CLVPA Orchestra

2017-2018

Welcome to CLVPA Orchestra!

You are part of an exciting time at Carr Lane VPA Middle School! As participants in orchestra class, you are potential founding members of the Purple Pride Orchestra! This is a guide to orchestra class at Carr Lane. Outlined in this syllabus are my expectations for you as a musician and guidelines to help you best contribute to the well being of the group. Please read through it and make a special note of the instrument care and use expectations. Participation in orchestra class is a partnership between the student, parent and teacher. Keep this syllabus with you as a reference throughout the year. Please share this syllabus with your parents. After you have all read and discussed the information, please fill out the last page with one of your parents/guardian and turn it in to Mrs. Hopp by Friday, August 25, 2017. There is also a $10 participation fee due at this time as will discussed in this syllabus.

I am so excited to be your director! My philosophy is simple: Carr Lane Orchestra is a group endeavor that relies on every individual reaching their potential to be successful. With mutual respect and effort we are going to have an awesome year!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Hopp

Carr Lane VPA Orchestra Classes

Mary Hopp, Instructor

Available for Parent Conferences by Appointment: 8:14-9:18 am

To Make a Conference Appointment: email or 314-231-0413

Course Requirements:

For 6th grade students, no prior knowledge or experience playing a string orchestral instrument is required to participate in orchestra class. Successful completion of 6th grade orchestra, or permission from Mrs. Hopp, is required to enroll in 7th or 8th grade string class. Participation in the Purple Pride Orchestra will be at the invitation of the director.

Course Description:

Carr Lane VPA Orchestra string classes meet by grade level on a block schedule of 50 minute classes on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. The purpose of offering string classes is twofold:

1.  To offer the opportunity for you to learn how to play an instrument in the string orchestra family.

2.  To build a string orchestra at Carr Lane VPA (aka Purple Pride Orchestra) for the future.

Students will have the opportunity to play violin, viola, cello or bass. Student skill level may vary from beginner to veteran in each level class. To accommodate this wide range of ability, we will concentrate on instruction/review of basic individual string technique for the first semester. Students will also learn proper rehearsal etiquette. There may be an opportunity to regroup the students according to ability for second semester classes.

Purple Pride Orchestra (PPO)

Students who advance past the basic skill level on their instrument and demonstrate proper rehearsal etiquette and performance behavior, will have the opportunity to perform with the Purple Pride Orchestra. These students will rehearse a wide range of literature that is appropriate to the configuration of the ensemble and skill levels of the students. The Purple Pride Orchestra gives several concerts each school year. Students from the PPO may occasionally play for school or community events. We may purchase polo shirts for this group to wear for concerts. If your child is invited to play with the PPO, I will send a note home asking for your help purchasing your child’s shirt. I estimate this shirt will cost about $20.00 or less.

Required Course Materials:

1. Your specific instrument, bow and case. A school owned instrument will be checked out to you to use in the class if you do not have an instrument (See Use of School Owned Instrument and Contract). I would like to encourage you to explore rental/purchase of your own instrument (See Rental/Purchasing Your Own Instrument).

2. Shoulder rest (violin/viola) or rock stop (cello/bass). This will be provided for school owned instruments.

3. A pocket folder for your concert music

*Nice, but not necessary—1 ½ “ three ring binder with plastic sleeves to slide

music in and out of

4. Book--We will be using the Essential Elements series, which will be shared between students. You may purchase your own at Midwest Sheet Music if you would like. Contact them directly at www.midwestsheetmusic.com

5. Rosin—will be provided with school instruments

6. Rosin cloth—will be provided

7. Pencil (not pen)—an absolute necessity for marking music during rehearsal. I will have a supply of pencils for use in our room only. Pencil donations for use in class are appreciated!

**This year I am asking for a $10 participation fee from each student in orchestra class to help cover the cost of purchasing additional shoulder rests, rock stops, books and rosin for our growing program. This will help provide the additional materials needed to outfit all of the students in the orchestra classes. I am asking every orchestra student to contribute to this supply charge. This $10 is due by Friday, August 25th. Please contact me at if you are unable to pay this participation fee by the deadline of Friday, August 25th.

**Another Option: You are also welcome to purchase your child their own shoulder rest ($20-25), rosin & rock stops ($4), and book ($7). I will provide a locker in the classroom to lock these things up for their use only! If you purchase these materials for your child, they are yours and your child may take them home to use them with their instrument and keep at the end of their years of participation in orchestra at Carr Lane VPA. I will be putting in an order for these materials on Friday, August 25th. If you wish to purchase these materials for your child, please send a payment of ($31 violins & smaller violas), ($36 for 15 “ violas), or ($15 cello and bass) by the August 25th deadline. You do NOT pay the $10 participation fee if you choose this option.

Classroom/Rehearsal Set Up and Pack Up Procedure

Due to the large number of student interest in orchestra classes and the limited number of school owned instruments, you will most likely be sharing an instrument, accessory or book with a student in the class or the class after you. You will be shown how and where to store your instrument, book, and all accessories required to play your instrument in the rehearsal room. You will receive instruction on how to set up and pack up the things you need for instruction/rehearsal the first few days of class and be expected to perform this activity correctly every class thereafter. High importance will be placed on your ability to follow instructions to set up and pack up for rehearsal, as it will not only effect your grade and ability to participate in class, but will effect the students who use the same instrument and materials in the classes that follow. Students unable to demonstrate proper set up and pack up procedures may lose the privilege of using a school owned instruments and materials and be required to receive additional instruction with the teacher on these procedures during lunch recess.

Use of School Owned Instruments/Materials

The goal of any orchestra program is the desire to have all of the instruments of the string orchestra family represented in the performing ensemble. Having a balanced representation of violins, violas, celli and bass will give us the characteristic sound of an orchestra, which is a necessity for performing string ensemble literature and teaching the higher level concepts of balance, blend, intonation timbre, bowing technique, etc.

To help obtain this characteristic orchestra sound in the Purple Pride Orchestra (the ultimate goal for our future at Carr Lane), it may be necessary to promote some instruments over others. We are also limited to the number of school owned violins, violas, celli and bass we have to offer. I will do my best to put the instrument of your choice in your hands from our school instrument inventory. But, please keep an open mind to the possibility of playing an instrument in another section. We may need to move some of you around or ask you to switch instruments at a later date to fill out all of the sections in the Purple Pride Orchestra.

If you are playing on a school owned instrument, by accepting this instrument, you are agreeing to take care of it. You are expected to respect and care for any school owned property that is given to you to use. You and your parents will be asked to sign a School Instrument Contract. You will not be given an instrument to play in class until you and your parents have signed and returned this form.

Damage caused to school owned instruments and materials through negligence by the student may result in immediate loss of the use of that instrument. If the student loses the privilege of using their school owned instrument or materials, that student will be assigned to lunch detention with the orchestra teacher to receive additional instruction on the proper care and use of the instrument and materials until they are able to demonstrate competence on this procedure. Students who intentionally damage school owned instruments and materials will be immediately suspended from further use of school owned property and may be suspended from future participation in orchestra classes. Parents will be contacted to conference and provide restitution or replacement of the damaged property as stated on the School Instrument Contract.

Rental/Purchasing Your Own Instrument

Although using a school owned instrument is an option to all students at Carr Lane vPA, renting or purchasing your own instrument is encouraged. Please make sure you send in money for the optional choice mentioned above in the participation fee section so your child will have their own shoulder rest, rosin and book to bring home with their instrument to practice.

Renting an Instrument

St. Louis Strings is located off of Hampton in the “Dogtown” area of the city. They have several instrument rental programs available (rent to own, monthly payments, yearly rentals) that may fit your budget. If you would like to play on your own instrument (no sharing), but don’t want the financial commitment of purchasing an instrument at this time, I recommend you go on line at www.stlstrings.com or pay a visit to St. Louis Strings (6331 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63139 to inquire about renting. Rental pricing is listed on line. The quality of instruments and prices of the St. Louis Strings instrument rental and rent-to-own programs are among the best in the industry.

Buying an Instrument

If you have taken string class at Shaw Elementary or Carr Lane VPA before, studied privately on your instrument, measure for a full size instrument and are ready to commit to playing in the orchestra, I encourage you to purchase your own instrument. There are two ways of looking at purchasing an instrument:

1. Purchasing a beginner/rental quality instrument to use while you are in string class at Carr Lane and trading it in for a “step up” quality in the future. Most string shops will apply a portion of what you paid for the beginner/rental quality instrument towards a “step up” instrument in the future. This is a great way to be able to own and play on a good quality instrument now (without having to share) and use the value of that instrument towards a future “step up.” This is a great option for students who are not big enough to be playing on a full size instrument right now.

2. Purchasing a “step up” quality now. This instrument will take you into high school and, depending on the quality, even into college. Also, buying without a trade in will most likely get you the best price for a high quality instrument right now. If you are interested in purchasing a “step up” quality instrument now, ask me for a copy of the “Tips for Buying a Stringed Instrument” handout to help you as you shop for a new instrument. This hand out has a list of area string shops that you may visit to comparison shop and a guide of the qualities to look for in a stringed instrument. Before you make a purchase, I also encourage you to bring the instrument in to me for a “test drive.” I can help you decide if it is the very best quality for the price.

Although you are welcome to use a school owned instrument, I encourage you to check out your options to take steps to eventually own your instrument. Whether you rent to own, purchase to trade in later, or buy a “step up” instrument, you will be investing in your future as a string musician. Research shows that students who have invested in an instrument of their own are more likely to be invested in the care and use of that instrument and stay with it. Renting or owning your own instrument will also give you the opportunity to take your instrument home to practice. You will progress much faster on your instrument if you are able to play and practice outside of orchestra class. Students will not be allowed to take school instruments home.

I am very familiar with the staff and the quality of instruments at St. Louis Strings and recommend you go on line or into their shop to check out their instrument rental and purchase options. I trust them and have found the quality of their instruments to be high, but the prices to be very competitive. I also want to caution you about purchasing instruments on your own from on-line sources, yard sales, pawn shops, etc. There is a lot more to the set up and function of an orchestral stringed instrument than meets the eye. What may seem like a good deal may leave you with an instrument that needs additional work from a string shop to become playable. In the long run, that “great deal” you found at a pawn shop may cost you more (and be of lower quality) than what you will find at a store that specializes in stringed instruments.