E.W.

Mulligan High School

Orchestra
Student Handbook
2014 - 2015

Ms. Emily Thomas, director

phone: (434)-981-3465
email: emilymthomas10@gmail.com
www.mulliganorchestra.com
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Welcome!
Welcome to another great year with the Mulligan High School Orchestra! We
have many exciting plans for the orchestra this year and are glad that you have
decided to join us!

This handbook contains information on the following: the orchestra calendar,

rehearsal rules, required orchestra materials, grading policy, attendance policy,
concert policies, routines and procedures, travel and fundraising, and extra
credit opportunities. Please use this handbook to answer any questions you may
have about the orchestra program. If there are further questions not answered
by the handbook, please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Thomas at
(434)-981-3465, or email her at emilymthomas10@gmail.com.

Please read carefully through the handbook and return the contract on the last
page to Ms. Thomas, completed and signed by both the student and parent. It
is important that if there are any scheduling conflicts with the concerts dates
listed in the calendar that Ms. Thomas be notified in writing by September 17th.
Please keep the remainder of the handbook in your orchestra binder.

I hope you are as thrilled as I am to start making music together!

Sincerely,

Ms. Thomas

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MHS Orchestra Calendar

Required Events:
Thursday, October 30th, 7:00pm: Halloween Full Symphony Concert
MHS Auditorium
Thursday, December 5th, 7:00pm: Winter Concert
MHS Auditorium
Wednesday, February 2nd, 1:00pm: Recruiting Concert
Cochran Elementary School, Scribner Elementary School
Saturday, March 29th, 2:00pm: District Assessment
MHS Performing Arts Center
Friday, April 13th-15th, 9am-10pm: Boston Fiestaval Trip
Thursday, May 17th: Spring Concert
MHS Auditorium
Afterschool rehearsals: TBA

Report time for performances is 6:30pm

Students will be graded on concert attendance and dress.
Please notify Ms. Thomas in writing by Sept. 17th of any conflicts you have with any concert
dates.

Additional Important Dates:

August 21st September 1st, 3:45-4:45: MHS Bass Camp
September 8th: District Honors Orchestra Auditions
October 7th-8th: District Honors Orchestra Event and Concert
January 6th: Senior Regional Orchestra Auditions
February 19th-20th: Senior Regional Orchestra Event and Concert
April 10th: Senior Solo Auditions
April 27th, 7:00pm: Virginia Symphony Concert

Upon the return of your orchestra contract, you will automatically be added to the
MHS Google Calendar

MHS Orchestra Rehearsal Rules

For our team to be successful, we will
1. Be in our seats and ready for rehearsal within three minutes of the bell.
2. Wait to be dismissed before leaving our seats or the classroom.
3. Remain quiet during tuning and instruction.
4. Raise our hands before speaking or leaving our seats.
5. Keep our hands, feet, and objects to ourselves.
6. Refrain from bringing gum, food, or drinks into the orchestra room.
7. Maintain a positive environment where we are free to be creative and make
mistakes.
8. Be respectful of all people, instruments, and property.
9. Follow all school rules.
10. Respect the team, and give 100%!
Consequences:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Warning
Student/Teacher Conference
Student/Parent/Teacher Conference Call
Office Referral and Parent Call

* All disciplinary infractions will be recorded in the behavior log.

** Teacher reserves the right to skip any step.

MHS Orchestra
Class Materials
You will need the following materials for orchestra class each day:
1. Instrument
Violins and violas will bring their instruments from home each
day
Cellos and basses are available to use during class if one is
provided for home practice
2. Essential Elements 2000 Method Books with accompaniment CD
for your instrument by Allen, Gillespie, and Hayes
6th grade: books 1 & 2
7th grade: book 2
8th grade: books 2 & 3
3. Pencil (no pens!)
4. Accessories:
Violins/Violas: shoulder rest, Strad Pad (optional)
Cellos/Basses: rock stop
Soft cloth for wiping instruments
Violins/Violas: pencil pouch for shoulder rest (optional)
Rosin
5. Three Ring Binder including
Any sheet music or handouts given out by Ms. Thomas
This student handbook!
* You will need a music stand for home practice and other special
events.

E.W. Mulligan High School

Concert Orchestra
Grading Policy
2014 - 2015
Ms. Thomas
1. Participation & Preparedness (30%)
It is of the utmost importance that students come prepared to class, and participate in class
activities. Students will receive a weekly grade for participation and preparedness based on a 100
point system. Each student starts with 100 points for the week. If the student is present,
participates in class and brings all necessary materials to class, then the student keeps his or her 100
points. A list of possible deductions is as follows: no instrument (-25 points), no shoulder rest (-10 points),
no music (-5), no pencil (-2).
2. Concert Attendance (20%)
Students must attend all orchestra concerts and performances. There will be at least one
major performance per nine weeks. Excused absences include deaths in the family, extreme illness
(documented by a doctors note), and major scheduling conflicts (family wedding, bar mitzvah, etc.).
Written notice must be given no later than September 17th. Unexcused absences cannot be madeup. Concert dress must be worn to each concert (Girls: black concert dress, black dress shoes. Boys: tuxedo,
bow tie, cummerbund, black socks, black shoes.)
3. Spot Checks (20 %)
In lieu of practice records, students will perform weekly spot checks, by sections, stands,
or individually. These quick spot checks will cover areas of the piece that need the most work, the
exact location of which will be disclosed by Ms. Thomas at the beginning of the week. Unlike
playing tests, spot checks may not be made up, as the goal of these checks is to ensure that the
student is improving by practicing at home.
4. Playing Tests (20%)
Students will perform individual playing tests (two-three per nine week grading period) on
pieces being performed in the upcoming concert or on supplementary material. A student may ask
re-take his or her playing test by scheduling an appointment during lunch or after school if not
satisfied with the initial grade. The students will be allowed to re-take their playing tests until they
achieve a satisfying grade because the goal of the playing test is to master the material.
5. Written and Listening Exams (10%)
One written and one listening exam will be given every nine weeks. The written exam will
consist of terminology and music theory material that will be discussed during class. The listening
exams consist of two parts. In anticipation of part one of the listening exam, a Spotify playlist will
be shared with the students at the beginning of the nine weeks, including specific pieces from one
musical era. The students are expected to listen to the pieces throughout the nine-week period. At
the end of the nine weeks, the students will be expected to identify each piece of music by ear
during the listening exam. On the second part of each listening exam, students will be expected to
recognize and differentiate intervals by ear.

Attendance and Concert Policy

Rehearsal Attendance
Daily rehearsal participation accounts for 30% of each students grade. If a
student misses class he or she can choose to complete an extra credit
assignment to regain the participation points.
Concert Attendance
Each orchestra student is required to attend and participate in all concerts.
Students will be graded on their attendance and appropriate dress. The MHS
orchestra is a team and cannot perform effectively without all of its members.
Every musician is important to a successful performance! Excused absences
include: extreme illness, death in the family, unpreventable emergency, or a
prior commitment, of which Ms. Thomas has been notified, in writing, by
September 17th . Unexcused absences cannot be made-up for any reason.
Concert Dress
Ladies:
Black dress*
Black or nude hose, or black dress socks
Black dress shoes (no sneakers)
Gentlemen:
Tuxedo*
White dress shirt*
Bow tie & cummerbund*
Black socks
Black dress shoes (no sneakers)
*Included with uniform

Students who fail to meet the requirements of the dress code will not be
allowed to participate in the concert, and will therefore receive a grade of zero
for that performance.

Ms. Thomass Routines and Procedures

E.W. Mulligan High School Orchestra
Student Entry and Exit
Student will enter the room and unpack their instruments with cases against the back wall
Students should be in their seats no later than three minutes after the bell (when the "A"
sounds)
When the A plays through the stereo, it is time be quiet, tune and start rehearsal
Those who are not in their seats by the time the A sounds will be entered in the behavior
log for tardiness
Students will wait to be dismissed by section
Unpacking
Students will store backpacks and cases against the back walls of the classroom in an
orderly fashion and travel directly to their seats
Students should bring only their instrument, music folder, and pencil to their seats
Leaving the Room
Only one student may leave the room at a time to visit the water fountain, bathroom,
nurses office, etc.
Instrument Storage Room
Students should exit the instrument room immediately upon retrieving their instruments
The instrument storage room should be kept clean and organized at all times
Instruments are to be kept on the racks, never on the floor
No food or drinks are allowed in the instrument room
There will be no horse play in the instrument room
No Instrument or Music
Students with no instruments will borrow a spare from the school, if available, but will still
lose participation points
If no instruments are available, student will air-bow and finger their parts or submit written
notes on what was worked on in class
Students with no music will use a school copy and leave their shoe on the podium, to be
collected upon return of the music at the end of rehearsal

Travel and Fundraising

Our travel includes, but is not limited to:
Community Performances
Recruiting Performances
Team-building Trips
Over-night Spring Trip

One of the highlights of the school year is our spring trip. In

recent years, the MHS Orchestra has won top honors in New
York City, Disney World, and Myrtle Beach.
This year, we are going to Boston, Massachusetts!
Travel with the orchestra is exciting and worthwhilebut it costs
money! Thankfully, the MHS Orchestra Parent Boosters provide
excellent opportunities for students to earn their trip. Our major
fundraisers happen in the fallselling concessions at MHS
football games, washing cars and selling poinsettias. Please
take advantage of these opportunities when they occur, and
dont wait until January then ask when our next fundraiser will
happen!

Extra Credit Opportunities

Participation points can be earned through extra-credit by pursuing
the following assignments (up to 15 points):
Audition for Senior Regional Orchestra (5 points)
Participate in SRO (10 points)
Participate in local youth orchestra (10 points)
Attend a professional / university performance (3 points)
bring program to Ms. Thomas within three days of the concert
Orchestra help (1-3 points)
filing music, setting stage, etc
just ask; there is always plenty to do!
Create a composers Facebook page (5 points)
see Ms. Thomas for guidelines
Write a 32 measure two-part composition in Finale Notepad (10
points)

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MHS Orchestra Contract

2014-2015
Your Copy
I am familiar with the orchestra handbook. I am aware of the requirements in the following areas:
Please initial on the left.

____ Required Classroom Materials

____ Practice records are due every three weeks
____ Grading Policy
____ Concert attendance and uniform are graded. Excused absences must be
requested in writing by September 17th.
Student Name_________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name(s) ________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________
Home Phone ______________________ Work Phone __________________
Parent/Guardian email ___________________________________________
Student email __________________________________________________
Conflicts (give details of exact dates and times):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Parents! Are you interested in being a part of the MHS Orchestra Parent Booster Club?
Yes, I would love more information !

No, thank you.

______________________________
Student Signature

_____________
Date

______________________________
Parent Signature

_____________
Date

Please complete, sign, and return this form by September 17th.

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MHS Orchestra Contract

2014-2015
Ms. Thomass Copy
I am familiar with the orchestra handbook. I am aware of the requirements in the following areas:
Please initial on the left.

____ Required Classroom Materials

____ Practice records are due every three weeks
____ Grading Policy
____ Concert attendance and uniform are graded. Excused absences must be
requested in writing by September 17th.
Student Name_________________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name(s) ________________________________________
Address______________________________________________________
Home Phone ______________________ Work Phone __________________
Parent/Guardian email ___________________________________________
Student email __________________________________________________
Conflicts (give details of exact dates and times):
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Parents! Are you interested in being a part of the MHS Orchestra Parent Booster Club?
Yes, I would love more information !

No, thank you.

______________________________
Student Signature

_____________
Date

______________________________
Parent Signature

_____________
Date

Please complete, sign, and return this form by September 17th.

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