STUDENTS
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All students are expected to be on time for class each day.
All students are expected to be prepared to participate in class each day.
This means you must have your own instrument each day and have practiced
sufficiently to allow you to participate. Students should have extra strings in their
case at all times.
Students who do not have a lunch/study block may eat during the first 10
minutes of class. You must bring your lunch from home or purchase a bag lunch
from the cafeteria in the morning before school starts. No student will be allowed
to leave class to purchase food or drinks.
Students are expected to perform in all scheduled concerts and to attend
all scheduled rehearsals. I will always give at least two weeks advance notice if
there is a date change. The rehearsal schedule will be available the first week of
school and will be on the website as well. Please see me in advance if you have
schedule conflicts.
Music folders never leave the building. I will give you practice copies which
you make take home.
It is physically impossible to play a stringed instrument with long
fingernails on the left hand. Students are expected to keep their nails trimmed so
that the edges never extend beyond the finger pad. If students choose to “get
their nails done” for prom or ring dance, they will be allowed to play one day
without penalty for nails.
School work is a students’ first priority. Work schedules are not an
acceptable excuse for missing after school rehearsal.
Work missed due to an excused absence must be made up within one
week (3 class periods). Work missed during the week before a concert should be
made up BEFORE the concert.
All orchestra students are expected to perform at their highest level of
ability at every event, and to be good ambassadors for our school.
The concertmaster and section leaders of the group are expected to
project a positive and helpful attitude and to set a good example at all times for
others to follow.
Orchestra members are expected to follow directions given by the
concertmaster and their section leader, and to treat each other with respect.
All orchestra students are responsible for helping to keep the instrument
storage room neat and organized.
Students may NOT use other student instruments!
All orchestra students are expected to store their instruments in the
storage area during the day.
All students are expected to help with set up and take down before and
after concerts.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
Work notebook: Every student is required to have a 1-inch 3 ring binder
dedicated to orchestra. The binder should contain at least 10 clear sleeves to
hold music. This notebook is where students will keep all practice copies as well
as announcements and information to go home. Students must have this
notebook in class every day. This notebook should not be part of another class
notebook!
Extra strings are a necessity. If a string breaks, students must have a
replacement. All violin players should have an extra A and E, Violas should have
extra A, D.
Pencils must be on the music stand for every rehearsal and available for
marking practice copies. Students will not earn full participation points if they are
not equipped for rehearsal.
Concert attire is very specific. For the ladies, it is the performance dress,
BLACK hose, and FLAT, closed-toe black dress shoes. This does not include flip
flops or sandals. For the gentlemen, a tuxedo includes a tie, cummerbund or
vest, black socks and BLACK dress shoes. Students will not receive full concert
points if they are not completely dressed in the outfits we have chosen. In some
cases, a student may not be allowed to perform with the group.
Assessment of Student Performance
This grading scale is designed to reflect student effort, participation and work
habits. No student is graded against the performance skills of another student. In
other words, anyone can receive an A for working hard!
The grade scale is a 1000 point scale. The break down is as follows:
Performances earn 200 points
Participation earns 300 points
Quizzes earn 300 points
Classwork/Practice/after school 200
Earning points:
To earn full performance points: Student must report on time and dressed in full
concert outfit on the evening of the concert and participate fully in the
performance.
To earn full class participation points: Student must have their instrument, bow,
pencil, rosin, shoulder rest, extra strings, and orchestra notebook every day.
Equipment should be accessible. (Pencils on stand, notebook out.) In addition,
for any after school rehearsals students must be on time and stay for the entire
rehearsal to receive full credit.
To earn full quiz points: Student may replay any quiz taken up until the last class
during the week prior to concert week. Each time a student replays, they get to
keep the highest grade. It is the responsibility of the student to schedule replays.
It is the responsibility of the student to keep track of their grade. No grades will
be negotiated after the last replay day.
If a student is excused from a performance:
• excused means there was a death in the immediate family (verified by obit)
• suddenly ill (verified by Doctor note the following day)
• family emergency (case by case, note from parent to verify)
• prior approval by administration is excused, but student must present
signed approval paperwork one week before absence so that the make-up
assignment can be given.
• The student will either come to class in concert dress and perform the
concert music in class for a grade or write a 4-6 page paper on a musical subject
selected by the instructor. The paper must be turned in immediately following the
approved absence (no more than one week following the concert) . If the absence
was due to emergency, the student will consult with Ms Alley and a reasonable
deadline for the make up will be set. The paper is to be typed, double spaced,
12pt font, one inch margins and all sources noted on the final page. Papers that
do not meet these guidelines will automatically be given the lowest passing grade
(70).
If a student is unexcused from a performance they will receive no points.
Unexcused includes :
• forgetting
• not planning a ride in advance
• family schedule conflicts
• work schedule conflicts
Students who arrive after the report time (depending on actual arrival time) may
not be allowed to perform and will receive 150 points only.
Students may earn bonus points for: stage crew, ushering and catering at the
performances.
After the performance is over, no grade will be negotiated.
94-100=A
86-93=B
78-85=C
70-77=D
69 and below=E
Class Participation Rubric
300 Points possible points each quarter or approximately 10 points per day plus
additional points for notebook and music folder checks. Students can earn the full
ten points each day they:
• Are on time to class and are in their seat ready to begin on time(+2)
• Have all equipment(+6)
• Are not disruptive during and fully participate during rehearsal(+2)
• Students who forget their instrument can still earn points for the day by
doing assigned work. It is the student's responsibility to see Ms Alley and ask for
a work assignment, complete it and turn it in at the end of class. Otherwise no
points will be awarded for that day.
A (282-300) Superior Effort. Student is well prepared for rehearsal, practices
regularly and participates fully for the entire rehearsal.
B (258-281) Excellent Effort. Student works consistently to improve skills,
practices fairly regularly and participates full for entire rehearsal.
C (234-257) Good Effort. Student works most of the time to improve skills. Has
forgotten their instrument or notebook once or twice and sometimes does not
give their full attention in rehearsal.
D (210-233) Fair Effort. Student often is not prepared for rehearsal and does not
practice regularly. Often does not pay attention in rehearsal and frequently does
not have equipment and or instrument.
E (209 or less) Poor Effort. Student is not actively participating in many aspects of
the rehearsal and often disturbs students around them.
In Class Performance Rubric Concert/Intermediate Orchestra
Quiz/Test 300 points
94-100 Superior improvement in performance. Clear evidence of focused and
careful practice. A very consistent, excellent performance. Achieved musical effect
fluently.
86-94 Excellent performance. Clear evidence of careful practice. A few pitch or
rhythmic mistakes. Achieved musical effect fairly consistently.
78-86 Good performance. Some practice is evident but not enough to secure a
solid performance. Several pitch or rhythm problems. Attempted to achieve some
aspects of musical effect.
70-77 Fair performance. Little evidence of careful practice. Many pitch or rhythm
problems. No evidence of attention to musical effect.
69-and below Poor performance. No evidence of practice. Immature tone quality.
Many pitch and rhythm mistakes. No attention to musical effect.
Concert Orchestra Performance Grade Rubric
For all quizzes, tests and performances:
A (94-100) Superior intonation, correct rhythm, superior articulation and style
Symphonic quality tone, achieved musical effect fluently.
B (86-93) Excellent intonation (1-2 pitch wavers), slightly unsteady rhythm in
a few places, less mature tone, articulation and dynamics.
Achieved musical effect fairly consistently.
C (78-85) Good intonation, unsteady tempo and rhythm, inconsistent style and
articulation. Immature tone. Attempted to achieve musical effect.
D (70-77) Fair intonation. Tempo and rhythm are erratic. Little evidence of
Articulation, dynamics and style.
E (69 and below) Poor intonation. Extremely inconsistent rhythm. Erratic Tempo.
No evidence of style or articulation.
Quizzes may be replayed until the week prior to concert week. It is the
responsibility of the student to ask for a replay.
The word descriptors follow the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association
and the Virginia Music Educators Association designations for performance
evaluation.
Intermediate Orchestra Performance Rubric
A (94-100) Superior effort. Student is well prepared for rehearsal, practices
regularly and participates fully for the entire rehearsal.
B (86-93) Excellent effort. Student works consistently to improve skills, practices
fairly regularly and participates fully in the entire rehearsal.
C (78-85) Good effort. Student works most of the time to improve skills. Has
forgotten instrument or notebook once or twice, sometimes does not give full
attention in rehearsal.
D (70-77) Fair effort. Student often is not prepared for rehearsal and does not
practice regularly.
Often does not pay attention in rehearsal and frequently does not have
instrument.
E (69 and below) Poor effort. Student is not actively participating in any aspect of
rehearsal.
