Honors Requirements

Introduction

The Honors Option in Music will focus on the development and application of critical thinking skills – analysis, synthesis, evaluation, and problem solving. Students must demonstrate an appreciation of the aesthetics and an understanding of the creative process in music. Student responsibility, intrinsic motivation, independent study, and research will be emphasized.

The Honors Option will be available to students in selected high school music classes: Academy Orchestra (SV), Chamber Orchestra (SV), Concert Orchestra (SV), and Symphonic Choir (SV), Varsity Choir (SV) (*any exceptions must be approved by committee). Because of the performance emphasis of these classes, the already rigorous course expectations, and the time consuming schedules students encounter in music, interested students need to carefully evaluate their total responsibilities to school and home before committing themselves to the Honors Option in music. A decision to enroll must be approved by your director and should be discussed with and supported by your private teacher and parents/guardian.

Purpose

Honors credit in music has two purposes. First, they must prepare students to perform successfully in an academically rigorous and musically challenging setting. Second, they must promote increased student learning, responsibility, independence, and self-direction. The fundamental goal is nothing less than educational excellence for talented students.

In order to achieve these purposes the honors program must meet the following criteria:

Be open to all students who desire to pursue musical excellence.
Stress quality of musicianship, of student achievement, and of student responsibility.
Allow for independent work
Prepare students for continued advanced study.

Course Requirements

Personal Performance Requirements
1. Includes all required class performances and assignments
2. Regular study with an acceptable private teacher. (Minimum of 7 lessons per quarter). At the end of each quarter, your private teacher will submit a Google Form verifying the number of lessons you completed along with an overall evaluation. Please note that you, not your director, are the one responsible for sharing the form with your private teacher and ensuring that it is submitted by the end of the quarter for credit. Please share it with your private instructor in advance of your final lesson of the quarter to give them time to complete the evaluation.
Independent Study Projects (done quarterly)
Each quarter you will be required to submit a project of your choice, which must be approved by your director in advance. Please see the attached list for quarterly project options. You may also create your own project outside of the list, but you MUST discuss your idea with your director and gain approval.
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION AS THE REQUIREMENTS HAVE CHANGED:
1. Your 3rd quarter project MUST be the performance of either a Class A or B solo at Solo and Ensemble.
2. EITHER your 2nd or 4th quarter project must be an audition for one of the OMEA Honors/Regional/State Orchestras OR you may use BOTH auditions for your 2nd and 4th quarter projects. For example, if you’d like to audition for the OMEA D1 Honors Orchestra, that will count as your Q2 project. You would still need to choose another project for Q4. If you’d prefer to audition for Regional/All-State, that would count as your Q4 audition. You’d still need to choose a different project for Q2. If you’d like to audition for BOTH OMEA Honors AND Regional/All-State Orchestras, you may use the auditions for your Q2 and Q4 projects respectively. To sum up, you must audition for at least one of these ensembles during either Q2 or Q4 or you may do both. Keep in mind that if you make one of the ensembles, you are required to attend.

Quarterly Honors Project Options List

Please choose and submit one project per quarter, due by the last day of each quarter. Before starting your project at the beginning of the quarter, make sure to submit the appropriate form below to your director by the end of the first week of the quarter for approval. ALL PROJECTS REQUIRE APPROVAL IN ADVANCE. FAILURE TO GAIN APPROVAL MAY RESULT IN REDUCED OR NO CREDIT GIVEN FOR YOUR PROJECT ONCE SUBMITTED.

Q1 link: https://forms.gle/PbwgTP8hvA6WzkGR7

Q2 link: https://forms.gle/z1VftZqprrc1ZwKGA

Q3 link: https://forms.gle/KKQmxPAb2QydMR1p9

Q4 link: https://forms.gle/sATZ5m9Wy3Mh5nYaA

Options

Join the “Music TLC” program at your school. This option will be outlined by your director and is a peer mentorship program which allows you to work one-on-one with another student. See your director for specific information about this program and fulfill all requirements outlined by your director
1. NOTE: Although you are welcome to participate in this program year-round for the good of your program, you may only use this option to fulfill your honors project requirement TWICE during the school year. In other words, you may only submit this option for a maximum of 2 quarters of your choice. You will need to choose different projects for the other two quarters.
Complete one of the “play along with the Symphony” challenges presented by the Toledo Symphony. More information can be found at: https://www.toledosymphony.com/playwithalain or on the Toledo Symphony Facebook page.
A livestreaming performance that includes at least 10 minutes of music (10 minutes of actual playing/singing, not 10 minutes total including pauses and talking). Be sure to discuss with your director what type of performance you will be doing and get it approved before you start preparing.
Compose a piece at least 4 minutes in length for any type of solo or ensemble.
Arrange an existing piece for your instrument or small ensemble.
Write a 500 word essay analyzing the form and harmonic structure of a piece of your choice. The piece must be approved by Miss Fitz before you start your analysis.
Record a “mock audition” and submit it to your director. The “audition” must include a technical excerpt, a lyrical excerpt, and a scale from the OMEA Class A list for your instrument. You may NOT use excerpts from previous auditions you’ve done (for example, you may not perform the same excerpts you recorded this past spring for your Regional Orchestra audition).
Do you have another project or activity in mind that is not on this list? Submit your idea to your director for approval.

Private Instructor Evaluation Form (to be completed quarterly)

You are responsible for sharing the letter on the next page with your private teacher. Please give it to your teacher (either by printing it out or emailing it) by your first lesson of the year.

In addition, you must share the appropriate link below with your private instructor at least one week before the end of each quarter. DO NOT wait until the final days of the quarter to request this evaluation from your private teacher.

Quarter 1 SV Orchestra Private Teacher Evaluation: https://forms.gle/PbwgTP8hvA6WzkGR7

Quarter 2 SV Orchestra Private Teacher Evaluation: https://forms.gle/z1VftZqprrc1ZwKGA

Quarter 3 SV Orchestra Private Teacher Evaluation: https://forms.gle/KKQmxPAb2QydMR1p9

Quarter 4 SV Orchestra Private Teacher Evaluation: https://forms.gle/sATZ5m9Wy3Mh5nYaA

Congratulations!

We are so pleased that you have chosen to accelerate your musical career by completing the requirements for honors credit.