Participation in all rehearsals and performances is required. Notify the director in advance of any absences or tardies via email (jeffrey.hall@austinisd.org), Remind, or a written note with date, reason, and parent signature.

Concert Grade Make-Up: If absent from the Winter or Final Concert, students must perform their pieces for the class using a listening rubric.

Tardies: Students must be on time. Three (3) unexcused tardies will count as one (1) unexcused absence. Excessive absences/tardies may result in loss of privileges such as field trips or special events.

Orchestra is a performance-based activity. Success depends on each student’s commitment to excellence.

School Class-time Attendance Policy:

We kindly ask that parents schedule vacations and appointments in alignment with the conflict sheet submitted for the upcoming school year. Unplanned absences, even if excused, significantly impact the learning process and impact the overall quality of our orchestra. Each class includes new musical details and ensemble techniques athat cannot be learned through individual practice. These are essential skills that shape the success of our award-winning orchestra program.

When students miss class, we must pause to reteach critical material, which delays progress for the entire class. While private lessons can provide some support, they cannot replace the specific and evolving instruction given during rehearsals.

(Refusal to follow these expectations will result in discipline procedures.)

• No gum in the classroom.

• No cell phones visible or audible without permission. Unauthorized phones will be confiscated. A classroom phone is available for parent/student communication.

• Enter and exit quietly between classes.

• Stay silent during rehearsals unless called on; raise your hand to speak.

• Do not touch or play another person’s instrument (including the piano) without permission-violations may result in detention or referral.

• Keep hands and feet to yourself-no horseplay in the C-Building or classroom.

• Leave the room clean-put away rockstops, tuners, music, chairs, and stands, etc.

• Bullying will not be tolerated. Please refer to the AISD Student Welfare and Bullying Policy for more information.

• Follow all AISD Student Behavior Guidelines at all times.

The Strings Program takes several trips each year, which may include:
Elementary school performances, All-City Orchestra, Pre-UIL Festival, UIL, Fall Festival “Monster” Concert, String Festival, Winter Showcase, and an end-of-year fun trip.

To participate, students must:

• Have no outstanding balances or obligations with the Strings Program or other school groups

• Submit all required forms (signed and complete) and parent permission slips

• Pass all classes and turn in all assignments/tests on time

• Attend all concerts

• Maintain good behavior in class

On Trips, Students Must:

• Wear required attire and bring necessary snacks, music, and materials

• Stay with the group unless given permission by the director

• Follow school check-out procedures if leaving with a parent during school hours

• Help clean buses before exiting and follow all bus rules (stay seated, keep voices down, nothing out of windows)

• Inform Mr. Hall in advance of any medication needs

• Show respect to chaperones and follow instructions

• Avoid inappropriate behavior (fighting, profanity, aggressive conduct, shoplifting, drugs, inappropriate relationships, etc.)

Our goal is to provide every student with the full benefits of the orchestra program. To achieve this, the classroom must remain positive and free from disruptions. If a student chooses to behave in a way that interferes with their learning or the learning of others, consequences will follow-aligned with Covington Fine Arts Academy’s school-wide rules and based on the severity of the behavior.

Progressive Consequences:

1. Warning

2. Phone Call Home and/or Reflection Assignment

3. Lunch Detention - failure to attend will result in a 1-hour after-school detention

4. Office Referral - may affect field trip eligibility and placement in advanced classes

The Orchestra Hall is available before and after school for tutoring and parent meetings.

• Drop-Off Access: The C-building (Orchestra Hall) opens daily at 8:10 a.m. for students to place instruments in assigned lockers/spaces.

• Tutoring Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:45 a.m. - please notify Mr. Hall in advance to confirm availability.

• Access After 7:45 a.m.: Students arriving after this time must have an orchestra pass to enter the C-building.

• Expectations: Students must remain on task and respectful; disruptive behavior will result in being asked to leave.

• Restricted Access: Only current orchestra students and their parents may enter. Do not enter the orchestra office or storage closets without permission.

Parent Meetings

• Available Tuesday–Friday at 5:00 p.m. by request.

If Locked Out

• Call the classroom phone: (512) 414-3276 x59801.

• Knock on the orchestra classroom window (located on the south side of the building)

Orchestra students and parents are expected to model proper concert behavior to reflect positively on Covington and the Fine Arts Department. Please follow these guidelines at all performances:

• No talking during performances-it distracts both performers and audience members.

• Remain seated for the entire performance. If you must leave, do so quietly between songs or during applause.

• No food or drink in the performance area, including the stage, backstage, and seating.

• Show support with polite applause only-no yelling, whistling, or shouting names. Applaud after the conductor lowers their arms.

• Be mindful when bringing small children.

• Silence or turn off cell phones and devices. Music students should not have them during performances.

• Stay for the entire concert to support all performers.

Disruptive behavior that draws attention away from the performers may result in being asked to leave.

(Grade percentages may change)

Formative Grades – 60% of total grade

40% – Daily/Weekly Participation

• Being prepared for class with all required materials

20% – Practicing

• Completed through the “3’s the Key” assignment

• Minimum: 120 minutes per week (at least 4 days)

• This is the most important part of the class

Summative Grades - 40% of total grade

20% – Playing/Written Assessments

• Performance of assigned music (may be recorded in BLEND)

• Music theory, rhythm, vocabulary

• Handbook/forms completed and returned

20% – Rehearsals & Performances

• Rehearsals are extra practices outside the school day for important performances

• May be up to two after-school rehearsals per week for some students

• Times: 7:30–8:15 a.m. or 4:00–7:00 p.m. (no Mondays)

• Performances include fall, winter, and spring concerts; UIL contests; school assemblies, etc.

• Absences from required concerts/rehearsals must be made up:

  • Advanced groups: Attend extra sectionals

  • Beginning Orchestra: Assist at advanced orchestra sectionals (see calendar)

After-school sectionals provide focused rehearsal time for individual orchestra sections. This allows students to improve difficult passages and receive individualized help without requiring the entire orchestra to wait while one section rehearses during class.

Weekly Schedule

All sectionals are held from 4:00–4:30 p.m.

Tuesday: Violin 1

Wednesday: Cello

Thursday: Viola

Violin 2: Students may attend either Tuesday or Thursday. Attending both is encouraged for students who would benefit from additional practice and experience playing with both sections.

String Bass: Mr. Fisher will be providing bass class schedule - rayfisher52@gmail.com

What We Work On

During sectionals, students will focus on:

• Instrumental technique

• Tuning and intonation

• Matching sound, rhythm, articulation, and style within the section

• Difficult passages from our orchestra music

• Individual questions or areas where students need additional help

Sectionals are an important part of developing a strong, unified orchestra.

Arrival Expectations

Sectionals begin at 4:00 p.m. Students must arrive by 4:00 and be completely ready to rehearse by 4:05, including:

• Music ready

• Pencil on stand

• Instrument tuned

• Warm-up started

Students who are not prepared at 4:05 will be considered late, which may affect their grade.

Missed Sectionals

Students who miss their assigned sectional must attend another sectional during the same week. However, attending with a different section is not an ideal substitute because:

• Students will miss the opportunity to develop ensemble skills with their own section.

• The rehearsal will focus primarily on the assigned section’s music and needs.

• Less time may be available to help the student with their individual part. 

The Covington Fine Arts Strings Program has an official Facebook page, Instagram account, and website (www.CMSstrings.org) to share news and celebrate our students. Families are encouraged to follow, like, and share.

All members and parents are responsible for what they post on our pages. Inappropriate content-including profanity, disrespectful language, inappropriate images, references to drugs/alcohol/tobacco, threats, or posts showing poor sportsmanship toward other programs-will not be tolerated.

Violations will be reviewed by the directors and/or principal and may result in removal of the post, a permanent ban from our pages, or dismissal from the program.

Covington is a No Place for Hate school. We have zero tolerance for cyberbullying and will act immediately to maintain a safe and respectful online environment for all members.

Region Orchestra Auditions

(Does not apply to beginners)

In Region 18 of Texas, there are two “Region Orchestras”:

• Full Orchestra – Includes all symphony instruments and is made up of the highest-level middle school musicians in the region.

• String Orchestra – Includes only string instruments and is made up of advanced string players who did not make the Full Orchestra.

To be selected for either group, students must participate in the Region Orchestra Auditions (see the Calendar of Events). These auditions require performing three advanced selections:

1. Summer Etude – Assigned at the end of the school year and learned over the summer.

2. Excerpts – One or two short orchestral excerpts are assigned in August. These selections are typically taken from well-known symphonic repertoire.

Participation Requirements:

• All CMS Honor Orchestra 8th graders and Fine Arts Academy members are required to audition.

• Since Covington hosts this district-wide event, all other Honor Orchestra students are expected to volunteer to help with contest setup and organization.

Audition Fees

• The Parent Booster Club will pay the students’ audition fees. Families do not need to submit payment.

Arrival Time

• Auditions begin at 9:00 a.m.

• Students are expected to arrive by 8:30 a.m.

• Students may arrive as early as 8:00 a.m.

• Arriving early gives students time to receive their audition number, find the correct area, and warm up.

• The check-in line can be long, so students should not wait until 9:00 a.m. to arrive.

What Happens During the Audition

• At 9:00 a.m., directors and staff will gather students by instrument and escort each group to its assigned audition room.

• Students will perform individually. For each piece or required cut, students will approach the audition area and play one at a time.

• This is a blind audition, meaning the judges will not be able to see the students. Students may dress comfortably; concert attire is not required.

Dismissal and Pickup

• Once auditions begin, students may not leave until everyone in their audition room has finished.

• Most audition rooms finish by approximately 12:00 p.m.

• Smaller rooms, such as bass rooms, may finish as early as 10:30 a.m.

• Larger rooms, especially violin rooms, may continue past noon.These times are estimates and are not guaranteed.

• Parents are welcome to wait in the lobby during the auditions or return near the estimated completion time to pick up their student. Because each room may finish at a different time, an exact pickup time cannot be guaranteed.

What Students Must Bring

Students must bring all required instruments, music, and supplies, including:

• Their instrument

• Their audition music

• A tuner

• Any other supplies needed to play their instrument

• No instruments or supplies will be provided at the audition site.

• Students do not need to bring a music stand. A stand will already be provided.

Audition Results

• Mr. Hall will provide students with their rankings on the following Monday.

• He will also do his best to notify students who earn a place in the Region Orchestra as soon as possible, potentially later that day.