String Things
December 2017
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
An official pardon offortunity for practice log delinquency.
- Practice 240 minutes for each practice log missed
- Write the total number of minutes practiced on a sheet of paper with the number(s) of the Practice Log(s) to which they will be applying the minutes (I will NOT accept any emails or practice log submissions on the form). If you are submitting for more than one log, please list them separately on the same sheet of paper before turning it in.
- Get a parent/guardian signature on your sheet-- no sheets will be accepted without parent/guardian signatures. Parents/Guardians: by signing these sheets, you are verifying that your student has done the extra practice minutes they are claiming.
- Turn in the sheet by 2:30 pm on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. NO sheets will be accepted after 2:30 pm on December 12.
Also due on December 12 by 2:30 pm are any Daily Rehearsal Make Up Assignments. I will also accept any Concert Make Up Assignments from the Fall concert for up to 50% credit by this deadline. The directions for these assignments can be found on eClass and at mvhsorchestra.weebly.com. you will find a recap below.
For any PRACTICE LOG missed, numbers 1-6, I will take UP TO TWO logs for UP TO 70% credit:
- Practice 240 minutes for up to TWO practice logs missed
- Write the total number of minutes practiced on a sheet of paper with the number(s) of the Practice Log(s) to which they will be applying the minutes (I will NOT accept any emails or practice log submissions on the form). If you are submitting for more than one log, please list them separately on the same sheet of paper before turning it in.
- Get a parent/guardian signature on your sheet-- no sheets will be accepted without parent/guardian signatures. Parents/Guardians: by signing these sheets, you are saying that
- Turn in the sheet by 2:30 pm on Tuesday, December 12, 2017. NO sheets will be accepted after 2:30 pm on December 12.
For any DAILY REHEARSAL GRADE missed, Week 1-18:
- · Students will go to eClass or to http://mvhsorchestra.weebly.com/make-up-assignments.html and find the directions to the make-up assignment. Pay close attention to the formatting (font, size, and spacing) requirements listed in the directions.
- · Students will complete the make-up assignment as instructed and will turn them in to the dropbox on eClass by 2:30 pm on Tuesday, December 12, 2017
- · These assignments will be graded, as always, for content and grammar, and students may receive up to 50% credit for class dates missed before Thanksgiving Break (Weeks 1-15) and up to 100% for dates afterwards.
For any AFTER SCHOOL REHEARSAL missed, from November 13 or December 4:
- · Students will go to eClass or to http://mvhsorchestra.weebly.com/make-up-assignments.html and find the directions to the make-up assignment. Pay close attention to the formatting (font, size, and spacing) requirements listed in the directions.
- · Since these rehearsals lasted approximately two class periods worth of time, students will COMPLETE TWO DAILY REHEARSAL MAKE UP ASSIGNMENTS as a make up for each after school rehearsal missed.
- · Students will complete the make-up assignment as instructed and will turn them in to the dropbox on eClass by 2:30 pm on Tuesday, December 12, 2017
- · These assignments will be graded, as always, for content and grammar, and should include a link to the source material used.
I genuinely want every single person to get an A in orchestra. This is my way of helping you fix a mistake or bad choice, but I cannot bend any farther than this. Please help yourself by practicing in the next two weeks and turning in these make up logs.
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Call time for performers is 6:00 pm
House opens at 6:30 pm
Performance at 7:00 pm
Performances from Black & Gold, Concert, and Symphonic Orchestras!
Students in Chamber and Philharmonic Orchestras can attend this concert and write notes on the program for a chance to make up two daily rehearsal grades. These notes must be turned in on Friday, December 8 during class.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Call time for performers is 5:30 pm
House opens at 6:30 pm
Performance at 7:00 pm
Performances from Chamber and Philharmonic Orchestras and MV Band!
Students in Black & Gold, Concert, and Symphonic Orchestras can attend this concert and write notes on the program for a chance to make up two daily rehearsal grades. These notes must be turned in on Monday, December 11 during class.
Final Exams and Secret Santa
Study guides are up on eClass and students are encouraged to use them during the preparation for this exam! Answers to the questions on the study guide are posted as well. Any student who brings a COMPLETED study guide with them to their exam and turns it in when prompted will receive 10 bonus points on their Final Exam grade.
Here is the schedule:
FRIDAY, December 15, 2017:
- FIRST PERIOD (Black & Gold) 7:20 am - 9:20 am
- No more exams today! The rest of the day will follow a modified schedule!
MONDAY, December 18, 2017:
- FOURTH PERIOD (Symphonic) 7:20 am - 9:20 am
- SECOND PERIOD (Concert) 9:25 am - 11:25 am
TUESDAY, December 19, 2017:
- FIFTH PERIOD (No Orchestra Classes) 7:20 am - 9:20 am
- THIRD PERIOD (No Orchestra Classes) 9:25 am - 11:25 am
WEDNESDAY, December 20, 2017:
- SIXTH PERIOD (Chamber) 7:20 am - 9:20 am
- SEVENTH PERIOD (Philharmonic) 9:25 am - 11:25 am
We will do our Secret Santa gift swap after all exams are turned in in each testing block!
Auditions for 2018-2019!
Audition packets are already available on the Orchestra website. Auditions will be in Mid-January.
AUDITION RULES
1. In order of musical advancement, the orchestras offered are:
- Black and Gold
- Concert
- Symphonic
- Philharmonic
- Chamber (most advanced)
2. If you are already in an orchestra, you don't have to audition to stay in that orchestra.
3. Students in Black & Gold Orchestra will automatically move up to Concert Orchestra without an audition.
4. Students in Concert Orchestra will automatically move up to Symphonic Orchestra without an audition.
5. Students wishing to advance to PHILHARMONIC or CHAMBER Orchestras will have to complete ALL audition requirements and achieve an 85% or above on the audition rubric in order to be considered for placement in an advanced orchestra.
6. Students can skip as many levels as they want, so long as they achieve the necessary score on the audition. Ex: someone in Black and Gold can audition for Philharmonic and will be considered for placement if they reach the score cut-off (85%).
7. EVERY audition will require a short sight-reading passage. The music to be read will be appropriate for the ensemble the student is auditioning for. So a student in Concert orchestra who is interested in Chamber orchestra will have sight-reading that is on Chamber Orchestra's musical level.
These rules have been developed in an effort to promote objectivity in the audition process. That said, there is a certain level of musical and social maturity required for success in advanced ensembles (Philharmonic and Chamber, especially). If a student possesses the technical abilities for an orchestra, but lacks the maturity required of these advanced ensembles, that will factor into their placement.
Questions? Re-read the information above or check out the orchestra website (mvhsorchestra.weebly.com). Still have questions? Email Mrs. Betts!!
Concerto Competition 2018
Recital Format
Wednesday, February 28, 2018
3:00 pm
Orchestra Room
1. Must play one movement of a standard concerto which has orchestral accompaniment available for sale or rent.
2. Play one movement only (or a partial movement with a cadential stopping point).
3. Your piece should be memorized.
4. A piano accompanist is required. (this is different from last year)
5. If selected as the winner, the student will perform with the orchestra the movement of the concerto performed in competition.
6. Students will be adjudicated by professional judges. All decisions of the judges are final.
Students in attendance who are not auditioning may use the experience as up to TWO Daily Rehearsal Make Up Assignments!
Join MVOBA!
Join and get into the Winter Showcase or Symphony free!
All the money raised goes DIRECTLY to making orchestra an awesome experience for YOUR student! (Ask them about the Ice Cream Social! It was fun and FREE for them; provided by funds from membership fees! Ask about their favorite piece! It was purchased with money from membership fees!) We also offer a ton of awards at the end of the year, plus scholarships for music summer camps, cash rewards for our biggest honors, and a $500 scholarship in honor of a former student.
Every member family receives FREE admission to EVERY orchestra concert in which their student is playing the whole year! Ordinarily, tickets will cost $5 each!! PLUS, member students get discounted admission to other orchestra events (some are even FREE!) like the tailgate on October 14!!
Finals are drawing near!
<-------- That's a picture of a Christmas tree dressed as me. Paige T(ree) Betts.
Email: paige_betts@gwinnett.kq2.ga.us
Website: mvhsorchestra.weebly.com
Location: 2351 Sunny Hill Road, Buford, GA, United States
Phone: (678) 407-7632
Facebook: facebook.com/mvhsorch
Twitter: @mvhsorchestra