Truett Wilson MS ORCHESTRA

1. Truett Wilson MS ORCHESTRA Parent Meeting

2. Michelle Gauthier (pronounced Goth-ier) • My Background Welcome & Introduction

3. My Philosophy • Why a quality music education can change your child’s life The Why

4. Students of the arts learn to think creatively and to solve problems by imagining various solutions, rejecting outdated rules and assumptions. Questions about the arts do not have only one right answer. Benefits of Music in Schools

5. Students of music learn craftsmanship as they study how details are put together painstakingly and what constitutes good, as opposed to mediocre, work. These standards, when applied to a student's own work, demand a new level of excellence and require students to stretch their inner resources. Benefits of Music in Schools

6. Music study enhances teamwork skills and discipline. In order for an orchestra to sound good, all players must work together harmoniously towards a single goal, the performance, and must commit to learning music, attending rehearsals, and practicing. Benefits of Music in Schools

7. Music study develops skills that are necessary in the workplace. It focuses on "doing," as opposed to observing, and teaches students how to perform, literally, anywhere in the world. Employers are looking for multi-dimensional workers with the sort of flexible and supple intellects that music education helps to create as described above. In the music classroom, students can also learn to better communicate and cooperate with one another. Benefits of Music in Schools

8. SAT Scores 2012 Orchestra Kids are SMARTER

9. Currently, there are 125 students enrolled in the INAGURAL Truett Wilson Orchestra! • Three Orchestras • Beginner Orchestra • Symphonic Orchestra • Chamber Orchestra State of the Orchestra

10. Available for pickup tonight • Dates will continue to be added (end of year party, social events, field trips, etc.) • Concert dates are set for the year Calendar of Events

11. What and who • Sectional schedule (on the back of the calendar) All Region

12. Outlines specific policies and procedures for the Orchestra program. • Available on our website as well as via netSchool. • http://www.nisdtx.org/Page/39418 • Please sign and return the last page ASAP (picked up tonight) Handbook

13. They are our “Unit Test” • Mandatory for all students • Dress: • Beginners should wear their orchestra T-shirt, ALL BLACK PANTS, nice shoes (no tennis shoes, no flip flops) • Symphonic and Chamber Orchestras will be issued a uniform. You will need to provide ALL BLACK (preferably close toed) shoes and socks (for boys). Concerts

14. Playing a stringed instrument requires you to play on your fingertips…with short nails. • No acrylic nails, no press on nails…sorry ladies. Fingernails

15. Chamber and Symphonic: • $13 Orchestra T Shirt • $10 Uniform Cleaning Fee • $7 Method Book • $30 TOTAL • Beginner • $13 Orchestra T Shirt Fees

16. Cellos/Basses • Option 1: Rent an instrument, leave it at home to practice. Use school instrument at school. • Cost: $50 to district per year. • Option 2: Rent an instrument. Take it back and forth. No school instrument used. • Cost: $0 • Option 3: If you are unable to afford to rent, there are a few school instrument available to use. You will have to take it back and forth from school to home. • Cost: $100 to district per year District Owned Instruments

17. For extra enrichment • Take place during the orchestra class, once a week • $18 per lesson • Private Teachers are screened and interviewed • To sign up your child, return the form tonight. • No scholarship money is available this year. Private Lessons

18. 100 minutes of practicing is required for all students. • Practice cards will be submitted via netSchool once a week (by 9:20 Monday am for the previous week) • Counts as a formative grade. Practice Cards

19. Practice Cards

20. Practice Cards

21. Instrument (at school, in good working condition) • Violins/Violas: Shoulder rest (Kun) • Cellos/Basses: Rock Stop • Metronome, music stand, cleaning cloth • Music • Beginners: Orchestra Expressions, Book 1 • Symphonic and Chamber: Method book, class music What does my child NEED to be in orchestra?

22. Ordering shoulder rests and books from Bell’s tomorrow • Turn in the order form if you’d like to do it that way with payment (checks made out to Bell’s Music) • Otherwise, you are responsible for purchasing all supplies necessary. Purchasing Supplies Tonight

23. Program makes life MUCH easier for everyone! • You can double check financials and sign up to help! • www.charmsoffice.com • Our login is TWMSOrch • Please login and update your information Charms

24. Just a “Parent Volunteer Organization” for this year • Must fill out the Background Check (available on the NISD website) • Chaperoning and Concession Stands are the biggest needs right now • SIGN UP! Opportunities to Help

25. Be positive! • Give them time and space to practice. • Remind them to log their practice minutes. • Set a timer. • Ask to hear them play, but don’t push. • Understand that it is a process. All you want to hear is IMPROVEMENT. What can I do to help my kid be successful?

26. Apps for download: • Note Squish (99cents – apple store) • GREAT for beginners • ClearTune (99cents – apple store) • Easy to use tuner for older kids who need some assistance/confidence tuning their own instruments at home • Metronome Apps (lots of different ones) Great for all levels What can I do to help my kid be successful?

27. Please sign the Signature Page and drop it in the box on your way out! • If you want to pay your fees, please paper clip your money/checks to the signature page • Drop off your equipment order forms if necessary (also paper clipped to money) Thank you!