Orchestra

 

Crown Point Middle Schools

Orchestra Handbook

2023-2024 Col. Wheeler Edition

 

Dear Orchestra Family,

Welcome to one of the most rewarding activities that our school has to offer, ORCHESTRA! Being a member of the orchestra offers your child a wealth of opportunity in an environment that fosters a combination of teamwork, creativity, and leadership. 

Participating in an orchestra is enjoyable because it stresses quality and fun, but learning an instrument does not come overnight. The biggest challenge will be getting students to understand that sometimes the best rewards come only as a result of hard work, dedication, and practice as they grow from 6th through 8th grade. Your support and encouragement will make all the difference and will help them to learn this important lesson. 

At home practice is one of the most important ways to support your child. Many middle school-aged children do not have enough self-discipline to maintain a regular practice schedule on their own. Your help in setting up a time and place for your child to practice will be necessary to ensure your child’s success. An average of 20 minutes of practice per day is recommended. 

Finally, please remember that a three-way partnership between parent, student, and teacher is the key to a wonderful musical experience. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to connecting and growing together throughout the middle school orchestra years! 

 

Sincerely, 

Bethany Borgo and Kristen Hughes

Crown Point Middle School Orchestra Directors 

 

Bethany Borgo - Col. Wheeler Orchestra, bborgo@cps.k12.in.us
 

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT ORCHESTRA CONCERTS 

 

Orchestra is a co-curricular class that meets daily. This means that students in the orchestra class are required to participate in the following graded activities: after school rehearsals, sectionals, and concerts. These activities are considered an extension of the orchestra class. All rehearsal and concert dates will be given to students with plenty of notice. Although every effort will be made to avoid last minute schedule changes, dates, times, and locations are subject to change. 

If a conflict occurs, please be courteous and let the director know IN ADVANCE. Notice at least one week in advance is best, but the sooner the better in all cases. This will count as an excused absence and a make-up performance assignment will be assigned by the director to receive full credit. 

For all unexcused absences, and outside of school activities like club sports that students choose to attend instead of the co-curricular school orchestra event, students will be given the option to complete an alternate assignment for up to 75% credit. Failure to complete the assignment by the deadline will result in a 0%.

 

CMWS ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE DATES 

October 6th, 2023 - Halloween Spooktacular, 6:30pm, Wheeler Auditorium, Grades 6-8 

Students may dress in Halloween Costumes or school appropriate casual clothes for this performance. This concert is for a grade.

November 11th, 2023 - All Region Honors Orchestra, Goshen, for selected students only 

This event is for students selected by their director to represent Wheeler in a regional orchestra. More info TBA.

December 15th, 2023 - Holiday Strings Concert, 6:30pm, Wheeler Auditorium, Grades 6-8
Students will wear the orchestra uniform (black polo, black dress bottoms, black/dark weather appropriate shoes) students may also wear fun, holiday accessories. This concert is for a grade. 

February 3rd, 2024 - ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, Times/Location TBA
This event is only for students who sign up and pay the fee(s). This is not for a grade but for valuable life skills and musical experiences!

March 1st or 2nd, 2024 - ISSMA Jazz Festival, Times and Location TBA 

This event is for the Wheeler Chamber Orchestra Only. 

March 7th, 2024 - ISSMA Jazz/JME Concert, Wheeler Auditorium, 6:30pm, Grades 6-8
Students will wear the orchestra uniform (black polo, black dress bottoms, black/dark weather appropriate shoes). This concert is for a grade. 

March 8th or 9th, 2024 - ISSMA JME Festival, Times and Location TBA, Grades 6-8
This event is for a grade and students will wear the orchestra uniform. 

May 18th, 2024 - Taft/Wheeler 7-8 Grade BCO Great America Trip Info is TBA.

May 21st, 2024 - All City Orchestra Concert Dress Rehearsal, CPHS Auditorium, Grades 5-12

May 23rd, 2024 - All City Orchestra Concert, CPHS Auditorium, Grades 5-12 

This event is broken up into two performances, usually at 6pm and 7:30pm. This concert is for a grade and students will wear the orchestra uniform.   

 

CLASSROOM RULES AND PROCEDURES 

 

1. Be responsible: Be ready to play at the beginning of class. When you arrive, set-up, tune, and play. It’s that easy! Restroom needs should be taken care of during the passing period before class. Fingernails must be short enough to allow proper playing! Have your instrument, music, pencil, and device ready for every rehearsal. Students are responsible for submitting assignments and practicing their instruments as often as possible!

 

2. Be respectful and kind: For the benefit of all - talking and socializing stop when a director is on the podium or in front of the class. Be respectful of all people, materials, and equipment. We learn from each other when we listen with patience. We live by the golden rule. Orchestra is a family you take with you through high school!

3. Be safe, especially around the instruments: (NO RUNNING OR THROWING…..EVER!) Students that are caught willfully damaging school property (name etching or mistreating school equipment) will be charged for the repairs. Cell phones belong in lockers. Food belongs in the cafeteria. 

COMMUNICATION

 

In orchestra, we use Buzz, Email, Parent Square, paper handouts, Facebook, and the Wheeler BCO Website! 

https://wheeler.cps.k12.in.us/arts     https://www.facebook.com/CrownPointOrchestra 

 

MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA GRADING POLICY 

 

Orchestra is a co-curricular activity, which includes in-class work and after-school activities. Musical achievement is the primary element in grading and performances allow us the opportunity to demonstrate the result of a disciplined course of study and evaluate our progress. Academic grades are earned each nine weeks through daily classroom performance, completion of classroom activities, testing of instrumental materials, and participation in performances. The grading scale is a percentage based on the total number of points available each nine-weeks. The total number of points during a grading period will depend on the number of tests, after-school rehearsals, performances, and practice passport counted for that nine-weeks. 

Category Percentages: 

Assignments (SmartMusic, Worksheets) = 30%, Assessments (Tests/Quizzes, Playing Exams) = 30%, 

Concerts (Performances, Concerts) = 40% 

ASSIGNMENTS 

 

Policy on Late Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted with a penalty of 10% off per school day late for up to 5 days. After the fifth day, students may submit work for up to 50% credit. Work will be accepted up to 5 school days before the end of the quarter.

 

SMART MUSIC 

 

All middle school orchestra students will have access to SmartMusic. SmartMusic assignments are assigned on a weekly basis. The purpose of SmartMusic is to help students develop better practice habits outside of the regular orchestra class. This technology is really beneficial but not exactly perfect. It is very important that students communicate any problems they are having with their teacher so appropriate adjustments can be made.

 

CHAIR & PLAYING TESTS 

 

Chair placement tests will happen every quarter. Violins will be scored and separated between Violin 1 and Violin 2. All grades will rotate chairs throughout the year to experience playing in different parts of each section as needed. Playing tests will occur as needed throughout the year to assess skills. Some playing tests will be announced, others will not. Students will be objectively evaluated by the director in the following areas: note accuracy, rhythmic accuracy, intonation, bowing technique, tone quality, blend & balance, dynamics, interpretation & musicianship, and other factors like posture. 

 

UNIFORMS AND CONCERT DRESS

 

All grades will wear the orchestra uniform to concerts: black polo uniform shirt, black dress bottoms and black shoes (black socks too). Please avoid wearing black jeans, black leggings, yoga pants, or any type of active wear. Please also avoid wearing multi-colored sneakers. Incoming 6th grade students or students new to CWMS will need to order the polo uniform shirt. If your student is a 6th grader or needs a different size than last year, please indicate so on the last page of the handbook. We will be collecting payment for the polos soon.

 

INSTRUMENT REPAIR 

 

In the event that an instrument needs adjustment or repair, an attempt will be made to do so by the director. If the director is unable to repair the instrument, it may be sent in for an estimate at the request of the responsible party. If a string breaks on a student-owned instrument during tuning, the student is still responsible for the purchase of a new string. Rental instruments are the only ones that will have strings replaced for free. Rental instrument repairs or size exchanges will be resolved by Quinlan & Fabish Music Company 219-462-5086 or Plum Grove Music  (219) 696-5401.

 

BUYING AN INSTRUMENT 

 

Buying an instrument is a big step. Students should take their time and try several different instruments from various instrument makers. It may be tempting to buy an instrument outfit online, but those instruments are often more trouble than they are worth. Instrument brands like Cecilio, Mendini, and Palatino, are always too good to be true. Every one of these instruments will need new pegs, a new bridge, a new tailpiece, and new strings just to be made playable. Sometimes, string technicians refuse to work on them because of their low quality. PLEASE SEEK OUT A STRING PROFESSIONAL OR STRING TEACHER TO HELP YOU FIND A QUALITY INSTRUMENT. There are good instruments out there at good prices that won’t cost you more money in the long run. I would be happy to help you avoid getting the much dreaded “violin shaped object.” 

MUSIC BOOSTER ORGANIZATION 

 

This parent run support organization exists to promote interest in the music programs of the CPCSC; aid in funding equipment and expenses not met by the Board of Education; and to assist the directors in the maintenance of the music programs in the Crown Point schools. Parents of all music students are urged to become involved because every orchestra parent is automatically a booster! Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at CPHS in the orchestra room. Our first meeting is September 12th at 6PM. You can find more information about Boosters and a calendar of events at https://www.crownpointmusic.org/. 

 

ALL REGION ORCHESTRA 

 

All Region Orchestra is sponsored by the Indiana Chapter of the American String Teachers Association (INASTA). This event is open to any 7th and 8th grade orchestra student enrolled in a school orchestra program. All Region Orchestra is a fun way to meet and play with string students from all over Northern Indiana. Students that are accepted will receive music to practice about 4-5 weeks before the event. They will spend a Saturday, November 12th rehearsing with a special guest conductor, receive a shirt, and perform a concert at the end of the day. Applications will be sent home the second week of school. 

ISSMA EVENTS - Solo & Ensemble, Jazz, and Organizationals

 

The following ISSMA events are available to all students: Solo and Ensemble, Jazz, and JME Organizational. ISSMA S&E is a great opportunity for students to prepare a solo or music for a small group. All students are strongly encouraged to attend! Soloists will get music from their private teacher. If you do not have a private teacher, Mrs. Borgo will help you choose an appropriate solo to prepare, but this would be a great time to start taking private lessons! The Wheeler Chamber Orchestra is required to participate in ISSMA S&E and ISSMA Jazz Festival. The JME Organizational event is for all Junior and Middle School ensembles. The 6th, 7th, and 8th grade orchestra will each prepare 3 works to be evaluated. All students are required to participate in the ISSMA JME Organizational event.

WHEELER CHAMBER ORCHESTRA 

 

The Wheeler Chamber Orchestra will meet after school on Wednesdays from 3pm-4pm. This group is open to all Wheeler orchestra students, but primarily for students in grades 7-8. Students in the Chamber Orchestra must commit to performing at the ISSMA Solo Ensemble Festival in January and ISSMA Jazz Festival in March. A sign-up sheet will be available the second week of school. We are planning some more fun events and performance opportunities for this group!

PRIVATE LESSONS 

 

The Crown Point Orchestra Program is one of Indiana’s best public school music programs. This success is due in part to our students taking private lessons. The benefits of one-on-one instruction create an enormous advantage for all students. We are fortunate to have many highly qualified private teachers who travel to Crown Point and teach at our schools during mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Our private teachers are selected by CPHS Music Staff, have a college degree on their respective instrument(s), and have a track record in teaching young students. All are performing musicians and several are even college teachers and/or professional musicians. Depending on the teacher, the cost ranges from $15 to $25 per 30 minute lesson. 

PRIVATE LESSON TEACHER LIST 

 

Name	Instrument	Phone	Lesson Location
Susan Dembinski	Violin/Viola	219-629-2766	CPHS
Jacob Edwards	Violin/Viola	219-240-9655	CPHS
Maddie Edwards	Violin/Viola	219-384-2510	TBA
Kjell Sleipness	Violin/Viola	708-227-5242	CPHS, Home & Online
Kamen Vachev	Violin/Viola	773-865-0492	CPHS or Munster
Sean Lee	Violin/Viola	219-742-6332	Home in Highland
Ashley Bruinius	Cello, beginning violin/viola	219-671-1613	Home in Lowell, or CP
Mady Luczak	Cello	219-488-7318
Michael Ferraro	Cello	219-765-9565	CPHS Thursdays
Erin Gerig	Cello	219-309-6166	Valpo & Online
Pat White	Cello	219-884-0612	Her home in Merrillville
Andrew Anderson	Bass	219-690-3441	His home in Lowell
Amanda Kraupner	Bass	630-639-1880	CPHS Thursdays
HGS Music	Violin/Viola	219-310-8864	CP Music Studio
Lakeside Artists	All	info@lakesideartistsguild.com	Lowell Music Studio
Music of OZ	Violin/Viola	219-661-9191	CP Music Studio

 

If you do not feel comfortable contacting a teacher directly, please check the box on the page below and I will give your name and number to one of our private teachers.

CMWS ORCHESTRA PERFORMANCE DATES 

October 6th, 2023 - Halloween Spooktacular, 6:30pm, Wheeler Auditorium, Grades 6-8 Students may dress in Halloween Costumes or school appropriate casual clothes for this performance. This concert is for a grade.

November 11th, 2023 - All Region Honors Orchestra, Goshen, for selected students only This event is for students selected by their director to represent Wheeler in a regional orchestra. More info TBA.

December 15th, 2023 - Holiday Strings Concert, 6:30pm, Wheeler Auditorium, Grades 6-8
Students will wear the orchestra uniform (black polo, black dress bottoms, black/dark weather appropriate shoes) students may also wear fun, holiday accessories. This concert is for a grade. 

February 3rd, 2024 - ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, Times/Location TBA
This event is only for students who sign up and pay the fee(s). This is not for a grade but for valuable life skills and musical experiences!

March 1st or 2nd, 2024 - ISSMA Jazz Festival, Times and Location TBA 

This event is for the Wheeler Chamber Orchestra Only. 

March 7th, 2024 - ISSMA Jazz/JME Concert, Wheeler Auditorium, 6:30pm, Grades 6-8
Students will wear the orchestra uniform (black polo, black dress bottoms, black/dark weather appropriate shoes). This concert is for a grade. 

March 8th or 9th, 2024 - ISSMA JME Festival, Times and Location TBA, Grades 6-8
This event is for a grade and students will wear the orchestra uniform. 

May 18th, 2024 - Taft/Wheeler 7-8 Grade BCO Great America Trip Info is TBA.

May 21st, 2024 - All City Orchestra Concert Dress Rehearsal, CPHS Auditorium, Grades 5-12

May 23rd, 2024 - All City Orchestra Concert, CPHS Auditorium, Grades 5-12 This event is broken up into two performances, usually at 6pm and 7:30pm. This concert is for a grade and students will wear the orchestra uniform.   

The Crown Point Music Department offers Instrument Rentals through the Quinlan and Fabish Music Store as a convenience to our families. They have been in business for many years and have continued to provide excellent service to the Crown Point Music Programs. Quinlan and Fabish deliver to the school once a week. This includes Supplies (rosin, metronomes, tuners) and Instruments (including repairs).

While you may rent from any company, we feel the best value is from Quinlan and Fabish.  Quinlan and Fabish can be found at QandF.com. You can also reach the Valparaiso location at 219-462-5086. Our Rep usually delivers on Tuesdays. 

Music Rentals through Q & F feature their Maintenance and Replacement Coverage. This covers the instrument for all repairs (regardless of extent or frequency) and replacement if lost, stolen, or damaged beyond repair.