Rules & Commitment

Guidelines

Students and parents are asked to read and comply with the rules of our String Program. Failure to comply may result in the student receiving a warning or suspension from the Strings Program. ** Please discuss this with your child**

1. Lessons/Rehearsals. Students arrive at allocated lesson time 10 minutes prior to start time to set up. After setting up, instruments will need to be tuned and ready to play.

2. Punctuality. Punctuality is very important as part of an ensemble. Arriving late is disruptive and distracting. While occasionally unavoidable, please avoid persistent late arrivals.

3. Respect. All members must listen courteously and follow respectfully all instructions from conductors, parent helpers, and each other. Treat everyone with respect. Do not be rude or disrespectful to other students, the class tutor/conductor or the parent helper or to any guest.

4. Absence. If a child is unable to attend a rehearsal due to illness or other reasons, please advise respective String Ensemble Coordinator well in advance or as soon as you can.

In addition:

1. * Listen to the tutor/conductor. Do not speak or play your instrument while the tutor/conductor is speaking.

2. * Do not disrupt others.

3. * Play your instrument only when asked to by the tutor/conductor.

4. * Listen while other sections or individuals are playing.

5. * Handle only your own musical instrument.

6. * Do not leave the rehearsal room without permission.

7. * No food or drink in the rehearsal room. 

8. * Be responsible of your own items - instrument, music folder & contents.

Commitment

Playing an instrument is a commitment for you and your child.  Here are the main requirements:

As a member of the EWPS Strings Program, you child should:

1. Be committed to attend weekly group lessons/ ensemble rehearsals at school.

2. Practice regularly. 

3. Abide rules and guidelines of Strings Program.

4. Learn the music pieces that are given by the ensemble conductor.

In addition, children in Beginner/Intermediate/Senior String Ensemble are also required to:

1. Have weekly private lesson with an instrumental tutor of at least 30 minutes duration. Private tutoring is MANDATORY and important for children to work on playing notes in correct tunes, work on fingering methods and technicals, learn to sight read etc, i.e. building good instrument skills.

2. Participate in performances/ events as advised by the ensemble conductor.

3. Attend the annual Strings Weekend.

As a parent/guardian of member of the EWPS Strings Program, you should:

1. Support and encourage your child, making sure that they can achieve all of the above

2. Inform respective ensemble's Strings Coordinator via Whats App group message (we do not encourage private messaging) when your child is unable to attend a rehearsal due to illness or other reasons.

3. Volunteer as required. See here for guide.

4. Regularly keep updated with information provided on our Whats App group message.

5. Note that unexplained absences will impact your child's progress to next ensemble level.

Music

Every child in our Strings Program will receive a black music folder and music sheets. 

1. Children must take care and be responsible for own music folder and music sheets. 

2. The music folder and its contents is the property of Strings Committee.

3. The music folder and its contents must be returned back to respective Strings Coordinator at the end of the year or when a child leaves the Strings Program.

4. Do not share, copy or distribute the music sheets without the permission of Strings Committee as copyright rules apply.

5. Music sheets can be written on with pencil only.

6. If you are requested to download any music sheets, we will provide you a link with password to access the folder. 

   1. • Please only download and print ONE copy of your child's specified parts/section. 

      • Print only on one-side of sheet (not both sides). 

      • All printed sheets must be returned to Strings Committee at the end of the year or when child leaves the Strings Program.

7. Any missing music sheets must be reported to respective Strings Coordinator.