Handbook

2025-2026 Orchestra Handbook

Welcome to the Broomfield High School Orchestra Program! To help our orchestra become its very best, I have prepared this handbook so you can become familiar with the expectations, procedures, and requirements of the program. Should you have any questions regarding this handbook or the orchestra program during the school year, please do not hesitate to contact me; email is the most effective way. Thank you!

Skylah Sillman

Broomfield High School Orchestra Director

skylah.sillman@bvsd.org

ORCHESTRA GOALS

• Build and sustain a high-quality string program in Broomfield of which we can all be proud of

• Provide the opportunity for all class members to participate in an orchestra with music appropriate to their level of achievement

• Develop musicianship by teaching both technical and interpretive skills

• Promote the development of good citizenship, respect for others, and responsibility

• Promote self-confidence and poise through class activities and public performances

• Promote a positive attitude and self-image by providing experiences in which each student can succeed

• Emphasize the importance of each member’s contribution to the musical achievements of the whole group

• Promote the development of physical coordination, strength, and stamina

• Promote critical listening skills

• Explore repertoire of a varied repertoire of music representing diverse cultures and styles 

REHEARSALS

The purpose of a rehearsal is to improve the existing level of musical knowledge and performance skills of the organization and individual. This should be done while showing RESPECT for every participating person’s individual and personal worth. In order to accomplish this, we as a group will have the following expectations:

• Orchestra members should enter the rehearsal space with the necessary attitude to make music and be part of a musical organization. Members should have their instrument, music, pencil and other necessary equipment every day. Place all cases, books, backpacks, etc., in an appropriate storage area.

• Eating food or drinking beverages other than water in the rehearsal room will not be permitted. These items cause too many distractions in rehearsal and can damage instruments. For this same reason, cell phones should stay in backpacks on silent to avoid distractions.

• Rehearsal will begin as soon as possible after the bell rings. At the bell, students are expected to be in the rehearsal space with their equipment – anyone not present will be considered tardy. Make sure you leave enough time to get your instruments and supplies before the bell!

• Orchestra members are expected to participate in each rehearsal and to have the proper instrument, music, and supplies.

• Long nails are not permitted as they impede correct playing of the instrument. Acrylic nails should not be applied at any point of the school year, and will result in a deduction of participation points as long as they are on.

• Orchestra members are expected to be ready to play when the conductor’s hands are in conducting position and to stop playing when conducting stops.

• Instruments not belonging to the student should not be played; no exceptions – please respect everyone else’s possessions.

• Each orchestra member is responsible in helping keep our spaces and equipment in neat, usable condition. Members should take it upon themselves to help pick up trash, arrange chairs and stands, etc.

• Orchestra members are encouraged and expected to ask for help regarding anything in the music or any class activity that they do not understand. It’s easier to solve a new problem than an old ingrained one, and you may help someone else by asking the question!

• Each orchestra member is expected to value and show respect for the other students. It is also expected that students behave so that they can earn the respect of their colleagues.

• Students must respect their instruments by handling with care and not causing any damage. If a school instrument is damaged in any way, families are expected to contribute towards the repair cost. 

• Failure to meet these expectations will result in action by the teacher designed to help the orchestra member think about the choices they are making and their effect on everyone involved including the student. The actions by the teacher may consist of: a verbal reminder, a conference with the teacher, a writing assignment, a referral to an administrator, or a parent conference. In any case, the student will be expected to help come up with a solution to the problem they are creating. The emphasis will be on helping students take responsibility for their actions and solving their own problems.

INSTRUMENTS AND SUPPLIES

Required materials:

• Own instrument for school/home that is labelled with your contact information

• Celli/basses need rockstops

• Rosin

• Cleaning cloth

• Set of extra strings

It is expected for all students to have their own instrument for practice and concert usage. Violins and violas must bring their instrument everyday; each student will have an orchestra locker provided to them for instrument storage. Cellos and basses can rent a school instrument for a yearly fee to use at school to avoid bringing those large instruments to school. Broomfield does not have extra cellos or basses to rent for home use, so no large instruments will leave the school. If your child does not have a rented or purchased instrument, please contact Northland Violins to get that process started. I am happy to help with the selection of quality instruments and supplies.

Instrument storage facilities are provided in the rehearsal room; however, neither the teacher nor the school will be responsible for damage or loss of the instrument. Combination locks are provided free of charge; PLEASE USE THEM!

Each student should have their NAME PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED on the outside of their case and music folder. NO EXCEPTIONS!

From time to time, repairs of an instrument will be necessary. I am happy to look at the instrument first to see if it is a minor repair which I would be able to fix at little to no cost to you, or if a professional repair will be necessary. It is best to take preventative measures on instruments to avoid large repair costs.

CLASS FEE

There is a class activity fee for orchestra each year, amount TBD (waiting for district information).  This amount is approved by the district and our administration and will be used to help fund end-of-the-year awards. Please pay through our online payment system, RevTrak, available on the high school’s main page. Checks may be made payable to BHS, or cash is also accepted. 

RENTAL FEE

Cellos and basses are welcome to rent a school instrument to avoid transporting their large home instrument back and forth. A rental request and agreement form will be sent to you after the first day of school and must be signed before you have access to that instrument. School cellos and basses are not permitted to leave the school. Students who rent an instrument from the school need to pay a fee up to $100. This helps with instrument minor repairs, maintenance and encourages responsibility from the student. If your child does damage to the instrument greater than the rental fee, you are expected to help cover that repair fee. Instrument storage facilities are provided in the rehearsal room; however, neither the teacher nor the school will be responsible for damage or loss of the instrument. If you are concerned about the fee, please contact Mrs. Sillman about other options. Students on free-and-reduced lunch have the opportunity to rent an instrument for free.  

PRACTICE

Regular practice on the part of the student is one of the most important ingredients of a quality orchestra program and of individual accomplishment. Rehearsal time is primarily for working through pieces with the group, not for each player to learn their part. Each student is expected to practice sufficiently to be able to play the music covered in class. The amount of time this will require will depend on the student, but each member should feel like they could confidently play any section in the music by themselves, and they will be expected to demonstrate this ability during playing tests. If a student needs help with their repertoire, I am more than happy to spend time with them after school to work through their part!

MUSIC

Folders for music can be obtained from Mrs. Sillman at the start of the year. Music will be issued periodically throughout the year. Students are responsible for the music in their folder and may be required to pay for missing or damaged original parts.

Many times students will be asked to make corrections or changes in the music. These additions must be made in pencil only, which is why you must have a pencil at EVERY rehearsal.

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES

Throughout the year, students will be involved in public performances (concerts, contests, graduation, gala, festivals, etc.) These are the culminating events of our work in class and are therefore very important. Attendance at these performances is required. Please view the Calendar for the current dates and times. Students will be notified of these performances at least two weeks in advance. Most orchestra events for the year were scheduled in May (see the calendar tab). The school now has every event listed on frontrangeleague.org – after you click on Broomfield High, you can actually select to just see Orchestra events on a separate page. However, know that both BHMS and Aspen Creek have their orchestra concerts at BHS as well, and are listed in that Orchestra group. A link to the Broomfield High portion of the site is on my personal BHS website. It is recognized that occasional absences from these performances cannot be avoided. 

In such cases, the parent/guardian should notify me at least a week prior to the performance and a make-up assignment will be offered. If I am not notified before the performance, the student will be considered to have an unexcused absence from the performance and will receive a zero. However, in the event of serious illness, the student will be allowed to excuse the absence after the concert. Concerts are the culmination of what we do in orchestra; thusly, you have been provided with the dates in advance so that you can plan accordingly to be at each required event. Each member of the orchestra is important – we can’t do our best performance without you!

All students must wear formal black to performances, including shoes, to create a unified ensemble-look. All performances are 100 points. Points will be deducted for disrespectful (-20), forgotten instrument/music (-30, not following directions (-20), talking in audience (-20), etc. 

PLAYING TESTS AND CHAIRS

Playing tests and chair assignments are activities that can create stress throughout life, not just at the high school level. In order to minimize this stress and better prepare for the future, here are the understandings and policies for playing tests and chairs:

• Playing tests hold students accountable for material/music covered in class. All classes have a means of evaluating students’ mastery of class material – orchestra is no different.

• Auditions/tests are a fact of life for any musician, especially adult/professional musicians. I believe it is a part of my job to give students exposure to and preparation for this type of achievement.

• Chair assignments will be based on playing test results and daily behavior/participation, but will be at my discretion. I believe in balancing the orchestra seating in a way that will best serve the whole. Our goal as an orchestra should be to sound the best we can as a collective group, and that is usually not best served by seating in audition order from “best to worst.” The end goal of the playing test should be to demonstrate proficiency on the instrument and knowledge of our concert material. Hard work and talent will be rewarded, but it will not guarantee first chair at every concert – I prefer to strengthen everyone’s leadership skills as much as possible by moving people around the orchestra. The hardest place to play in the entire orchestra is the back row, and it’s a valuable skill to have!

• If a student is not happy with their playing assessment score, they can retake as many times as needed until the concert date to get their pieces prepared to the best of their ability.

• Students using large school instruments can either play their test for me in-person after school or use a practice room during a class period to record it on their own. Those setting up times after school must let me know at least a week in advance!

GRADES

STANDARDS BASED EDUCATION: Our district and this school are constantly working to improve student learning by focusing our work within content standards. These standards, also known as proficiencies, define what students should be able to do in each subject area. These standards are used to plan lessons, assignments, and assessments, as well as to select music for concerts. Below you will find a list of all music standards and also a description of which assignments might be placed in each category of Summative Assessments, Formative Assessments, or Preparation/Production, along with percentage weights given to each. 

Late work policy: Students have how many days they were absent + 1 extra day to turn in assignments for full credit. For late playing tests, then have until the concert date to turn in. Late assignments will be 75% of the completed grade. After the deadline, students will receive no credit, but are still encouraged to submit the work for feedback and learning purposes 

After you have read the entire handbook, please fill out the Google Form below to acknowledge you understand the expectations and requirements of the high school orchestra program