exciting year planned, and this program guide will give you much of the information you will need to know in order to take part in this year s events. Please refer to this publication whenever you have any questions and use it to mark your calendars at home with our performance dates. Please take your time and review the following pages and don t hesitate to give me a call at school or me barrc@wdmcs.org if you have any questions. District Statements and Policies West Des Moines Community Schools Statement of Mission The mission of West Des Moines Community School District is to provide effective instruction in the basic skills, to develop the potential of all students, to nurture a sense of individual worth and to build a foundation for life-long learning in a changing world. The district, in a partnership with the community, is committed to serve all students with academic, cultural, vocational and activity programs that meet the highest standards of educational excellence.

2 Statement of Non-Discrimination The West Des Moines Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation or physical or mental disability in educational programs and activities. Indian Hills Junior High Orchestra Orchestra Calendar School Year Tuesday September 12 Chamber orchestra rehearsals begin Tuesday November 28 Orchestra tour 8AM Tuesday November 28 Winter Orchestra Concert, PAC. 6:30PM December TBA Chamber Orchestra Concert, Stilwell Aud. 7PM Thursday February 16 Orchestra Concert, PAC 6:30 Thursday March 2 Solo Festival, IH 3pm-6:30PM Tuesday March 7 Chamber Orchestra Recital, IH Aud. 6:30PM Tuesday May 23 Spring Concert, IH Aud. 6:30PM World s of Fun Dates May, 12 and 13 Secondary Level Objectives 1. To further develop an understanding and appreciation of music 2. To provide an opportunity for large group participation skills; teamwork, responsibility, performance and leadership. 3. To further develop technical and musical skills on individual instruments. 4. To present a variety of musical literature and experiences. 5. To develop creativity and self expression through musical performance. 6. To allow students to work to the fullest potential of their natural talents in music for use through school and throughout each student s educational journey. Requirements for Class Participation Concert Dress The appropriate dress for concerts is as follows: Young ladies will wear; White tops, long black skirts or black dress pants (long black dresses are also acceptable.)

3 Young men will wear; white shirts, black dress pants, black socks, black shoes and a long tie. PLEASE purchase these items in advance so that you will not be surprised on the day of the concert. Also, keep in mind the fact that students tend to grow quickly at this age. Class Materials Each Student needs the following instrument appropriate supplies; Pencil (everyone at every rehearsal- PUT ONE IN YOUR CASE) Rosin (everyone) Rock Stop (cellos and basses) Shoulder rest (violins and violas) Instrument with labeled case (everyone) *All violins and violas should also have an extra set of strings in their cases in the event one is broken during rehearsal or performance. This will reduce the amount of downtime with the instrument and make our rehearsals more efficient. Instrument Rentals The instrument rental fee for school owned instruments is $65.00 per year. Forms will be sent home with students who are renting school instruments soon after the start of classes. Please return those forms with payment as soon as possible after receipt. Students renting from the school are responsible for all maintenance during the rental period, including replacement of broken strings. Due to availability, cello and bass students may rent only one instrument. If a second instrument is desired for home use, you will need to rent the second instrument from a local musical instrument dealer. Orchestra Grading Policy In orchestra, unlike some other classes, your effort and commitment to the group are slightly more important than your individual talent or ability. Everyone in this class has the potential to receive a superior grade. The concert/contest aspect of this class necessitates that each students skills are evaluated in a comparative form. However, that portion of your grade is insignificant when compared to assessments including; commitment, focus and preparation. Technical mastery is encouraged, rewarded and

4 appreciated, but your individual contribution and attitude are more important to the success of our group. With that in mind, grades will be taken from the following; 1. Daily Rehearsals 20 points On time with materials 10 points Participation 10 points 2. School Lessons 20 points On time with materials 10 points Preparation and participation 10 points 3. Playing Tests 100 points (usually) We usually run about 1 playing test per quarter. Tests are usually given during a lesson cycle and if a student misses a test due to an excused absence, they have until the beginning of the next cycle to make up the test. Playing tests are graded on preparation and mastery. 4. Performance and Special Rehearsals 100 points (usually) Every member of our group plays a vital role in the success of our orchestra program. Attendance by all members, at all special rehearsals and performances is, therefore, required. The only acceptable excuses for missing a performance will be illness, death in the family, family conflicts or other school sponsored activities. In any case, notification of any absence must be made prior to the absence. Rehearsals and performances are an important part of your orchestra coursework and cannot be taken lightly. Performance and rehearsal dates are always announced well in advance. Please review the attached calendar so that family plans can be made accordingly. Practice Expectations At the Junior High level, students are required and graded on a base level of 1 hour of practice per week. Students are rewarded extra credit for extra practice time. A reasonable expectation for a student in the 7 th or 8 th grade is about 2 hours per week. The following is a good suggestion for how to use that time wisely. 1. Start with a scale (use a different scale each time. Using scales relevant to your other practice material is also and effective way to warm up. (5-10 minutes) 2. Etudes are another great way to supplement your technical study. If you need a recommendation for a technique book, I will be happy to give you one. (10 to 15 minutes) 3. Concert Pieces or solo material should come at the end of your practice session. The bulk of your time should be spent breaking down the pieces into smaller, challenging sections that need individual attention. In this way, you can maximize the effectiveness of your time and get more done during your practice session. (20-30 minutes)

5 *** A practice time of less than 15 minutes has little to no advantageous results. Much like a physical workout program, for a student to benefit or gain any reasonable results from the practice time, a sustained focus of at least 20 minutes is necessary. Consistency is also extremely important to the success and growth of each player. Rehearsal Procedures Listening is the most important skill involved in playing your instrument. We listen to ourselves, listen to stand partners, sections and the full orchestra. Remember also to, listen to the director and to learn as much as possible. LISTEN! 1. Be on time for class 2. Get your instrument and music out and ready. 3. Respect your classmates and follow the proper tuning procedure. 4. Do not interrupt others. 5. Remember orchestra etiquette; a. Be attentive to the director b. Do not talk during focused rehearsal or direct instruction c. Maintain proper posture while playing. d. Give you very best effort at all times 6. Respect school equipment and the belongings of others. 7. Bring a pencil Private Teachers Many students progress much faster by studying privately outside of school. There are many fine private teachers in the Des Moines area. If you are interested in finding lessons for your student, please ask for a list of teachers! Chamber Orchestra The chamber orchestra is an audition only group, open to any 7 th or 8 th grade orchestra member. Audition materials will include scales and solo literature. Students will be asked to record their auditions and will receive specific instructions from their directors as school in the fall. Musicians will be chosen from both Stilwell and Indian Hills. Rehearsals will take place on Tuesday mornings before school, beginning in October. This group performs twice each year.