Damon D. Conn, Director Twinsburg High School Ravenna Rd Twinsburg, OH (330)

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1 Damon D. Conn, Director Twinsburg High School Ravenna Rd Twinsburg, OH (330) Dear Parents, Congratulations on enrolling your child in the orchestra! Orchestra is one of the most rewarding and exciting educational opportunities offered by our schools. Your investment will pay tremendous dividends in your child's life for many years to come. Music provides students with a wealth of fringe benefits. In addition to obtaining the life long skills needed to become a music performer or consumer, a child learns skills that can be used in every facet of life. Teamwork, dedication, self-discipline and responsibility prepare a child for a successful future in any profession he/she may choose. A variety of research shows that music students are among the academically strongest in their schools and score higher on the SAT than other students. Most colleges and universities now look for more than good grades on a child's transcript. They want the well-rounded students that have been able to accomplish more than just textbook knowledge. You do not have to know anything about music to assist your child in this new endeavor. Arrange a time and place where practice can be done without interruptions. This practice should become a part of each child's daily routine. He/she should never merely put in the required time, but should practice with the goal of always improving. Music should be placed at eye level. Please do not allow your child to put the music on a table, bed, etc. This encourages poor playing posture. Remember, practice doesn't necessarily make perfect, but PERFECT practice does!! We would also like to take this opportunity to give you some information concerning my class objectives, rules, and grading procedures. These policies have already been reviewed with the students. Please take some time to read through these policies and sign the bottom copy. Again, We congratulate you on enrolling your child in the orchestra. As the year progresses, We hope you will feel free to contact us whenever necessary. You may also call us at Dodge Intermediate School at or send an (best option) (dconn@twinsburg.k12.oh.us, tresnick@twinsburg.k12.oh.us). Sincerely, Damon D. Conn Thomas Resnick Orchestra Instructors

2 MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the orchestra program is to develop musical independence in our students and encourage life-long musical experiences. PHILOSOPHICAL BELIEFS Because music is an integral part of every society, we believe that all students have the right to formal musical training as part of their total educational program. Through music education, students gain an awareness of historical and cultural heritage, as well as how to perceive, create and value good music. GRADING PROCEDURES GRADE: 30% = CONCERTS (2) 10% = WRITTEN QUIZZES/WEEKLY PRACTICE LOG 30% = PLAYING TESTS 30% = DAILY GRADE INSTRUMENT, MUSIC, SHOULDER REST, PROPER POSTURE AND BOW GRIP, FOCUS ON LESSON, IMPROVEMENT, REHEARSAL ATTENDANCE *Fingernails must be kept short to demonstrate proper posture and tone. ORCHESTRA GOALS 1. Locate and name the parts of their instrument. 2. Demonstrate proper posture and hand position for their instrument. 3. Name and play the open string cycle. 4. Play fingered notes with proper left hand position. 5. Perform three songs and the D major scale by rote. 6. Demonstrate proper bow grip and full bows for good tone quality. 7. Demonstrate an ability to read and perform simple rhythmic values and time signatures. 8. Differentiate between slurs and ties in their performance. 9. Play three notes in a single bow stroke with less speed, increased bow weight, and closer to the bridge. 10. Demonstrate the correct use of their fourth finger notes. 11. Demonstrate eighth notes and count subdivisions. 12. Play notes on the G string and the G major scale. 13. Play musical examples in 2/4 time and demonstrate upbeats. 14. Demonstrate and identify staccato bowing and the Baroque style. 15. Demonstrate slurred staccato and hooked bows. 16. Play the C major scale and identify C and F natural. 17. Play and identify dotted eighth quarter note rhythms. ORCHESTRA UNITS 1 st Nine Weeks: Care and Maintenance of Instrument Posture and Holding the Instrument Open String Cycle, Note Names, and Playing Pizzicato One Beat Notes and Rests, Left Hand Position, and Fingered Notes. Rote Scales and Songs 2 nd Nine Weeks: Proper Right Hand Playing Position, Proper Contact Point, and Tone Production (Bow Introduction) Basic Note Reading Elements and Time Signatures and Note Values (Simple Rhythms) Key of D Major, Slurs and Ties ¾ Time, Dotted Half Notes, and Three Note Slurs

3 ORCHESTRA UNITS (CONTINUED) 3 rd Nine Weeks: Left-hand Pizzicato and Fourth Finger Eighth Notes (Subdivisions) G String Notes and G Major Scale (Cello 4 th finger D on G string; Bass 2 nd finger notes) 2/4 Time Signature and Upbeats 4 th Nine Weeks: Staccato bowing and Baroque Style Slurred staccato and Hooked Bows C Major Scale and New Notes: C Natural and F Natural Dotted Eighth Quarter Notes All instructional units have been designed to coordinate with the objectives addressed in the frameworks standards and curriculum guides. Literature, musical styles and listening examples are selected for all levels to expose the students to various social and cultural influences. CONCERT ATTENDANCE Concert performances are required for orchestra. These performances are necessary to evaluate the students' skills practiced in class. Excused absences include illness and family emergencies. Please check all the performance dates carefully and notify Mr. Conn or Mr. Resnick if there are any conflicts. An excused absence will be made up by completing an alternative project assigned by the instructors. All other absences will be considered unexcused and a zero will be recorded. IMPORTANT CONCERT DATES Dec. 9 May 11 Holiday Orchestra Concert/THS 7:00 p.m. Spring Orchestra Concert/THS 7:00 p.m.

4 INSTRUMENTS/BOOKS/ACCESSORIES Students are required to have an instrument, book and music stand for orchestra. The book is Essential Elements 2000 for Strings Book 1 (published by Hal Leonard) and can be purchased from a music store/dealer. A music stand is needed for home practice and can also be purchased from a music store/dealer. Instruments can also be rented or purchased from a music store/dealer. It is recommended that fractional size instruments be rented until students are ready for full size instruments. Students grow at different rates and may change different sizes quickly. Instruments may be purchased once a student is ready for a full size. Cello and String Bass students are provided instruments to use at school and must have their own instrument at home to practice. Instructors and Twinsburg City Schools are not affiliated with any music store or dealer. Please contact the store or dealer with any questions regarding purchases or rentals. Please do not return instruments at the end of the year unless leaving the program. Students are expected practice over the summer and are encouraged to participate in summer music activities (i.e. private lessons, summer orchestras, camps). Please do not return rental instruments to the school or Instructors. Here is a list of some instrument dealers: Roger A. Stearns Violins (strongly recommended) Studio Strings Middlebranch Ave. NE 118 Main St. Hartville, Ohio Wadsworth, Ohio Rettig Music Cleveland Violins Center Ridge 2917 Mayfield Road Westlake, Ohio Cleveland Hts., Ohio CIC School Band and Orchestra Peter Zaret Violins 739 Portage Trail 5767 Mayfield Road Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Academy Music Co. Motter s Music Station St Mayfield Road Cleveland, Ohio Lyndhurst, Ohio Beware of purchasing instruments from pawn shops or off of the Internet! Be sure to check with Mr. Conn or Mr. Resnick to be sure you are purchasing a quality instrument. You get what you pay for. PRACTICE/HOMEWORK Homework is assigned in orchestra. Students daily homework is to practice their instrument 20 to 30 minutes daily. Some students may need to practice more to achieve their goals. Instruments should never be left at school. Twinsburg City Schools and Mr. Conn are not responsible for any instrument left at school.

5 Dodge Orchestras Self-Evaluation Name: Date/Week: o.k. good excellent 1. My tone was.. 2. My posture and position were 3. My concentration and focus were declined was the same improved 4. My ability to play notes and fingerings 5. My ability to count and play rhythms 6. My attention to dynamics (if applicable) 7. My bowing accuracy 8. My overall ability to play the music 9. This week, I improved upon. 10. Next week, I will improve upon. over

6 Weekly Practice Journal Date: Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Minutes Practiced Total Minutes Practiced 100 minutes = A (10 points) Parents/Guardians: Please sign & review your student s self evaluation & practice journal. Ask to hear what they are practicing. Acknowledge his or her progress with a comment and your signature below. Thank you for supporting the program! -Mr. Conn and Mr. Resnick Signature: Comments:

7 CLASS RULES AND PROCEDURES 1. Students should be quiet and respectful when walking to and from string class. There will be no talking in the hallways. 2. Take proper care in packing and unpacking your instrument. Cases will be put on the floor and under the chairs. Do not leave cases where people will trip over them. 3. Students should show respect towards their teacher, guests, and peers. Do not talk, pluck strings, or play your instrument without permission. 4. Students should stay out of the storage closet unless given permission by the teacher. 5. Students should not touch or play others instruments. Do not touch other students property without permission. 6. Students should stay in their seats unless given proper permission to move. 7. All school rules and policies apply! CONSEQUENCES 1 st Offense Verbal warning 2 nd Offense Put instrument away for the remainder of class 3 rd Offense Phone call home or written letter sent home 4 th Offense Parent and Teacher conference 5 th Offense Referral to office PROCEDURES FOR NON-INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES/ROUTINES 1. Students will quietly take their seats and wait for the instructor to come and tune their instrument 2. All cases will be put under the chairs or in the back of the room 3. Students may rosin bows before class begins 4. Students need to be present for each class period with or without instrument I have read the expectations and procedures and understand my child s responsibilities. I have also made note of the performance dates. Student name Date parent signature