Skip to content

EAST ORCHESTRAS

Welcome to the East High Orchestras web page.  Here you can find most information needed throughout the school year, such as concerts calendar, letter award points sheet, syllabus and grading expectations, etc.

FYI, this web page will not be updated very often because Mr. Whitman conducts music much better than technology 🙂   General information questions should be answered by the content of this web page.  Of course, please feel free to contact Mr. Whitman for any individual student specific questions.   For short answers, e-mail is great; for explanations or discussion, he much prefers a good ol’ phone call.  Above all, communication is utmost importance, so let me know how I can help.

 

Mr. Del Whitman,Symphony Orchestra,  dwhit@lps.org

Mr. Tom Thorpe, Freshman Orchestra,  tthorpe@lps.org

Lincoln East Music Office   436-1302, ext. 62268

 

These Program Notes will give you and your parents important information and expectations of the Lincoln East Orchestras.  The East Orchestras have a long tradition of excellence in people and performances, and we expect you to continue that tradition! A poster hangs in the music office with the heading of “EXCELLENCE” and it reads, “Today’s preparation determines tomorrow’s achievement”. We have the potential again this year to be an excellent orchestra, both with people and with music, and that excellence begins you!

 

ATTENDANCE & ATTITUDE

Attendance is paramount.  Attitude is everything.  If you are here and willing, we will be excellent.

ABSENCES:  If you are absent from class, you need to complete an Absence Make-Up Practice Time Sheet.  Pick up an absence sheet from the strings room, practice 30 minutes for each absence, have it signed by your parent, and turn it in to your teacher within one week after the absence.  3 absences from class with no make-up practice time will result in lowering of grade.

MAKE-UP PRACTICE SHEET:  HERE

TARDIES:  Early is on time, on time is late, late is unacceptable.  Be early to class.

School policy for tardies:  1st TD – Teacher conference with student;  2nd TD – Communicate with parent;  3rd TD – Equal to one absence, make-up practice time sheet; 4th TD – Referral to administration

 

GRADING

Each teacher grades a bit differently, so the grading for each orchestra class will be explained in the Orchestra Class Syllabus that the student receives at the beginning of the year.

 

INSTRUMENTS
Violins and violas will check out an instrument locker and padlock.Violas may bring their personal instrument or use a school instrument.  No school violins available for check-out  Sorry.Cellos and basses get to use school instruments at school so you don’t have to haul your big beautiful personal piece of lumber to school everyday.  School instruments need to stay at school;  see Mr. Whitman for exceptions.

Please, please, please insure your instrument under your homeowners insurance, especially if you have an expensive instrument.  LPS and East, and can not be responsible for damage to instruments.

If a school instrument is damaged during class or under the care of the student, then the student or family is responsible to pay for damages.  So, please, please, pleeeeeease take care of your instrument, whether school or personal!

FYI, replacement cost of school instruments:

Violin = $450,  Viola = $650,  Cello = $900,  String Bass = $1400

 

SHEET MUSIC

Students will share a music folder and sheet music with a stand partner.  If any music is lost or damaged excessively, the two student will share the cost of the music.

Sheet music = $3.00 per sheet

Entire folder, with music included = $40.00

 

CONCERTS

The East Orchestra has a tradition of outstanding performances every year, due in large part to the blessing of so many talented and hard-working student musicians.  From Baroque suites to Broadway soundtracks, from Led Zepplin to Senior Solo Concertos, the students will perform a tremendous variety of music throughout their high school career.

An East Orchestras Concerts Calendar is included.  We stay busy; outside individual practice is expected.  Concerts are a highlight and are vital to our success. All performances are mandatory.  They are our big exams and more importantly, our time to share our music with others.  If you must miss a concert, please give your teacher a note or e-mail at least 2 weeks prior to the concert.  Then, complete the make-up assignment before the concert.

 

CONCERT ATTIRE

Commonly referred to as “concert black”, the East Orchestra dresses similarly to the professional formal attire of most professional symphonies.  It is the responsibility of the student, with parent help, to find and purchase their own concert black attire that matches the descriptions below.  The East Orchestra has a tradition of a mature appearance ( to match our mature performance!), so please follow precisely the descriptions below.  Our Concert Attire HelpMom is the lovely Mrs. Whitman.  In September, we will have our annual Concert Black Fashion Show to give examples of right and wrong clothing choices and she will be at school to help.

The responsibility is yours, but we’ll try to help.  Please do not ask Mr. Whitman; call his wife! J  483-2798.

(…but please call weeks in advance, not just hours before the concert!)

LADIES:  White top – ALL white, pure white long-sleeve top/blouse, with white undergarments, Black skirt at knee or below, Black closed-toe dress shoes, black hose, Small, modest, or no jewelry.

GENTLEMEN:  White dress shirt, Black dress slacks, Black coat, black bow tie, Black dress shoes, black socks, No jewelry?!   Gentlemen—we suggest that you do NOT purchase a NEW tux…too expensive.  Used tuxes are available if you shop around.  We have a few at East High available for loan or some other options.  We also have black bowties available for purchase.  Again, please ask Mrs. Whitman early for help.

 

T-SHIRT ATTIRE

For informal performances, i.e. Christmas at the mall, elementary schools, etc., we wear our East Orchestra t-shirt.  All first-time orchestra students will need to buy an Orchestra t-shirt.  The t-shirt costs approximately $12.00.  We use the same t-shirt year after year, so you only need to pay for a t-shirt one year, and then reuse each year.  Ordering information will be announced in September.

 

NO ELECTRONICS

No cell phones, iPods, MP3 players, iPads, laptops, etc. allowed in any music class.  We make our own music and it’s live! —don’t need the canned, digital downloads.  We will follow school policy, which includes confiscation, parent pick-up and possible suspension for multiple offenses.  Don’t use it, keep it out of sight and better yet, leave it at home.

 

PRACTICE

Yes, home practice is expected.  Practice until you can play it.  First of all, practice in class every chance you get, i.e. first five minutes of class, end of class if time, etc.  For you who take private lessons, you will need to practice a few times at home before the concert.  If you don’t take private lessons, you definitely need to practice every week 5x preferred, 3x at least.  Also, depends on your own busyness….too much screen time—practice more; busy with sports, speech, drama, church, volunteer, etc.—practice when you can.

 

CHAIR SEATING

Yes, we do some chair seating according to ability, usually only twice per year.  We also mix-up the seating often with alpha backwards, chair rotation, reverse seating, section switch, instrument scramble, random seating, seniority privilege, and director’s discretion throughout the year, and sometimes during the concert.  Competition can be healthy in moderation and with a mature attitude.  We teach maturity in our attitudes towards one another’s feelings and abilities.  Chair seating can be a terrific motivator to practice for a significant number of students. Yes, we sometimes honor the better players with front row seats and leadership expectations, but we encourage and celebrate everyone’s contribution.  Orchestras, and all music groups, are the ultimate team activity because everybody plays and nobody sits on the ‘bench’!

 

SOLO & ENSEMBLE CONTEST

Beginning in November, students will be encouraged, but not required, to participate in the Solo & Ensemble Contest.  They can form duets, trios, quartets, learn a piece of their own choosing, rehearse in class and on their own, and perform at East High and for the LPS Solo & Ensemble Contest.  Solos are strongly encouraged from all students who are taking private lessons.  Letter Points are awarded for performances.

 

LYS

Lincoln Youth Symphony, an honor orchestra of high school students that meets once weekly throughout the school year.  Auditions held in May at the end of this year for the following year’s ensemble. More info and audition music is available on their website: http://lys.lps.org

 

NMEA ALL-STATE ORCHESTRA

The NMEA All-State Orchestra is the premier state-wide honor orchestra and meets once during the year.  The All-State Orchestra is recognized nationally as a standard of excellence because almost every state has an All-State Orchestra.  An information sheet is included.

 

HONOR ORCHESTRAS

Several universities host an honor orchestra to offer outstanding students an opportunity to gather and perform advanced literature under a guest conductor.  Doane College,  Hastings College, Nebraska Weslyan, Omaha Conservatory and UNO have offered honor orchestras over the past years.  These festivals run one weekend and students are selected by audition.  Listen and watch for announcements throughout the year.

 

Please feel free to call with questions, or e-mail for short answers.  We’re glad to hear from you.  It will be a wonderful year of people and music!

Mr. Whitman    436-1302 @ East High    dwhit@lps.org

 

By Del Whitman 4:08 pm