Boise High Symphonic and Sophomore Orchestra
Program Requirements
Classroom Policies
Attendance and promptness: District attendance and tardy policies will be strictly
enforced in this classroom. All students must be in the orchestra room when the bell
rings. Rehearsal begins two minutes after the bell. At that time, students must be
unpacked, organized, and ready to go.
Cell phone policy: Cell phones are NOT permitted during rehearsal. If I spot them, I will
confiscate them. Do not put them on your music stand, on top of your case, or in your lap.
I’m not as blind as you think I am. 
 First offense: You may get your phone back at lunch.
 Second offense: You may get your phone back on the next school day.
 Third offense: I will hold onto your phone until your parent has been notified, and we
come up with a plan to assist you with managing your phone.
I will give you express permission if you are allowed to use your phone in class. When in
doubt, assume you are NOT allowed to have it out.
Cell phone use is permitted without permission:
 In between 0 and 1st period. When the bell rings, put it away.
 During teacher designated break times. Cell phones must be put away as soon as
break is over. I will NOT give you a reminder to put them away.
Food and drink: I get it…life without coffee is no life at all. Water bottles and drinks
with lids or seals are permitted during class as long as they are not a distraction. If you
spill it, clean it up. Food and gum are not allowed. Food may be consumed between 0 and
1st period provided it is put away and cleaned up after before class starts.
Rehearsal Preparedness: It is your responsibility (not mine, not your stand partner’s,
not your parent’s, not Kayne West’s ) to be ready for rehearsal with all necessary
materials by two minutes after the bell rings. This requirement includes your instrument,
music, pencil, and all accessories. Assume you need all of your class materials everyday
unless I have specifically told you otherwise. This includes class periods directly
following concerts. Cellos and basses, it is your responsibility to return rock stops to the
purple bin at the conclusion of every rehearsal. Violinists and violists, you may NOT use
a district instrument without teacher permission. If you forget your instrument, you will
lose class participation points for the day and observe rehearsal.
Storage Room Use: All violinists and violists will be provided a storage locker and lock
for use during the school year. Since it is your responsibility to keep it clean throughout
the year, it’s probably not the best place to store your half open can of Red Bull. Also, get
this, you actually need to lock your locker every day. That’s what it’s there for…to lock
things. Cello players, please pack your instrument and bow completely every day. Do not
leave bows in shelving or on rack. Bass players, you do not need to put your instrument
in the case but please make sure it is securely placed on the bass rack with the bow
directly behind it.
Practice Room Use: We will use practice rooms often for sectionals and small
ensembles. All chairs and music stands must be returned to the orchestra room after use.
Cell phone and food and drink policies still apply in the practice room.
Music Library and Photocopier Use: Please do not use the photocopier or the music
library without teacher permission. Yes, I’m a control freak but saving trees and staying
organized are good things! Originals may not be removed from the orchestra room and
must be re-filed.
Bathroom Breaks: If you can’t hold it for 52 minutes, consider seeing a doctor.
Communication: Class and homework information will be available on my School web
page. Program information can also be found on the Boise High Orchestra website:
www.boisehighstrings.com In addition, I will use email and Remind101 for concert
reminders, gig requests, and schedule information. Please get in the habit of checking
your email regularly. Both students and parents are highly encouraged to sign up for the
Sophomore/Symphonic Orchestra Remind101 group:
 Enter the number 81010 and text @boiseorch
Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem and Announcements: All students will stand
and recite the pledge or listen to the National Anthem as required for all first period of
the day classes. Do not unpack or talk during the pledge or anthem. You may quietly
prepare for class as announcements continue but do not talk.
Concert Expectations
Concert attendance is mandatory. Each concert will include an official call time. Be on
time to these calls. All students are expected to stay for the entire concert and
demonstrate respectful and enthusiastic behavior while on stage and in the audience. Cell
phones are not permitted during performances. It is your responsibility to bring your
instrument, music, and concert folder to all performances.
Concert dress: Unless otherwise stated, (like, hey, let’s wear wacky 80s gear for the pops
concert), formal concert dress is required at all concerts. Strict adherence to this dress
code is required.
 Women: Long Black Dress (uniform dress purchased from Formal & Bridal Center,
6513 W Ustick Road, Boise), Black nylons and Black dress shoes. The Bridal Center
will come to our school to fit the ladies. The dress costs approximately $85.
Men: Black Tuxedo (purchased at Mr. Formal, 11521 W Fairview Avenue, Boise),
Black socks and Black dress shoes (preferably tux shoes). Gentlemen are required to
visit Mr. Formal on their own time for fitting and purchase.
Grading Criteria
Concert Attendance and Performance: 20%
Attendance at all concerts is mandatory. Performance is the culmination of months of
hard work, and we need everyone playing his/her best. Every effort is made by Boise
High to prevent conflicts between activities. If a conflict arises, communication must be
received in writing from a parent or guardian one week before the event. It will be at my
discretion and my discretion only whether or not the absence will be excused.
In the event of family emergency or extreme personal illness, please notify Miss Talley
immediately. Failure to do so will result in loss of credit for this performance.
In either case, students will be obligated to come in for three before/after school or
lunchtime sessions to assist Miss Talley with the orchestra library or other tasks that
benefit our program. Failure to provide this make-up work will result in loss of credit for
this performance.
Unexcused absences where Miss Talley was not notified will be an automatic 0.
Other deductions for Concert Attendance and Performance:
- Tardiness to call time
- Inappropriate concert attire (Details count!)
- Inappropriate audience behavior (this includes cell phone use)
- Lack of effort in performance
Class participation: 20%
Since this is a performance based course, a high level of class participation from every
individual is expected in order for us to play at the highest possible level. It is soooooo
easy to get these points. Let me show you how easy:
 Be on time!
 Bring the stuff you need! This includes instrument, (yes, really, you need an
instrument in an orchestra class), music, (you’d be amazed at how much easier it is to
play the piece with music in front of you), and any accessories, (rosin, shoulder rests,
rock stops, stuff that make your instruments actually playable).
 Don’t bring the stuff you don’t need! This includes food, gum, homework for other
classes, (I highly doubt you bust out your scales and arpeggios in the middle of
calculus so don’t study your formulas during rehearsal), cell phones, or drama.
 Be prepared for rehearsal and give your best effort every day.
 Points will be deducted for forgetting classroom materials, (instrument, music,
pencil), tardiness, rude or off task behavior, inappropriate cell phone use, misuse of
storage room, practice rooms, photocopier, or music library.
Playing Tests: 20%
Practice records are not required at the high school level. Instead, this course will use
playing tests to measure that each student is performing to the best of his/her ability and
contributing well to the ensemble. Playing tests may be recorded or performed for the
instructor or the entire class.
Written work: 10%
This includes theory and history assignments and post-concert evaluations.
Small Ensembles: 10%
Students will practice and perform in small ensembles throughout the semester. The
individual effort of each student and the quality of performance will be evaluated.
Concerts in the Community: 10%
In addition to attending all Boise High Orchestra concerts, students must attend one
additional concert each semester in which they are not performing. After the concert,
complete the “Concert in the Community” handout, attach a program with a parent
signature, and place in the file in the classroom. This may be done at any time during the
semester. First semester programs must be received before December 11. Second
semester programs must be received before May 13. Possible concerts to attend may
include Boise High Choir or Band concerts, university or professional level orchestral or
chamber music concerts.
EOC: 10%
Extra Credit: Since this is an “easy A” course, there are no extra credit opportunities
offered. Commit yourself to daily effort in rehearsal and enthusiasm in performance and
get the grade you deserve.