Documents

Please see below for the syllabus for the school year, which includes grading and concert attendance policies

Mission Statement

Music is an innate and essential part of what makes us human and connects us with each other. We strive for engaged and holistic musical learning in our ensembles that will not only enrich each student’s experience at Einstein, but will enrich their life in Middle School and beyond. We will learn, explore, and create music together every day in our music classes and look forward to sharing music with the community in a variety of performance opportunities throughout the year.


What will I learn in Orchestra?


♩ How to learn:

  • Right and left hand technique/skills - How to play varying styles of bowings, articulations, fingering patterns, and style techniques.
  • Music theory and history - Learn to wonder and ask smart questions: where does this music come from? What is it doing? Why might it be doing that? Gain musical knowledge so you can unlock the answers.
  • Music literacy - How to read and write music so you can be an independent musician! This can be difficult but is important and rewarding work. Being able to read the notes on the page gives you ownership over your music-making beyond the notes on the page.

♩ How to perform:

  • With our instruments- How can we use our instruments to communicate and connect? How can we play to share music and its power/beauty with others?
  • Together as a team - How is playing in orchestra different than playing alone? Being in an ensemble means making music with others. This gives you added responsibility as a member of the orchestra - every member is counting on you for instrumental, physical, and moral support in class and at concerts.
  • With pride for our community - Play with pride because you have something unique and meaningful that is worth sharing. Support others as we share music together with friends, family, and our community!

♩ How to discover:

  • Your own innate musicianship - We are all singers. We are all musicians.
  • The power of your voice - Everyone has a voice and each voice is valued! Discover yours.
  • The connections - Music has the unique power to connect us to people, times, places, and cultures beyond ourselves.
  • The importance of music in our lives and our communities - How does music feed your spirit? Help you to express who you are? How does music enrich our lives and our relationships with each other?

♩ How to develop:

Self-confidence Perseverance Leadership Professionalism Self-expression

Where does learning take place?

Class: The class/rehearsal process is often where the most meaningful musical experiences take place, and is as important as the final concert(s). While it is possible to catch up on missed assignments and note-learning if you are absent by working with your ensemble teacher or a trusted peer/section leader, there is no true replacement for the experience of learning that takes place during the ensemble rehearsals or classes. Attendance and promptness at each class is expected and will be reflected in your Productivity and Accountability Career & Life Skills assessment.

If you anticipate a planned absence, communicate with your ensemble teacher well in advance. Plan to practice your music and check in with your ensemble’s website/Google Classroom page while you are gone. If you have an unplanned absence, check in with your ensemble teacher and/or a trusted peer when you return to school. Be prepared to invest additional practice time outside of school to catch up as soon as possible on the work you have missed.

Outside of Class: A variety of assignments tied to repertoire throughout the year will give you opportunities to broaden your learning outside of Orchestra class. Musical growth takes practice, including on your own!

Performances: While work that happens during class each day is our focus, concerts are an important part of the learning process. In Orchestra you have the unique opportunity to share your hard work with peers, parents, and the entire Appleton community! Concerts give students the opportunity to share what they have learned, and give parents and community members a “window” into the work students are doing throughout the year in their music classes. They are the culmination of weeks of preparation, musical development, and ensemble building. Perhaps most importantly, concerts are a fun opportunity to come together and celebrate our work.

Your fellow members count on you for vocal, physical, and moral support. Due to the value of these performance opportunities and the importance of every musician’s contribution toward the success of their team, concerts are required for all students in the Einstein music ensembles.

What do I need for Orchestra?

  • Daily
    • Pencil with eraser
    • Music folder (provided - each singer is responsible for keeping it in good condition)
    • Repertoire (provided - each singer is responsible for their own music: making appropriate erasable musical marks/notes, returning music in good condition at the end of each concert cycle)
    • Water bottle (optional but suggested)
  • Performances
    • Concert attire
      • “black on black” (unless otherwise specified): Einstein Music polo shirt, black pants (no leggings or athletic/yoga pants) with black socks OR black skirt (within dress code length) with solid black leggings or tights, black shoes (preferably closed toe)

How am I graded in Orchestra?

Musical learning is, by design and by default, a process that facilitates growth. Standards-Based assessment places emphasis on progress towards mastery in each student’s grade, and is designed to better report student understanding in a given subject - this aligns well with the content and goals that are at the heart of a music ensemble!

A student’s grade in Orchestra is determined by their ability to master concepts by the end of a grading period - as in all performing ensembles, students primarily demonstrate knowing by doing. Grading for Learning shifts us away from asking “how can I get all of the points?” to asking “how am I learning and improving?”. The focus is on continuous growth through the ongoing cycle of practice and meaningful feedback.


  • Standards are general academic topics and concepts which indicate what students should know or be able to do.
  • Career & Life Skills are individual learning, work, and behavioral skills that make successful learning and work possible. In Choir, these individual skills are essential to the positive work and growth of the ensemble.
  • Formative assessments and continual feedback - for individual musicians and the ensemble - provide the framework for the arc of our studies and growth.
  • Summative assessments measure learning and growth toward mastery of standards. Not all standards will be reported out to families or used to compute a student’s grade - only three Priority Standards (see below).


ASSESSMENT & FEEDBACK

In orchestra class, our focus is on mastery of essential musical knowledge and instrumental performance skills. Student grades for all assignments will represent their current level of skill and/or knowledge:

SKILL LEVEL

PROGRESS TOWARD THE STANDARD

PROFICIENCY SCORE

GRADE BOOK ENTRY

Mastery

Student demonstrates a deep understanding of knowledge/skills and can apply them to new situations.

4

95%

Competent

Student consistently understands and applies knowledge/skills.

3

85%

Developing

Student inconsistently understands and applies knowledge/skill; i.e., student is able to meet the standard sometimes, but other times needs help and/or reminders.

2

75%

Beginning

Student does not yet show signs of understanding

and ability to apply knowledge/skills.

1

65%

Insufficient Evidence

Student has not yet submitted enough evidence to justify a passing level. Assignments and/or assessments

are missing or incomplete.

IE

(incomplete)

“missing”


FORMATIVE (PRACTICE) WORK - 10% of Semester Grade

  • Weekly practice reflection
  • Weekly skills practice assignments due at SGI (Small Group Instruction)
  • Practice written work such as counting, note-naming, vocabulary study

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENTS (TESTS) - 90% of Semester Grade

  • Essential Playing Skills & Scales – assessed live during SGI or video recorded
  • Concert Music – technical & musical proficiency
  • Music Literacy Assessments – including counting, note-naming, and musical vocabulary
  • Performances


Career and Life Skills in Choir


Social and Cross Cultural Skills: “Ensemble” means musical team - each musician’s ability to work well with others is essential in learning, experiencing, and creating music together. We each make music on our own, but the work of the ensemble is inherently a group process that occurs when we bring our individual voices/instruments, knowledge, musicianship, and expression together to create and experience something bigger than ourselves. All students are expected not only to further their individual musical development, but also to contribute in positive ways to the successful work of the ensemble as a whole. In Choir, your Social & Cross-Cultural Skills proficiency will be assessed on your ability to:

  • Maintain appropriate focus and attentiveness that enables your best learning and contributes to the overall success of the group
  • Treat others with kindness and respect (respectfully listen, be supportive/encouraging to others, offer comments that contribute to the positive growth of the ensemble, etc)
  • Be aware of the impact your work and behavior has on the ensemble and act/adjust accordingly


Productivity and Accountability: Arriving to class on time with all necessary materials, being prepared, and using class time wisely are vital to the success of your individual learning and the work of the ensemble. In Choir, your Productivity and Accountability proficiency will be assessed on your ability to:

  • Bring your materials (pencil, music, water bottle optional)
  • Be a self-starter (in your seat before class begins, begin warm-ups independently)
  • Use time and tasks wisely to expand your learning (use practice time efficiently and productively, complete homework and practice activities, contribute to the productivity of class with full effort and attention, etc)
  • Take ownership and hold yourself accountable to how your work and your behavior impacts the ensemble



Initiative and Self-Direction: Musical learning is by nature an active and engaged process. As you continue to learn and further develop your musical skills and musicianship, seek and use feedback to strengthen your knowledge and your performance. In Choir, your Initiative and Self-Direction proficiency will be assessed by your ability to:

  • Seek feedback on your work (whether musical, written, or behavioral)
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the value of individual or group feedback by putting it into practice immediately in your own work and in the ensemble setting (whether musical or behavioral)
  • Initiate conversation with your ensemble teacher on any questions or concerns, whether involving repertoire, assignments, your work in class, the ensemble, or upcoming performances
  • Take initiative to preemptively adjust your singing/playing and behavior to support your best learning and the work of the ensemble, even before getting direction from your ensemble teacher.



COMING UP. . .


Veterans Day Assembly: “Portraits of Courage”

Friday, November 10 - 8:00am - Einstein Middle School Gymnasium

An annual program honoring the veterans in our community, featuring the 8th grade Band, Choir, and Orchestra.


The Einstein Music Showcase

Tuesday, December 5 - 7:30pm - Appleton West High School Auditorium


  • A concert unique to Einstein which highlights our student musicians, their learning, and the collaborative culture of our school


  • Features every Einstein ensemble (over 90% of our students!)


  • The only time Einstein musicians can play/sing together and see each other perform


  • Showcases the process of starting the year, including:
    • Building an ensemble/team culture
    • Learning how to assemble, use, maintain, and play our instruments with confidence
    • Learning how to read music
    • Practicing trust, taking healthy risks, and “making big mistakes” in our learning
    • Learning how to perform with professionalism in a concert (a skill in itself!)


We strive for growth - no one starts the year at the same level where they end it! The Einstein Music Showcase is a window into where we are starting. Its unique format allows each ensemble to spend the beginning of the year focused on building essential fundamental skills to set the rest of the year up for success. Thanks to kicking off the year with this combined concert, our students are then ready to FLY!


Please note that parking at West HS for the Showcase Concert will be limited - carpool, as possible, with other Einstein families and arrive early to enjoy the full performance.