Intermediate Orchestra Syllabus (Showbie: EEFJ8)
The MPI Intermediate Orchestra is geared toward students who have had at least one year (and maybe 4+ years) of playing experience on a violin, viola, cello, or bass. In rare cases, students are allowed to play a similar instrument for the first time in this class such as viola switching to violin or cello switching to bass, but this will only be allowed with the permission of the teacher and in most cases, students who switch instruments will be required to take Beginning Orchestra. The goal of the Intermediate Orchestra is to prepare students for Advanced Orchestra. The students will be expected to learn the following:
I. Instrument Technique
a. Fluent playing in first, third, and fifth positions plus harmonic extensions
b. Tuning without a tuner
c. Vibrato on all fingers
d. Fluid shifting to first, third, and fifth positions
II. Note Reading
a. Reading notes up to your highest string harmonics including all chromatics
b. Playing rhythms up to 16th note values and syncopation
c. Reading/playing rhythms up to 12/8 time
d. Knowing note names and fingerings for all positions learned in class
III. Concert Etiquette
a. How to act as an appreciative audience
b. How to perform in a concert
c. How to evaluate a concert
IV. Playing the following scales in 2 octaves
a. F, Dm, Gm, Bb, C, Am, G, Em, DBm, A, F#m, E, Cm
b. Chromatic scale from G
V. Music from level .5-4.5
Provided you accomplish all of the above AND you pass the audition, you will be promoted to Advanced Orchestra. I would highly recommend all students in this class to take private lessons so they can make it to Advanced Orchestra.
Supplies
Sheet music and books for this class will be supplied by MPI. The daily supplies for Intermediate Orchestra are as follows…
General Supplies (To be purchased by students):
All students must have an instrument for class. If you have your own instrument, please bring it every time you have orchestra class. If you do not own an instrument, MPI has instruments for you to rent for $125 a year and $25 for the summer. Please pay your fees to the MPI School Store across from Bakken.
The instrument should consist of a case, the actual instrument, a bow, rosin, shoulder rest (violin/viola) or chair strap (cello/bass). All rented instruments should have these items however if you lose or break the items, you will be charged for it. Here are the cost breakdowns:
Rosin- $5
Shoulder Rest- $25
Chair Strap- $14
Bow- $100-$500
Instrument- $500-$2500
iPad Apps:
Orchestra Uniform
Students will need to purchase their own orchestra uniforms to be worn at concerts. For Beginning and Intermediate orchestra students, your uniform for concerts will be as follows...
Grading Breakdown
24% Weebly Online Portfolio:
Students are expected to document their participation in class through an online portfolio that they will keep using an app called Weebly. Within this portfolio, students will document and track the following
Students are expected to perform in all concerts they are assigned to play. The dates and information for these concerts will be posted in My Pueo. Please keep track of these dates. This is worth 35% of the student’s grade and acts as a final exam for the class. It would be impossible to pass orchestra without attending the concert. You must have a VERY good excuse for missing a concert such as a death in the family or hospitalization. In these cases, you will be allowed to do a makeup however if you do not have a legitimate excuse, you will receive a zero for this grade.
The makeup for the concert is as follows:
The student will play their part of the concert as a solo for their peers, Mr.Masaki, and one of the other band directors or performing arts faculty or administration. Your peers will give you 25% of the grade and the teachers will give you the other 75% of your grade.
Believe me when I tell you it is easier to just play the concert. In addition, part of concert participation includes being in the proper dress code and following proper etiquette. Be sure you are aware of what the concert attire is. Coming to the concert with improper attire will count as a missed concert! Your behavior at the concert is also important since you represent the orchestra program and MPI. Improper behavior at all events will result in lowered grades and additional penalties.
Included in this grade is a large, after school rehearsal that is held before the concert (usually on a Friday). Intermediate Orchestra students are expected to attend any and all after school rehearsals prior to the concert. There are usually 1-2 night rehearsals (Usually held on a Wednesday or Thursday before a concert). These rehearsals are important since they will help you prepare for your presentation of leanring.
20% Projects:
There will be a fair number of recorded projects that will need to be added to your portfolio. These projects will often be short video recordings that will need to be added to your online portfolio. Students will be given a list of projects that they need to complete by a given date and will have time in class to prepare and record these projects until the student is satisfied with their work.
10% Quizzes/Homework:
All of the homework in Intermediate Orchestra is optional and will not be graded. The homework will help a student do well on their quizzes and the instructor will go over the homework if there are any questions. Quizzes in Intermediate Orchestra will often be done in the Tenuto app which almost acts as a game that students can do to learn music notes. As students progress, during the year, they will be asked to learn a wider range of notes and identify which finger(s) correspond to those notes on their instrument.
11% Folder:
Your orchestra folder is worth 11% of your grade. Your folder should be a 1", black, three ring binder with sheet protectors in it. You will keep all of your sheet music in this folder. If you cannot get a folder like this, you may purchase one from Mr. Masaki for $3.
Numeric Grading Breakdown
A= 93-100
A-= 90-92
B+= 87-89
B= 83-86
B-=80-82
C+= 77-79
C= 73-76
C-= 70-72
D= 60-69
F=59 and below
To get an A+ in orchestra, you must go beyond what is expected of you in class. This could be a number of things. Ask Mr. Masaki if you have any questions.
I. Instrument Technique
a. Fluent playing in first, third, and fifth positions plus harmonic extensions
b. Tuning without a tuner
c. Vibrato on all fingers
d. Fluid shifting to first, third, and fifth positions
II. Note Reading
a. Reading notes up to your highest string harmonics including all chromatics
b. Playing rhythms up to 16th note values and syncopation
c. Reading/playing rhythms up to 12/8 time
d. Knowing note names and fingerings for all positions learned in class
III. Concert Etiquette
a. How to act as an appreciative audience
b. How to perform in a concert
c. How to evaluate a concert
IV. Playing the following scales in 2 octaves
a. F, Dm, Gm, Bb, C, Am, G, Em, DBm, A, F#m, E, Cm
b. Chromatic scale from G
V. Music from level .5-4.5
Provided you accomplish all of the above AND you pass the audition, you will be promoted to Advanced Orchestra. I would highly recommend all students in this class to take private lessons so they can make it to Advanced Orchestra.
Supplies
Sheet music and books for this class will be supplied by MPI. The daily supplies for Intermediate Orchestra are as follows…
General Supplies (To be purchased by students):
- Pencil
- 1" Black Folder with at least 10 sheet protectors (available for purchase from Mr. Masaki for $3)
- Essential Elements Method Books 1-3
All students must have an instrument for class. If you have your own instrument, please bring it every time you have orchestra class. If you do not own an instrument, MPI has instruments for you to rent for $125 a year and $25 for the summer. Please pay your fees to the MPI School Store across from Bakken.
The instrument should consist of a case, the actual instrument, a bow, rosin, shoulder rest (violin/viola) or chair strap (cello/bass). All rented instruments should have these items however if you lose or break the items, you will be charged for it. Here are the cost breakdowns:
Rosin- $5
Shoulder Rest- $25
Chair Strap- $14
Bow- $100-$500
Instrument- $500-$2500
iPad Apps:
- iStrobosoft (tuning app) $9.99
- Tenuto (quiz/drills) $3.99
- Avid Scorch (Sib. File Player) $1.99
- Weebly (Website Creator) FREE
- Acapella (Recording app) FREE
- Showbie (Document app) FREE
Orchestra Uniform
Students will need to purchase their own orchestra uniforms to be worn at concerts. For Beginning and Intermediate orchestra students, your uniform for concerts will be as follows...
- A white, collared shirt (it can be short or long sleeved) (A white sweater/jacket is NOT considered a shirt)
- Black, long, dress pants (jeans, jeggings, spandex, are NOT allowed)
- Black covered shoes
Grading Breakdown
24% Weebly Online Portfolio:
Students are expected to document their participation in class through an online portfolio that they will keep using an app called Weebly. Within this portfolio, students will document and track the following
- Ability to perform notes in tune (Intonation)
- Demonstrate rhythm counting (Performance)
- Track Tenuto progress (Theory)
- Record short musical examples (Performance)
- Evaluate Musical excepts (Evaluation)
Students are expected to perform in all concerts they are assigned to play. The dates and information for these concerts will be posted in My Pueo. Please keep track of these dates. This is worth 35% of the student’s grade and acts as a final exam for the class. It would be impossible to pass orchestra without attending the concert. You must have a VERY good excuse for missing a concert such as a death in the family or hospitalization. In these cases, you will be allowed to do a makeup however if you do not have a legitimate excuse, you will receive a zero for this grade.
The makeup for the concert is as follows:
The student will play their part of the concert as a solo for their peers, Mr.Masaki, and one of the other band directors or performing arts faculty or administration. Your peers will give you 25% of the grade and the teachers will give you the other 75% of your grade.
Believe me when I tell you it is easier to just play the concert. In addition, part of concert participation includes being in the proper dress code and following proper etiquette. Be sure you are aware of what the concert attire is. Coming to the concert with improper attire will count as a missed concert! Your behavior at the concert is also important since you represent the orchestra program and MPI. Improper behavior at all events will result in lowered grades and additional penalties.
Included in this grade is a large, after school rehearsal that is held before the concert (usually on a Friday). Intermediate Orchestra students are expected to attend any and all after school rehearsals prior to the concert. There are usually 1-2 night rehearsals (Usually held on a Wednesday or Thursday before a concert). These rehearsals are important since they will help you prepare for your presentation of leanring.
20% Projects:
There will be a fair number of recorded projects that will need to be added to your portfolio. These projects will often be short video recordings that will need to be added to your online portfolio. Students will be given a list of projects that they need to complete by a given date and will have time in class to prepare and record these projects until the student is satisfied with their work.
10% Quizzes/Homework:
All of the homework in Intermediate Orchestra is optional and will not be graded. The homework will help a student do well on their quizzes and the instructor will go over the homework if there are any questions. Quizzes in Intermediate Orchestra will often be done in the Tenuto app which almost acts as a game that students can do to learn music notes. As students progress, during the year, they will be asked to learn a wider range of notes and identify which finger(s) correspond to those notes on their instrument.
11% Folder:
Your orchestra folder is worth 11% of your grade. Your folder should be a 1", black, three ring binder with sheet protectors in it. You will keep all of your sheet music in this folder. If you cannot get a folder like this, you may purchase one from Mr. Masaki for $3.
Numeric Grading Breakdown
A= 93-100
A-= 90-92
B+= 87-89
B= 83-86
B-=80-82
C+= 77-79
C= 73-76
C-= 70-72
D= 60-69
F=59 and below
To get an A+ in orchestra, you must go beyond what is expected of you in class. This could be a number of things. Ask Mr. Masaki if you have any questions.