handbook for students and parents 2018-2019...auditorium 7pm brms winter concert 12 w auditorium...

Discipline | Musicianship | Leadership

“Through discipline, better musicians. Through music, better people.”

HANDBOOK FOR STUDENTS

AND PARENTS

2018-2019

Mr. Will Whitehead, Director of Orchestras

Orchestra Room 419, Phone Ext. 2061

Office 419B, Phone Ext. 2062

[email protected]

www.brhsorch.org

BRADEN RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

6545 State Road 70 East

Bradenton, FL 34203

(941)751-8230 Fax (941) 751-8250

Sharon Scarbrough, Principal

To all Orchestra Parents and Students,

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year with the Braden River High School Orchestras! You have made a wonderful choice to be a part of this program, as we have a big year ahead of us and a lot to be very excited about. I came to music late in life – I was 12 when I first began study of piano, and I didn’t begin study of viola until I was 14 years old. I now hold degrees in Instrumental Music Education and Viola Performance from the Florida State University. Prior to my appointment at BRHS, I maintained a private teaching studio, coached youth chamber ensembles, and performed with orchestras such as the Northwest Florida Symphony, the Tallahassee Symphony, and the Venice Symphony Orchestra. I have conducted youth, college, and summer camp orchestras, and performed and co-presented at state and national conferences and masterclasses as a violist and educator. High school orchestra is what gave me my beginnings as an orchestral musician and set me on my career path. It is my hope that even if you don’t leave this program going into a music major, that you have left as a better musician, a better player of your instrument, and a better person and lover of the arts. Most importantly, I hope you leave having had fun. Come to us with an open mind and open ears, and I promise you will find that you have a family of millions of string players and music lovers beyond BRHS that you are now a part of.

Welcome.

And Go Pirates!

Will Whitehead Director of Orchestras, Braden River High School

Mission Statement

The Mission of Braden River High School is to empower students to be strong responsible leaders who value personal integrity, academic excellence, and civic

involvement.

Table of Contents

Calendar of Events 1

Course Descriptions 4

Class Materials 6

Communications 6

Orchestra Fees 7

Conduct and Consequences 8

Instrument Loan and Lockers 9

Scale Checkpoints 10

Grade Calculation 11

Semester Exam Grades 12

Policies Regarding Concerts 13

[1]

BRHS Orchestra 2018-2019 Calendar

August 2018

15 W Orchestra Room 6pm Rental Night w/ Violin Shop Sarasota

28 T Orchestra Room 3-4:30 pm Concert Orch. Rehearsal

29 W Auditorium 3-4:30 pm Chamber Orch. Rehearsal

September 2018

3 M -- -- NO SCHOOL (LABOR DAY)




12 W Braden River HS 4-7 pm All-State Auditions (No Rehearsal)





28 F Neel PAC TBD All-County Orchestra Rehearsal

29 Sa Neel PAC TBD All-County Orchestra Rehearsal

Neel PAC TBD All-County Orchestra Concert

October 2018





12 F -- -- END OF QUARTER 1







November 2018





19-23 M-F -- -- NO SCHOOL (THANKSGIVING BREAK)

29 R -- Deadline to submit absence requests for Winter Concert

[2]

December 2018



Auditorium 7pm BRMS Winter Concert

12 W Auditorium 3-4:30 pm Dress Rehearsal (ALL ATTEND)

13 R Auditorium 7 pm Winter Concert (Prelude in Audience)

14 F Orchestra Room Class Time Fall Semester Juries

17 M Orchestra Room Class Time Fall Semester Juries cont.

18-21 T-F -- -- Midterm Exams

21 F -- -- END FALL SEMESTER

January 2019

9-12 W-Sa Tampa Convention Center All-State Conference (No Rehearsal)





26 Sa Braden River HS 8 am-5 pm District Solo and Ensemble MPA



February 2019


Auditorium 7pm Pre-MPA Concert w/ BRMS (Symphony)




19-21 T-R North Port HS TBD District Concert MPA (Symphony)



March 2019







25-29 M-F -- -- SPRING BREAK

[3]

April 2019



6 Sa Strawberry Crest HS 7am-5pm State Solo and Ensemble MPA


Auditorium 7pm BRMS Spring Concert




22-25 M-R Blake Perf. Arts HS TBD State Concert MPA (Rehearsals Pending)

25 R -- Deadline to submit absence requests for Spring Concert


May 2019

1 W Orchestra Room 3-4:30 pm Chamber Orch. Rehearsal

8 W Auditorium 3-4:30 pm Dress Rehearsal (ALL ATTEND)

9 R Auditorium 7pm Spring Concert (ALL CLASSES)

18 Sa Bradenton Con. Center TBD Graduation

June 2019

June 23rd – July 6th Florida State University String Orchestra Camp (Tallahassee, FL)

NOTE: This calendar is subject to change at the discretion of the Director.

[4]

Course Descriptions

COURSE TITLE: Prelude Strings (9-12)

COURSE ID#: #1302360B (ORCH 1), #1302370B (ORCH 2), #1302380B (ORCH 3),

#1302390B (ORCH 4)

TIME: 1st Period 7:30-8:30 AM (Monday 7:30-8:19 AM)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Intended for students with little to no playing experience, this class explores fundamental

posture and left hand technique, 1st and 3rd position for upper strings and 1st through 5th position

for lower strings via 1-octave and 2-octave scales, essential bowing technique, including proper

tone production and strokes such as legato, martele, and portato, and establishment of consistent

practice habits and leadership skills. Students will explore keys up to 3 sharps and 2 flats, and

both simple and compound meters. This class focuses on the basics of reading music, including

note identification, key signatures, and fundamentals of rhythm.

COURSE TITLE: Treble Strings (9-12, Director Approval)

COURSE ID#: #1302360I (ORCH 1), #1302370I (ORCH 2), #1302380I (ORCH 3), #1302390I

(ORCH 4)

TIME: 2nd Period 8:35-10:16 AM (Monday 8:24-9:12 AM)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Intended for violinists and violists with at least 3 years of playing experience, this class

focuses on developing fluency in 1st-4th position primarily via 1 and 2 octave scales and

pattern/position studies, refinement of bow technique, and other technique that is idiomatic to the

violin and viola. Students will explore all 12 major scales, advanced rhythm (dots, syncopation,

triplets, sixteenths, and combinations thereof), and various types of meter. Students will explore

aural skills and refinement of fundamental musical literacy, including intervals, scale

construction, and chord spelling. This class is half of the BRHS Concert Orchestra, which

rehearses Tuesdays after school with the Bass Strings class from 3:00-4:30 pm in the Orchestra

Room.

COURSE TITLE: Bass Strings (9-12, Director Approval)

COURSE ID#: #1302360I (ORCH 1), #1302370I (ORCH 2), #1302380I (ORCH 3), #1302390I

(ORCH 4)

TIME: 6th Period 12:42-2:25 PM (Monday 12:44-1:32 PM)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Intended for cellists and bassists with at least 3 years of playing experience, this class

focuses on developing fluency in 1st-5th position and thumb position primarily via 1 and 2 octave

scales and pattern/position studies, refinement of bow technique, and other technique that is

idiomatic to the cello and bass. Students will explore all 12 major scales, advanced rhythm (dots,

[5]

syncopation, triplets, sixteenths, and combinations thereof), and various types of meter. Students

will explore aural skills and refinement of fundamental musical literacy, including intervals,

scale construction, and chord spelling. This class is half of the BRHS Concert Orchestra, which

rehearses Tuesdays after school with the Treble Strings class from 3:00-4:30 pm in the Orchestra

Room.

COURSE TITLE: Chamber Strings (10-12, Invitation Only)

COURSE ID#: #1302360A (ORCH 1), #1302370A (ORCH 2), #1302380A (ORCH 3),

#1302390A (ORCH 4)

TIME: 4th Period 10:51-12:37 PM (Monday 10:45-11:46 AM)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Intended for students with at least 4-5 years of playing experience, this class focuses on

developing fluency in positions up to 7th position via 2-octave and 3-octave major and melodic

minor scales and position studies, and the reinforcement and refinement of high level bow

technique. Students will gain knowledge of functional harmony in the context of tonal music,

with a strong focus on reading at sight. This ensemble is half of the BRHS Chamber Orchestra,

which rehearses Wednesdays after school with the Symphony Strings class from 3:00-4:30 pm in

the Auditorium.

COURSE TITLE: Symphony Strings (10-12, Invitation Only)

COURSE ID#: #1302370L (ORCH 2), #1302380L (ORCH 3), #1302390L (ORCH 4)

TIME: 5th Period 10:51-12:37 PM (Monday 11:51-12:39 PM)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Intended for students with 6+ years of playing experience, this class focuses on

reinforcement and refinement of high level string technique, sightreading skills, and exposure to

string orchestra literature of a high artistic caliber. Students will study up to 7th position and

beyond via the use of 3-octave major and melodic minor scales, utilize a variety of bow strokes

to explore various styles of playing, and explore personal musicianship to develop a sense of

musicality in preparation for playing beyond high school. This string class combines with

members of the Wind Ensemble to form the River Symphony Orchestra, as well as rehearses

with the Chamber Strings every Wednesday from 3:00-4:30 pm in the Auditorium to form the

BRHS Chamber Orchestra.

[6]

Class Materials

• BRHS Orchestras supply the following:

o Etudes and method books

o Sheet music for performance/sightreading

o Practice copies of music.

• STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING THE FOLLOWING: o A black 3-ring “view binder” with sheet protectors for practice copies and

handouts. o Manuscript paper. (Hal Leonard Green Cover paper available on Amazon or may

be printed out as needed via blanksheetmusic.net) o A chromatic tuner and metronome for personal use (“InsTuner” and “Metronome:

Tempo Lite” are both free and available on Android and iOS)

Communications

Schoology

Schoology is our main hub for sending announcements, completing assignments, and

distributing resources. All scale tests are to be recorded and submitted via Schoology. Students

should expect to submit one recording per week at least.

Remind 101

Remind 101 is the best way to get a hold of me quickly. It is also the primary way I will

send out reminders and communicate with students individually about class matters.

EVERYONE must sign up for the appropriate Remind 101 group. This is a “Class” grade.

CLASS PERIOD CODE (text to 81010)

Period 1 @brhsorch1

Period 2 @brhsorch2

Period 4 @brhsorch4

Period 5 @brhsorch5

Period 6 @brhsorch6

E-mail

“State of the Orchestra Address” is a regular e-mail I send throughout the year to all parents and

students informing them of upcoming events, important dates, and other pertinent information.

Please ensure that your e-mail is up to date with the school district.

[7]

Orchestra Fees

“Fair Share” Fee

For the 2018-2019 school year, in order to provide the best possible string music education to

our students, there is a “Fair Share” fee of $30.00 this year. This covers the following expenses:

• Cost of Orchestra T-shirts

• FMEA/FOA Professional Membership Fees (necessary for participation in District

Concert and Solo and Ensemble MPA)

• Sectional Coaches

Students may either pay this fee outright or fundraise to cover this fee. Students who fail to pay

this fee will have a hold placed on their account – this is no different than a library fee.

All-State Audition Registration Fees

Students who wish to audition for the Florida All-State 9-10 Concert Orchestra or 11-12

Symphonic Orchestra will be asked to pay for their own registration fees. The fee is $30.00, as

determined by the FOA Executive Board.

Up to 4 students may be approached in the first few weeks of the school year about being

nominated for the Florida All-State High School Honors Orchestra. If selected, the registration

fees will be covered by the BRHS Orchestra.

District and State Solo and Ensemble Fees

BRHS Orchestras will pay for registration of students wishing to participate in District

and State Solo and Ensemble. Students requiring an accompanist, however, will be expected to

pay the accompanist for their time – this rate is variable depending on the accompanist hired.

Students are welcome to use their own accompanist or use the accompanist recommended by the

director.

Students who achieve a Superior or Superior with Distinction at the district level are

invited to participate at State Solo & Ensemble. Once again, students will be expected to pay

their accompanist.

[8]

Conduct and Consequences

Practicing

Deliberate, focused practicing is a minimum requirement of being in a music class.

Therefore, you must arrange to have a quiet space in your home or elsewhere, wherein you can

practice your instrument without interruption. The proper amount of practice is however much

practice it takes for you to accomplish your goals, keep up with the standards of your class, and

be prepared for rehearsal.

Class Time Procedures

1. When you arrive, quickly sit down, unpack your instrument, and begin individually

tuning using your chromatic tuner. Check the board for what materials you need to have

on your stand, and prepare those materials.

2. Fundamentals Time – We will tune as an ensemble, and then begin our warm-up/teach

new technique. To model good practice routine, we will follow this order:

a. Right Hand (long/short strokes, articulations, weight/speed/contact, rhythm, etc.)

b. Left Hand Technique (articulation, vibrato, shifting, patterns, rhythm, etc.)

c. Musicianship (intonation, tone production, velocity, rhythm, scales, etc.)

3. Rehearsal/Sectionals/Assigned Supervised Practice – You will either be given a sectional

assignment for break out sessions, we will rehearse as a group selections from the

repertoire, or you will be allotted time to practice an assigned portion from either our

etudes or music.

4. Pack up your materials and wait by the doors for the bell.

Orchestra Room Rules

1. Respect the learning process – speak or play your instrument only when you’ve been

instructed to do so. Support and encourage the development of yourself and your peers.

Participate in all aspects of each lesson.

2. Respect the rehearsal process – be on time for class and early for all rehearsals and

performances.

3. Respect the rehearsal space – bring only what you need (instrument, binder, pencil,

tuner/metronome) and not what you don’t need (food, sugary drinks, work from other

classes, etc.).

4. Respect the equipment – care for your instrument, leave things behind in better condition

than you first obtained them.

Consequences

• 1st offense – Verbal/visual warning.

• 2nd offense – Teacher-assigned detention, phone home.

• 3rd offense – Referral to Student Services, loss of playing privilege/removal from room.

• Extreme offenses – Immediate removal from room, referral to Student Services.

[9]

Instrument Loan and Lockers

All BRHS Orchestra students are expected to acquire an instrument for personal use.

Instruments may be obtained from a variety of shops around the Sarasota-Manatee and Tampa

Bay area, including:

• Violin Shop Sarasota, (941) 217-4977

1407 1st St, Sarasota, FL 34236

Hours: Tues-Sat, 10 am to 5 pm

• Violin Shop Tampa, (813) 288-8215

4009 Henderson Blvd, Tampa, FL 33629

Hours: Tues-Fri, 10 am to 7 pm; Sat, 10 am to 5 pm

• Ronald Sachs Violins, (727) 914-8212

4155 5th Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33713

Hours: By Appointment Only

• Sam Ash Music, (941) 351-7793

7606 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34243

Hours: Mon-Fri, 11 am to 8 pm; Sat, 10 am to 7 pm; Sun, 12 pm to 6 pm

• Keyboards & More, (941) 746-1414

3611 1st St #520, Bradenton, FL 34208

Hours: Mon-Fri, 10 am to 7 pm; Sat, 10 am to 4 pm

• Shar Music, (800) 248-7427

Online Distributor: http://www.sharmusic.com

Phone Hours: Mon-Fri, 10 am to 6 pm

Lockers

Lockers will be checked out on a first-come/first-serve basis. Students must provide their

own pad lock, with their combination recorded by the Director. NO KEYED LOCKS.

Violinists/Violists

Violinists/violists are expected to transport their own instrument to and from school.

Instruments are permitted on the buses – any bus driver that does not permit an instrument

should have their bus number reported to the Director. Violins and violas will be loaned out by

BRHS Orchestras to students who do not currently own their own instrument on a first-

come/first-serve basis for $60.00 for the year. Scholarships are available to qualifying students.

Cellists/Bassists

Instruments will be maintained for in-class use by cellists and bassists. For students who

do not have an instrument at home, a limited number of instruments will be loaned out

depending on the number of cellos and basses that must be available for class use. Instruments

will be loaned out on a first-come/first-serve basis depending on inventory, but this is not strictly

necessary for cellists/bassists. Scholarships are available to qualifying students.

http://www.sharmusic.com/

[10]

Scale Curriculum 18-19

• Scales and arpeggios should be performed at Quarter Note = 70, using detaché strokes,

unless otherwise noted in the assignment.

• Treble/Bass Strings will be expected to be at least developing or proficient in all 12 major

scales, at least 1 octave, before the end of the Fall Semester. This is in preparation for

discussion of relative minor modes.

• Chamber Strings is expected to maintain 2-octave scales minimum.

• Symphony is expected to maintain 3-octave scales minimum, except bass players.

• Chamber and Symphony Strings will study both major and relative melodic minor modes

of the given tonic pitch.

SCALES Prelude Treble/Bass Concert Symphony

Q1 D, G D, G, C,

F, B♭, E♭,

D, G, C D, G, C

Q2 C, F

A, E, B,

A♭, D♭/C♯,

F♯/G♭

F, B♭, A F, B♭, A

Q3 B♭, E♭

Intro to Relative

Minor Scales E♭, E, B E♭, E, B

Q4 Review Relative Minor

Continued

A♭, D♭/C♯, F♯/G♭ A♭, D♭/C♯, F♯/G♭

[11]

Grade Calculation

CLASS

Assessment of the student’s acquisition and proper application of technique

during class time. Full credit is earned by:

1. Demonstrating proper fundamental technique (bow hold, posture, left

hand position).

2. Correcting poor technique, and maintaining good technique once

corrected.

3. Applying all technical exercises and etudes to create consistent technical

growth during the period.

4. Having a pencil at their stand (pencil check!)

4 points per day are possible. Excused absences will result in excluded grades.

45%

PERFORMANCE

Assessment of both written and musical performance, attendance and

participation at dress rehearsals and concerts, and performance of in-class

juries.

Students may exempt from each week’s recorded scale assignment by attending

an after-school rehearsal that week instead.

• Written Theory/Recorded Scale Assignments

✓ On-time, with clear proficiency……10 points

✓ On-time, but incomplete/poorly executed……5 points

✓ Late……0 points

• Dress Rehearsals (25 points/rehearsal)

✓ Student is Present……25 points

✓ Student is Absent, Excused……Excluded

• Jury Grade (50 points/performance)

✓ Student has Performed Their Jury……50 points

• Concert Grade (100 points/concert)

✓ Student is Present, in uniform……100 Points*

✓ Student is Absent, Excused……100 points w/ Make-Up

✓ Student is Absent, Unexcused……70 points w/ Make-Up**

Make-Up: Be prepared to perform, as a solo for the class, your parts for at

least 3 music selections from the missed performance at the Director’s

discretion. This should be done at the next class meeting.

*The Director reserves the right have an in-class playing test on the appropriate

literature.

**Per BRHS Fine Arts Dept. Policy, only 70% credit is possible if unexcused.

55%

[12]

Semester Exam Grades

Midterm and Final Exam – Semester Growth Plan and Theory Exam

Following a baseline performance exam in the first 9-week quarter of the year, each

student will be given a score in the following areas:

• Intonation – How well in tune you play; overall note accuracy.

• Rhythm – How well you keep in time, and play with accurate rhythms.

• Tone – The quality of sound you produce.

• Technique – Your ability to play with proper technique, free of tension.

• Musicality – Your musical interpretation and ability shape a phrase.

• Bowing – Your attacks, releases, articulations, and bow direction.

You will then identify 2 areas you wish to improve over the course of each semester, and will be

given an improvement goal for each area. Your progress will be tracked using the below jury

assignments, and during the exam period, following a written theory exam (20% of Exam

Grade), you will meet with me to discuss your overall improvement in the chosen areas (80% of

Exam Grade). A final overall evaluation will be decided upon between you and the Director.

Jury Assignments

Fall

ETUDE JURY

Perform for the class an assigned etude for your instrument from our class books.

Spring

CHAMBER JURY

Perform for the class an assigned piece for chamber ensemble.

[13]

Policies Regarding Concerts

Absences from Concerts

All requests for excused absences from required, scheduled performances should be

submitted via form on www.brhsorch.org or e-mail to [email protected] at

least 2 weeks prior. E-mail should include:

1. The name of the student who will be absent, and for what performance.

2. The reason the student will be absent, with contact info for further inquiry.

Requests submitted with less than 2 weeks notice will be denied and any absence

thereafter will be unexcused. This is because it is detrimental to the ensemble sound and an act of

disrespect to your orchestral team to drop out so close to a performance and be forced to adapt to

the missing voice so quickly. You are expected to follow through on your obligations.

• Examples of EXCUSED absences

o A district, state, regional, national, or international competition, the scheduling of

which is inflexible and out of your control. Please provide contact info for the

coordinator of the competition.

o Family obligations, such as weddings, funerals, etc.

o Emergencies or other such extenuating circumstances that would prevent

you from participating and are out of your control.

• Examples of UNEXCUSED absences

o “I got scheduled for work.”

o Needed to study for a test/catch up on homework/catch up on sleep.

o Don’t want to perform.

o Any absence that was not requested ahead of time, save for emergencies.

Concert Uniform Requirements

MALE: Black formal button down collared shirt with full length sleeves, tucked in; black slacks

with belt; black socks and black closed toed dress shoes.

FEMALE: Black formal button down collared shirt or blouse with 3/4 to full length sleeves;

black dress pants; closed toed black dress shoes or flats (heels no more than 1 inch for sake of

playing posture).

Removal from the Concert

Students who arrive not in proper uniform may not be permitted to perform if the uniform

violation is particularly egregious (ex. Arriving with white sneakers on). Students will then be

required to complete the Make-Up assignment at 70% credit. Minor violations may result in a

docked performance grade.

http://www.brhsorch.org/

mailto:[email protected]

[14]

UNIFORM TOPS

• Both are formal, black button down. Non-button down formal black blouses are also

acceptable for women. Notice the ¾ length sleeve on the female shirt – this is

acceptable. No shorter than ¾ length.

UNIFORM BOTTOMS

• Both are very similar. Notice that the gentleman is wearing a belt. Male shirts must

be tucked in. Females may either wear tucked in or untucked.

UNIFORM SHOES

Absolutely NO HEELS. The heel of the shoe should be no taller than 1-inch.

handbook for students and parents 2018-2019...auditorium 7pm brms winter concert 12 w auditorium...

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