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We offer five different levels of Orchestra at Pioneer Heritage Middle School. All students perform in the Fall, Winter, and Spring Concerts each year. All students are expected to practice daily. All 7th and 8th grade students have the opportunity to perform in the Frisco ISD Solo & Ensemble Contest each spring. All students also have the opportunity to participate in the many fun social events we have throughout the year.
Technique Classes
(no audition required)
Technique Level I: "Beginning Orchestra"
Technique Level II: "Intermediate Orchestra"
Technique Level III" "Advanced Orchestra"
Performance Intensive Classes
(audition required)
Non-Varsity: "Philharmonic Orchestra"
Varsity: "Rhapsody Orchestra"
*Students do not automatically move up into a higher orchestra each year. Students are placed by skill level. A student's placement can be lowered if the student does not uphold the obligations of their current orchestra.
Technique Level I: "Beginning Orchestra"
Beginning Orchestra is made up of mostly 6th grade students however, all students must start here regardless of grade level. In the past, we have had 7th and 8th graders want to learn a string instrument as well. Beginning Orchestra is for students with zero or limited experience playing a string instrument. In Beginning Orchestra, students can choose to learn violin, viola, cello, or bass.
How to Join Beginning Orchestra
Select "Orchestra" as your first choice on your course selection card for the 25-26 school year
Attend the Instrument Drive Event at PHMS on Saturday, January 18, 2025 to choose an instrument and check sizing. Sign up HERE.
Contact Mrs. Dixon for instrument/class availability.
Rent an instrument and purchase the "PHMS Orchestra" supply package through Dallas Strings.
Dallas Strings will deliver instruments and supply packages to PHMS over the summer.
Mrs. Dixon and her students will tune and tape the instruments.
The first few weeks of Beginning Orchestra will include how to care for a string instrument, parts, and basic setup of the instrument. Once students feel comfortable handling and caring for their instrument they may begin taking instruments home to practice.
*Cello/Bass Students: please rent ONE instrument from Dallas Strings. Students will be assigned a school-owned cello/bass once school begins. The Dallas String instrument will eventually remain at home for students to practice on. The school-owned instrument will remain at school for students to use during class.
Technique Level II: "Intermediate Orchestra"
*There is no audition for Intermediate Orchestra. Students that complete Beginning Orchestra and/or who are in their second year of playing will automatically be in this ensemble if they would like to remain in Orchestra, but do not wish to audition for a higher orchestra.
*Students NEW to PHMS in the 25-26 school year with prior playing experience: Please complete this 'Previous Experience Questionnaire' by April 18th, 2025.
Intermediate Orchestra is a technique class for students with one or more years of playing experience. Students in Intermediate Orchestra are expected to have a fundamental understanding of correct instrument position, right and left-hand positions, sight-read at the second-year level, and have an understanding of key signatures and basic rhythms. Students build on skills that were learned in Beginning Orchestra and learn how to play in an orchestra setting with multiple parts/instrumentation.
1+ years of experience; 2nd year of playing in FISD curriculum
Performance Opportunities:
FISD Solo & Ensemble Contest
3 Concerts
Technique Level III: Advanced Orchestra
*There is no audition for Advanced Orchestra. Students that complete Intermediate Orchestra and/or who are in their third year of playing will automatically be in this ensemble if they would like to remain in Orchestra, but do not wish to audition for a higher orchestra.
*Students NEW to PHMS in the 25-26 school year with prior playing experience: Please complete this 'Previous Experience Questionnaire' by April 18, 2025.
Advanced Orchestra is a technique class for students with two or more years of playing experience. This class focuses on advanced techniques such as three octave scales, shifting, and vibrato in preparation for high school literature. Students in Advanced Orchestra are expected to have a fundamental understanding of correct instrument position, right and left-hand positions, sight-read at the third-year level, and have an understanding of key signatures and basic rhythms.
2+ years of experience; 3rd year of playing in FISD curriculum
Performance Opportunities:
FISD Solo & Ensemble Contest
3 Concerts
Performance Intensive Class: Non-Varsity "Philharmonic Orchestra"
Audition Required
Audition Deadline: Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:59pm
(Current Philharmonic Orchestra students are not required to re-audition unless asked to do so by the director. Current Philharmonic students may remain in Philharmonic Orchestra for the upcoming year if they do not wish to audition for Rhapsody. They may also choose to take Advanced Orchestra instead of Philharmonic for technique specific for entering high school orchestra.)
Audition Material: Click HERE
(*Students must submit all three cuts to be considered for Philharmonic Orchestra)
Submit your recorded audition (all 3 cuts): Click HERE
*Students NEW to PHMS in the 25-26 school year with prior playing experience: Please complete this 'Previous Experience Questionnaire' by April 18th, 2025.
Philharmonic Orchestra is an audition-only group for students who are playing above level for their age group. Students in this orchestra are expected to rehearse and practice at an accelerated pace. Students in Philharmonic Orchestra will perform at the Non-Varsity level at the Region 24 UIL Concert & Sight-reading Contest.
Students that do not uphold rehearsal etiquette norms, grade eligibility, and/or are not committed to excellence on their instrument will be removed from Philharmonic Orchestra.
Students in Philharmonic Orchestra are committed to helping all students in the orchestra program on their instrument and have the opportunity to mentor Beginning Orchestra students.
1+ years of experience; 2nd-3rd year of playing in FISD curriculum
Performance Opportunities:
Region 24 UIL at the Non-Varsity Level
Elementary School Tours
FISD Solo & Ensemble Contest
3 Concerts
One hour private lessons are expected of all students in Philharmonic Orchestra
Auditioning for Region Orchestra is an expectation of all students in Philharmonic
Performance Intensive: Varsity "Rhapsody Orchestra"
Audition Required
Audition Deadline: Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11:59pm
(Current Rhapsody Orchestra students are not required to re-audition unless asked to do so by the director. Rhapsody students may remain in Rhapsody Orchestra for the upcoming year.)
Audition Material: Click HERE
(*Students must submit all three cuts to be considered for Rhapsody Orchestra)
Submit your recorded audition (all 3 cuts): Click HERE
*Students NEW to PHMS in the 25-26 school year with prior playing experience: Please complete this 'Previous Experience Questionnaire' by April 19, 2024.
Rhapsody Orchestra is the premier Orchestra at Pioneer Heritage Middle School. This group plays literature intended for high school orchestras. The musicians that make up this orchestra have extensive prior experience and spend many hours practicing outside of school. Students in this ensemble demonstrate that they can perform at a high skill level, are committed to excellence in their practice habits, and exhibit strong leadership qualities on a daily basis. Rhapsody Orchestra performs at the Varsity Level at the Region 24 UIL Concert & Sight-reading and records for TMEA Honor Orchestra each spring.
Students in Rhapsody Orchestra are committed to helping all students in the orchestra program on their instrument and have the opportunity to mentor Beginning Orchestra students.
Students that do not uphold the norms, grade eligibility, and are not committed to excellence on their instrument, in rehearsal, and/or do not meet mentor/leadership requirements will be removed from Rhapsody Orchestra.
Rhapsody students attend weekly sectionals after school, are expected to take private lessons outside of school hours, and are expected to audition for Region Orchestra in the fall.
2+ years of experience; 3rd-5th year of playing in the FISD curriculum
Performance Opportunities:
Region 24 UIL at the Varsity Level
Elementary School Tours
FISD Solo & Ensemble Contest
3 Concerts
One hour private lessons are expected of all students in Rhapsody Orchestra
Auditioning for Region Orchestra is an expectation of all students in Rhapsody
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