 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Table of Contents
I. Goals
II. Objectives
III. The Music Program
IV. Auditions and Performance Levels
V. Use of School Owned Instruments
VI. Music and Folders
VII. Sound System and Recordings
VIII. Practice Rooms
IX. Grading System
X. Private Lessons and Practice
XI. Rehearsals
XII. Sectionals
XIII. Performances
XIV. Concert Dress
XV. Football Pep Band
XVI. Graduation
XVII. Western District/All-State/All-Eastern
XVIII. Trips/Functions
XIX. Annual Citrus Sale
XX. Repertoire
INTRODUCTION
This handbook is an attempt by the Longmeadow High School Instrumental Music Program to present to the student and parent a full overview of the Instrumental Music Program. In reading through this handbook, the student and parent should gain knowledge of what the program has to offer, as well as what is expected of them during their years of participation.
As a member of the Longmeadow High School Instrumental Music Program, you are a member of one of the school's most highly regarded "teams". As with any team, loyalty and cooperation are necessary from all members if we are to achieve and maintain the high musical quality expected of us.
The standards on the following pages are simple and easy to follow and have been kept to the minimum necessary. Please feel free to consult with your director at any time concerning musical problems.
I. GOALS
1. Further the development of musical skills and concepts.
2. Expose students to repertoire of various styles and periods.
3. Provide the opportunity and guidance for students to develop their talent to its fullest, through solo work, student conducting, and section leadership.
4. Help each student to develop his/her aesthetic potential.
II. OBJECTIVES
At the end of their high school career the student is:
1. able to make music alone and with others.
2. able to use the notation and vocabulary of music.
3. able to respond to music aesthetically, intellectually, and
emotionally.
4. able to make aesthetic judgments based on critical listening
and analysis.
5. able to continue his/her musical learning independently.
III. MUSIC PROGRAM
The Longmeadow High School Instrumental Music Program is a continuation, and the culmination of the Longmeadow Public Schools Instrumental Music Program. The high school instrumentalist will find 4 performing organizations to participate in: Concert Band; Jazz Ensemble; Orchestra; and Wind Ensemble. These organizations are designed to offer a wide variety of performance levels and experiences for all high school students.
1. Concert Band - designed for those students who enjoy musical participation, but who desire to progress at a moderate pace; for those students who have not yet reached the advanced stages of musical development; and for those students performing on a secondary instrument.
2. Jazz Ensemble - designed for those students who enjoy playing jazz and jazz-rock music. Because of the nature of this ensemble, enrollment will be limited to the following instrumentation:
2 - alto sax 1/2 - guitar
2 - tenor sax 1/2 - bass
1 - baritone sax 1/2 - piano
4/5 - trumpets 1/2 - drum set and percussion
4/5 - trombones
3. Orchestra - designed specifically for students who play a stringed instrument. Many styles of music are studied within a wide variety of performance levels.
4. Wind Ensemble - designed for the wind instrumentalist who desires the highest level of musical challenge.
IV. AUDITIONS AND PERFORMANCE LEVELS
1. Concert Band – no audition necessary for membership. Membership is open to all students who play a wind or percussion instrument. Auditions are held during the first month of school to determine section leaders and seating. Members should be able to play all major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats and a one-octave chromatic scale by memory. Percussionists should be able to execute the thirteen essential rudiments. Students will also be asked to bring in and play a piece of music of their own choice. Sight-reading may be included.
2. Jazz Ensemble - this is a highly selective group (note instrumentation above). Auditions for membership and seating are held sometime during the first quarter of the school year. Students auditioning for this group should be able to play all major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats and a blues scale by memory. The audition also includes improvisation and sight-reading. Students will be asked to prepare a jazz excerpt available from the conductor.
3. Orchestra – no audition necessary for membership. Membership is open to all students who play a stringed instrument. Auditions are held during the first month of school to determine section leaders and seating. Students should be able to play all major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats. Students will also be asked to bring in and perform a piece of music of their own choice. Some sight-reading may be included.
4. Wind Ensemble - auditions for membership are normally held every spring previous to the upcoming new school year. Students should be able to play all major scales through 4 sharps and 4 flats and a 2-octave chromatic scale by memory. Percussionists need to know the 13 essential rudiments. The upcoming Western District audition piece is used as the audition music. Students will also be asked to sight-read. The results of these auditions are also used to determine section leaders and seating. Students in Wind Ensemble are required to take private lessons.
V. USE OF SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS
Most students own their own instruments, however, the school does provide instruments for students who have agreed to play a secondary instrument, or for students who play large instruments and find that transporting those instruments an unusual burden. These instruments include: tuba; baritone; French horn; soprano sax; tenor sax; baritone sax; alto and bass clarinet; piccolo; drum set; electric piano; bass keyboard; all percussion instruments; and string bass. In addition, there are a number of stringed instruments in our inventory which orchestra members may use in order to avoid transporting their instruments to school each day. Since there are not enough stringed instruments for the entire orchestra, the school instruments are used on a rotating basis decided upon by the section and section leader. The program also owns 4 pianos, which are available for student use.
VI. MUSIC AND FOLDERS
Each instrumental music student is provided with his/her own set of music, a music workbook, a folder, and a shelf in a cabinet to store them. The student must provide a pencil, which slides into a slot in the middle of the folder. Music is collected at the end of the school year. Students are charged 1 dollar for each piece of music not returned to the director. The workbook and folder, if lost, cost the student 5 dollars each.
VII. SOUND SYSTEM AND RECORDINGS
The department owns a complete sound system including CD player, cassette tape player, turntable, and amplifier. Students may use this equipment only with permission from the director. One of the main purposes of the system is to record and playback rehearsals. In addition, the department owns many recordings, located in room C, which students may use with the sound system or sign out for home use over a designated time period. Students may also use the computer workstations located in room C.
VIII. PRACTICE ROOMS
There are 3 practice rooms (A, B, and C) available to students. All rooms have tuners, metronomes, and pianos in them. Room C can be used as an ensemble rehearsal room due to its larger area.
IX. GRADING SYSTEM
A point system is used to determine a student's grade. The system is explained to the students during the first week of school. Each student is responsible for entering his/her own points on an Individual Point Record, which is kept in a notebook above the music cabinets.
Point System
50 - Performances - each performance grade is worth 50 divided by the number of performances each quarter.
100 - Teacher Evaluation - includes taped assessments for each concert.
50 - Self Assessment
50 - Private Lessons and/or extra work outlined by the teacher (separate handout)
25 - JazzEnsemble, Cantori, Accidentals,
25 - District, AllState, Outside Ensembles, etc.
-5 - Tardy/Disciplinary
Students receive 5 credits for their participation in the instrumental program. Only in extreme cases, and after consultation with the director and the guidance department, can the student elect a pass/fail grading option. Points needed to achieve various grades are as follows:
A - 250
B - 200
C - 150
D - 100
F - below 100
X. PRIVATE LESSONS AND PRACTICE
A listing of private teachers in our area for each instrument is located on the bulletin board. It is our recommendation that every instrumental music student study privately with an expert on his/her instrument.
Consistent practice is a must for the Longmeadow instrumental music student. Thirty minutes of practice per day is our minimum recommendation. Of course more practice will be needed/encouraged if a student is auditioning for district, all state, or is seriously considering music as a career.
XI. REHEARSALS
Rehearsals are the most important aspect of your musical experience, therefore, attendance is of the utmost importance. During the week preceding a major concert there will often be a full rehearsal in the evening to combine certain ensembles unable to meet together during school day and/or to utilize the stage in preparation for the concert. These rehearsals are announced well in advance and students are expected to make the necessary adjustments in their schedules to attend.
Every rehearsal will have clearly defined goals and objectives, written on the blackboard. Running through a piece of music normally serves little purpose and not every piece rehearsed will be performed. Provisions will be made, as part of the ensemble curriculum, to build music reading skills. Music literacy must be a priority.
XII. SECTIONALS
On occasion you will be asked to attend a sectional rehearsal outside of the normal school schedule, usually with a student leader. These are very important in that they provide time to isolate specific problems within a section without using the entire ensemble's time. Section leaders are appointed at the beginning of the year by the conductor, and have the musical responsibility for their section. If a student is having difficulty learning music, the section leader assists. On some occasions, the main rehearsal is divided into sectionals. The section leaders share the responsibility of running these rehearsals with the conductor. All section leaders meet with the conductor at the beginning of the year.
XIII. PERFORMANCE
Concerts are an elemental component in the instrumental music curriculum and function as an extension of the rehearsal experience. Concerts must be viewed as educational experiences rather than entertainment. All concerts begin at 7:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated.
PLEASE REFER TO THE “CONCERT DATES” TAB ON THE HOME PAGE FOR SPECIFIC DATES!
Chamber Music Concert
Brass Quintet; String Quartet; Woodwind Quintet; and other small ensembles of exceptional quality.
Fall Concert
Concert Band
Winter Concert
Wind Ensemble
Orchestra
Pops Concert
Jazz Ensemble
Symphonic Band - Concert Band and Wind Ensemble combined
Orchestra
Fine Arts Festival
Jazz Ensemble
Symphonic Band - Concert Band and Wind Ensemble combined
Orchestra
Major Works Concert
Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Spring Concert
Concert Band
Jazz Ensemble
A. Attending other concerts - students may be required to attend concerts in which they are not performing. Normally, this includes 3 concerts during the year. These concerts are discussed in class the following day and students are required to write an assessment/critique of them.
B. Subscription Tickets - these "discount passes" are sold at the beginning of the school year and entitle the owner admittance to all of our concerts.
XIV. CONCERT DRESS
Because the visual aspects of a concert are very important, no one will be permitted to perform in any concert unless he/she is dressed according to specific requirements set by the director. Unless stated otherwise, concert dress is as follows:
Boys - dark shoes, pants, white shirt, tie, sportcoat/suit.
Girls - dress or pant outfit of own choice. Some girls have begun to wear a traditional black dress or black pants to concerts, which is perfectly acceptable.
XV. FOOTBALL PEP BAND
policy to be announced
XVI. GRADUATION
All non-senior brass players from the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble are required to perform for graduation. Senior brass players have the option to perform with the brass choir and then sit with their class or to walk in with the graduating class. Three percussionists are also chosen. Dress is concert dress (see #14). Rehearsals are held during the school day, every day, for the week leading up to graduation. Graduation is a very important event and our music students are asked to adjust their schedules accordingly.
XVII. WESTERN DISTRICT/ALL-STATE/ALL-EASTERN
Instrumental music students may elect to audition for the Senior Western District ensembles. Freshmen have the option of auditioning for either Senior District or Junior District. The Massachusetts Music Educators Association (MMEA), a professional organization, runs this event. Our goal is, through auditions, to organize an orchestra, band, jazz ensemble, and chorus made up of the very best high school musicians throughout Western Massachusetts. Auditions for Senior District are normally held in November and for Junior District in December. Students who make Senior District rehearse one Saturday in January at the University of Massachusetts and perform in a concert the following Saturday at UMASS. Students who make Junior District rehearse on one Saturday in March at West Springfield High School and perform in a concert two Saturdays later.
Students who score very high in their District audition are also eligible to audition for All-State. All-State auditions are normally held during the last week in January. Students who make All-State attend a weekend of rehearsals and perform a concert sometime in March.
Students who score very high in their All-State audition are recommended for All Eastern. All Eastern, which includes 12 eastern states, is one of the highest goals our music students can achieve.
A complete listing of the audition requirements for each organization listed above is located at the bulletin board. Students are responsible for ordering and purchasing the audition material. We recommend that this is done very early in the year so that there is sufficient time to study and prepare the audition.
XVIII. TRIPS/FUNCTIONS
In addition to scheduled school performances, our curriculum includes options for traveling to competitions, festivals, and sometimes to other schools in order to broaden our student's musical experience. There is, purposely, no set pattern for where and what trips are made, for each year is different. These events are supported by the music fund, which includes monies collected through the Annual Citrus Sale (see #19), subscription ticket sale, and concert ticket receipts. Information about any trip is provided for the parent and student in detail and well in advance of departure.
XIX. ANNUAL CITRUS SALE
The Longmeadow High School Music Department organizes one fundraiser per year. This fundraiser has traditionally been the Annual Citrus Fruit Sale, normally held on the first Saturday in December at the high school auditorium. All music students are asked to sell at least $100.00 of citrus (oranges and grapefruit). The profits from this sale are used to offset transportation expenses that would arise traveling to competitions, festivals, and exchanges with other schools, and for the purchase of supplies not covered by the school budget. Materials and details about the sale are given to students in November.
XX. REPERTOIRE
To be announced in class.
