Frequently Asked Questions
Can my child come in before/after school to practice?
Of course!! Any orchestra student is permitted to come in to the orchestra
room before or after school to practice their instrument. If there is a
sectional happening in the room, there are practice rooms available that they
may use. If the student would like to count that time on their practice card,
they can ask Mrs. Gibson to initial their practice card for the time that they
put in that day.
What is the Orchestra Uniform?
There are two separate uniforms for the orchestra students. There is the
FORMAL uniform, which is for 7th and 8th graders ONLY. This consists of ALL
BLACK. Black shirt, black pants, black socks, black shoes. Ladies may wear black
skirts or dresses. The formal uniform needs to be school appropriate, no
spaghetti straps or flip flops. The INFORMAL uniform is the required 6th grade uniform. This
uniform is the Orchestra polo shirt, khaki pants, and nice shoes.
Why does my child have such a low grade on their progress
report/report card?
Usually the reason why a student receives a low grade in orchestra is
because they may have not turned in signed practice cards. Practice cards are
due every Monday and the students are required to practice 100 minutes a week.
What do I do when my child breaks a string?
If your child breaks a string have them come straight into the orchestra
room in the morning. We are fortunate to have a small supply of strings on hand
to make quick repairs. If you are renting the instrument from Music and Arts the
replacement string is free of charge. If your student is using a school
instrument, you are responsible for the price of the string.
Why does my child have sectionals every week?
Sectionals are highly specialized rehearsals in which we discuss in detail
the things that are tricky for that particular section. Sectionals enable us to
fix problems without the whole orchestra sitting and waiting for a small section
to be fixed. It is imperative to the success of the orchestra for your child to
attend their assigned sectional time. Sectionals are required for all 7th and
8th grade students, and there attendance is taken for a grade.
Should I buy an instrument right away?
Not necessarily...for more information click
here.