Orchestra Syllabus – Fall 2005

Mr. Doemel

Course Description: This course is designed to develop musical understanding and appreciation through ensemble participation and individual skill development on an instrument in the String Instrument Family (violin, viola, cello and double bass). The class will rehearse daily during school hours. The class will perform publicly several times during the school year.

Objectives: The purpose of the orchestra program is to introduce students to orchestral music and to develop skills on an instrument in the String Instrument Family. Strong emphasis is put on developing music reading skills and musicianship skills. Areas covered in all three grades at differing levels will include, but are not limited to:

  • Correct position, hold and posture of instrument and bow.
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  • Musical notation and vocabulary.

  • Technical skills
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  • Tone production.

  • Ear training as it applies to tuning and playing the instrument.
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  • Theory (scales, keys, musical form, etc.).

  • String Instrument performance practices and styles.
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  • Orchestral Literature.

  • History of the orchestra and string instrument family.
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  • Ensemble Participation

Material: An instrumentand bow in good working condition. The books used are: Sixth Grade - Essential Elements 2000 for Strings, Book 1; Seventh Grade - Essential Elements 2000 for Strings, Book 2; Eighth Grade - Essential Technique for Strings. Other recommended materials are an electronic tuner and metronome.

Grading: The student's grade will be based on these components:

Playing tests / 40%
Individual Practice / 10%
Daily Preparation and Participation / 50%
Total / 100%
  • Once a student has been introduced to a specific skill, individual practice at home is required and expected in order to master the skill. Students will receive 100% of the "Individual Practice" portion of the final grade by recording 120 minutes of practice time per week.
  • Practice records, recording the student's individual practice time and signed by a parent or guardian are to be turned in at the middle and end of each grading period. Blank practice records are available in the orchestra room.
  • Daily Preparation and Participation is determined by the student's ability to have assignments prepared, to have all necessary materials and to take part in all in-class activities.

Conduct: The conduct of an orchestra student affects not only himself, but also the other orchestra students. Each student is required to; display common courtesies and appropriate conduct, respect fellow orchestra members and their equipment, follow school rules as outlined in the school handbook.

All disciplinary action taken for inappropriate behavior will follow this procedure:

1. The student will receive a verbal warning in class concerning expected behavior.

2. If the behavior persists, the student and I will conference to discuss his or her behavior in order to develop a plan for improvement.

3. If our plan does not effectively change the behavior, the student will be given a “We’re Concerned” form to be signed and returned by the parents or guardians.

4. If the problem persists, parent conference and administrative referral will follow

All students will start with a conduct grade of “S” every grading period. After 5 incidents of inappropriate behavior the grade will be lowered to an ‘N’, after 10 incidents of inappropriate behavior the grade will be lowered to a ‘U’. Students will have the opportunity to earn back deductions from their conduct grade through sustained displays of appropriate conduct.

IMPORTANT! Conduct for a substitute should be exemplary. A substitute is a special guest in our room and will be treated as such. Misconduct for a substitute is considered serious misbehavior.

This syllabus is subject to change.