Orchestra Program at the Thomas R. Grover Middle School. Here you will find information and frequently asked questions concerning the program and its operations.
Ensemble Periods and Group Lessons
• Students attend Orchestra Class every other day. This will be located on the student’s schedule:
6th grade Orchestra A day, 10:17 AM to 10:57 AM.
6th grade Orchestra B day, 10:17 AM to 10:57 AM.
7th grade Orchestra A day, 12:28 PM to 1:08 PM.
7th grade Orchestra B day, 12:28 PM to 1:08 PM.
8th grade Orchestra B day, 8:27 AM to 9:07 AM.
• Group lessons are on a weekly rotation. Students never miss a whole academic period for an orchestra group lessons. Students are assigned a group number and come out of the academic classes for 40 minutes. Since group lessons are a pullout program; students look up their lesson time on the string instrumental music schedule and attend the scheduled lesson time. Group lessons are once a week and rotate from period to period so that the student does not miss a particular scheduled academic class more then once a month. It is the responsibility of the student to ask permission of the classroom teacher if they are able to attend the group lesson. The majority of the classroom teachers have sign-out sheets where students post their lesson schedule requests. The pullout program should not be startling to the students or their parents because the schedule is the same in the Upper Elementary Schools. (No changes from UES to MS).
• Students must ask permission of the classroom teacher in order to attend a group lesson. Lesson request mustnot be made by way of email.
Differences between Ensemble Periods and Group Lessons
• During an ensemble period, students develop important musical skills to successfully participate in a musical ensemble.
• During group lessons, students work on proper technique while developing reading and analytical skills in a smaller class setting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Why must Orchestra students attend weekly group lessons?
Throughout the State of New Jersey, students participating in Orchestra or Band programs attend group lessons. The West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District implemented a rotating pullout program since the early 1970’s. The rotating group lessons are to avoid students coming out of any academic class more than once a month.
• Are group lessons during the school day compulsory?
YES! During group lessons, students are taught techniques and skills necessary to successfully perform orchestral literature in a musical ensemble. In addition, the students will be introduced to workbook and skill sheets that will help in developing and self-assessing their performance in the ensemble.
• What if I take private lessons?
Taking private lessons outside of school is certainly encouraged but does not exempt you from group lessons during school. Even if you receive extra instruction, outside of school, you are still required to learn your music with the interpretation and the style of the school director.
• Why are cello and bass players required to pay a maintenance fee?
Since 1990, the WW-P Board of Education requested that the music department collect maintenance fees from the students using larger school owned instruments. This is to offset the cost of; broken strings, warped bridges, broken tail guts, seem openings, neck warping, bows in need of rehairing and replacements for broken bows. This is not a result of negligence, on the part of the students, but the result of non-stop continuous use. The collecting of maintenance fees helps our department keep older equipment in playable condition.
• What is the purpose of concert testing?
A performing group is only as strong as its weakest player. If a student has tried their very best and has reasonably demonstrated effort, the student will be given permission, (by the music staff), to perform in the school assemblies, evening performances, special performance projects and music festivals.
If a student does not perform music selections with reasonable accuracy, habitually neglects attending group lessons and does not submit weekly practice records, then the staff has the obligation to withdraw the orchestra member from participation in the school assemblies, evening performances, special performance projects and music festivals.
Performances are not a right, but a privilege.
• When does concert testing take place?
Concert testing takes place during the school day at the student’s group lesson. Concert testing will never take place during the orchestra rehearsal. The orchestra period is used solely for ensemble phrasing, nuance and ensemble balance.