Required Supplies and Equipment
- Instrument – your own or rented. Only use this instrument. Never anyone else’s.
- Shoulder Rest – for VIOLIN and VIOLA players to prevent neck injury.
- Rock Stop – for CELLO and BASS players to prevent instrument slippage.
- Rosin – a few swipes a day will do the trick. ($_.__)
- Mute – in case the music says con sordino. ($_.__)
- Microfiber Cleaning Cloth – wipe the rosin off your instrument each day you play.
- New Strings – need to be replaced each year and sometimes more frequently.
- New Bow Hair – like car tires that go bald, bow hair needs to be replaced every year.
- Three-Ring Binder – for music (included in New Student Fee)
- PENCILS – never use pen in your music.
- Music Stand – for practicing at home and performances away from school.
- Brookwood Orchestra Formal Uniform (included in New Student Fee)
- Brookwood Orchestra Informal Uniform (Bronco Orchestra polo and jeans)
- Short Fingernails – so you can play in tune!
Calendar / Important Dates
Be sure to check out the Calendar page and find the performances for your orchestra.
You can even sync with our brookwoodorchestra@gmail.com Google Calendar!
Dates in BOLD are required.
You can even sync with our brookwoodorchestra@gmail.com Google Calendar!
Dates in BOLD are required.
Attendance
Attendance is required at every rehearsal – Rehearsals take place every day during your orchestra class period, and occasionally after school hours or weekends. Required out-of-class activities, as stipulated by the teacher, will determine a portion of the student’s grade (GCPS policy).
- Students must be present for 70% of rehearsals to be eligible to perform in the upcoming concert. If a student fails to attend the minimum required amount of rehearsal (excused or unexcused), he or she will not be permitted to perform with the orchestra at the concert and an alternate performance will be assigned – attendance at the concert is expected and required.
- MiniCamp is a required outside-the-school-day rehearsal in preparation for LGPE. Depending on your orchestra, you may be in rehearsal after school on Friday or on Saturday.
- Failure to attend MiniCamp will result in a grade of zero. In the event of an excused absence, students have five school days to perform their part for the class as a make-up assignment for a grade of up to 89%.
Attendance at concerts is required – Check the calendar for when your orchestra is performing.
- Photo Attendance will be taken at the pre-announced arrival time prior to each concert. Students not present in the photo may receive performance credit if present but will lose Punctuality Points from their Concert Professionalism Grade.
- Failure to attend a concert will result in a grade of zero. In the event of an excused absence, the student will have five school days to perform their part for the class for a grade up to 89%.
- Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE) is a required performance that takes place away from Brookwood High School. The weekend and location is on the calendar, however, please reserve the entire weekend as we will not know our performance times until February.
- Failure to perform at LGPE will result in a grade of zero. In the event of an excused absence, students have five school days to perform their part for the class as a make-up assignment for a grade of up to 89%.
Excused Absences and Make-Up Assignments - Alternate assignments may be allowed for students with absences due to the following reasons:
- Personal illness or attendance in school endangering a student’s health or the health of others. (In case of an emergency, a written note must be provided within five school days of the absence to be excused.)
- A serious illness or death in a student’s family necessitating absence from school.
- A court order or an order by a governmental agency, including pre-induction physical examinations for service in the armed forces, mandating absence from school.
- Celebrating verifiable religious holidays necessitating absence from school (with advanced notice).
- The cancellation of school by GCPS due to conditions rendering attendance impossible or hazardous to student health or safety.
- A period, not to exceed one day, is allowed, at the discretion of the local unit of administration, for registering to vote or voting in a public election.
Student Progress
Students will receive Progress Reports at the 6-week and 12-week mark during each semester and will receive a Report Card at the conclusion of each semester. Student grades are available on the Parent Portal and eClass. Students and parents are advised to check the academic progress of students throughout the semester. Parents may request access to the Parent Portal by visiting the Brookwood High School Main Office. Students who do not meet the academic requirements of passing their classes may be assigned mandatory Academic Intervention which meets during Extended Lunch periods.
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Maroon and Gold Orchestras,
Concert Strings and Symphonic Strings Classroom (35% total)
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Philharmonic Orchestra and
Chamber Orchestra Classroom (35% total)
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Rehearsal Skills – Students will receive points for each of the following categories: Punctuality, Preparedness, Participation, and Professionalism. Points may be deducted for the following reasons:
Playing Tests – Students will be asked to perform alone and with others excerpts from their concert music and assigned technical exercises. Students will be assessed in the following categories:
Assignments – Assignments in class and online are designed to prepare students for written exams, such as the SPG. Point break-downs and rubrics for these will be present at the time of assignment.
SPG – Students in Maroon and Gold Orchestras, Concert Strings and Philharmonic Orchestra will take a pre-test at the beginning of the school year and a post-test towards the end of the school year in an effort to measure growth of knowledge required in the AKS. The tests contain 30 identical multiple choice questions. Students will complete this assessment on school computers. These post-test scores will account for 5% of the student’s grade.
Concert Professionalism – Students are expected to be well-prepared for concerts, arrive on time and behave in a professional manner.
Concert Performances – Performance Quality as gauged by the Directors or, if all Playing Tests have been passed, a student may earn the grade of 100.
Performance Midterm and Final Exam – Students will perform an etude or piece of music for the directors to demonstrate mastery of a skill required for their orchestra class. Tone, Rhythm, Articulation, Pitch and Expression are always important but special attention will be focused on the development of new skills.
Final Exams – The written final exam will be administered on the scheduled final exam day for each class period. These multiple choice questions will relate to the AKS as stated for each orchestra.
- Punctuality – absent, late, packing up early
- Preparedness – no instrument, no music, fingernails are too long
- Participation – not participating, doing other work, sleeping
- Professionalism – talking, causing a disruption, phone is out
Playing Tests – Students will be asked to perform alone and with others excerpts from their concert music and assigned technical exercises. Students will be assessed in the following categories:
- Tone – bow usage (Weight, Angle, Speed, Placement)
- Rhythm – pulse is steady, note and rest durations as presented in the music
- Articulation – each note is “pronounced” as indicated in the music
- Pitch – notes are correct and well in tune
- Expression – dynamic levels are obvious, appropriate, consistent and contrasting
- Artistry – perform with creative nuance and appropriate style
Assignments – Assignments in class and online are designed to prepare students for written exams, such as the SPG. Point break-downs and rubrics for these will be present at the time of assignment.
SPG – Students in Maroon and Gold Orchestras, Concert Strings and Philharmonic Orchestra will take a pre-test at the beginning of the school year and a post-test towards the end of the school year in an effort to measure growth of knowledge required in the AKS. The tests contain 30 identical multiple choice questions. Students will complete this assessment on school computers. These post-test scores will account for 5% of the student’s grade.
Concert Professionalism – Students are expected to be well-prepared for concerts, arrive on time and behave in a professional manner.
Concert Performances – Performance Quality as gauged by the Directors or, if all Playing Tests have been passed, a student may earn the grade of 100.
Performance Midterm and Final Exam – Students will perform an etude or piece of music for the directors to demonstrate mastery of a skill required for their orchestra class. Tone, Rhythm, Articulation, Pitch and Expression are always important but special attention will be focused on the development of new skills.
Final Exams – The written final exam will be administered on the scheduled final exam day for each class period. These multiple choice questions will relate to the AKS as stated for each orchestra.
Academic Knowledge and Skills
CREATING
1. Improvise, Compose, and Arrange music withing specified guidelines
PERFORMING
2. Perform a varied repertoire of music on instruments, alone and with others
3. Perform, Read, and Notate music
4. Demonstrate instrument care and maintenance
5. Exhibit awareness of tuning mechanics
RESPONDING
6. Listen to, Analyze, and Describe music
7. Evaluate music and music performances
CONNECTING
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
9. Understand music in relation to history and culture
1. Improvise, Compose, and Arrange music withing specified guidelines
PERFORMING
2. Perform a varied repertoire of music on instruments, alone and with others
3. Perform, Read, and Notate music
4. Demonstrate instrument care and maintenance
5. Exhibit awareness of tuning mechanics
RESPONDING
6. Listen to, Analyze, and Describe music
7. Evaluate music and music performances
CONNECTING
8. Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts
9. Understand music in relation to history and culture
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Maroon Orchestra
Gold Orchestra |
Concert Strings
Symphonic Strings |
Philharmonic Orchestra
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Chamber Orchestra
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Academic Honesty
All students are expected to abide by the Brookwood Honor Code. Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or mislead a teacher in arriving at an honest evaluation of student achievement. Cheating is inexcusable conduct and will be dealt with strictly. Students and parents should refer to the Student Agenda Book for more information on cheating, plagiarism, and sloppy scholarship. ANY electronic device visible during ANY assessment can be considered cheating.
Procedures, Rules and Consequences
Rehearsals in the Orchestra Room
- Come immediately to your seat after you enter the orchestra room.
- Attendance will be taken at the sound of the tardy bell. Students not present or not in their assigned seat at this time will lose Punctuality Points.
- Announcements. Listen quietly as the directors share reminders and new information.
- Joys and Concerns. Students have time to share with the class.
- Stretch and Unpack. Daily neck, shoulder and arm stretches are encouraged for string musicians. Students will have time to stretch and socialize but are expected to return to their seats, ready to focus with instrument, music, and pencil.
- Meditation and Tune. Start from silence and listen first.
- Technique-focused Warm-Ups including exercises from Habits of a Successful String Musician by Chris Selby (included in New Student Fee).
- Rehearse Concert Music. This will change day to day depending on what we need to work on.
- Pack up. The Director will dismiss students to unpack with at least one minute left in class. Students should not stand or leave rehearsal until dismissed.
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Orchestra Room Rules
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Consequences
Students who fail to abide by Orchestra Room Rules or otherwise cause a disruption to the learning and music-making environment will be asked to leave.
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Concerts at school are either in the Lindahl Performing Arts Theatre or in the Commons.
- Concert times are listed in this handbook, on our Google Calendar, accessible through e-Class, and are posted on the board in the orchestra room.
- LGPE is at Lanier High School. Performance times will be announced as soon as possible. Please do not schedule other events for the LGPE weekend.
- Performing students are expected to arrive and sign-in at least 30 minutes prior to concert time.
- LGPE call times for each orchestra will be announced.
- Concert etiquette: Let others enjoy the musical performance undisturbed. Respectful attentiveness is required at performances. Phone use is highly distracting to those around you.
- Students seen using their phones during performances, whether on-stage or as audience members, will be subject to a letter-grade deduction per offense.
- Clean up. Do not leave your instrument, music or other personal items in the Commons or Theatre. Please help stack chairs and stands onto the racks. BOLT can take it from here.
Digital Citizenship
Being responsible stewards of electronic devices and practicing digital citizenship are important skills for students. Students are extended the privilege of possessing and using electronic devices on school grounds during classroom instruction when explicitly authorized and supervised by the classroom teacher during that specific class period. It is expected that students unplug when speaking to any adult. Students must be able to respond to an adult when spoken to.
Electronic devices should not be used in the following situations:
Violations of the electronic device policy will result in consequences as determined by the administration. Upon request, failure to surrender a device to an administrator or staff member may result in additional disciplinary consequences, including Out of School Suspension. At the third violation, the electronic device will be confiscated and the parent/guardian must collect it. Exceptions, changes, and additions to the Brookwood High School Electronic Device Policy may be made by the Principal or his/her designee for specific reasons. Brookwood High School is not responsible for loss or theft of electronic devices. It is the responsibility of the student to secure these items of value.
Electronic devices should not be used in the following situations:
- To film or take pictures of others without their consent
- In a way that can cause disruption or distraction to the learning environment
- Assessment - Any electronic device visible during any assessment may be considered cheating.
Violations of the electronic device policy will result in consequences as determined by the administration. Upon request, failure to surrender a device to an administrator or staff member may result in additional disciplinary consequences, including Out of School Suspension. At the third violation, the electronic device will be confiscated and the parent/guardian must collect it. Exceptions, changes, and additions to the Brookwood High School Electronic Device Policy may be made by the Principal or his/her designee for specific reasons. Brookwood High School is not responsible for loss or theft of electronic devices. It is the responsibility of the student to secure these items of value.
Practice
prac·tice noun, verb, prac-ticed, prac-tic-ing
The repeated performance or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring skill or proficiency.
The repeated performance or systematic exercise for the purpose of acquiring skill or proficiency.
Because this is an ensemble class, the lack of participation by one student affects all other students in the class. Just as other teachers require students to do their homework, regular practice is expected from every orchestra student [and we can tell if you have or have not been practicing]. To be a learning, contributing member of the Brookwood High School Orchestra, you will need practice. Failure to do so can also result in a loss of chair placement as well as lower grade.
You will play as well as you practice.
The smarter you practice, the better you and our orchestra will be.
Difficult measures, lines or passages must be carefully analyzed. Play each passage slowly at first, over and over until it is learned. Then bump the metronome up one notch and do it again. Playing entire pieces through without carefully focusing on trouble spots is a waste of time.
Honor Orchestra Opportunities
By being enrolled in orchestra at school, Brookwood Orchestra students are eligible to audition for honor orchestras in Gwinnett County and the Atlanta area. Participation in other orchestras broadens the student's musical experiences and gives the student an opportunity to meet other students from across the county and the state who also share a passion for performing music. The following is a list of honor orchestras Brookwood Orchestra students have performed with in previous years. If you do not see your orchestra here, please let us know so we can add it to the list!
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Gwinnett County Youth Symphony
and Kendall Orchestra Gwinnett Symphony Youth Orchestra Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra |
All-State OrchestraFebruary 28 - March 2, 2019
(March 5-7, 2020) (March 4-6, 2021) The Classic Center 300 North Thomas Street Athens, Georgia 30601 |
Private Lessons
It is strongly recommended that all students take private lessons if at all possible. We provide quality orchestra instruction in class but those that take private lessons improve at a quicker pace and gain a stronger command of their instrument. This one-on-one attention from a professional is vital for students wishing to master a musical instrument.
The Catherine R. Hudnall Honorary Scholarship
Each year, students may apply and audition for the Catherine R. Hudnall Scholarship. The purpose of this scholarship is to assist students' pursuit of music education. Cash prizes may be used for private lessons, summer music camps, etc.
