MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR HIGH
ORCHESTRA HANDBOOK
7th GRADE ORCHESTRA
AND
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
2007-2008
MS. KNAPP, DIRECTOR
WELCOME TO
MAPLE GROVE JUNIOR HIGH ORCHESTRA!!!!!!!!!
All of the Maple Grove Junior High Music teachers share this philosophy
As music teachers, we devote ourselves to two important causes:
1. Helping all people to make music a part of their lives, and
2. Advancing the art of music.
We believe that all people have the right to an education I music that:
Teaches them the life long joy of making music through singing and playing
Gives them a chance to express through music what cannot be expressed in words
Helps them to respond to music intellectually and emotionally
Teaches them the language of music notation and opens the door to improvising, composing and arranging
Equips them to make informed judgments about musical works and performances
Educates them in the music of all cultures and historical eras
Allows them to discover and develop their special talents, including preparing to make music a profession if they so choose
Prepares them to be involved with music throughout their lives
We teach music because
Music makes a difference in peoples’ lives
The goals of the Maple Grove Junior High Orchestra program are
To Develop Performance Skills
To Increase Musical Knowledge
To Improve Musical Understanding
To Provide New Musical Experiences
To progress towards these goals, we depend on YOU!!
Each student in the MGJH orchestra ensembles has chosen to be here. In return for this opportunity, it is his/her responsibility to put forth 100% effort. Each musician has an important part to contribute to the overall success of the ensemble!
GRADING
Grades posted in a different manner this year, as our schools go to the School View program. The computer program allows parents to see their students progress throughout the trimester.
Grades will be based upon points earned in these areas:
Personal practice
Performance/playing tests
Written work
Participation in the rehearsal room
Personal Practice
Students are to keep track of their practice time on a regular basis. This should be done in their school planners and/or on their practice calendars stapled into their lesson or etude books. It will be checked on the first day of each week. To receive full credit for practice time, students should plan to practice 120 minutes a week. This time should not be in one or two chunks of time, but spread out in 20-45 minutes segments to make for a more consistent practice effort, and maintain growth in technical skills.
PERFORMANCE/PLAYING TESTS
Students will be playing short playing tests in class. These include scales, etudes, or short segments from the literature we are studying.
PERFORMANCE/CONCERTS
Concerts are the culmination of weeks of work and effort by all of the students in the ensemble. We rely on 100% participation at each and every concert to present our music to the audience.
The concert schedule is attached.
Please make note of each concert in your family calendar and plan accordingly. Students will also place each concert in their personal planners as well as reminders one and two weeks prior to each concert commitment.
Excused absences from concert commitments are only extended in the most extreme circumstances. Making up the work done at a concert is very difficult, as it is a performance experience that the student misses and make ups will only be allowed in the case of an excused absence. Make ups will consist of some sort of performance in class as soon as possible after the missed concert. This will give the student a performance opportunity by using the class as an audience.
Excused absences will be:
Family emergency call and notify the director as soon as possible
Illness call and notify the director as soon as possible
All other excuses must be cleared through the director one month prior to the performance and may or may not be excused based upon the reason. Make ups in this case must be completed prior to the concert.
CONCERT SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 15 Orchestra 7 and Concert Orchestra 7:30 PM
MGJH auditorium
December TBA Mall of America concerts
Thursday, Feb 21 ALL DISTRICT ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL
CONCERT ORCHESTRA ONLY
OJH Gym 7:30pm
Monday, March 5 7th grade orchestras, MGJH 7:00
Tuesday, March 11 Orchestra Recital 7:00
Place TBA
Thursday, May 15 Concert Orchestra, Orchestra 7 7:00
And Symphony Orchestra
Other performance opportunities arise during the year and will be announced to students individually or as a group.
Concert Attire (outfits acceptable for concerts)
7th Black slacks/pants White shirts with colars and sleeves
8th Black slacks/pants White shirts with colars and sleeves
9th Black slacks/pants Black shirts with colars and sleeves
Ties when appropriate for the shirt are expected (button down shirts). I allow interestingly printed ties (cartoon character)
All mall type concerts the dress changes to jeans and white, red, blue, green solid color shirts.
PERMISSION FOR 7TH GRADE ORCHESTRA PULL OUT FOR REHEARSALS
As our 7th grade orchestra meets in two sections, part on Day One, and part on Day Two of our school calendar, we need to have full rehearsals before each concert to put everything together. Attached is a permission slip that must be signed and returned as soon as possible to allow this to happen for your student.
Also attached
Student/parent info/contract sheet, turn in by Monday, Sept 11
Space concerns
Example of weekly practice worksheets, filled out every weekend to turn in at beginning of next week.
September 5, 2007
Dear Seventh Grade Orchestra Parents,
Maple Grove Junior High has two orchestra sections in the seventh grade. At concerts we will be performing together as one orchestra. To do this we will need to have some full rehearsals prior to each of our concerts.
Combined rehearsals take place during the school day and for only one class period. Teachers are notified well in advance of these days and plan accordingly, and the administration has approved of these days.
As with any other field trip, students who are failing a class will not be dismissed from that class to participate. The students other teachers will notify me in that event, and I will contact you.
These rehearsals are considered “in school field trips” and required parent permission for the students to participate. Please note the dates below, and sign and return the permission slip at the bottom. Thank you so much for you continued support and cooperation!
Sincerely,
Ms. Knapp
Orchestra Director
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Seventh grade Orchestra Full rehearsal dates (all are during 2nd period classes)
Monday, 10/29
Monday, 11/5
Thursday, 11/15
Friday, 2/15
Monday, 2/25
Monday, 3/3
Thursday, 5/1
Wednesday, 5/7
Thursday, 5/15
I am aware that my child will be attending full orchestra rehearsals at the times listed above. I understand that my child’s teacher will be notified of these rehearsals and that my child will be responsible for missed work from that class, just as with any other absence.
Student signature ______
Parent signature ______
Date ______