Orchestra Information and Expectations
Hello! My name is Cole Freeman and I am the orchestra director at Quail Hollow Middle School. I am so excited to make music with you all this school year!
The middle school years provide students the opportunity to begin playing instruments, learn basic skills, and advance to the high school level in three years. Commitment, responsibility, and mature behavior are necessary for our success.
Orchestra meets on B days and each student is expected to be prepared with the following items for each class:
· Instrument
· Pencil
· 6th grade: Sound Innovations for strings Book One
· 7th & 8th grade: Sound Innovations for strings Book Two.
· Violin/viola students should use some sort of shoulder support– either a soft sponge or a commercial shoulder rest.
· I will provide folders for sheet music.
Home practice reinforces concepts and literature learned in class. 10 to 20 minutes 4 to 5 days per week will greatly improve a student’s technique. Private lessons are very beneficial if financially feasible. Students improve quickly with weekly one on one instruction.
Grading Scale:
Informal: Concerts, playing tests, written work, practice records 35%
Formal: rehearsal preparedness and active rehearsal engagement 65%
All students must participate on a regular basis for each ensemble to succeed. Students will lose rehearsal engagement points for excessive socializing and uncooperative behavior that detracts from their own or their classmates rehearsal experience.
Concert attendance is mandatory! I must hear from a parent if there is an emergency or illness.
Concert Attire:
We wear all black. It looks very professional on stage!
Black short or long sleeved shirt, black dress pants or skirt, and black dress shoes. Please, no jeans, skinny legged pants, or revealing tops!
It is just as important to look good as it is to sound good!!
Important Dates:
November 17th - Auditions for CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra @ East Mecklenburg High School
December 11th - Winter Concert 6:00 PM in the Multipurpose room.
January 25th - Rehearsal for CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra (for students selected) @ Northwest School of the Arts
February 8-9th - CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra Clinic @ EE Waddell Academy
February 16th - Auditions for Junior Western Regional Orchestra @ West Forsyth High School, Winston-Salem, NC
March 13-15th - Music Performance Assessment, Atkins High School, Winston Salem, NC
7th and 8th grade only.
April 5-6th - Junior Western Regional Orchestra Clinic @ Mallard Creek High School
May 22nd - Spring Concert 6:00 PM in the Multipurpose room.
Orchestra Class Rules:
The CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the audition process and possibly perform with over 150 string players in 2 orchestras. There are required scales, a required solo, and sight reading. We will work on this music in class when possible and I will be happy to work with students before and after school.
Junior Western Regional Orchestra
The JWRO is an opportunity to perform with middle school students from the entire Western Region of NC. The audition repertoire is very similar to the CMS Honors Orchestra. Students selected will perform with peers from other counties. It's a more challenging experience and prepares students for high school honor groups.
Contact Information
Feel free to contact me at any time. My email is [email protected]. My Google voice number is (980) 477-0046.
Hello! My name is Cole Freeman and I am the orchestra director at Quail Hollow Middle School. I am so excited to make music with you all this school year!
The middle school years provide students the opportunity to begin playing instruments, learn basic skills, and advance to the high school level in three years. Commitment, responsibility, and mature behavior are necessary for our success.
Orchestra meets on B days and each student is expected to be prepared with the following items for each class:
· Instrument
· Pencil
· 6th grade: Sound Innovations for strings Book One
· 7th & 8th grade: Sound Innovations for strings Book Two.
· Violin/viola students should use some sort of shoulder support– either a soft sponge or a commercial shoulder rest.
· I will provide folders for sheet music.
Home practice reinforces concepts and literature learned in class. 10 to 20 minutes 4 to 5 days per week will greatly improve a student’s technique. Private lessons are very beneficial if financially feasible. Students improve quickly with weekly one on one instruction.
Grading Scale:
Informal: Concerts, playing tests, written work, practice records 35%
Formal: rehearsal preparedness and active rehearsal engagement 65%
All students must participate on a regular basis for each ensemble to succeed. Students will lose rehearsal engagement points for excessive socializing and uncooperative behavior that detracts from their own or their classmates rehearsal experience.
Concert attendance is mandatory! I must hear from a parent if there is an emergency or illness.
Concert Attire:
We wear all black. It looks very professional on stage!
Black short or long sleeved shirt, black dress pants or skirt, and black dress shoes. Please, no jeans, skinny legged pants, or revealing tops!
It is just as important to look good as it is to sound good!!
Important Dates:
November 17th - Auditions for CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra @ East Mecklenburg High School
December 11th - Winter Concert 6:00 PM in the Multipurpose room.
January 25th - Rehearsal for CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra (for students selected) @ Northwest School of the Arts
February 8-9th - CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra Clinic @ EE Waddell Academy
February 16th - Auditions for Junior Western Regional Orchestra @ West Forsyth High School, Winston-Salem, NC
March 13-15th - Music Performance Assessment, Atkins High School, Winston Salem, NC
7th and 8th grade only.
April 5-6th - Junior Western Regional Orchestra Clinic @ Mallard Creek High School
May 22nd - Spring Concert 6:00 PM in the Multipurpose room.
Orchestra Class Rules:
- No inappropriate talking during rehearsal
- Come to class on time.
- No chewing gum, eating, or drinking (other than water)
- Raise our hand if you have a question. Listen to your classmates’ questions and the answer too!
- Be respectful.
- No cell phones in class.
The CMS Middle School Honors Orchestra is a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the audition process and possibly perform with over 150 string players in 2 orchestras. There are required scales, a required solo, and sight reading. We will work on this music in class when possible and I will be happy to work with students before and after school.
Junior Western Regional Orchestra
The JWRO is an opportunity to perform with middle school students from the entire Western Region of NC. The audition repertoire is very similar to the CMS Honors Orchestra. Students selected will perform with peers from other counties. It's a more challenging experience and prepares students for high school honor groups.
Contact Information
Feel free to contact me at any time. My email is [email protected]. My Google voice number is (980) 477-0046.