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Music

Music enhances your child's education. It promotes creativity and lasts a lifetime.

Muskegon Sinfonia

Class Information & Class Schedule

Classes are held on Tuesdays at Calvary Bible Church (corner of Grand Haven and Hile roads)  

Band 1 is for students ages 9 and up with little or no musical training. Beginning with Essential Elements 2000 - Book 1, students learn their assigned music at home while enjoying professional accompaniment on the included CD! The CD allows the student to hear the end result of what their music should sound like, and gives opportunity to hear rhythm patterns, dynamics and tone quality.

Beginning students must also attend a Music Aptitude Survey given at the Informational Meeting in August and an instrument fitting given by appointment at Meyer Music. These appointments are easy to schedule at Meyer Music located on Sternberg Road in Fruitport.

Note:  Band 1 Percussion students must have at least 1 year of piano/keyboard instruction within the last two (2) years.  Piano audition is required.

Practice Requirement:  20 minutes daily, five days each week

Required equipment: Instrument, Essential Elements 2000 - Book 1 and/or 2, pencil

Recommended equipment for home practice: music stand and metronome

Band 2 is an intermediate class open by audition to students who have played at least one year on an instrument and upon the approval of the director. An audition is required for all new students.

Students interested in auditioning for Band 2 should prepare Exercise #100 of Essential Elements 2000, Book 2, “Sight Reading Challenge.” Students may also be asked to sight read a piece of music.

Percussion students should prepare music for snare, Exercise #122 of Essential Elements 2000, Book 1, “Jumpin’ for Joy.” Students may also be asked to do a sight reading piece.

Auditions are by appointment only but easy to schedule. To schedule an appointment, email: sinfonia@lmhsc.org.  Auditions must be completed by September 2, 2008. Be sure to indicate the instrument you will be using. Include your name, address and phone number.

Call 231-343-8647 if you do not have email.

Practice Requirement:  30 minutes daily, five days each week

Required equipment: Instrument, Essential Elements 2000 - Book 2 and/or 3, pencil

Recommended equipment for home practice: music stand and metronome

Orchestra 1 is a beginning strings class for students with little or no musical training on a string instrument.  Using String Tunes (books available for violin, cello, string bass and viola), students learn their assigned music at home while enjoying professional accompaniment on the included CD! This book is great for all beginning solos and parts are written out by director for a full orchestra experience.  A beginning study of two octave scales and etudes will also be incorporated for technique and reading studies.

Practice Requirement:  20 minutes daily, five days each week

Required equipment: Instrument, String Tunes (specific to instrument), rosin, an extra set of strings, shoulder rest or sponge with rubber band, notebook, pencil

Recommended equipment for home practice: music stand and metronome

Orchestra 2 is an intermediate strings class open by audition to students who have played at least one year on an instrument and upon the approval of the director. An audition is required for all new students. The source of music will be an online website specific to the student’s instrument: www.violinonline.com, www.violaonline.com, or www.celloonline.com

This is a wonderful curriculum for intermediate to advanced players to play as an orchestra. Simply get your music off the site and we are on our way. You can hear different parts played individually as well at home off the website. A refresher and more intensive study for scales and etudes will also be implemented.

Students interested in auditioning for Orchestra 2 should prepare two scales, a music piece of your choosing, and be prepared for sight reading a short piece provided by the instructor. Auditions are by appointment only. To schedule an appointment , email: sinfonia@lmhsc.org.  Auditions must be completed by September 2, 2008. Be sure to indicate the instrument you will be using. Include your name, address and phone number. Call 231-343-8647 if you do not have email.

Practice Requirement:  30 minutes daily, five days each week

Required equipment: Instrument, access to online website, rosin, an extra set of strings, shoulder rest or sponge with rubber band, notebook, pencil.

Recommended equipment for home practice: music stand and metronome.

Guitar students will learn essential basics, chords, scales, rhythm, strumming, song melody, accompaniment and lead training. All musical genres will be used in teaching.

Method book title will be available by August.

Practice Requirement:  30 minutes daily, five days each week

Required equipment: Instrument, notebook, pencil

Recommended equipment for home practice: music stand and metronome

Sinfonia! Weekly Schedule – Tuesdays

10:00-11:00     Guitar Class

11:00-12:00     Orchestra 2

12:00-1:00       Orchestra 1

12:00-12:30     Sectionals for Band only

12:45-1:30       Band 1

1:30-2:00         Combined Bands

2:00-2:45         Band 2

2008-2009 Class Schedule

August 19, 2008 - Informational Meeting  Calvary Bible Church, 7:00pm *

Semester 1:          

   September 9 - first day of class; second payment of $50 due

   Nov. 25 – Thanksgiving Holiday

   December 9 - Christmas Concert in the evening            

   Dec. 16, 23, 30 – Christmas holidays - no classes

   January 6, 2009 - Classes resume

Semester 2:

   January 13 – first class of second semester; third and final payment due

   April 7 – Easter/Spring Break holiday

   April 21 – Last class day; Spring Concert in the evening

*  The  Informational Meeting is required for parents of new and returning students. Only new students are required to attend this meeting so that they can take a music assessment survey, administered during the meeting.

Tuition Information and Enrollment Deadline

Sinfonia! Registration Deadline: August 19, 2008

Early Registration (discount of $10) Deadline: May 31, 2008

Tuition for each class is $150 per student per year.

About Our Instructors

Lisa Lee

Lisa began piano at the age of eight. She has played clarinet and percussion since middle school and high school. She was also Drum Major for the Marching Band at Fruitport High School. Playing piano and organ for church has been her ministry for 35 years. She has also taught private lessons for more than 18 years.

Lisa and her husband, Dale, are home schooling all six of their children, having graduated two.

Veronica Rhoads

Veronica has been involved in orchestra and/or church music almost all of her life. She has played violin since age five and traveled to several countries as an orchestra member. In college she majored in Music Performance. Teaching students has been

Sinfonia! General Policies and Parent/Student Responsibilities

Sinfonia! consists of two 14-week semesters. Classes meet once a week on Tuesdays at Calvary Bible Church. For the full year schedule, please see the back of this brochure.

An Informational Meeting will be held August 19 at 7:00pm at Calvary Bible Church. This meeting is required for parents of new and returning students. Only new students are required to attend this meeting so that they can take a music assessment survey, administered during the meeting. Instrumental fittings, while not required, are highly recommended and should be completed no later than one week prior to the first class session. Fittings help the student decide which instrument is better suited to their body (length of arm, embouchure muscles, etc.) Fittings are easily scheduled with Meyer Music by calling for an appointment.

Parents and students are responsible for acquiring instruments prior to the first class. The instrument must be in good, working condition to allow the student every opportunity for a great learning experience. Parents and students are responsible for purchasing all necessary equipment needed for at-home practice, including a music stand, the method book for their instrument, reeds, rosin, rock stops, shoulder rests, etc.

Each class will have at least two adults in attendance at all times, the director and one parent. Parents are asked to share the responsibilities of classroom assistants and facility clean-up. Each family will be assigned as an assistant on a monthly rotational schedule. The assistant will set up and clean up the class, bringing in chairs and music stands when necessary, helping with any supplies the director may need and assisting in classroom discipline as needed. Parents will also be asked at times to help set up and clean up at concerts, as well as provide refreshments. By participating in these responsibilities, the non-volunteer fee of $50 is waived.

In the event of illness or absence of the director, the scheduled parent assistant will oversee the class and another parent asked to fill in. Students will be instructed to spend time practicing their instrument on an individual basis and in groups during the class session.

Any children in the building, but not part of Sinfonia!, must be supervised by parent or another responsible adult at all times.

Classes may be cancelled due to inclement weather or an emergency use of the facility. In the event of a cancellation, each family will be called by a Sinfonia! committee member. A mass email will also  be sent to the Sinfonia! enrollment as soon as the decision to cancel has been determined.

In the event of disruptive behavior by the same student on more than one occasion, the assistant and the director shall discuss the issues with the student and then with the parents of the student. Any further steps will go through the Sinfonia! committee with recommendations from the director and assistant.

Sinfonia! Financial Policies

· A $50 deposit per student is due at the time of enrollment. This is a non-refundable fee which is applied toward the first tuition payment. If a student drops the class or is removed from the class, the deposit is non-refundable.

· A $50 Non-Volunteer fee per family is due at the time of enrollment.  This fee is waived for all families  that take part in the “Parent/Student Responsibilities” as listed on pages 6-7.      If paid, this is a non-refundable fee.

· Uniform fee is $13.25 per student, due at enrollment, if needed. Used shirts may be available at a cost of $6.00. Check with Lisa Lee for availability. The uniform consists of the purchased black polo shirt, khaki pants or skirt and dark-colored shoes.

· Class tuition should be paid either in full, or in two installments due on September 9, 2008, and January 13, 2009.

· If a student drops or is removed from a class the refund policy will be as follows: when tuition is paid in full:

a. First semester, week 1 through week 7 . . . $65

b. First semester, week 8 through week 14 . . . $30

c. First semester, week 14 through second semester, week 14 . . . no refund; when tuition is paid in installments: no refund