Introduction
Welcome to the Cedar Falls High School Orchestra! This information is for the members of the orchestra and their parents, and it will cover information necessary for the success of this organization. Included is information on concert uniform requirements, grading, lessons, required concert attendance dates and other important information with regard to the CFHS orchestra.
I hope your experience in the orchestra at Cedar Falls High School is exciting and rewarding. The success of the orchestra depends on all of us working together to make the CFHS Orchestra the best it can be. We have the wonderful opportunity to perform great musical literature from world-renowned master composers! We are all lucky to have this opportunity and bring this wonderful music to life together. I am honored to work with you this year!
I wish you every success as a member of the Cedar Falls High School Orchestra!
-Mr. Naumann
Gradebook Explanation
The gradebook is split into 5 parts: Rehearsal Participation, Lessons, Concerts, Playing Tests, and Employability. Each of the first four parts are weighted at 22.5% of the grade, and employability is weighted at 10% of the grade.
Rehearsal participation is a grade that goes in once per semester. If students are attentive in class, not constantly disrupting, and have all their materials every time, students will receive a 4. If students are constantly forgetting instruments, don’t have a pencil or other important materials, fail to keep their fingernails trimmed, or other items that prevent them from fully participating in class, this grade can be reduced. Every effort should be made by students to be at rehearsals and be attentive the entire time.
Lessons are required sporadically throughout the school year. Lessons are taught in groups of students who are in the same section. Lessons are 15 minutes long and take place in the orchestra room with Mr. Naumann. Students will have to miss some of their class to attend these lessons, but the schedule will rotate through class periods so students do not miss the same class more than once. If a student misses a lesson, they can schedule a make-up anytime up until the concert that the lesson took place immediately before. After that time, the lesson can no longer be made up.
Concert grade is given based on students ability to show proper concert etiquette and playing abilities. When students are not performing but are instead a part of the audience, they should be respectful audience members who don’t talk, clap when appropriate, and do not distract from others. When students are on stage, they are to be playing the music to the highest ability to contribute to a positive and high quality performance. Students should also show professionalism throughout the concert, both in the audience and on stage. Students are only excused from concerts if they are sick or there is a major family event or family emergency. Parents must notify Mr. Naumann in advance of the absence if it follows one of these allowed excused absences. If a student misses for any other reason or does not communicate ahead of time, the student will receive a 1 and will not be allowed to make-up the grade.
Playing tests will be given out once per concert, four times a year. The test will usually be assigned two weeks after the music has been handed out, and students will usually get 2 weeks to complete. Students will record themselves on the playing test selections and submit them via schoology. Playing tests will also help determine where students sit in the concert. If a student gets a grade due to a mistake or an omission in the playing test, they can make this up for the grade in the gradebook as long as it's completed within one week of Mr. Naumann notifying the student via email.
Employability has two parts, concerts and playing tests. Employability for concerts simply states that students will arrive on time for all performances. Students will have to initial a sign-in sheet before the specified time to get the grade. The employability deadline is usually 30 minutes before the start of the performance. Playing test employability is a grade based on turning in the playing test on time. While students can submit the test late for credit, they will not be able to make-up the employability grade if it is turned in late.
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to make every effort to make it to the high school orchestra room before the bell rings. If students feel their classroom is too far, they can talk with Mr. Naumann, but should still make an effort to get to class as quickly as possible. Tuning will happen two minutes after the bell rings, or when announcements are done, whichever happens later. Students who are not in their seats ready to tune at that time will be marked tardy.
Students should work the entire class and be fully engaged in the music. Side conversations about other music they are working on, other classes they are taking, or other events happening outside of school can be distracting for others. Students should do their best to refrain from leaving the classroom as much as possible. Unlike in many other classes, missing orchestra can have an effect on others, so students should do everything they can to be in class every day.
Students should only have water while in rehearsal. Any snacks, gum, or non-water liquids are not allowed and should not be consumed during class. No technology should be present with the exception of the beginning of class if students are trying to tune their instrument. All phones, chromebooks, headphones, earbuds, or other electronic devices are distracting to class. Students using these items could be referred to the office following the high school’s cell phone/technology rules.
Proper Materials
For the orchestra to be successful, all students must have the proper materials every day for class. These include a working instrument, a bow, rosin, shoulder rest for violins and violas, chair straps/rock stops for cellos and basses when on stage, a cleaning cloth, music, and a pencil. Not having all of these things can cause students to lose points in the rehearsal participation grade.
Suggested items to have in addition to above include a damp-it or humidifying device for the instrument and an extra set of strings in case a string breaks. Mr. Naumann is always willing to help attach a new string to a student’s instrument if they do not feel comfortable doing so.
Concert Attire
For most concerts, students should dress up in all black clothing. Below are some examples of proper concert attire:
Black collared dress shirt, black pants, black dress shoes, and long black socks.
Black dress that goes past the knee when sitting with black dress shoes/flats/heels.
Black dress shirt, black skirt that goes past the knee when sitting, and black dress shoes/flats/heels.
Minimal jewelry is allowed as long as it is not distracting. Long ties, bow ties, jackets, or other items that can add to these options are fine as long as they are all black.
Sweatpants, yoga pants, leggings, t-shirts, or other more casual clothing are not proper concert attire. Black or nude tights are allowed when appropriate under pants, skirts, or dresses. If students ever have concerns about their concert attire options, please talk with Mr. Naumann.
If any families need financial assistance in acquiring concert attire, please talk to Mr. Naumann privately. Kindly give at least two weeks notice before a concert if this applies.