4TH GRADE ORCHESTRA HANDBOOK BISMARCK PUBLIC SCHOOLS

2015-2016

Contents Welcome! ............................................................................................................................................................................. 0 Orchestra Events ................................................................................................................................................................. 1 Today! Wednesday, April 1st: Demonstration and Tryouts ................................................................................... 1 Tuesday, April 7th: Parent Information Night ............................................................................................................ 1 August 10th-20th: Beginner Orchestra Camp ............................................................................................................ 1 Frequently-Asked Questions ............................................................................................................................................. 2 How do we sign up for orchestra? .............................................................................................................................. 2 How does my child select an instrument, and how do I know which one they selected? ................................. 2 How do we go about getting an instrument and supplies for my child?............................................................. 2 When do classes start in the fall? ............................................................................................................................... 3 How much time should students dedicate to practice? ............................................................................................ 3 Can my child begin practicing his/her instrument before Orchestra Camp? ..................................................... 3 What are the benefits of being in orchestra? .......................................................................................................... 3 Supply List ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Private Lessons Teachers ................................................................................................................................................... 4 Contact Us ............................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Rental Stores ........................................................................................................................................................................ 4 Share the Music Frequently-Asked Questions ................................................................................................................ 5 What is Share the Music? .............................................................................................................................................. 5 Who qualifies?................................................................................................................................................................ 5 How do I get my instrument? ........................................................................................................................................ 5 What if my child quits orchestra or moves away? .................................................................................................. 5 What if my Share the Music instrument needs repair? ............................................................................................ 5 Who do I call for questions? ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Share the Music Application Form .................................................................................................................................... 6 4th Grade Orchestra Registration Form ......................................................................................................................... 7

Welcome! Join orchestra! Being an orchestra member is a great way to meet other kids, to be part of something greater than the ordinary, and to arrive at your senior year able to play an instrument and play it well. We support each other and help each other, and we work together to become better players. We work hard, and have a great time in the process! 4th graders do not need any prior knowledge of instruments or playing experience in order to be in orchestra. Our classes are beginner lessons and students learn all the fundamentals needed to make music with their instrument in this first year. Students, we can promise that if you are willing to put a little effort into good practice, you will gain rewards beyond what your life would be without orchestra. You will make good friends, have fun, and with practice, make great gains in your musical abilities. Consider joining orchestra this year. We look forward to having you in our class!

Orchestra Events Today! Wednesday, April 1st: Demonstration and Tryouts Current 3rd graders traveled to their future middle school and listened to the middle school orchestra and Strolling Strings perform. They tried the instruments after the performance with the guidance of experienced players. We offer: violin, viola, cello, and bass. Our local rental stores can rent violin, viola, and cello, but if your child chooses bass, please contact one of us to rent your child’s bass.

Tuesday, April 7th: Parent Information Night Parent Information Night will be held at Bismarck High School in the Lynch Gym. Information Sessions will be 4:00-4:30, and 5:005:30. The same information will be presented at each session, so come when you can. We discuss need-to-know information about our program. You will also have a chance to meet our local vendors, and our orchestra staff will be present to answer any questions you may have. If you cannot attend the Parent Information Night and have questions, please contact us.

August 10th-20th: Beginner Orchestra Camp Orchestra Camp is required as a prerequisite to joining orchestra. It is a 9-day (weekdays only) camp held at Horizon Middle School. There are two sessions you can choose from. Our morning session is from 9:00-11:30 AM, and our afternoon session is from 12:30-3:00 PM. Both sessions teach the same material, and students will be placed with an instructor who specializes in their choice instrument. Group lessons last for one hour, then students have music theory and music technology, culminating in a large group rehearsal. If your child cannot attend this camp, please plan to have he/she take private lessons over the summer or attend a make-up camp. Orchestra Camp is the equivalent of a semester’s worth of study, and joining without the benefit of attending the camp would make the experience less enjoyable and more difficult. The sign-up is located on the orchestra registration form. 1

Frequently-Asked Questions How do we sign up for orchestra? There is a registration form attached to this document. Fill it out, sign, and turn in to the music teacher at your child’s school. The music teacher will place it in our mailboxes and we will send it on to our Fine Arts Coordinator.

How does my child select an instrument, and how do I know which one they selected? On April 1st, students tried the instruments in which they were most interested. The most important task is for the student to find the instrument they would be most successful with and one they would enjoy playing. Since stringed instruments are made to fit children of any size, physical characteristics are not usually taken into consideration. Once you and your child have visited about joining orchestra, your child can make his/her selection on the registration form.

How do we go about getting an instrument and supplies for my child? Rental Stores: we have three great rental stores in town, and you will be able to visit with them on April 7th. After that, you may arrange for your child to be sized, and the instrument and supplies to be delivered to the August Orchestra Camp. We encourage delivery rather than pickup, to avoid inexperienced players damaging the instruments and premature development of bad habits. Family-owned: if you have a family instrument at home, please make sure it is appropriatelysized to your child. Playing an instrument that is too large can hurt your child’s physical development, and make it harder than necessary to play correctly. Please also have it checked by a string repairman to make sure it is in working order. Buying: we don’t recommend buying an instrument at this time, since your child typically has more growing to do, and fractional-sized instruments aren’t easy to resell. If you are set on purchasing an instrument, please visit with us to help you make your selection, and please do not buy from online stores. There are a lot of look-a-likes out there, and they are not made with the best of care. If it looks like too good of a deal, it often is!

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When do classes start in the fall? At the start of the school year, you will be notified by your child’s orchestra teacher, either through PowerSchool email or by a note sent with your child. Classes usually start after the first day of school, when schedules are finalized. Class lessons are twice a week for 30 minutes. Due to the requests of administration, some schools may hold classes before the start of school, but most will hold class during the school day.

How much time should students dedicate to practice? We will be learning many new techniques at the camp, so we recommend 15 minutes a day, broken into chunks, to avoid fatigue. It is fun to play, but it’s also tiring at first! Once students have become more comfortable, those chunks can be extended until the student can play for 15 solid minutes. Practice is what allows orchestra to remain fun and fresh, and good practice makes for a great musician. Your children may need some encouragement and reminders to practice.

Can my child begin practicing his/her instrument before Orchestra Camp? We discourage renting the instrument and taking it home to practice before camp starts. Many times students develop bad habits and damage the instruments out of ignorance. Instead, we recommend that you arrange for the instruments to be delivered to the camp.

What are the benefits of being in orchestra? There are many, many benefits to playing an instrument in orchestra! Being a musician develops discipline and responsibility through practice. Playing music requires the use of all seven of the human brain’s intelligences, all at the same time. Multiple studies show that students who engage in practicing and playing an instrument traditionally do well in their classes and score higher on standardized tests. Here is what most students care about: orchestra is fun! There’s a lot of personal pride for students learning how to play songs, and the fun is added when students make friends in orchestra class. We have great concerts planned over the course of the school year, so you can hear your child’s progress. 3

Supply List 

Instrument (appropriately-sized to student)



Violins/Violas: sponge or shoulder rest



Cellos/Basses: rock stop



Clean, soft cloth (to wipe off fingerprints and dust)



Music stand (meant for home use, not usually used at school)



Pencil (to write in the orchestra book and music)



4th Grade: Sound Innovations, Book 1 (specific to instrument)

Private Lessons Teachers Violin/Viola: Emily Robinson (471-0354), Dana Van Heukelom (226-7367), Nora Salveson (471-1092), Michelle Harmstead (751-7104), Everaldo Martinez (806-474-6129), and Tara Bohlen (471-7555) Cello/Bass: Jeremy Overbeck (223-2666), and Ron Steininger (220-5525)

Rental Stores

Contact Us

Eckroth Music

Scott Neumann

http://www.eckroth.com/

Miller, Murphy, Pioneer, Sunrise

1655 N Grandview Lane

[email protected]

Bismarck, ND 58503 701-223-6707 Jacobson Music http://jacobsenmusiconline.com/ 204 E Main Ave Bismarck, ND 58501 701-223-7392

Dana Van Heukelom Bismarck HS, Moses, Myhre, Prairie Rose, Solheim, Wachter MS [email protected]

Beth Fiedler Will-Moore [email protected]

Lindsey Tafelmeyer Voskuil Violins http://voskuilviolins.com/ 1002 N 8th St Bismarck, ND 58501 701-222-3777

Centennial, Grimsrud, Highland Acres, Liberty, Lincoln, Northridge, Roosevelt, Saxvik [email protected]

Jeremy Overbeck Century HS, Horizon MS, [email protected]

Abby Walker Legacy HS, Simle MS, [email protected]

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Share the Music Frequently-Asked Questions What is Share the Music? Share the Music is a program that was started through the BPS foundation in 2014 to provide instruments for students in financial need. These instruments have been made available by many former musicians around the Bismarck/Mandan area. The donated instruments are first sent into the repair shop for maintenance and then loaned to students for the duration of their time in orchestra.

Who qualifies? Students that are in financial need and want to be in orchestra can fill out an application for Share the Music. The application is found on page 6. It must be returned by May 1st to the student’s elementary music teacher. Then, the application will be sent to a committee for review and applicants will know by May 29th if there is an instrument available to them.

How do I get my instrument? If you have qualified for an instrument and have been told you will be receiving one, the instrument will be delivered to your child at Orchestra Camp, or it will be delivered to your child’s school on the first day.

What if my child quits orchestra or moves away? Because our district foundation owns the instrument, the instrument must be returned to the school before a student moves, or if he/she chooses to quit orchestra. Instruments can be left with the child’s current orchestra director.

What if my Share the Music instrument needs repair? The Share the Music program will repair instruments for students if the repair is due to regular use of the instrument. If an instrument is damaged due to misuse or lack of care, the student and/or family will be responsible for damages.

Who do I call for questions? You can call Dana Van Heukelom at (701) 323-4650 ext. 5659, or Shawn Oban at (701) 323-4240.

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Office Use Only

Share the Music Instrument Scholarship

Instrument: _____________

Application Form – Due May 1st

Serial #: _____________ Date: ________________

Completed by parent or guardian Student Name: ____________________ Age: __________ Grade: ___________ Current School: _____________ Future Middle School: __________________ Instrument Choice: 1st_____________ 2nd____________

3rd_____________

Parent/Guardians: __________________________________________________ Address: __________________________ City/State/Zip __________________ Phone Numbers: __________________________________________________ E-Mail: _________________________________________________________ This request is based on the availability of instrument requested. The student is responsible for the instrument. The instrument must be returned to school if:  Student moves out of the district.  Student attendance reaches 15 days absent before February 1st.  The instrument is damaged.  At the end of each school year.

Parent/guardian signature: ______________________________ Date: _______ Please return to music teacher Completed by school The student above has expressed in receiving an instrument from the Bismarck Public School’s Share the Music program. Please check all that apply: ____The student qualifies for free or reduced meal program. ____The student is officially enrolled in our school. ____The student has demonstrated a good work ethic in class. ____The student is responsible young person who will show respect for the instrument. ____The student has good attendance. Yes

No

Elementary Principal Signature: ________________________________________

Approved:





Classroom Teacher Signature: _________________________________________

Approved:





Elementary Music Teacher: ___________________________________________

Approved:





4th Grade Orchestra Registration Form Please complete this registration form and return to your school before April 22nd. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY. 

Student Name: ___________________________________________________________________ School: ___________________________ Circle your instrument choice:

VIOLIN

VIOLA

CELLO

BASS

Parent(s) Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________ Street: ________________________________________ City: __________________ Zip: ___________ Home Phone(s): ______________________________ Cell Phone(s): ____________________________

Summer Orchestra Camp Registration Form Summer Orchestra Camp takes place August 10th-20th, Horizon Middle School, located at 500 Ash Coulee Dr. Please check one of the following: ________ Summer Camp Morning Session - 9:00-11:30 A.M. or ________ Summer Camp Afternoon Session - 12:30-3:00 P.M. or ________ my child cannot attend these camps and will be taking private lessons over the summer

My child is on: IEP_________ Please mark with an “X” if applicable.

504___________

Health Plan__________

Parent(s) signature: ____________________________________________________________________