Grading System

Grades will be determined from the following criteria, but may change slightly depending on the activities for that particular grading period.

Middle School Grading Policies

50%: Classwork/Homework - Participation in class with all class materials or assignments to be completed at online in either Google Classroom or Smart Music

• Middle school students will each receive a weekly grade in orchestra class. This grade will assess each student's preparedness for orchestra class as well as their ability to demonstrate professional audience and listening skills in order to provide helpful and relevant feedback to other students in class as they perform. 

• Students will perform individually and together throughout each class meeting, making audience skills an extremely important part of orchestra class. Additionally, attending class ready to learn with all class materials will help to ensure students are able to follow each class lesson and stay on task.

30%: Quizzes/Tests - Live In-class individual performances and written quizzes

20%: Quarterly Projects - pre-recorded individual performance assessment (long), typically submitted through Google Classroom; or, group performance projects throughout the school year

• Our second grade each week will typically fall into several categories, including: individual performances, individual skill assessments, or group performances, but can also include other musical tasks and checks for understanding. These will typically be conducted in-class, but for longer individual performance assessments, students may be asked to submit a video recording online through either Google Classroom or Smart Music. Please note that playing tests conducted in class will also be affected students' audience and listening abilities as other students perform to help ensure that all students have the best possible chance to be successful.

• Bonus Points: throughout class each week, students can earn "warm fuzzies" by demonstrating knowledge, adhering to class policies regarding behavior, or being prepared for class. Each warm fuzzy counts as a bonus point on a performance or playing test in class. Students can earn up to a maximum score of 100 on each of these assignments, and can submit up to 10 warm fuzzies per playing test. 

Elementary Grading Policies

90%: Class Work/Participation/Class Materials

10%: Homework - Recording assignments to be submitted online

Elementary School Grading

• Students will receive a weekly participation grade based on their preparedness for class as well as their listening and audience member skills throughout the weekly lesson. Each student will receive an A (90 in the grade book) for coming to class prepared to learn.

• Students who forget their instrument for weekly class meetings will lose 20 points from their weekly grade due to the week's worth of instruction they will miss.

• Students can earn 10 bonus points to their weekly grade, up to a maximum of 100, by submitting a "weekly recording assignment" on time each week to Google Classroom. The instructions for these optional weekly assignments are listed on Google Classroom.

Fingernails

• To play a stringed instrument well, one must have short fingernails; therefore, it is expected that fingernails be trimmed short and neat. This is applicable to EVERYONE in orchestra.  

• Due to an inability to play a string instrument effectively with long fingernails, the grade of a student who chooses not to keep their nails trimmed will be affected. If you have nails put on for special events (i.e. school dances, weddings, etc.), please inform Mr. Powers to receive a short grace period on either side of the event so your grade will not be affected.  

• If a student chooses to have long nails before or after their approved grace period, or if you do not inform Mr. Powers before false nails are applied, especially just before a school performance or performance test, the student's grade will be lowered due to their lack of ability to successfully participate and perform!

Belt Tests (optional)

Beginning and elementary orchestra students will have the opportunity to learn and perform repertoire songs from our class repertoire to earn ribbons for their instrument. The ribbons are similar to the belt system in martial arts, and reflect skills learned in orchestra class. Ultimately, earning these ribbons is optional, but through regular home practice, students will be able to perform and earn all ribbons for the fall and spring semesters which will help to gain fluency in the instrumental and performance skills.

The ribbons earned in these tests may be displayed on the scroll of the instrument and are extra credit. Most of these initial belt tests come from Essential Elements Book 1. The exact requirements can be found on Google Classroom and daily class slide shows in each class.