Mrs. Jackson, Director 815-462-2301 [email protected]Office Hours: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION Purpose: To promote the awareness and appreciation of orchestral music through study, performance, and self-enriching activities.
Philosophy: We should work together as a community of musicians to represent ourselves with pride as we create meaningful artistic experiences for ourselves and our audience.
Necessary Materials: • Instrument: in good working order that is easily tuned and maintained. Students wishing to rent an instrument may do so for $75/semester. Checks should be made payable to LWHS. •Rosin: have your own. • Metronome/Tuner: required for assessments, daily tuning, and personal practice. Tuner/metronome combinations can be purchased through the school for a nominal fee. • Pencil: required for class—please have pencils sharpened and ready to use both in your case and in your music folio at all times. • Notebook paper: for notes, journal entries, quick essays, etc. Please have a notepad ready at your seat at all times.
Grading: • Performances: 60% of quarter grade. “Performance” is defined as any event in which the director has required your attendance. Orchestra is a co-curricular class, and you will be obligated to attend functions after school and on weekends. You will be given ample notice for such events—a list of known required attendance events is located on the back page of this handout. • Classroom Participation: 20% of quarter grade. “Classroom Participation” is defined as any outward effort or lack thereof contained within the daily class period. Being in your assigned seat immediately following the bell, instrument out, music ready, and fully participating in class rehearsal and teacher-guided discussion is considered proper classroom participation. Defiance of any regulations from the Parent-Student Handbook or any acts that negate from the experience of others in the classroom will result in the loss of participation for that day. • Assessments/Written Assignments: 20% of quarter grade. “Assessments” are playing exams administered by the director over selected repertoire from the current concert cycle. Scales are included. Students must perform assessments when assigned—no make-ups for ill- prepared assessments.
For A+ (3% of grade) students must participate in the following activities in the grading periods they are offered: •Be selected for IMEA District I Orchestra (1st quarter) • Attend two LWC concerts, complete with written review (any quarter) • Be selected to IMEA All-State Orchestra (2nd quarter) • Two-page interview of a local musician of the classical genre (any quarter) • 16-measure chorale for orchestral warm-up (any quarter) • PowerPoint or Keynote presentation presenting a major orchestral work, composer, or technique (3-5 minute presentation) • Journal (at least five pages) of private lessons over the course of the quarter (minimum of four lessons per quarter—teacher must sign off on attendance).
Night Rehearsals: On select Monday evenings prior to concerts. Rehearsals will be held from 7:00PM-8:30PM at either Central or West.
Attendance is mandatory; please see Mrs. Jackson immediately if you have a conflict on Monday
Concert Attire: Concert Black
Concert Attendance: Students should attend the remainder of the concert in which they participate—it is courteous at the very least. Your concert decorum speaks volumes of you as a person—please be respectful and attentive. Anyone disrespecting the efforts of others will be given a discipline referral—no exceptions.