OrchestraHandbook

FarmingtonHSOrchestras/PowerMiddleSchool8thGradeOrchestra

Mr.Nix
SchoolYear:201617

Welcome

Welcometoyourneworchestraclass!Ihopeyouarerefreshedfromyoursummerbreak,andthatyouareready
tolearnandmakesomegreatmusicthisschoolyear.

Thishandbookprovidesextrainformation/expectationsaboutOrchestraclass.Theotherhandbookyouhave
received(InstrumentalMusicHandbookfromallinstrumentalteachers)alsoapplies.

Teaching/LearningPhilosophy

Oneofourgoals/aimsisthatwebecomelifelongmusicianswhoarefluentinmanymusicmakingsituations.
Anothergoal/aimofoursisthatwegrowmusicallyandtechnicallythroughouttheschoolyearonour
instruments.

Thismeansthatwewillexplorevariousstylesofmusic(classical,pop,folk,jazz,etc.);exploredifferentwaysof
learningmusic(withsheetmusic,byear,usingelectronicmedia,etc.);and,differentwaysofperformingmusic
(inalargeensemble,inchambergroups,etc.).

BehaviorExpectations

Tohaveasuccessfullearningexperience,wewillallneedtoabidebysomebehaviorguidelines:

1.
2.
3.

4.
5.
6.
7.

8.

Treatyourcolleagues,belongings,andfacilitieswithrespectandcare.
Cometoclasspreparedtolearn:instrument,pencil,music,rosin,shoulderrest,rockstop,andanyothermaterialsthat
youwillneed.
Beontime.Whenyouentertheclassroom,youshouldimmediatelyprepareforclasstostart.Setdownyourbelongings,
getyourinstrument,andbegintuningandwarmingup.Greetingyourfellowclassmatesisgreat,butkeepitshortand
sweet.
Restrooms:generally,passingtimeshouldbeusedforrestroomneeds.Ifthereisanemergencyneedtousetherestroom,
quicklyandquietlyapproachMr.Nixwithyouragendabookforahallpass.
ChamberMusic/Sectionals:sometimes,wewillsplitoffintosmallgroupsforclass,andusetheFineArtsWingfacilities
andpracticerooms.Yourbehaviorintheseroomsshouldbenodifferentthaninthelargeclassroom.
Questions:welovemusicrelatedquestionsinorchestraclass!Ifyouhaveone,youmayquietlyasksomeonenearyouif
theyhavetheanswer.YoucanalsoraiseyourhandforMr.Nixtoaddressyourquestion.
Wewilltreateveryoneintheclassroomwithdignityandcare.Werecognizethatthataremanydifferentvariantsofrace,
ethnicity,sexuality,genderexpression,religion,ability,andothercharacteristicsinourclassroom,andwillacceptthose
variantsopenlyandwithoutdiscriminationagainstoneanother.
Whatotherbehaviorguidelinesshouldweabideby?


Materials

Youwillneedtobringthefollowingmaterialsonadailybasistobesuccessfulinorchestraclass:

1. Instrument,sheetmusic,shouldrest,rockstop,rosin,andotherinstrumentneeds.
2. Pencil.
3. Notebook.Notebookswillbeusedforvocabulary,practicesuggestions,andotherinformation.Quizzes
willbederivedfromthematerialweplaceinournotebooks.

BringingthesematerialseverydaywillensurethatyouearnthehighestgradeintheCitizenshipsectionof
yourgrade.

TechnologyPolicy

Mobiledevicesmaybeusedinwaysthatarebeneficialinorchestraclass:tohelptuneyourinstrument,tousea
metronome,ortooccasionallyrecordyourselfperforming.However,usingaphonetocall,text,videochat,or
anyothernonmusicalwayisprohibited.IwillhaveaCellPhoneBoxatthefrontoftheroomifyouwouldliketo
placeitthereforthehour.Theboxwillalwaysbeinview.

Choosingtouseyourdeviceinaninappropriatewaywillresultinitbeingconfiscated.Firstconfiscation:
returnedattheendofthehour.Secondconfiscation:turnedintoofficeforendofthedaypickup.Third
confiscation:officeturninandparentcallhome(byyou!).

Basicpremise:useyourmobiledeviceappropriatelyatthecorrecttime.

Remind101

Toreceivetextbasedremindersdirectlytoyourphoneaboutassignments,assessments,rehearsals,
performances,andotherinformation,seeMr.Nixforinstructions.

Parents:SignupforRemind101alertsbydoingthefollowing:

PhoneNumber:81010
Textmessage:@fhsorchp

Sendthetextmessageabovetothephonenumberabove(send@fhsorchptophonenumber81010).

YoushouldreceiveanimmediateconfirmationthatyouhavesubscribedtoMr.NixsparentRemind101account.


ChamberMusic

BeginninglaterinSeptember,wewilldedicateonedayaweektochambermusiclearningandrehearsing.
StudentswillbeplacedingroupsbyMr.Nix,andgroupswilllearnhowtoindependentlyruntheirown
rehearsals.TherewillbeoccasionalperformancesthatwillbeassessedbyMr.Nix.Thegoalofthisistohave
studentsperformatSoloandEnsembleinJanuary,aswellasachambermusicrecitallaterinthespring.

SeatingPolicy

Sectionleaderswillbedeterminedbyaudition.Thoseinterestedinauditioningforsectionleaderwillsignup
whenMr.Nixannouncesthematerialsforthoseauditions.ThiswillprobablybearoundtheendofSeptember.

Thosenotinterestedinauditioningforsectionleaderwillberotatedthroughoutthesection.

Assessments

Assessmentsinorchestraclasswillconsistofplayingtests,writtenquizzes,andothermethods.Someplaying
testswillberecordeddigitallyandsenttoMr.Nix;somewillbeoneononewitMr.Nix;andfinally,somewillbe
infrontoftheclass.

Thegoalofassessmentistoencourageustobecomebettermusicianswherethepointwestartonedayone.All
ofusstartindifferentplaces,andhavedifferentstrengthsandweaknesses.Therefore,orchestraclass
assessmentsaretrulyindividual!

PerformanceCalendar

Youwillreceiveaperformancecalendarduringthefirstweekofschool.Whenyoureceivethesedates,mark
eachinyourcalendar.


OrchestraPerformanceDressCode/Guidelines

ForOrchestraperformances,studentsareexpectedtodressinoneof2uniforms:

1.ConcertBlack,whichconsistsof:

blackpants,slacks,orskirtofsomekind(skirtatleastfloorlength)
blackblouseordressshirt(shirtmusthavesleeves)
blackdressshoes,withdarksocks/hose/leggings/etc.
colorfulties/scarves/accessoriesareacceptable

Thingsnotintheacceptablecategory:wearingonlyleggings,exposedmidriffs/backs,plungingnecklines,sheer
clothing,etc.Thinkschooldresscode,butdressy.IfyouarequestioningapartofyourConcertBlackattire,itis
mostlikelynotappropriate.Lookyourbest!Ifthereisanissue,financialburden,orsomeotherconcernthat
preventsyourfamilyfromprovidingyourConcertBlackdress,pleaseemail/callMr.Nixassoonaspossible.
Thiswillbeadiscreetconversationsolelybetweenparent/guardianandMr.Nix.

ConcertBlackuniformwillbewornfortheWelcomeConcert,NovemberConcert,WinterConcert,MSBOA
Festival,andPostFestivalConcert.

2.FHSMusicUniform:thisuniformisprovidedbytheFHSMusicPatrons.ItwillbewornattheSpringConcert,
andonTagDaysforfundraising.YouwillbecontactedbytheFHSUniformManagertoscheduleatimetopick
upyouruniform.

Mr.NixClosingThoughtsandContactInformation

Thankyouforactivelychoosingtofurtheryourmusiceducationbyenrollinginorchestraclass.Althoughyou
mayhavehadtomakesomesacrificestoputmusicinyourdailyclassschedule,Ihopeyouwillfindthatyour
choiceisonethatwillpayoffinmanydifferentways.

Mr.Nixscontactinformation:
Emailisthebestwaytoreachme:matthew.nix@farmington.k12.mi.us

Phonenumber:2484262939(willrespondwithin24hours).

________________________________________________________________________________________

NextPage


Student/ParentSignatureForm

IhavereadtheOrchestraHandbookandtheOrchestraSyllabusandunderstanditscontents.Iwillchooseto
abidebytheFPSCodeofConduct,andthepoliciesoftheFHSOrchestraHandbookandSyllabus:

Signed,

Student:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date:_______________
PrintName
SignName

Parent:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Date:_______________
PrintName
SignName

ReturnthissheetbyWednesday,September13th,2016