How the Program Works

There are three basic parts to our program:

1) Small group Lessons

5th and 6th Grade

Each orchestra student will receive one 30-minute lesson per week on their instrument. Typically, each grade school has Orchestra lessons on one set day and Band on another. Quite often a 3rd lesson day per school may be added to accommodate large numbers of beginning (5th grade) members. Lessons are held during the school day at students’ respective schools. The lesson time will rotate by one half hour each consecutive week so that the child will not miss the same academic class more than once in a 9-week period of time. The student is expected to leave class 3 minutes prior to the lesson ‘start’ time, attend a 30-minute lesson, then arrive back to class within 3 minutes of the lesson ‘end’ time, for a total of 36 minutes. A schedule listing all the students with their assigned lesson dates/times will be provided.

7th and 8th Grade

Each orchestra student will receive one 45-minute lesson per week on their instrument. Students will be grouped together according to their instrument. At the Junior High, Orchestra lessons occur during the PE time slot. During the '23 - '24 school year, Orchestra lessons at the Junior High will occur on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.

2) Large Group Rehearsals

Each orchestra member will attend large group rehearsal(s) during the week. This rehearsal will be held before school at Park Junior High. Students will meet with ALL orchestra members in their grade group during rehearsals.

3) At-Home Practice

Each orchestra member is expected to practice their instrument at least 100 minutes per week. 20 minutes, 5 days a week is recommended. We hope that you will support your children's decision to study a musical instrument and encourage them to keep up with 'at-home practice' and with their attendance to Small Group lessons and Large Group Rehearsals.

Here are some guidlines for successful practicing!

Rehearsal Schedule

Orchestra Rehearsals are held at Park Junior High on the following days / times:

Mondays: PSO - 7:30 am (arrive by 7:20 am)
Tuesdays: Beginning Orchestra - 7:30 am (arrive by 7:20 am)
Wednesdays: Intermediate Orchestra - 7:30 am (arrive by 7:20 am)
Thursdays: PSO - 7:30 am (arrive by 7:20 am)
Fridays: Intermediate Orchestra - 7:30 am (arrive by 7:20 am)

Additional Ensemble Rehearsals:

PRELUDE: Mondays 3:30pm - 4:15pm at Park Junior High

STRING FUSION: Wednesdays 7:30 am in the Park Junior High Auditorium

Early Morning Bus Routes

There are two bus routes, known as the ‘Early bird’ routes that make designated stops throughout our community to pick up band/orchestra students and deliver them to Park Junior High. Some parents elect to drive students to the rehearsal instead. At the end of our Beginning and Intermediate Orchestra rehearsals, there are 3 buses that return students to Congress Park, Cossitt, or Forest Road. The one ‘downside’ of this arrangement is that the buses that return the students to their respective schools are not always on time and you may find the band/orchestra members occasionally arriving up to10 minutes late to school. In such cases, students are instructed to check in with the health (attendance) office upon their arrival so that they are not marked as ‘truant’. Ogden students will be walked back to school after the rehearsal by one of the directors.

Before School Busing for Morning Rehearsals

(primarily for Forest Road, Cossitt, & Congress Park)

Times taken from D102 Website.

See D102 Website for complete information.

EARLY BIRD (SOUTH SIDE) EARLY BIRD (NORTH SIDE)

6:50 AM Windemere Ave & Raymond Ave 6:48 AM Woodlawn Ave & Newberry Ave

6:51 AM Windemere Ave & Maple Ave 6:49 AM Newberry Ave & Harding (SE)

6:54 AM Rochester Ave & Maple Ave 6:51 AM Newberry Ave & Jackson (SE)

6:55 AM Rochester Ave & Raymond Ave 6:52 AM Newberry Ave & Garfield Ave

6:56 AM Shields Ave & Raymond Ave 6:52 AM Garfield Ave & Kemman Ave

6:57 AM Raymond Ave & Congress Park Ave 6:55 AM 26th St & Newberry Ave

6:58 AM Gerritson Ave & Dubois Ave 6:56 AM 28th St & Beach Ave (NE)

7:00 AM Cossitt Ave & Washington Ave 6:57 AM 30th St & Beach Ave

7:03 AM 7th St & Elm Ave 6:57 AM 30th St & Newberry Ave (NE)

7:06 AM Madison Ave & Cossitt Ave 6:58 AM 31st St & Newberry Ave (NW)

7:09 AM Sunset Ave & Goodman Ave 7:02 AM Stonegate Rd & Community Dr (SE)

7:11 AM Blackstone Ave & Linklater Ave 7:03 AM Garden Dr & Stonegate Ave

7:20 AM PARK JR HIGH 7:04 AM Stonegate Ave & Scotdale Ave

7:06 AM 29th St Rd & Scotdale (NW)

7:08 AM 26th St & Forest Rd (SW)

7:10 AM 30th St & Forest Rd (NW)

7:12 AM Forest Rd & Jackson Ave (NW)

7:13 AM Forest Rd & Harding Ave (NW)

7:16 AM Sherwood Ave & Homestead Ave (NW)

7:20 AM PARK JR HIGH