performance dress code

Performing in professional black attire is important for Arts High music students because it creates a unified and polished appearance, helping the audience focus on the music rather than individual outfits. It shows respect for the performance, the audience, and fellow musicians, and reflects the professionalism expected in formal music settings. Wearing black also helps students feel part of a team, promoting discipline and pride in their role as performers. 

Arts High School Concert Black handout -  please print and give to students.  This should be kept in your music folder as a constant reminder! Students should always be ready to perform. Please encourage them to keep a change of clothes in their locker.

Instrument Loaner form

All instruments that are used by students must be documented and records should be continuously updated
for accuracy.  This is crucial to determine the availability of instruments across the district and to plan for
new instrument purchases. 

Educators must distribute and collect a Loan Agreement form from any student who will use an instrument
this school year. Once forms are signed, educators should enter the information in the inventory system and
file the hard copies in their classrooms. Instruments cannot leave the school building without being
documented by the educator. At the conclusion of the school year, instruments must be returned and inspected
by the school’s music educator. Any changes in the instrument’s condition can be documented in the NBOE
Arts Inventory System.  Loan Agreement forms can be found at this Link.

Instrument repair

The Office of Visual and Performing Arts provides limited funds to schools for instrument repair each year. Only schools with certified, full-time instrumental music educators may apply to use district funds for instrument repairs.  Schools will only be eligible to receive district instrument repair funds once inventories are complete and submitted to the Office of Visual and Performing Arts. 

Unrepairable instruments should be documented and stored on the school site until the Office of Visual and Performing Arts can make arrangements for pick up and removal. Do not throw away any instrument without prior consent. Below serves as a guide to determine funds allocated to each school. Instrument repair funds are limited and should only be used if an instrument will be used by a student. 

• Instrument Repair: Complete the NBOE Instrument Repair Request Form and submit to the Director and Supervisors of VPA and michele@elefantemusic.com. Prepare instruments with a tag (instrument name, school location, serial number) and await further instructions regarding pick up. You can find the Instrument Repair Request Form at this link. Link

• Piano Tuning/Repair: Complete the NBOE Tuning/Repair form, submit the request to the Director and Supervisors of VPA and await further instructions. You can find the Piano Tuning/Repair Request Form at this link. Link

keyboard lab schedule

Piano keyboard skills are fundamental for developing a strong musical foundation because they help learners understand melody, harmony, and rhythm through hands-on practice. Learning music theory alongside piano playing deepens this understanding by explaining how music works, including scales, chords, and notation. Together, these skills enhance a musician’s ability to read, interpret, and create music, making them essential for both beginners and advanced players.  Click on the picture below to view the keyboard lab schedule for Room 236 and 138.

practice expectations

Messaging to students in your syllabus and on Schoology:

Maintaining a consistent practice schedule is vital for musicians because it helps you improve steadily over time. When you practice regularly, your brain and muscles get used to playing your instrument, making it easier to learn new skills and remember what you’ve learned. It also builds good habits, so you don’t fall behind or get frustrated. Even short daily practice sessions are better than long, irregular ones because consistency helps you stay motivated and see progress. In the end, sticking to a regular practice routine makes you a stronger, more confident musician!

Mr. Liggins and Mrs. Sweet have practice rooms. Options for providing these spaces to students outside of their scheduled ensemble classes will be discussed at our initial department meetings.

seminar recitals

Seminar recitals provide students with an opportunity to practice performing in front of an audience while allowing listeners to offer constructive feedback. The purpose is not to deliver a polished performance, but to create a learning environment where both performers and audience members can grow and improve through shared critique and experience. The date of the performance is up to the teacher assigned for that month, and would occur during the actual class period. Audience members would comprise of anyone who has a major music class during the performance class period. The major teacher should provide performance rubrics for audience members to fill out as they listen to the performance. The content of the performance is up to the lead teacher (full ensemble, solos, small groups). The performance could take place in the auditorium or recital hall (408).

October - ??

November - Vocal (Johnson)

December - Piano 

January - Music Tech

February - Band

March - Strings

April - Vocal (Forderhase)

May - Guitar

Concert dates

December 16, 2025 - Vocal Winter Concert, 7 pm (Vocal Concert Prep Sheet)

December 18, 2025 - Instrumental Winter Concert, 7 pm (Instrumental Concert Prep Sheet)

May 28, 2026 - Instrumental Spring Concert, 7 pm

May 30, 2026 - Choir performs with David Wroe

June 2, 2026 - Vocal Spring Concert, 7 pm

PAST PROGRAMS

Spring 2025 Vocal Concert
Spring 2025 Instrumental Concert
Winter 2024 Vocal/Instrumental Concert
Spring 2024 Vocal/Instrumental  Concert
Winter 2023 Vocal/Instrument  Concert

junior/senior recitals

All junior and senior music majors who are in instrumental or vocal III/IV will participate in recitals that will count as their final for the year. 

Use this Google sheet to track student pieces.

PAST PROGRAMS

Spring 2025
Spring 2024

Performance Requests

We receive many requests throughout the school year for students to perform!

All requests should be filtered through our Performance Request Form so we gather all important details before committing to the performance. We will also consider the educational impact of the opportunity for our student performers.

We will decline any last minute events, especially if they will not provide transportation.

Here is a sample response you can use when you receive a performance request. Please CC Dr. Skinner to your response:

Greetings ___________,

Thank you so much for your interest in hiring student performers from our music program at Arts High School! We would love to know more about your event and how the Arts High student musicians can collaborate. Please fill in all pertinent information about the performance request via our Arts High Performance Request Form. We can then move forward with confirming our availability. Thank you!