Daniell Middle School Orchestra Handbook 2023-24 PDF

Welcome to the Daniell Middle School ORCHESTRA Mrs. Newton  [email protected] Sixth Grade Orchestra  Seventh Grade Orchestra  Eighth Grade Orchestra Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Please ensure that your CTLSParent is set up and accurate to receive all communications! Today...

Welcome to the Daniell Middle School ORCHESTRA Mrs. Newton  [email protected] Sixth Grade Orchestra  Seventh Grade Orchestra  Eighth Grade Orchestra Instruments: Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass Please ensure that your CTLSParent is set up and accurate to receive all communications! Today’s HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS: 1. Review this handbook with your parent/guardian. 2. Be sure to hit the main points: ✓ Method book / shoulder rest/ rockstop ✓ Instrument Care and Accident Repair ✓ Required Concert Dates (put them on your family calendar)! ✓ Required Concert Uniform (order forms on CTLS) 3. Parents must fill out and submit the online syllabus acknowledgement found here: Syllabus Agreement 4. Log in to Mypaymentsplus.com and search for the orchestra uniform fee under fundraisers. $30 payment 1 is due by August 9! 5. Instruments DO NOT need to come to school until week 2 of school. OTHER UPCOMING DATES Tuesday, August 9 ~ Universal interest form due on CTLS! Monday, August 28 ~ Cookie Dough Fundraiser Starts ORCHESTRA – CONTACT AND SHIRTS {2023-2024 Handbook} CTLS 1. To contact Mrs. Newton, always use CTLS parent. In the event it is not working for you, my direct email is [email protected]. 2. Cobb county schools will no longer be using Remind to send out updates and reminders. It is extremely important that parents and students have CTLS set up with correct contact info asap to receive all communications from Mrs. Newton this year. Please do not use last year’s Remind class to message the teacher as it will be inactive starting August 1st. PERFORMING ARTS UNIFORMS Just like with sports and other activities, uniforms provide a consistent and professional look on stage for concerts. Chorus, Band and Orchestra all wear the same uniform. Students in chorus only need to purchase the uniform ONE time. We will be offering two outfit options for students to purchase: • • Ladies ¾ sleeve dress, floor length Gentlemen’s white tuxedo shirt, black tuxedo pants and black bow tie. All students must provide their own black socks/all black shoes. NO WHITE SOLES will be permitted on shoes for concerts. The total cost for the uniform is $60, but we have broken this into two payments of $30 for your convenience. Payment 1 is due by August 9th and payment 2 is due by September 6th. Of course, you may also pay the fee all at once if you would prefer. ----------Mypaymentsplus.com is the preferred way to pay for all school fees. The uniform section should be located under fundraisers, performing arts uniform. ORCHESTRA – DAILY INFO ORCHESTRA GRADING 25% - Daily Rehearsal Skills 15% - Concert Attendance 35% - Performance Skills (Playing assessments) 25% - Musical Understanding (Assessments & Assignments) A AB+ B BC+ 93-100% 90-92% 87-89% 83-86% 80-82% 77-79% C CD+ D DF 73-76% 70-72% 67-69% 63-66% 60-62% - 59% Students will be auditioning each quarter for a new, performance-based seating location. Mrs. Newton reserves the right to move chair placement due to behavior at any time. {2023-2024 Handbook} DAILY MUSICIANSHIP RUBRIC ♫Distinguished - 5 Points (Above and Beyond!) ♫Proficient - 4 Points (Meets Expectations) ♫Basic - 3 Points (Bare Minimum) ♫Unsatisfactory - 0-2 Points (Does Not Participate) POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION SYSTEM (PBIS) IN THE ORCHESTRA CLASSROOM S – Keep our room tidy W – Practice at home A – Accept, Apologize, Move on R – Respect yourself & others M – No Gum nor Devices during class WHAT YOU NEED DAILY (AND FOR ALL PERFORMANCES AND FIELD TRIPS) Violins/Violas A violin/viola bow, case, rosin, cleaning cloth, REAL (not a sponge) shoulder rest (KUN style or Everest) Cellos/Basses ***You will use a school instrument during class. You do not bring your instrument to and from school every day. You only need to rent one for practice at home and for concerts, not for daily class! A cello/bass (at home) with bow, case, rosin, cleaning cloth, rockstop **YOU NEED YOUR OWN ROSIN FOR CLASS EVERY DAY! *Always feel free to bring your instrument to school for tune ups and tapes at any time. ALL Orchestra Students • 4th period: • • • Essential Elements book 1| 5th period: Sound innovations book 2 (red) 8th Grade: Sound Innovations book 3 (green) Orchestra spiral (provided) with sheet music, worksheets etc Trimmed Nails (You can’t play your instrument properly with long nails!) DAILY INSTRUMENT CARE DO put your instrument in its case whenever you are done practicing (loosen bow) DO wipe the rosin off of your instrument after each practice session with a cloth DO ask your orchestra teacher questions about your instrument DON’T leave your instrument in the car, outside, in sunlight, or near vents/windows DON’T touch or move someone else’s instrument without their permission DON’T let anyone but your orchestra teacher play or “fix” your instrument ORCHESTRA – INSTRUMENTS {2023-2024 Handbook} HOW TO FIND A GOOD ORCHESTRA INSTRUMENT 1. Renting your instrument is recommended so that you may exchange for bigger sizes as your child grows! 2. Rule of Thumb: A credible violin shop that properly “set up” their instruments will have a luthier (string instrument repair person) on staff. 3. Watch out for deals, especially online, that are “too good to be true”. These instruments are usually in need of extensive repair costs to make them work and will only frustrate and hinder success. 4. Painted instruments are not allowed in the Daniell Orchestra!!! Please contact Mrs. Newton as soon as possible if it is not financially possible for your family to rent an instrument. Limited school instruments are available. IF YOU ALREADY HAVE AN INSTRUMENT…. MAKE SURE TO ASK MRS. NEWTON IF YOU THINK IT MIGHT BE GETTING TOO SMALL FOR YOU OR IF IT NEEDS ANY UPDATES. INSTRUMENT CARE Most students take excellent care of their instruments. It is rare for an instrument to need repairs when guidelines are followed carefully. Here are some things you can do to avoid repair costs: ✓ Follow your orchestra teacher’s guidelines for good instrument care (covered in class) and ASK if you have questions. ✓ Rent instruments only from violin shops that staff a luthier (string repair-person). ✓ Only let your teacher or a certified luthier (string repairperson) fix your instrument. ✓ Always take personal instruments home every single night to keep them safe with you! ORCHESTRA – PERFORMANCES {2022-2023 Handbook} REQUIRED PERFORMANCES Four “Required” performances are mandatory and will only be excused for emergencies such as illness with doctor note, a serious family emergency, or extenuating circumstances approved by Mrs. Newton. Approval for nonemergency absences requires a parent/guardian contacting Mrs. Newton 2 weeks prior to the performance. Approval will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Make-up assignments for excused performance absences are due before the end of the week in which the performance occurred. EXAMPLES OF NON-EXCUSED ABSENCES A sports team or other practice “I couldn’t get a ride” (plan ahead, please!) Homework for another class Field Trips!!! Eighth grade orchestra will be traveling to Orlando, Florida to perform at Disney World this year! Chaperones will be needed. More info to come! Other field trips such as a trip to see Atlanta Symphony and Sprayberry eighth grade day may occur throughout the school year and will be announced in a timely manner if scheduled. FULL CREDIT FOR A PERFORMANCE LOOKS LIKE: ✓ On time in official concert tuniform & black shoes ✓ Home instrument, shoulder rest/rockstop, and sheet music ✓ Respectful Audience Etiquette (no electronics or talking in audience) ✓ Attentive during warm-ups and quiet backstage ✓ Maintaining focus/posture during performance and playing your best ✓ Stay for entire performance CONCERT RECORDINGS & DVDS! All concerts will be recorded onto CD and DVD by Sound Mill Recording Studio. If you wish to purchase one at the event via mypaymentsplus for $10, you would not only get a piece of your child’s musical history to treasure, but your purchase would also support our program financially to assist in hiring professionals to work directly with the students during school. 😊 ORCHESTRA – CALENDAR {2022-2023 Handbook} August 2 Wednesday 6th Grade Test Drive 5-7pm Music Bldg August 5 Saturday 6th Grade Test Drive 10-1pm Music Bldg August 8 Tuesday 1st PA Uniform Payment Due - $30 Disney interest survey due August 14 Monday 6th grade tshirt info out August 28 Monday Cookie Dough Fundraiser START August 27 Friday 6th Grade t-shirt payment due- $15 September 6 Tuesday 2nd PA Uniform Payment Due $30 September 12 Wednesday Cookie Dough Ends October 2 Monday 7/8 Orchestra Fall Concert 7pm Lassiter HS October 6 Friday Orchestra Hoodie Sale Begin $30 October 14 Saturday Allstate Round 1 Auditions tba Pope HS October 17 Tuesday Hoodie Ends/Poinsettia Begin November 14 Tuesday Poinsettia Ends November 30 Thursday 6th Grade Orchestra Winter Concert 6:30pm Daniell GYM December 1 Friday Poinsettia Delivery/Pickup Day 4:306pm Daniell THEATER December 14 Thursday 7 & 8 Orchestra Winter Concert 7pm Lassiter HS January 13 Saturday 2nd Round Allstate Auditions TBA Westminster February 7-9 TBA ORCHESTRA LGPE (During school day) TBA Walton HS February 10 Saturday Cobb County Honor Orchestra Auditions TBA Dodgen MS February 13-14 Mon-Tues Orchestra 7/8 LGPE During school Harrison HS February 27 Monday April 18 Thursday PA Spring T-shirt Fundraiser Start-$15 Disney Parent/Student Meeting 6:00pm May 13 Monday 7pm Daniell Cafeteria Lassiter HS May 15-18 Wed-Sat TBA Orlando, FL 6-8 grade Spring Orchestra Concert 8th GRADE DISNEY TRIP