Gahanna Lincoln High School
Freshmen Orchestra Handbook 2011-12 Kevin Dengel, director
Table of Contents
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Orchestra Handbook / 2011-12
National Standards in Music Education!
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Grading/Assessment!
3
Rehearsals and Concerts - 20%!
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Performance Project - 20%!
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Assessments and Assignments - 60%!
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Daily Expectations!
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8:29AM is “GO TIME!�!
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Personal Behaviors:!
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Excused / Unexcused Absences!
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Examples of Excused Absences are results of life or family emergencies!
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Examples of Unexcused Absences are results of poor foresight and planning.!
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Concert Attendance!
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Attire !
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Polo!
4
Concert Attire!
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Chair Placement and Auditions!
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Repairs!
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Fingernails!
5
Care of School-owned Property!
5
Music!
5
Instruments!
5
(Lockable) Bins!
5
Section Leaders!
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Private Lessons!
5
Field Trip Expectations!
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Awards Night !
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Rehearsal & Performance Calendar available online.!
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Gahanna Lincoln High School
Orchestra Handbook / 2011-12
National Standards in Music Education • • • • • • • • •
Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. Improvising melodies, variations and accompaniments. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. Reading and notating music. Listening to, analyzing and describing music. Evaluating music and music performances. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
Grading/Assessment Rehearsals and Concerts - 20% Attendance, punctuality, conduct, attitude, contributions, effort and continual personal improvement are desired personal behaviors. Unexcused absences will result in no points earned.
Performance Project - 20% 1st Quarter: Concert Review or Solo/Ensemble Performance 2nd Quarter: Regional Orchestra Audition, GLHS Ensemble Concert Review 3rd Quarter: Concert Review or OMEA Solo & Ensemble 4th Quarter: Awards Night Attendance
Assessments and Assignments - 60% Spot checks, recorded playing assessments, SmartMusic assessments, written and aural assignments, examinations, etc. Along with learning the music, many other opportunities for learning (both musical and nonmusical) present themselves in the classroom.
Daily Expectations Musical ensembles depend on the attendance and participation of EVERYONE for its success. Missing a rehearsal or concert hinders the learning and music experiences of the entire ensemble, NOT just one’s self.
8:29AM is “GO TIME!” Students must have their instrument and materials out and ready before the first bell. A tardy student will receive a lunch detention upon each occurrence. Bottom line: To become great, everyone needs to be here.
Personal Behaviors: Respect: Show it to EVERYONE! Responsibility: Grow in performance skills, musical concepts and daily commitment to the ensemble. Dignity: Represent yourself with class.
Excused / Unexcused Absences Excused absences include only personal illness or extreme family emergency. If a student is unable to contact the directors, (s)he is required to provide a written/ parent-signed note explaining the absence. Failure to provide the required information will cause the absence to be unexcused, resulting in a grade deduction for the current grading period. 3
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Orchestra Handbook / 2011-12 Any absence must be communicated to the director as soon as it becomes known, but not less than three (3) weeks prior to a performance through the Student Excuse Request Form. At that time, a decision will be made as to whether the activity is excused or unexcused. We understand that some school activities and athletic clubs will receive notification inside this three week period. Students who are not properly dressed for performances will not be allowed to perform and will receive an unexcused absence for the concert.
Examples of Excused Absences are results of life or family emergencies Examples of Unexcused Absences are results of poor foresight and planning. • • • • •
No transportation to the concert. Babysitting/work conflict. Too much homework or upcoming project. Conflicts with other activities/clubs/events. Students’ jobs.
Concert Attendance Attendance at all special rehearsals, concerts and at large-group adjudicated event performances are mandatory. You have chosen to participate in a credited core class, not an extra-curricular activity. Every student is a vital member and an absence does not only effect the missing person. The orchestra director cannot assign make-up work in lieu of attendance. Please realize that it is impossible to duplicate the experience of rehearsals or concerts. Once a rehearsal concert or adjudicated performance is missed, it is missed forever. Good attendance is imperative if an orchestra is to become successful.
Attire Polo Musicians need to purchase the orchestra polo shirt ($25). Orders/Payment will be done the first full-week of school. Checks should be made payable to G.L.I.M.B..
Concert Attire Freshmen Orchestra attire is the aforementioned orchestra polo, black dress pants, black belt, black socks and black shoes.
Chair Placement and Auditions At the beginning of each academic year, students will be pre-assessed for performance ability on their instrument. During this process, students will be ranked and alternatively seated in all sections. This will ensure all students have a peer mentor to continue their musical growth and improvement. Auditions can include: scales, selected passages from repertoire and sight-reading. The following are the domains that a student can be assessed; bowings, dynamics, note accuracy, intonation, rhythm, style/ articulations, tempo, tone quality and posture. An individual’s chair placements can be changed throughout the year, due to: director discretion, participation level, interpersonal skills, peer challenges, assessments, etc.
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Gahanna Lincoln High School
Orchestra Handbook / 2011-12
Repairs Whenever a student is unable to participate because of a broken instrument or bow, a note is required from the parent/guardian. One (1) week will be allotted for the stated repair, otherwise verification through the reliable luthier is needed.
Fingernails Long nails are not permitted; as they do not allow for proper finger curvature, placements and pressure needed for quality tone. Mr. Dengel carries fingernail clippers to class, each day. Repeated reminders will result in disciplinary action.
Care of School-owned Property Music Music is provided for musicians by the school and may ONLY be marked using a No.2 pencil. For each lost or damaged piece of music, the holder will be charged a replacement cost. Grade cards will be held until the fee is rectified.
Instruments The school provides Violoncelli and Double Basses for its students. Each student must complete an “Instrument Use Agreement� upon assignment - which places financial responsibility of student-caused damages/repairs onto the student/family. Repairs/Fees not rectified by the end of the school year will result in holding of grade card and/or failure to participate in graduation.
(Lockable) Bins Keep them clean. Enough said.
Section Leaders Section Leaders are chosen and retained based upon demonstration of superior musicianship, leadership and attitude. They are the models of the program at all times. Section leaders should, throughout the year 1.Ensure section members each have a sharpened pencil. 2.Monitor the addition of markings prescribed in class. 3.Check the quality of rosin on bow and bow care of section members. 4.Prior to each sectional, provide detailed plans for improvement. 5.Following each sectional, conference with Mr. Dengel. 6.Help with (but not undertake others’) daily tuning.
Private Lessons Take them! The demands of music in high school require every musician to have technical proficiency on their instrument. These are best learned through private instruction. A listing of recommended instructors is available on the website.
Field Trip Expectations When any organization leaves campus they are representative of themselves, the organization, school, district, community and state in which they reside. It is very important to act with class and dignity, representing all of 5
Gahanna Lincoln High School
Orchestra Handbook / 2011-12 the aforementioned proudly. Rowdy or disrespectful behavior at any time is unacceptable and will be responded to be immediate administrative action and/or grade deductions and/or removal from the orchestra program.
Awards Night Qualifications for Receiving Award 1.Member of the orchestra for the entire year. 2.No unexcused absences from performances. 3.Maintain a 80% minimum orchestra grade point.
Rehearsal & Performance Calendar available online. www.gahannaorchestras.org
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