Student On-Campus Belongings Pick-Up May 4-6

Students and parents have received information from our campus about personal belonging drive-through pick-up that will take place May 4-6. Students will be assigned specific arrival time windows and strict guidelines on traffic flow and social distancing procedures. I will be carefully going through all orchestra lockers and our classroom and placing all student personal items with their school belongings for pick-up. We have been asked at this time not to use this time window for students to return anything orchestra-related. However, if you have a specific, time-sensitive need to return something orchestra-related, especially if due to an upcoming move out of district, please contact Ms. Harvey and I will request special permission to allow the student or parent to return any necessary items, such as instruments or uniforms.

Instruments

• Students who are using a Denton ISD instrument and will be continuing with orchestra in Denton ISD next year: You will be able keep your instrument checked out through the summer. This includes 8th graders who are progressing to a Denton ISD high school next year and anyone moving to a different Denton ISD middle school next year (please alert me if this is the case so I know where to find you). At some point you will be asked to send Ms. Harvey a photo of the instrument for end-of-year inventory purposes. All district instruments will be checked back in at the beginning of the school year. Students who qualified for the fee waiver instrument program will be able to reapply again at the beginning of the year.
• Students who are using a Denton ISD instrument and will NOT be returning as an orchestra student to Denton ISD in the fall: You will be REQUIRED to return your instrument by the official end of the current school year. Instrument return will take place sometime between May 11-20 and more info will be sent out to you soon. Please go ahead and contact Ms. Harvey if you know that you will need to return your instrument so that Ms. Harvey can make sure you get the correct info.
• Students using a personal rental instrument should plan to keep their instrument rented through the summer as usual. Remember, most music store rental programs are a rent-to-own program. Even if you feel you might not have much practice time over the summer, it is usually better to keep your account open to continue to build your "credit" with your rental company that can eventually be applied towards the purchase of an instrument.
• Re-Sizing: I understand that some students may be anxious to get re-sized to move up a size of instrument as soon as possible. At this time, it is best for all students to remain on the instrument they are currently using and wait to be re-sized at the beginning of next school year. No in-person appointments will be able to take place on campus, and most music stores are limiting appointments only to the most essential needs.
• Instrument Damage/Repair Issues over Summer:
  • Personal rental instruments: Call the store your instrument is rented from and schedule an appointment to drop your instrument off at the store.
  • Personally owned instruments - consult our recommended music store list for recommended repair vendors. Call the vendor of your choice for a repair appointment.
  • DISD Instruments - contact Ms. Harvey before doing anything. You will receive information on how to take your instrument to a specific district-approved repair vendor in person. In the event that something needs to be repaired that is due to normal wear and tear (that is included in the usage fee you paid), you will not be charged for the repair cost (the district will be billed directly).

Uniforms

(Philharmonic and Chamber Students)

• In order to limit the need for in-person interactions and additional student trips to the school, I am suggesting that all Phil and Chamber students keep their orchestra uniforms stored safely at home over the summer and we will collect them at the beginning of next school year. You do not need to take your uniform for dry-cleaning, this will be taken care of at the beginning of the year when all uniforms are returned.
• 8th graders - I will work out a turn-in procedure with your high school directors. Be prepared to turn in all parts of your uniform (and garment bag for all girls and a few boys who checked one out) properly labeled with your name to ensure I can confirm your turn-in.
• If a student believes they will not be returning to Denton ISD next year or if you do not feel comfortable storing your uniform over the summer, please contact Ms. Harvey for information about turning in your uniform ASAP.

Auditions

As most of our students know, high school audition recordings were turned in to the GHS directors last week, and middle school varsity audition recordings were due this week.

Remember that no one is required to audition to participate in orchestra - students will always have a non-varsity level of orchestra they may participate in with no required audition from 7th through 12th grades.

I will post alerts on google classroom when audition results are finalized for both high school and middle school with links to view results.