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Welcome to Central School Strings!

(scroll to bottom for this year's lessons schedule)

 

Student Responsibilities

  1. A Central School orchestra student is expected to learn lesson assignments- practiced at home and rehearsed in school
  2. The orchestra student is expected to learn performance pieces- practiced at home and rehearsed in school
  3. The orchestra student is expected to come to his/her lesson which takes place once per cycle
  4. The students instrument case and lessons book should be labeled with his/her first and last name
  5. Attendance at all rehearsals and concerts is mandatory
  6. The orchestra student is being challenge with music that requires practice.  The student should be practicing at least 2 hours per week.  This averages out to playing for 20 for six out of seven days of the week.

 

Parent Responsibilities

  1. The parent of the orchestra student is to make sure that the student’s instrument is in working condition
  2. The parent should insure that the student’s instrument case and lessons book is labeled with the student’s first and last name
  3. The parent should ask his/her student about our lessons, rehearsals, and activities
  4. Please come to our performances! Encourage friends and relatives to attend as well! Sharing in your student’s accomplishments is a huge factor in his/her academic success
  5. Encourage your student to practice his/her music at home
  6. Look into possible private lessons for your student.  Miss Thompson has many great suggestions for local teachers who would complement your student’s studies.
  7. Contact me, Carrington Thompson, whenever necessary at: [email protected]

  

Attendance

Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is something that we take very seriously.  Each orchestra member has an integral role in the ensemble. 

 

Students meet with Miss Thompson only once per cycle, so a missed lesson could mean that your student would not receive any instrumental instruction for up to 15 days in a row.  Students and parents are reminded to not schedule any family engagements or elective medical appointments that conflict with the given orchestra schedule.

 

Concert Dress Code

Boys:

            Black dress pants

White button-down shirt (long sleeve for Winter Concert/ long or short sleeve for

Spring Concert)

            Black socks and black dress shoes

 

Girls:

Black pants or skirt (NO YOGA PANTS/ skirts must hit below the knee when

seated.  Student will not be permitted to perform with a skirt that does not hit below the knee.  This is for modesty and professionalism)

            White blouse

            Black stockings

            Dress shoes (color is optional)

 

Orchestra Program Retention Goals

v  Music is not just important, it is essential to the all-around human development of our orchestra students

v  To impact students’ lives and make them better citizens

v  To increase brain capacity for all other areas of cognitive function

v  To create a safe space for human spirit, feelings, and emotions

v  To create student resiliency

v  To provide dopamine sufficiency for the academic setting

v  To provide quality experiences that translate to all areas of life

v  To foster the lifelong love of making and listening to orchestra music

 

The purpose of the Haddonfield Orchestra Program is not to train professional artist performers (although that would be an exciting result), but rather to encourage students to participate in an activity through which his/her musical abilities may be developed.

 

As a result of developing these musical abilities through orchestral instrument instruction, students are experiencing the benefits of making positive contributions to an organization, the joy of creativity, the growth and expansion of physical and cognitive functions, and the appreciation for art with value.

 

Instrument Maintenance

 String instruments and bows are beautiful instruments that are very sensitive to their environment.  They need routine care in order for them to remain in strong playing condition and to keep their issued value.

  1. Wipe off your instrument and strings with a micro-fiber cleaning cloth every time you are done playing (like a micro-fiber dusting cloth or an eye glass cloth)
  2. Loosen your bow every time you are done playing
  3. Change your strings once a year or more if you play your instrument regularly
  4. Have your bow re-haired once a year or more if you play your instrument regularly
  5. Keep a dampit in your case (or in your instrument for cellos) during the winter months to keep the instrument from drying out and cracking
  6. Label your case with your first and last name

 

LESSONS SCHEDULE 2019-2020

Day 2

      9:10-9:40 / Group K

      9:40-10:10 / Group E

      10:10-10:40 / Group L

      10:40-11:10 / Group H

      11:10-11:40 / Group N

      11:50-12:40 / LUNCH

      12:50-1:20 / Group D

      1:20-1:50 / Group F

      1:50-2:20 / available for make-up lessons

      2:20-2:50 / Group J

Day 4

      9:10-9:40 / Group M

      9:40-10:10 / Group C

      10:10-10:40 / available fro make-up lessons

      10:40-11:10 / Group I

      11:10-11:40 / Group O

      11:50-12:40 / LUNCH

      12:50-1:20 / Group A

      1:20-1:50 / available for make-up lessons

      1:50-2:20 / Group G

      2:20-2:50 / Group B