Orchestra Teacher: Nathan Sackschewsky

Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook 1

Orchestra Teacher: Nathan Sackschewsky  Voice Mail: (630) 937-8664 E-mail: [email protected]

Course Description & Content In the Batavia High School Orchestras, students will focus on developing technical skills in bowing and left hand facility, as well as in music literacy and sight-reading. Emphasis is placed on the development of musicianship through progressive technical studies and advanced modern and classical orchestra literature. Musical skills as well as aesthetic critique are assessed each quarter. In orchestra, students will grow in their performance abilities on their individual instruments as well as improve their aural skills, musical terminology, and music symbol identification.

Materials Needed  1 subject spiral notebook  1-2” 3-ring binder  #2 Pencils  Instrument and accessories (shoulder rest, rockstops, rosin)  Technique/Etude Book as outlined in Batavia HS instrument curricula  SmartMusic Home Subscription – Highly Recommended

Grading Breakdown  Final Exam 20% o The Final Exam will include a performance assessment and/or a written exam on concepts studied in class.  Grade Level Expectancies (GLE’s) 40% o Each semester is divided into six GLE goals made up of playing exercises. Each exercise must be completed at 85% accuracy to be submitted for credit. o For six passed units a student will receive 100% in the GLE grade category, 83.3% for five passed units, 66.6% for four, 50% for three, 33.3% for two, and 16.6% for one. o Late work will be accepted until the end of the semester, however, a 30% per GLE Unit penalty will be assessed if the late unit is not completed by the time the next GLE Unit is due.  Common Assessments 15% o Quizzes and tests in aural skills, musical terms, and musical symbols are given each semester. Common assessments tests may be remediated (see syllabus for details).  Written Class Assignments 15% o Students will be assigned personal or group concert reviews. o The concert review cannot be completed if the student was not present at the concert. No makeup work will be given for an unexcused absence from a concert. o Patron of the Arts Assignment: Once per semester, students should attend a public music performance and write an essay/provide a concert program as a reflection on the experience. Assignment sheet is available in the BHS Orchestra Room and also on PowerSchool.  Playing Assessments 10% o Assessments will include excerpts from class music.

CONCERT UNIFORM INFRACTIONS WILL LOWER A SEMESTER GRADE BY 5% Course Organization The 90 minute orchestra period is structured into two parts. The first portion of the period will consist of warm- Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook 2 up technique study, as well as music concept instruction. The second portion of each class period will involve concert music rehearsal and SmartMusic assessment time. Each student will be placed into one of five SmartMusic groups based on instrumentation and grade level. Each student is assigned a day in which he or she will leave a portion of group instruction to pass off their required GLE goals. If a student has already recorded his or her progress at home on SmartMusic, he or she has the option to stay in class or leave to work ahead. Any student who misses his or her designated day should arrange to complete his or her assignments from home, or before or after school. Orchestra Calendar All BHS Orchestra after school rehearsals, events and performances will be posted and updated on the Batavia High School Music Department website, found at: www.bataviamusic.org. This is the best resource for staying updated on concerts, rehearsals, and other events for the music program. 2014-2015 Orchestra Events and Performances (Attendance at performances/events are REQUIRED for all BHS orchestra students unless otherwise specified):

October 22 Fall Orchestra Concert December 10 Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert Dress Rehearsal – During school day December 10 Music Department Kaleidoscope Concert December 12-13 Festival of Carols (Chamber) March 3 Batavia HS Fine Arts Festival Orchestra Concert (Concert & Symphony) March 6 Batavia HS Fine Arts Festival Capstone Concert (Philharmonic & Chamber) March 25 Orchestra Solo and Ensemble Night April 9 All-City Orchestra Concert April 25t Chamber Orchestra Spring Showcase (Chamber) May 6 Spring Orchestra Concert

2014-2015 Other Important Dates:

October 4 Fall Hoagie Pick-Up October 7 IMEA District 9 Orchestra Auditions March 9-13 2014-15 Curricular Orchestra Placement Auditions (During Class)

Music Binder and Parts Policy Every student will receive 3-hole punched practice parts to be used at rehearsals. All students are required to bring their binder and music every day to class so that markings and fingerings are consistent. If a student loses a music part or folder during rehearsal or a performance, it will cost $2 per piece for new copies.

Replacement Strings for Student-Owned or Rented Instruments In emergency situations, replacement strings may be provided for student-owned or rented instruments. If a student is given a replacement string from the BHS Orchestra string inventory, he or she must replace the string by paying the following fees by cash or check made out to BHS:

Violin Viola Cello E: $9.00 A: $9.50 A: $16.00 Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook 3

A: $12.75 D: $11.00 D: $17.00 D: $18.00 G: $12.00 G: $35.00 G: $19.25 C: $14.50 C: $44.75

In December and May, all unpaid string fees will be reported to the BHS financial office and the student’s name will be placed on the BHS student fine list. The student’s grades will be held until all fees are paid. Concert Uniforms Concert Orchestra: Black dress pants or skirt, black dress shirt, black socks and dress shoes

Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestra: Women – Black concert dress (provided by BHS) Men – Tuxedo jacket and pants (provided by BHS), tuxedo shirt, bow tie, cummerbund, black socks, black dress shoes

Classroom Procedures Passes: Restroom and hall passes are reserved for emergencies. Please take care of everything before you come to class.

Attendance: Any unexcused absence from a concert will result in a 5% deduction for the semester grade. Student growth and achievement in music can only be accomplished with each group member at the performance. Our performances are treated as demonstrations of learning and when a student misses this important event, his or her learning suffers.

Orchestra Board

The orchestra board will consist of members of all three orchestra, and will be elected by their peers. Having dedicated officers directly contributes to the success of an orchestra program. Students who chose to participate as an orchestra officer should be model students in orchestra and at BHS as a whole. Orchestra officers should demonstrate exemplary rehearsal etiquette and practice habits.

The orchestra board will be elected at the beginning of the school year. Meetings will happen once a month during Bulldog Time.

Orchestra Board Positions:  President (must be a senior)  Vice President (must be a junior or senior)

 Secretary/Electronic Media Chair (must be sophomore, junior, or senior)

 Operations Manager (one from each orchestra)

 Social/publicity chair (one from each orchestra)

 Librarian (at least 4) Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook 4

Section Leaders and Seating Section leaders will be selected through audition. All students will have the opportunity to audition for section leader at the beginning of each semester. Auditions will be a combination of piece excerpts and technical studies.

On a daily basis, all section leaders should be prepared to:  Create or adjust bowings in music for their section in collaboration with Mr. Sackschewsky and other section leaders  Provide fingerings for difficult passages to their sections  Keep an ongoing list of problem areas from the repertoire to rehearse in sectionals  Efficiently lead sectionals and keep section members focused on the task at hand  Conference with Mr. Sackschewsky following sectional rehearsals  Perform difficult parts of the repertoire as a model for the class when appropriate

Seating throughout the orchestra will be rotated at each concert cycle. Students will be placed in seating that will best beneﬁt the needs of all members of the orchestra, and students will not be seated hierarchically. Students will be placed next to stand-partners with complementary skills, and playing ability will be mixed throughout the orchestra. Violin sections will rotate each concert.

Expectations of Orchestra Students Be respectful: Treat each other and the music directors with respect at all times. Remember the golden rule: Treat others how you would like to be treated and we will make our music making together more meaningful and rewarding as group.

Be organized: Show a sense of responsibility by frequently reviewing the calendar above and informing your parents of performance dates. Show a sense of responsibility by informing the director of potential conﬂicts well in advance. Growth and achievement in music can only be accomplished with each group member performing their role in rehearsal and at a performance!

Be on time: Arrive to the orchestra room and get necessary equipment ready when the bell rings.

Be prepared: Orchestra members must be prepared with a pencil and appropriate music materials for every rehearsal. Each member must prepare his or her concert music outside of rehearsal, so that we can focus on musical and ensemble issues during rehearsal. Check the orchestra room calendar and board for unit due dates and see Miss Brown for extra help when needed!

Be responsible: Orchestra members are responsible for all music and folders they receive. Missing or damaged original music must be replaced. If the part is still published, the music will cost $2.00 to replace. Missing folders will cause $10.00 to replace. All instruments are to be in excellent playing condition, and students should have rosin, shoulder rests, rock stops, cloths, good strings, a wire music stand with carrying case, and a metronome for home practice. Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook 5

Use your common sense: Do not bring food or drink into the orchestra room, as it can spill on the ﬂoor or your instrument, causing expensive damage. Homework from other classes is distracting to your learning and to the rehearsal, so do not bring it to ﬁnish in orchestra class—orchestra class is NOT a study hall.

Have fun and get involved!: We are all in orchestra to work toward a common goal of making meaningful and memorable music performances together. I encourage students to think independently and expressively about your music, if you have an idea—share it with the group! The goal of us coming together is to create something bigger than ourselves.

IMEA District 9 and All-State Orchestra Every year, students from schools throughout Illinois audition to participate in the IMEA Honors Orchestras at both the District and State levels. All Batavia High School orchestra students may audition for the IMEA District 9 Honors Orchestra as well as the IMEA All-State Orchestras during the same audition in early October. Thousands of students from throughout the state audition for these prestigious ensembles every year, and it is an immense honor to be chosen as a participant.

IMEA auditions will take place this year on October 7, 2014 at Addison Trail High School. Details for the auditions will be provided to all orchestra students at the beginning of the school year.

Fox Valley Music Festival Every year, music students from schools throughout the Fox Valley area come together in late April to form a combined orchestra to rehearse and perform major works of the orchestral repertoire.

Placement in the Fox Valley Music Festival is based on director recommendation and will be open only to Concert Orchestra students. In order to be considered for recommendation, students must be meeting all requirements of the curriculum and receiving an “exceeds” rating in the Learner Profile in PowerSchool.

BHS Orchestra 2014-2015 Contract of Mutual Consent

Return this form to Mr. Sackschewsky by Friday, August 29th

Name: ______Grade: ______

Instrument: ______Maker/Serial #: ______

Preferred Parent Contact Phone Number: ______

Preferred Parent Email Address: ______Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook 6

I have reviewed the Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook and understand the expectations and policies. I will be held accountable to the guidelines set forth by these documents and understand the consequences of not following these during this school year.

I, the undersigned student, accept membership in the Batavia High School music program and understand I am responsible for all policies set forth in the Orchestra Syllabus and Handbook. I fully agree to carry out my responsibilities to the very best of my ability.

______Student Signature Date

I, the undersigned parent or guardian, have read and understand the policies as set forth in the Batavia High School Orchestra Handbook. I grant full permission for my child to be an active member of the Batavia High School music program. In addition, my child has full permission to attend all concert, events, field trips, and off-campus clinics/festivals. Furthermore, I understand that I must meet all ﬁnancial obligations.

______Parent Signature Date