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ORCHESTRA DISCLOSURE
Eileen Dempsey, Director
Group excellence, through individual integrity
MATERIALS NEEDED IN ORCHESTRA DAILY
Instrument and rosin
Shoulder pad (violin and viola)
Pencil
Music
MATERIALS FOR HOME PRACTICE
Folding stand
Metronome (available online and as an ap for your phone)
Rock stop (cello and bass)
School owned instruments (viola, cello, bass) may be rented for $95.00 per year. Students need to fill out a rental card, pay the
fee at the office, and turn in the receipt to Ms. Dempsey.
TEACHER EXPECTATIONS
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Students will be ready and willing to learn and work
Encourage and support each other.
Practice at home and make sure individual orchestra parts are learned.
Attend all rehearsals and concerts on time.
Do everything possible to pay attention and limit class disruptions.
Enable the class to move forward together as quickly as possible.
Follow school and district dress codes
The use phones, or electronic devices in class is strictly prohibited.
TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES As a student in my class you can expect me to respect you, to be honest with you, to
answer your questions and help you, and to show you that mistakes are OK, and are a part of learning. I will work hard to
provide positive musical and learning experiences for you, and to maintain a rehearsal environment in which you can
learn and feel safe. I will encourage you to try harder, work harder, listen intensely, and promote the highest performance
levels on an individual and orchestra level.
A FEW ITEMS UNIQUE TO ORCHESTRA
Placing the TIP of the finger on the string is critical for tone production as well as correct pitch. False nails, tips, or just long
fingernails impede correct playing techniques. Students who do not have short nails will lose 5 participation points per class
period.
CONCERTS, REHEARSALS, AND FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES will require the student to obtain transportation to and
from these events. If this is a problem, please notify Ms. Dempsey so that a ride can be arranged.
VERY OCCATIONALLY. .....I show a video of the Turtle Island String Quartet. I purchased this video from Public
Television.
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GRADING POLICY Orchestra students receive a "check-off chart" at the beginning of each term that will list skills that will
be learned and tested. A sample check off chart is provided in this packet. This list will also appear in the district grading
system.
TESTS
Assignments that fall under the "test “category are mainly skills tests. In order to pass off the skill, the student must get
100%. Students are given several chances to pass off the tests. The testing section together is usually 10% of the orchestra
grade. A test given an M (missing) score in the grading system, is a test that can be retaken.
TERM WORK
Assignments in the Term Work section include the term project, and the practice card, and are due one week before the
term ends. The TERM PROJECT 1" term is usually a composition by the student, played for the class. The following 3 terms
the student has a choice between another composition, tutoring an elementary student (teacher permission needed), or
attending a concert and completing a concert report. The term project is 10% of the orchestra grade. The PRACTICE CARD
grade is in two parts. The first part is to get a practice record, with any amount of practice time, signed by a parent, turned
in to me on, or before the due date. The due date will be listed on the district grading system, and will be on the student's
check off chart. The second part of the practice card is the amount of practice time, totaled, with parent signature, and
turned in to me. 20 hours practice time is full credit, and works out to be a half an hour every weeknight. Credit will be
given for hours practiced, 100% for 20 hours, 50% for 10 hours etc. Students MUST use a practice card provided, The
practice card is 10% of the orchestra grade.
PRACTICE RECORD
In order to comply with the new District Student Writing Goals, there will be a specific practice record to be filled out.
The new practice record will require the student to list items to practice, make goals for each, record the time spent
practicing each entry, then complete some written reflections on the back of the practice record. Thoughtful practice time
will greatly improve playing performance, as well as improve thinking and writing skills.
CONCERT AND DRESS REHEARSALS
Attendance on time is essential. Students must play every required concert, be properly dressed, and on time with their
instrument, music etc. Usually, a tardy to a dress rehearsal results in a half a grade loss. Students who are legitimately
excused from the concert by submitting a written parental excuse at least 24 hours prior to the concert will be able to
make up the concert with a compensatory project. I reserve the right to accept or reject excuses.
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Dress Rehearsal time is very precious. We start on time and need everyone there. We tune first, and this is
critical. For this reason, a tardy to a dress is a 50% loss on the dress rehearsal points.
Concert Dress for Northridge High Students – Girls must wear ALL BLACK. Dress pants are OK, jeans are
absolutely not.
Boys must wear black dress pants, and either a black, or white shirt. If possible, a black suit coat and tie as well.
Black shoes.
Students who are not dressed for the concert appropriately will lose 50% of the Concert grade: if extreme
(violating school dress codes for example) they will not be allowed to play the Concert.
Concert Dress for Sunset Jr. Concert orchestra is black and white.
Concert Dress for Sunset Jr. Intermediate orchestra is best dress.
The concert and dress rehearsal is 30% of the term grade.
CLASS PARTICIPATION:
Class participation is especially important in a performance class. Each class period is worth 20 points. Points will be
deducted for not having an instrument, (-10) no music or pencil, or tardy (-5). Points will also be taken for continual class
disruption. Students who accumulate 4 tardies will receive a U, as is the district policy.
NOTE Students who do not attend, with instrument, at least 65% of the orchestra classes before the concert, will not be
able to play the concert, and will need to do a compensatory project to make up the grade loss.
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TRUANCY:
Students who are truant will lose 4 honor slips, resulting in a U citizenship grade. (Citizenship section to follow) Students
will not be able to make up any tests given on the day of the truancy, will not be able to make up the missing class time,
and will not be able to attend any class trips taken during the school day for the term in which the truancy was issued.
GRADING PERAMETERS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
A 95-100
B- 75-79
D +62-64
A- 90-94
C + 71-74
D
B+ 85-89
C
D- 54-57
B
C- 65-67
80-84
68-70
F
58-61
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GUIDELINES FOR MAKE UP WORK
The assignments included in the TEST section may all be made up at any time. If the test is made up in a later term, I will go
back and change the grade to reflect the made up work.
The Term Project may not be made up.
Turning the Practice Card in on time may not be made up.
Practice hours may be made up, even in a later term and I will go back and change the grade to reflect the completed
practice time.
Concerts, dress rehearsals, or tardies to dress rehearsals may not be made up except in the circumstances listed above.
Class participation points may be made up by practicing an hour for every missed class. Tardies may be made up by
practicing 15 min. per tardy. A note signed by a parent/ guardian documenting the makeup practice time spent must be
handed in to Ms. Dempsey.
CITIZENSHIP POLICY
Every student begins with an S Earn 2 honor slips for a G. Earn 4 honor slips for an H Lose 1 honor slip for an N Lose 4
honor slips for a U.
HOW TO EARN HONOR SLIPS: Take private lessons Write the class schedule and concert dates in your day planner Help
Ms. Dempsey set up for, or clean up a concert. Attend a concert, write down 5 things you learned, hand it in. Tutor a
beginning string student Perform in public Attend parent/teacher conference Try out perform at, Solo and Ensemble
Festival Watch a concert on TV, write down 5 things you learned, hand it in. I'm open to other ideas you may suggest.
HOW TO LOSE HONOR SLIPS:
 Talk, or play during class instruction.
 Playing something else while the class is tuning.
 Leaving music, papers etc. out in the classroom.
 Behavior disruptive enough to send the student to In School Suspension will result in a loss of 4 Honor Slips
 Failure to be on the bus on time when participating in activities away the school will result in a loss of
4 honor slips.
 Inappropriate concert behavior, both in the audience and on stage.
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COMMUNICATION Please feel free to contact me for any questions or concerns you have. Keeping me informed of
your point of view, concerns, and frustrations, etc. helps us work as a team to give your student the best orchestra
experience possible. My email is [email protected] , this is the best way to reach me. Sunset Jr. Phone 4026792 Northridge High phone 402-8500
Thank you for reading this whole long thing! ( ed)
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