McLean High School Orchestra

UNIFORMS

All orchestra students MUST wear the official orchestra uniform, which is:

Ladies Long black, full skirt, either one that you had from middle school or one that you will purchase through the McLean HS orchestra; a black top that that you will purchase from the orchestra (this top is different from the middle school one!) and black dress shoes, to be purchased on your own.

Gentlemen Tuxedo pants that you had from middle school (ONES THAT FIT, PLEASE!!) or purchase new ones from the orchestra, a tuxedo shirt that you will purchase from the orchestra (this tuxedo shirt is different from the middle school one!) black dress shoes (you will not be allowed on stage with tennis shoes!!) and black socks. All new orchestra gentlemen are also required to purchase a new cummerbund and a button cover for the top button on the shirt. The orchestra provides jackets for the men - these are to be rented from the orchestra.

Everyone MUST have an orchestra uniform by the first concert of the fall. Order forms have been sent out or will be given out on the first day of school for pants/shirts/cummerbunds and skirts/blouses, for those who must purchase any part or all of the uniform.

INSTRUMENTS

For those students who cannot bring their instruments to school for each class, there are a limited number of instruments that can be rented from the school. Instruments are usually shared with a student from another orchestra, so the cost is quite inexpensive! You must pay rent on a school instrument, if you are going to use it! Private instruments may be stored in the string storeroom during the day. Students are NOT allowed to use another person's private instrument without the other person's permission!! Violin and viola students are to provide a padlock for the storage locker. This padlock will be used only on the days that your instrument is stored in the school storage locker. The padlock cannot be left on a storage locker if your instrument is not in the locker!!

CONCERTS

There are five main concerts given in the school year. You will be notified of these dates in the fall of the year. Please put these dates on your calendar right away, as these performances are MANDATORY. You will be given an "F" for the marking period, if you fail to show up for the concert!! Only personal or family emergencies are an acceptable excuse and you must notify the director prior to the start of the concert. My school phone number is: (703) 714-5817.

EVENING REHEARSALS

The Chamber Soloists will have a rehearsal on Wednesday evenings from 7-9 p.m. These rehearsals are mandatory. The Concert and Symphonic Strings will meet on regularly scheduled evening rehearsals (usually two rehearsals before a concert). The dates for these rehearsals will be posted well in advance - these also are mandatory.

GRADES

Orchestra grades are based on three criteria.

1. 50% Skills: Skills will be evaluated according to daily observation and regularly scheduled playing tests. These skills are:

-Body posture

-Placement of left hand and fingers

-Placement of the bow and bow hand

-Tone quality

-Intonation

-Rhythmic accuracy

-Appropriate music reading ability

-Overall performance

2. 40% Work Habits: (20% of that is REGULAR PRACTICE RECORDS!). This class does have homework: PRACTICE! Preparation for orchestra requires practice and students are expected to practice a minimum of 200 minutes each week (to earn an "A" in practice Records). Parents, please encourage and make time for your son or daughter to practice!

Also under work habits:

-Being punctual to class, extra rehearsals, sectionals and performances

-Brings instrument, music AND A PENCIL TO ALL REHEARSALS!

-Cares for instrument and music

-Listens attentively and follows directions

-Positive attitude

PRACTICE RECORDS

Concert and Symphonic Strings are required to hand in a practice record each week. To get an "A" for the week's practice, you must have 200 or more minutes and a parent/guardian signature on the record. Practice records are due the last day of the week that you have class - if you forget, you have until the next class of the new week to hand it in. You will not get credit for practice records that are late. You may count time that you practice on private lesson music. Your practice record counts for 20% of your grade.

200+ min. = A

170min. =B

140 min. = C

90 min. = D

90 or below Min. = F

3. 10% - Audition for Senior Regional, Senior District or Solo & Ensemble Festival.

Each student will be required to audition/participate in one of the above.

Note: a project can be developed for extra credit.

Students may present projects, written or played, to the class for extra credit.

DISTRICT, REGIONAL, STATE EVENTS

Each string student is required to participate in one of these events offered each year. These include auditioning for: Senior Regional Orchestra, Senior District Orchestra or participating in Solo & Ensemble Festival. All of the dates for these events are listed on the calendar. Students in the Chamber Soloists are required to audition for Senior Regional Orchestra - please check with the date of the actual event so that there are no conflicts!

PRIVATE LESSONS

Each student is encouraged to take lessons from a private teacher. The benefits of taking form a private teacher are enormous! There's nothing like a "one-on-one" teaching situation! A list is available of private teachers in the area.

FUND-RAISING

We provide one opportunity for each student to help pay for his/her spring trip. The orchestra will be offering Holiday Greens for sale in October, with delivery in late November. Each student, who participates in this fundraiser, will have 40% of his/her total sale credited to their personal orchestra account.

~ The orchestra has 2 car washes this school year. The money from the car washes goes into the general orchestra fund – everyone must help at these car washes! These are our biggest money raisers for the general fund, which pays for professional sectional help, uniforms (such as jackets), new instruments, new equipment, sheet music, district, regional and state fees, and helping to defray expenses for buses for the spring trip, etc.~

Please note that we are collecting a $50 activity fee per student to cover general program expenses. This change will allow us to apply all of the profits from the upcoming student fundraising event (Holiday Greens) into each student’s individual accounts to help pay for their 2009 spring orchestra trip.

SPRING TRIP

Each year, the orchestras participate in a competition at a location that provides an educational experience as well as a fun-filled trip! Each student can help with payment of funds needed for the trip by participating in the fundraiser during the school year (Holiday Greens). The cost for the trip usually runs approximately $450 - $500.

There are some funds set aside by the Orchestra Boosters for those in need of financial help. Those students, who know that they will need some help, should talk with Mrs. Sandberg personally, or parents should call the school orchestra number (703) 714-5817 or e-mail Mrs. Sandberg Gretta.Sandberg@fcps.edu. Students, who need financial help, MUST participate in the fundraiser provided. There is a limited amount of money for scholarships to help pay for the student's spring trip. One of the criteria for receiving financial help is that the student must be on free or reduced lunch.

Since we are in competition at these events, it is imperative that we have full participation of the students, so that "points" are not taken off our total score by the judges because of incomplete sections. Often, we will compete against schools from several states- we need to keep up our excellent reputation!

SCHOLARSHIPS

Any student who anticipates needing help with the cost of the Spring Music Trip must complete the following steps:

1. Fill out the form, including a parent/guardian signature and bring it to Mrs. Sandberg. Students will need to submit their forms in early Fall, to be considered.

2. Active participation in the student fundraisers is required and students are expected to contribute one-half of the cost of the trip

3. Decisions will be made based on the requests submitted. Students who do not meet the deadline for requests will not be offered another opportunity for assistance. We are not equipped to subsidize unlimited numbers of students. You must have a significant need (such as those qualifying for FCPS free or reduced lunch program) and must notify us early enough to create a fundraising plan.

ORCHESTRA OFFICERS

Each orchestra will have several "officers" to help with the physical running of the group. These students will be selected by Mrs. Sandberg to help with distribution and collection of music, distributing information, collection of forms and checks for fundraisers, etc. These students will receive extra credit for their services.

ORCHESTRA BOOSTER

The MHS Orchestra Booster Organization is dedicated to supporting the efforts of the orchestra director in promoting the highest level of music education and performance opportunities for McLean orchestral students. Utilizing the talents and resources of its member parents, alumni, individual supporters and corporate patrons, the Booster Organization provides financial support, creative energy and human power to support orchestra program goals.

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SHEET MUSIC

Each student will be provided with music for his or her use. One copy will remain in a folder at school for use in rehearsals and concerts.

This folder is NOT to be taken home for any reason!

A practice copy will be provided for the students' use at home in a separate folder.

Students will be charged $5.00 for any missing music from the "at school” folders.

Students who use chamber music from the files will be charged accordingly for any missing parts.

PHILOSOPHY OF McLEAN HS ORCHESTRAS

It is the special function of the arts to strengthen, extend, illuminate, transform and ultimately make life worth living. Art intensifies and draws together mere experience into aesthetic experience. When it is over, one feels a jolt or awakening in another world, not because the world of art is less real, but because it is more real, vivid, alive, highly integrated and structured than most of our daily experience. Throughout history, civilizations have turned to the arts for expression. Although some cultures have been found to exist without reading and writing, not one has been found without the arts. As a fine art, music is "feeling" intelligence. Musical intelligence is a unique dimension of every human being. It teaches people to feel and care and puts them in touch with some of the highest achievements of humankind. In other words, art music is part of what makes people well educated!

Playing a string instrument enables students to unlock some of the great stored wisdom of the ages. The majority of great Western art music was written for strings. This longstanding history includes the music of Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven, Brahms, Mahler (and many others too numerous to list) plus works of great American composers such as Copland, Bernstein and others. String music is so prevalent that lifelong opportunities for playing string instruments abound. Community orchestras, sacred orchestras and amateur chamber music groups welcome capable string players. There is also a large field of opportunities for those interested in Pop, Jazz and Bluegrass or Country. For some individuals, playing a string instrument can become a very meaningful hobby well into their retirement years.

All children should be provided with opportunities to pursue their musical interests and talents. That is why every young person, without exception, should study music. While all students will not become professional musicians, all will be wholly human and wholly educated.

GOALS

The McLean HS Orchestra Program seeks to develop individual musical artistry, ensemble excellence and promote a life-long enjoyment of music in each young person. This important goal cannot be attained without a sincere desire, effort and commitment from each orchestra member.

The purpose of the orchestra program is to provide a stimulating orchestral experience for each student in the program. We provide an environment for students to explore music as a life skill, either as a vocation or as an avocation. Students can also explore the opportunity to participate in chamber music. It is our hope that each student will leave McLean HS with a desire to continue their music throughout their life.