Welcome to the Lux Orchestras web page. Here you can find most information needed throughout the school year, such as concerts calendar, grading expectations, class activities, 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. Whitman, 6th, 7th & 8th grade Orchestra Teacher
436-1220 @ Lux Best time to call: 8:30-8:50 am.
436-1302 @ East Best time to call: 2:15-4:00 pm
I prefer phone calls to e-mail (still old-fashioned). I usually answer e-mail once per day, around 2:30 pm.
Hope these program notes help you to know what to expect and how orchestra works at Lux Middle School.
The Lux Orchestras website is located on Mr. Whitman’s LPS website. The website address is wp.lps.org/dwhit/
You will find most of these Program Notes on the website. Keep the website handy rather than these program notes, if you prefer. As always, feel free to call Mr. Whitman with any questions.
GRADING
As grading is a ‘hot’ topic in LPS now and as it continues to change and be updated, the parameters below may change. If they do, you will be notified.
Rehearsal Work = 75%
Playing Tests / Mastery Tests / Theory Tests = 25%
My goal is to record a Rehearsal Work grade on Friday of each week. The Rehearsal Work grade is maximum of 25 points per week, or 5 points for each day. I expect the absolute best from students and we have outstanding students in orchestra. The two most common culprits for loss of points are 1) talking, and 2) not listening. In music especially, our success depends so much on listening!
HOMEWORK = PRACTICE! 🙂
Practice 5 times each week, 30 minutes each time. Students are graded on how well they master the music and skills we learn in class, so practicing is their homework. If you are a busy person, involved in many activities, you may not practice as much and that is perfectly understandable; practice when you can. If you are sitting around with too much screen time—video games, TV, computer, etc., then get off your duff and do something productive and beautiful…play music! 🙂
CLASS EXPECTATIONS
1. Golden Rule. Treat others how you want to be treated.
2. Practice at home and in class. Be quiet only when the teacher is teaching.
3. Work hard. Most of your grade comes from how hard you work, not how well you play.
4. Bring your instrument, music, and pencil to class every day.
CONCERTS
Concert participation is required and an exciting time to share our music.
Dates are included in this packet. If you must miss a concert, please give Mr. Whitman a note or e-mail at least 2 weeks prior to the concert. Then, complete the make-up assignment before the concert.
CONCERT ATTIRE
The attire for the performance will be dress clothes. The manner in which performers are dressed is very important. Something important is happening and the dress of the students reflect this. For all students, there should be no blue jeans or athletic shoes/sneakers worn. Young ladies should wear a skirt or very nice dress slacks with an appropriately cut top. Skirts should be below the knee because on stage, playing an instrument can make it difficult to sit appropriately in shorter skirts. Young men should wear dress slacks with a shirt and tie or sweater. Dress or casual shoes are fine, but no athletic shoes/sneakers. The intention is not to limit fashion but to teach and insure the dignity of our performance.
INSTRUMENTS
Violins and violas will check out an instrument locker and padlock.
Violas may bring their personal instrument or use a school instrument, because violists are special! Violins are special too, but we do not have school violins for checkout. Sorry.
Cellos and basses get to use school instruments at school so you don’t have to haul your big beautiful piece of lumber to school everyday. School instruments may not be taken home because they are sometimes used by other Lux students.
Please, please, please insure your instrument under your homeowners insurance, especially if you have an expensive instrument. LPS and Lux, 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
Each student will receive their own music folder, method book, and sheet music. If any music is lost or damaged excessively, the student must pay for it.
Sheet music = $3.00 per sheet
Method book = $6.00
Entire folder, with book and music included = $40.00
CHAIR SEATING
Yes, we do some chair seating according to ability, usually only twice per year. We also mix-up the seating often with chair rotation, reverse seating, section switch, instrument scramble, random seating, 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 quite a number of students. For those students who get discouraged, we remind them that the joy is in the music, not the chair, and everyone gets to play the music and everyone is valued. Yes, we honor the best players with the 1st chair seats at the concert, 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’!
JYO / YES
JYO is Junior Youth Orchestra, an honor orchestra of primarily middle school students that meets once weekly throughout the school year. Auditions usually held at the beginning of September and will be announced and posted at Lux. More info and audition music is available on their website: http://jyo.lps.org/
YES is Youth Ensemble for Strings, an honor orchestra primarily of younger middle school and advanced elementary students that meets once weekly during the 2nd half of the school year. Auditions are usually held in December and will be announced and posted at Lux . More info and audition music is available on their website: http://wp.lps.org/music/select-performing-groups/youth-ensemble-of-strings-yes/
SOLO & ENSEMBLE PROJECT
Beginning in January, all students will form duets, trios, quartets, learn a piece of their own choosing, rehearse in class and on their own, and perform in a class recital. Solos are strongly encouraged from all students who are taking private lessons. The best of the recital performances will be selected to represent Lux Orchestras at the LPS Solo & Ensemble in early March.
ALL-CITY ORCHESTRA FESTIVAL @ PERSHING (8TH grade only)
Some members of the 8th Grade Orchestra will be selected by the teacher to represent Lux at the All-City M.S. Instrumental Festival at Pershing Auditorium in January. The festival includes the All-City Band, All-City Orchestra, and JYO. This is a one day event, with a concert in the evening. Students will be selected based on rehearsal work, dependability and maturity, and playing skills.
LPS MIDDLE SCHOOL ORCHESTRA CONTEST (8TH grade only)
The Lux 8th Grade Orchestra will be Lux’s entry for the M.S. Orchestra Contest in May. The orchestra will perform for a judge and an audience from other schools. The judge will give a rating and comments. Lux 8th Grade Orchestras have consistently received a ‘I’ Superior rating. Let’s keep the tradition going!
BEYOND THE REHEARSALS…
Game Days, Themes of the Week, Birthday Crashes, Weekend Highlights, Banana Races, MuzkMax, Creative Christmas Concert, Hidden Talent Show….the fun never ends!….
Please feel free to call with questions, or e-mail for short answers. I’d love to hear from you. It will be a wonderful year of music-making!
Mr. Whitman