SV Orchestra Class Policies

Class Rehearsals

Students should have their instrument, music folder and a pencil for all rehearsals. Food, pop and gum are not permitted in class – water bottles are allowed. Cell phones will be taken if used during class (please no texting). Students may pick up their phone after school from the main office. Students will receive a 0% for the class.

Attendance

Will be taken at the beginning of each class.

Tuning

Respect the concertmaster when tuning by being quiet and listening to your instrument to tune it correctly – please use snark tuners before tuning.

Music

Students will be issued their own personal copy of each piece. Throughout the year, students will have music checks in which each student must produce their music in order to receive 100% credit.

Grading

Will be based on the following criteria: playing assessments, class participation, attendance at performances/rehearsals, concert etiquette, music/pencil checks and concert reviews.

School Instruments

The daily use of these instruments carries a substantial cost for upkeep (including bow re-hair, replacing warped bridges, gluing opens seams, replacing worn strings, etc.). Students that are assigned a school instrument and bow and should wipe clean the instrument top and strings and loosen the bow hair after each use. Excessive damage to any school instrument incurred due to student carelessness will be the responsibility of the individual student to fix or replace the damaged school instrument.

Orchestra Storage

Each student will be assigned an instrument storage space for the school year. Please keep your instrument in your assigned place to keep the room clean and organized.

Practice Rooms

Practice rooms are to be used only for musical practice. Please help keep the practice rooms neat and orderly by straightening stands and chairs before you leave. If you take chairs and stands from the orchestra room, please return them when you are done. Please ask for a pass to come down during study hall to practice or practice before or after school.

Performances and Rehearsals

Absences from a performance or rehearsal are detrimental to any of the performing groups. Every effort should be made to attend because the whole orchestra is counting on you. Attendance is mandatory and is a factored in the student’s quarter grade.

Personal illness, death in the family, weddings, religious ceremonies, family emergencies, or a SVHS school-sponsored event, are the only excusable absences. Under one of these circumstances the student must bring a doctor note or parent-signed absence form to the director immediately upon the student’s return to school. Absences due to conflicts with part-time jobs or family outings will not be excused.
A SVHS school-sponsored event that conflicts with a performance or rehearsal should be brought to the attention of director one week prior to the date in question. Absence forms are available on the orchestra information board.
Students who have an excused absence with proper notification will make a recording/video of the concert music within one week of the concert date in order to receive 100% credit for the performance/rehearsal grade.
Students who do not notify the director of an absence that is considered excused at least one week in advance will be able to earn 75% credit by completing the above assignment within one week of the performance/rehearsal.
Students with an unexcused absence with proper notification will receive 50% credit for the missed performance/rehearsal.
Students with an unexcused absence will receive 0% credit for the missed performance/rehearsal.
Whenever possible a message should be sent to your director’s e-mail or call and leave a voicemail or text (419-250-2102) prior to the performance regarding the absence.

Chair Placement

An audition evaluates a student’s performance at one specific time under one specific set of circumstances. Chair placement is based only on that audition. Outside accomplishments and or prior chair placement results will not be considered. There is no political element to the evaluation of the audition. It is an objective evaluation of the student’s performance on that day only.

Chair placement will be graded on the following criteria: scales, tone quality, dynamic contrasts, rhythmic accuracy, bowing techniques, vibrato and overall musicality. Auditions will be video taped during class and may be evaluated by more than one director. Semester one chair placement will begin early September and second semester chair placement in January. Section musicians may be rotated by the director throughout the year – be flexible!

Concertmaster

The role of the concertmaster is to demonstrate the finest example of musicianship, dedication, and leadership to the orchestra. This person will assist the orchestra director with suggestions to improve the quality of the entire orchestra.

To be considered for concertmaster – the student must be one of the top players in the violin I section, demonstrate leadership qualities, conduct an interview with the director and complete a written assignment.

Section Leader

A section leader must be able to effectively run sectionals, suggest bowings, fingerings, and provide musical suggestions to his or her section. Section leaders must also be willing to work with section members individually or in small groups to improve the quality of their section.

To be considered for section leader – the student must be one of the top players in their section, demonstrate leadership qualities and complete a written assignment.

String Ensembles

Ensembles may by be assigned by the orchestra director for performances based on audition results. Ensembles may rehearse during the class period and after school as needed. Ensembles will be featured on various concerts, and at OMEA solo and ensemble contest. Additional performances may include weddings, church services, dinner parties and graduation ceremonies.

Private Instruction

It is recommended that all musicians study privately on their instruments. Private lessons will take a student to a much higher playing level because the “one on one” instruction with a professional player helps the student improve much faster. A list of private instructors is posted on the orchestra information board. Call for a recommendation.

Practice

Practice is homework in this class. High school students should practice a minimum 30 minutes 2-3 times per week. If you have a study hall and would like to practice during the school day, please ask for a pass. You may also practice any day before or after school. If you don’t own an instrument you may sign out a school instrument anytime to take home.

Private Instructors

Please see Ms. Fitz for a list of private teachers in our area.

Director Contact information

Please direct any questions or concerns to Ms. Fitzpatrick at mfitzpatrick@sylvaniaschools.org, or call or text 419-250-2102.