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| Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Society Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra Prep Strings & Training Orchestra Support Us More Information |
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Conditions
of Membership The conditions of membership enable the KJSS orchestras to maintain a high standard of musical excellence. They encompass the basic considerations and responsibilities, which an orchestra member must show to his or her conductor and fellow orchestra members throughout the season.
AS A VALUED KJSS ORCHESTRA MEMBER YOU ARE REQUIRED Attendance Policy - PLEASE READ CAREFULLY! The KJSO performs three concert cycles per season. You are expected to be in attendance and on time to every rehearsal and performance. We ask that you and your parents review the KJSO schedule for the entire season as soon as it is presented at the start of the academic year and compare it to the other planned activities on your calendar. If you have an unavoidable conflict, the KJSO has a limited number of excused absences per concert sequence (the exact number of which will be noted on the season schedule). YOU MUST PLAN AHEAD SO AS NOT TO EXCEED THE NUMBER OF EXCUSED ABSENCES. In this planning process, please consider all of your sports and academic extracurricular activities, musical competitions, family vacations, SAT & ACT tests, college admissions interviews, etc. Though a number of valid reasons for an absence will be considered as excused, school band and orchestra conflicts take precedence. EXCUSED REHEARSAL ABSENCES DO NOT PERTAIN TO DRESS REHEARSALS OR CONCERTS; attendance at both is mandatory. Any member who has a compelling reason for missing a dress rehearsal or more than the allotted number of excused absences may request permission to do so directly from the music director (koehlerandrew@yahoo.com) as early as possible in the cycle; his decision in such matters is final. Missing a dress rehearsal or more than the allotted number of excused absences without permission will bring your membership under review. Registering Attendance It is your responsibility to record your attendance at each rehearsal by placing a check next to your name under the appropriate date on the attendance sheet (Attendance sheets are located on the far side of the stage on a table manned by Mrs. Fletcher.) If you do not check yourself off on the attendance sheet, you will be marked absent. Practice You are expected to devote enough time practicing your assigned music so that all notes and rhythms are learned BEFORE coming to rehearsal. Sufficient student practice is essential for the orchestra to spend its time efficiently rehearsing ensemble playing and style. Rehearsals You are expected to be seated and tuned 10 minutes prior to the beginning of rehearsal. Rehearsals start promptly at the times posted on the rehearsal schedule. Rehearsal time is valuable and lateness is disruptive to the conductor and fellow orchestra members. As a show of respect for the conductor and your colleagues, please be prompt. KJSO: Rehearsals are normally held on Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., although there may be occasional weekday or Saturday rehearsals (please note times on the schedule), during the school year on the stage of Chenery Auditorium, Kalamazoo Adult Education Bldg. (Old Kal. Central H. S.), 714 S. Westnedge Ave.* Parents should drop students off in the back parking lot (off Dutton or Vine Streets). Members enter the side door in the back alley located in the middle of the building. The KJSO performs three regular concerts per year. It is very important that KJSO families who drive their children to rehearsals be on time to pick them up. However, all parents should have an agreed upon back-up plan in case they will be 15 minutes or more late to pick up their child from rehearsal or any KJSO event. One option that is always available: students who find themselves waiting for a late pick-up may choose to wait inside at the Dutton Street entrance (on the North side of Chenery). They will need to be inside the building before the KJSO Stage crew leaves after tearing down the stage. Please plan to pick up your child at the Dutton Street entrance if you've had an emergency and find you will be late. PSO & TRAINING ORCHESTRA: PSO rehearsals are held on Monday in the band room of Portage North Middle School, 5808 Oregon, Portage, during the school year. PSO students rehearse from either 5:30-7:00 P.M. (Concert Orchestra) or 7:15-8:45 P.M. (Symphonic String) depending on which group they are assigned. The PSO performs two regular concerts per season. Training Orchestra students rehearse on Tuesday in the band room of Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts. TO students participate in a one hour skills building session from 4:30-5:30 p.m. They perform one concert per year at an Portage West Middle School’s Little Theater, which is preceded by a family pizza party. • Please note any exceptions indicated on the rehearsal schedule. For your child’s safety, please make sure you are waiting to pick them up promptly at the end of PSO or Training Orchestra rehearsal. After PSO Symphonic Strings rehearsal, both the conductor and intern have responsibilities at home. In the event of an emergency, and you are unable to arrive on time, the PSO or Training Orchestra conductor or student intern will always wait with your child. To avoid this situation, please make arrangements to have a back-up plan with another PSO or Training Orchestra parent if you will be late and discuss this plan with your child. Make sure they understand that they are not to accept a ride with a person they do not know. Participation in School Music Program The KJSS believes it is essential for all of its students to be a member of their school music programs and strongly encourages participation both for the advancement of their individual musical skills and for the promotion of the arts in their schools. Participation in a school music group is not only a vote for the continued inclusion of fine arts in the schools, it is important for the development of ensemble and leadership skills which in turn strengthens the KJSS orchestras. Should a student not be in their school music program, the conductor may wish to discuss this issue with both the student and their parents. Students must submit a signed form documenting either their participation or the conflict that makes such participation impossible. Responsibility for Music and Instruments As a KJSS orchestra member you are entrusted with a great deal of valuable music for which you are fully responsible. Music is checked out to you before the first rehearsal and again before each concert sequence. It is collected after each concert by the music librarian. You will be charged for any lost music or folders. It is extremely important that you bring your music to each and every rehearsal. Forgetting your music creates gaps in the instrumentation of the orchestra and compromises the effectiveness of both the conductor’s and your fellow orchestra member’s rehearsal time. The KJSS has a limited number of instruments available for loan through the office. Students who have been loaned an instrument are fully responsible for that instrument. This responsibility includes providing proof of insurance for the instrument during the loan period. Music Handling Policy
If you misplace your folder or need replacement parts, please contact the Librarian ASAP so that parts can be sent to you promptly. If the Librarian is contacted prior to the next rehearsal, a new folder should be available by the next scheduled rehearsal.
How to contact your KJSO and PSO Librarian:
Private
Study
The
KJSS asks that you study your instrument with a private teacher.
Private music study is essential to your total development and successful
participation in KJSS ensembles. In the case of financial need,
partial music lesson scholarships are available by contacting the
KJSS office for an application.
Conduct
Participation
in disruptive behavior (profanity, harassment, etc.) will not be
tolerated. It shows a lack of consideration and respect and reflects
poorly on the whole orchestra. Orchestra members are required to
sign and return a "Mutual Respect Agreement." It outlines
the basic rules of conduct for the total development and success
of all orchestra members.
Fees
The
KJSS is among the few youth orchestra organizations in the United
States that does not charge tuition to its student members. We feel
fortunate that we have the strong support of our community and a
parent support group that enables us to offer a quality musical
program in this way. Minimal fees are assessed at the beginning
of the season. These fees include:
Fundraising
The KJSS Board determines a yearly, mandatory fundraising goal for each family,
which is tracked through each family’s fundraising account. At the end of the
year the sum of each family’s fundraising must total the amount predetermined
by the Board of Directors. This sum will be communicated to orchestra families
at the beginning of the year.
Tune-Up
Camp
The
KJSO season begins on the first Friday and Saturday after Labor
Day with the annual "Tune-up" Camp. The camp tradition
was begun to give new and returning students an opportunity to get
acquainted in an informal setting. Musical activities include full
orchestra rehearsals and sectionals with highly qualified music
educators. In addition to music making, orchestra members enjoy
the social and sports activities available at camp. Saturday evening
parents and friends are invited to attend a mini-concert. Students
must practice BEFORE Tune-up Camp.
NO SIGHTREADING!
Tune-up camp is a required rehearsal.
Education
Concerts
Each
year KJSO students pack up their instruments and board buses to
travel to area elementary and middle schools to perform a series
of education concerts. It is our goal to encourage and inspire each
of our young audience members to participate in their school music
program and beyond.
Concerto
Competition
The
audition date for the KJSO’s Concerto Competition can be found on the
rehearsal schedule. If you are interested
in signing up for an audition time, a Concerto Competition Sign-up Form
is included with your materials. For your audition you should be prepared
to play the piece you wish to perform at the concert. A piano will
be available for an accompanist (you must must hire your own accompanist).
Auditions
New Member Auditions: Auditions for new members are held at the
end of each season in May. Please go to the KJSO website for Audition
Requirements and Information (www.kjso.org). All auditioning students
are notified of their acceptance or non-acceptance by mail. New members
to the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra will be accepted on a one
year, provisional status. After this first year, students will need
to re-audition during the new member auditions at the end of the year
for permanent membership. At this second audition, factors such as
attendance, rehearsal preparation, attitude, and general musical
development over the course of the year will be considered as well
as the prepared audition.
Auditions for Chair Assignments: Seating is at the discretion
of the Music Director as determined by chair auditions. Chair auditions
are normally held at the end of August. Chair assignments are posted at
Tune-Up Camp. Chair audition requirements are posted on our website and
usually include an orchestral excerpt, which can be downloaded.
Ensembles
The
The KJSS sponsors several honors ensembles; a Brass Quintet, Woodwind
Quintet, String Quartets and if feasible, a Percussion Ensemble. The
ensemble program was created to provide ensemble performance experience
to selected members of the KJSO, to recognize excellence, to improve the
quality of key players, and to increase visibility of the KJSO in the community.
Players are selected through conductor and ensemble director recommendation and/or audition. Members are chosen based on musical ability, reliability, attendance, etc. If you are interested in auditioning, you should do so only if you are prepared to commit yourself to attending all scheduled rehearsals.
Each ensemble will perform publicly. Performances may include pre-Kalamazoo Symphony concerts, school and community functions, and other events, which have the approval of the conductor, ensemble director, board of directors or education committee.
Each ensemble coaching session will be one hour long. In-between coachings the ensembles will have hour-long practice sessions without a coach present. The schedule of coaching and practice sessions will be planned by coaches and players at the beginning of each season along with the help of the KSO Education Director and KJSO Ensemble Director. Ensemble coaching or practice sessions may not interfere with KJSO performance and rehearsal times. All players will be expected to learn their individual parts on their own time.
Concert
Dress
Kalamazoo
Junior Symphony Members
MEN
Preferred: Black Tuxedo, white tuxedo shirt, black
bow tie, black cummerbund, black socks, black shoes
MEN
Alternate: Black suit, white shirt, black bow tie,
black socks, black shoes
Prep
String Orchestra Members
MEN:
Black Dress Pants, White Dress Shirt, Black Socks, and Black Shoes.
A PSO Tie will be provided.
WOMEN:
Mid-calf length Black Skirt, White Long-Sleeved Dress Blouse, and
Black Shoes. A sash will be provided.
Men’s
ties and women’s sashes will be distributed before the first
concert of the season.
Scholarships
Summer
Music Camp Scholarships: Each spring KJSO, PSO and
Training students have the opportunity to apply for scholarships
for attendance at summer music camps or seminars. The KJSS conductors,
on the basis of musicianship, dedication to the orchestra and attendance
choose scholarship winners. Scholarships are limited to students
up to grade 11. Applications can be download from the KJSS website
at www.kjso.org or through the KJSS office at the beginning of March.
Posie
Tomlinson College Scholarship: Fund through the
"Posie Tomlinson Scholarship Endowment Fund," this scholarship
is awarded to a student graduating from the KJSO and going on to
an accredited four-year college, music school, or conservatory to
major in music.
Applicants
must submit an application along with support letters and a high
school transcript. Applications can be obtained at rehearsals and through
the KJSS office.
The KJSO conductor
and a committee chosen by the KJSS Board of Directors evaluate applications.
Applications can be obtained through the Kalamazoo Foundation Office
or area high school counseling offices.
Need-Based
Scholarships
Private
Music Lesson Scholarships: Each season the KJSS
has a number of private music lesson scholarships for students in
all orchestras.
Assessed
Fee or Fee Based Activity Scholarship: Scholarships
are available for any assessed fee or fee based activity (registration
fee, camp fee, etc.).
Applications
for need-based scholarships can be downloaded from the KJSS website
at www.kjso.org or by calling the KJSS office. All information on
the scholarship applications will remain completely confidential.
Rehearsal
Cancellation
Inclement
weather:
Emergency
Cancellation:
It is unusual that the KJSS must cancel a rehearsal due to an emergency
(conductor illness, family emergency or transportation failure). If the
emergency notice is sufficient, we will always try to avoid a cancellation
by securing a guest conductor. If we cannot find a replacement, we will
attempt to email everyone, and will attempt to reach those families who
travel from out of town by phone. We will also post a notice on the entrance
to the building. Please never leave your child off at a rehearsal without
first checking to see if a cancellation notice has been posted on the door.
Player
Directors
Player Directors
are full members of the KJSS Board of Directors. As such, they are
entitled and expected to attend monthly board meetings, to vote
on resolutions and actions (except as excluded by the KJSS By-Laws),
and to serve on standing committees. Player directors and their
alternates will be chosen from Junior and senior members of the
KJSO.
Elections will
be held at the end of the season in the spring with votes cast for
the two director positions, one must be a string player and one
a non-string player. The two students with the next highest vote
count in the election will hold the position of alternate. Alternates
are welcome to attend board meetings as well.
Orchestra
Support League
The purpose
of the KJSS Orchestra Support League is to support the total musical
and personal development of the young musicians of the Kalamazoo
Junior Symphony, Prep String and Training Orchestras by donating
time and resources in benefit of programmed and fund raising activities.
The Orchestra
Support League is the representing body of KJSO, PSO and Training
Orchestra parents. Proud KJSS parents automatically become members
of the League and are asked to actively participate as a member
of ONE Fund Raising Committee AND ONE Program Support Committee.
The Kalamazoo
Junior Symphony Society needs and appreciates the strong support
of all parents.
To
All Our KJSS Parents
As a proud
KJSS parent your active support is of paramount importance, both
to the achievement of your child and to the success of the organization.
Your responsibilities are:
Enclosed with
KJSS information materials is a PARENT RESPONSIBILITY VOLUNTEER
FORM outlining the specific areas where your support is
necessary. Please fill out the form and return it to the KJSS office.
For the season to run efficiently, it is extremely important that
you return this form by the due date. Download
KJSS 2008-09 Handbook Adobe
Reader is needed to open KJSS Handbook. |
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