The Orchestra Program

Instruments

Instruments.  Musicians are encouraged to purchase or rent their own instrument.

 

Students who choose not to purchase or rent their own instrument may pay a fee to use an instrument from Newport News Public Schools.  If not enough instruments are available, students using an NNPS instrument may need to share an instrument, in which case, they will not be allowed to take an instrument home to practice.  Because of this, students are highly encouraged to get their own instrument.

 

Larger Instruments.  A limited number of students will be assigned to play the larger instruments, such as baritone horn, tuba, cello, and bass.  If enough instruments are available, students will be assigned an instrument to keep at home. 

 

Cellos and Basses.  Beginners will need to bring their cello or bass into school, from time to time, to get it tuned.  Intermediate and advanced students will be trained to tune their instruments.  Cellos may be brought every so often on the bus.  Arrangements will need to be made to get basses tuned.

 

Rental Information.  A rental agreement form must be completed and signed before an instrument may be assigned to you.  Payment is due in full before a students may take possession of an instrument.  If you cannot make the payment in-full up front, contact your director to create a payment plan.  NO STUDENT WILL BE TURNED AWAY DUE TO THEIR INABILITY TO PAY!  Checks can be made to Passage Middle School.  Payments should be submitted to their Performing Arts Teacher, NOT their homeroom teacher.  Please see Section IV for the fees for renting a NNPS instrument.

 

Replacement Strings.  Strings become worn, broken, and frayed after a lot of use.  When this happens, they will need to be replaced.  Small quantities of strings will be kept on hand to be purchased from the appropriate director.  However, we encourage you to please visit Music & Arts to purchase extra strings and reeds.

 

Music and Arts Center in Yorktown at Kiln Creek Shopping Center

209 Village Ave., Ste. I, Yorktown, VA 23693

(757) 988-3970 | http://www.musicarts.com

 

Students Moving Away.  Throughout the school year, many students will move to Passage Middle School, and some will move away.  While we are always sad to lose a student from the Performing Arts Program, we do understand that families moving away is a part of running a school.

 

If you are renting an instrument from Newport News Public Schools, you must return the instrument before we will release your grades.  It is your responsibility to return your instrument.  If you move away without returning it, you will be responsible for shipping it to us at your expense with the appropriate insurance placed on the shipment (between $150.00 and $3000.00).

 

When you go to enroll at your new school, they will request your records from Passage Middle School.  These grades will not be released to your new school until your instrument has been returned.  Please plan appropriately if you move away from Passage Middle School.

 

Rental Fees and Information

1st Year Students:  $35.00 (beginner students who have not played before this school year)Returning Students:  $50.00 (non-returning students who have played an instrument before this school year).  See the Fees page for more information.

 

Rental Information

• A Rental Agreement Form must be completed, signed and returned before an instrument may be assigned to you.

• Payment is due in full before a student may take possession of an instrument.

• If you cannot make the payment in full up front, please contact me to create a payment plan.  No student will be turned away from orchestra because of their inability to pay.

• Checks can be made to Passage Middle School.  

**Please submit your payment directly to Mr. Roberts and NOT your homeroom teacher. 

 

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Class Supplies

Please visit our Orchestra Supplies page for more information on class supplies.  All class supplies should be brought to orchestra class everyday!

 

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Expectations

Orchestra musicians are expected to…

  …be prepared daily with their instrument and supplies

  …strive to perfect performance skills by following the director’s   instructions in and out of the classroom

  …enter the classroom, document their homework, remove their   instrument from the case, be seated, place their music on    their stand, and begin warming up

  …become silent when the Director takes the podium at the beginning of   class / rehearsal.

  …become silent when the conductor cuts off the orchestra, and remain   silent when the conductor gives instructions.

  …follow appropriate rehearsal etiquette:  raising a hand to speak, being   respectful to all instruments, and be respectful to the music selections.

  …upon dismissal, pack up instrument, flip over music stand, and leave   the classroom quietly.

  …be present and timely for all performances, rehearsals, and events they   are scheduled to attend.

 

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Grading Policy

All grading policies are consistent with NNPS Policies.  The following is a breakdown of your grade:

• Participation (20%) 

  • Daily Grade Includes:  Timeliness (10pts), Supplies/Music/Journal (20pts), Participation (70pts), TOTAL:  (100pts)

• At-Home Practice (15%)

  • Includes practice records and written assignments.

• Tests (25%)

  • Includes written and playing quizzes and tests, as well as at-home projects.

• Performances** (40%):  Includes all performances.  See Performance Page for more information.

**When a performance does not occur during a grading period, the other categories will absorb the performance portion of the grade.

 

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Rehearsal / Lesson Participation

 

[Timeliness:  10pts.]   |   [Supplies / Music / Journal:  20pts.]   |   [Participation:  70pts.]   |   [TOTAL:  100pts.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Timeliness:  Musicians earn their timeliness points by being seated with their instrument in ready position and their music on their stand by the time the Director takes the podium (no earlier than three minutes after the bell) will earn their timeliness points. 

• Supplies / Music / Journal:  Musicians who have their supplies, music, and journal will earn their points.  Missing items result in a loss of ten points for each item.  If a student is missing two items, they lose the full 20 points.

  • Missing Instruments:  If a student is missing their instrument (i.e. failed to bring instrument to school), and there is not an instrument available for them to borrow, they may complete an alternative assignment to nullify their grade for that class.  A nullified grade acts as if the student was absent, and does not bring the grade down.  However, a zero can significantly bring a students grade down.  While the student did not participate in the lesson, the work they complete acts to keep their grade from being penalized.

• Participation:  Musician participation is judged based on the percentage of participation during the class period.  Participation grades can also include formal and informal assessments, as well as written work.  Everything that is completed during a class period is included in the participation portion of the musician’s participation grade. 

• Attendance:  When a musician is absent from class, they will need to check with Mr. Roberts to see what they missed while absent.  Should an assignment need to be completed, Mr. Roberts will  inform the student when they come to see him.

 

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At-Home Practice

Students are expected to practice for a certain period of time each week.  Beginner musicians should practice twenty minutes per night, five nights per week (100 minutes total).  Intermediate musicians should practice twenty-five minutes per night, five nights per week. (125 minutes total).  Advanced musicians should practice thirty minutes per night, five nights per week (150 minutes total).

 

Written practice records will not be accepted this year.  Rather, musicians will complete their practice record online on their respective ensemble’s website.  Musicians will have the option of uploading their practice time from home, or submitting it at school during the morning rush (7:00am-7:15am).  Students may NOT submit their practice time during their regularly scheduled class time. 

 

The orchestra director will check each students practice time weekly, and update their practice record grades.  Practice weeks run from Monday to Sunday, and practice records are due to be updated by Monday at the beginning of the next week.    

 

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Playing and Written Tests and Quizzes

Tests and quizzes will be given throughout each marking period.  Tests are used to formally assess a musician’s achievement, where quizzes are less formal.  Because of this, tests are weighted twice as much as quizzes.  Tests will be given at least once each marking period and musicians will be given adequate notice when a test is approaching.

 

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Performances

Performances are the most important portion of each musician’s grade.  Performances will occur throughout the school year.  When a musician is schedule for a performance, it is mandatory that they attend.  Please see the Performances Page below for more information.

 

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Other Activities and Ensembles

After-School Rehearsals.  Musicians will be scheduled to attend after-school rehearsals for their PRIMARY ENSEMBLE (that is Band, Chorus, or Orchestra).  Musicians must attend these rehearsals and will earn a Participation grade of “0” for missing a scheduled after-school rehearsal if they are absent.  Musicians whose absences are “excused” from after-school rehearsals may complete an alternative assignment at the Director’s discretion to make up the grade.

 

Concert Assessment.  NNPS Music Department Policy requires that all performing ensemble Directors take an ensemble to Concert Assessment.  At “Assessment,” students perform before judges and earn a rating, which is published to the public.  Concert Assessment is like taking an SOL Test, and must take precedence over all other events.  It is imperative that all students who are assignment to perform for Concert Assessment attend this performance, which will be considered a performance grade.

 

Concert Assessment dates will be sent home as soon as they become available.  Pre-Arranged Absences from Concert Assessment may be made at the Director’s discretion, but are most likely to not be approved.  Please see the Director far in advance if you are going to be absent from Concert Assessment. 

 

Off-Property Performance Trips.  Off-property performance trips are scheduled based on the desire for an ensemble to perform off of school property.  Examples of these trips are:  performing in the community during the holiday season, performing at a Festival associated with our local theme parks, performances at local retirement communities, etc.  Since these trips require payments outside of school funds, these trips are not mandatory, and will only occur should we have enough musicians commit to participating in the trip.

 

Fundraising.  Fundraising opportunities will arise during the school year.  These opportunities help each student to reduce their costs for off-property performance trips.  More information will be communicated when we get closer to the start of a fundraiser.

 

Symphony Orchestra.  This year, we will offer the opportunity for band and orchestra students to perform in a Symphonic Orchestra, that is, an orchestra with strings, winds, brass, and percussion.  Students must audition for this ensemble, and it will be an extra-curricular, after-school activity.  The Symphony Orchestra will perform at our winter and spring concerts, for adjudication during our Spring Festival Trip, and will also have other opportunities to perform throughout the year.

 

Attendance at Symphony Orchestra Rehearsals.  Students who are frequently absent or tardy without communicating with the Director may be removed from the ensemble at anytime at the discretion of the Director.  Please constantly communicate any tardiness or absences in advance of scheduled rehearsals for these ensembles.

 

Festival Crew.  Orchestra Concert Assessment, and Music in the Parks Festivals will be hosted by Mr. Roberts at Passage Middle School again this year.  In order to host these festivals, a crew of serious, well-mannered and dedicated musicians will be needed.  We will start the application process in January for this crew.  The crew will be open to all 7th and 8th grade Band, Chorus, and Orchestra musicians.  Music in the Parks festivals are a great fundraiser for our Performing Arts Program, and allow us to operate efficiently throughout the school year.  We hope that all 7th and 8th Grade Performing Arts musicians will consider applying for this year’s Festival Crew!

 

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Fees and Performances

Click here to go to the Fees Page  |  Click here to go to the Performances Page