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- Handbook, p. 2
Program Overview
Instrumental music can be a wonderful recreational and intellectual pursuit that brings years of enjoyment and enlightenment. Orchestra is an ensemble made up of many individual musicians. The Folly Quarter Middle School Orchestra Program is an academic course in which students learn and acquire concrete, intellectual knowledge, physical skills and disciplines necessary to performing on an instrument, as well as an appreciation for music, musicianship, and beauty. Unlike other academic courses, in the Orchestra Program the quality of the end product and other students' educational experiences depend on the group's combined efforts. That is, if an individual student has a particular weakness or lack of understanding, then the entire group suffers.
In any class, proper placement by ability is crucial to the success of the student. If the student is placed in a class beyond their ability level, they may become frustrated, give up, and/or act out inappropriately. Conversely, if students are not challenged the result may be the same. Auditions will be used to place students in ensembles, and then into sections and chairs. The same auditions may be used to place students into smaller chamber ensembles.
Concert Strings. The Concert String Orchestra is comprised of students in sixth, seventh and grade who elect to do Orchestra. The class meets Wednesday and Thursday during the 40-minute Sixth grade Core Plus Period, and has a 45-minute pull-out sectional from Related Arts (Foreign Language) once a week. Due to the rotating A/B schedule of Related Arts classes, this will mean that each student will miss one-half of a particular Related Arts class once every other week. The sectional rehearsal will be used to assess individual student performance levels and to track individual improvement. Students are responsible for all work and material presented in the Related Arts Class while at Sectionals.
Symphony Strings. The Symphony Strings Orchestra is comprised of students from sixth, seventh, and eighth grade selected by audition. This class meets every Wednesday and Thursday during the 40 minute Seventh and Eighth grade Core Plus Period. and has a 45-minute pull-out sectional from Related Arts (Foreign Language) once a week. Due to the rotating A/B schedule of Related Arts classes, this will mean that each student will miss one-half of a particular Related Arts class once every other week. The sectional rehearsal will be used to assess individual student performance levels and to track individual improvement. Students are responsible for all work and material presented in the Related Arts Class while at Sectionals.
Symphony Orchestra. The Symphony Orchestra is comprised of students from sixth, seventh and eighth grade selected by audition. All students in Symphony strings are automatically in the Symphony Orchestra. This class meets every Friday during the 40-minute Seventh and eighth grade Core Plus Period, The Symphony Orchestra is an exciting extended enrichment opportunity where we combine Winds, Brass, Percussion and the full String sections to play Symphony orchestra music. Any Sixth Grade orchestra student selected to be in the Symphony Orchestra will switch their Friday lunch and team times.
Each of the Orchestras will perform in at least two concerts annually, with the Symphony Orchestra appearing at the Howard County Orchestra Festival. Both Orchestras might appear at other adjudications and/or showcases as well. In addition, other opportunities to perform at the invitation of the community will be considered.
Schedules. Depending upon the placement, students may have to swap their lunch time with their Core Plus time.
Chamber Music. Chamber Music refers to small ensembles such as trios, quartets and quintets that will be formed for some selected members of the Orchestras. Some of these groups will rehearse during the day in place of the 40-minute pull-out sectional, while others will rehearse in 45-minute rehearsals after school. Ensembles that rehearse during the school day will be seen as an extension of the Orchestra class and rehearsals will be used for weekly individual performance assessments. These ensembles will be expected to perform in the County and State Solo & Ensemble Festivals, and at school concerts throughout the year.
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