Parent Handbook
PARENT HANDBOOK
“Excellence by Design”
Teachers: Mrs. Katharine Ayers, 262.970.3646 kayers@waukesha.k12.wi.us Ms. Jane Rinka, 262.970.2429 jrinka@waukesha.k12.wi.us Ms. Amanda Ackeret tigerlilymandie@gmail.com Mrs. Karen Bechtel karenbcello@aol.com Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, 989.640.1538 lizdfive@gmail.com Mrs. Suzanne Ignaszak, 262.547.3750 signaszak@wi.rr.com Mrs. Renee Smith, 262.522.9916 ladybuggirl77@gmail.com
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Waukesha String Académie is to provide an opportunity for excellence in the pursuit of comprehensive musical study for young violinists and cellists.
CURRICULUM
All students enrolled in the School District of Waukesha String Académie will participate in private lessons, mentor lessons (beginners only) and group lessons. Lessons are offered during the school year, beginning in September, as well as during the summer. Students are assigned yearly to teachers according to the best interests of the student.
The group lessons will take place on Mondays after school. The private lessons are by arrangement with the private teacher and will take place after school. Mentor (practice helper) lessons for beginners will be during the same after-school hours.
The curriculum for the group lessons includes group review of Suzuki pieces, preparation of additional repertoire (often this includes contemporary works or fiddle tunes), opportunities for solo performance, and introduction to music theory.
In addition to the group and private lessons, beginning/first year students will work with a practice helper (mentor). Mentors are high school orchestra students. These students are assigned to observe the String Académie student’s lessons and to work with the children (& parents) one on one, once a week. This affords an opportunity for the students to gain some valuable teaching experience as well as for the children in the program to have an additional weekly lesson from a trained string student.
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EXPECTATION OF PARENTS
It is expected that parents of students in the String Académie will attend all group and private lessons and practice with his/her child every day. Parents should be actively involved in the learning process by taking notes during lessons and groups and following through on the ideas in the daily practice. Positive and encouraging parental involvement is the biggest indicator of student success in our program! As the student progresses and matures, the private teacher will inform the parent as less parental involvement is needed.
PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND GROUP ATTENDANCE
Group lessons provide the opportunity for students to perform for their peers on a regular basis and to perform together as a group. Attendance is mandatory at all group classes and concerts. If a student misses more than two groups they will not be allowed to participate in the concert and their participation in the String Academy will be reevaluated by the String Academy faculty. No String Academy student will be allowed to study privately without full participation in groups.
Solo recitals are held each May. All students are expected to perform, as well as listen to and support their peers.
BEHAVIOR AND CONCERT ETIQUETTE
String Académie students are expected to treat our lesson, group, & performance areas with respect. We appreciate the opportunity to learn at Summit View, Rose Glen and Heyer Schools and are grateful to the faculty and staff at those schools.
Concert Etiquette. It is requested that cameras without flash be used, or if flash much be used, please wait until the end of the performance. It is very distracting for performers on stage. Please encourage your child(ren) to listen quietly while other students are performing. Rattling papers, candy wrappers and talking are distracting to our performers.
ATTENDANCE, LATE ARRIVALS AND ABSENCES
Students are expected to arrive on time for all lessons, classes, and performances. More than three absences or late arrivals per semester is deemed unacceptable. Absences and late arrival times will not be made up. We ask that you respect the teachers’ time.
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Excused absences may be granted by the teacher. If a student has a health condition which might jeopardize the health of themselves or others, the student and his/her family are asked to take all reasonable precautions to prevent the spread of disease. Such precautions might include, canceling a lesson and keeping the child at home. Please communicate with the teacher in such instances.
As much notice as possible is requested for cancellations of lessons. Please discuss with your teacher the best way to communicate about this.
If a teacher is absent, a make-up lesson may be arranged at a mutually convenient time. If the student misses a make-up lesson, a second lesson will not be arranged.
In the event of a snow day, there will be no lessons, groups or concerts. Parents should know that decisions regarding after-school cancellations are made at each individual school, usually not before 2:30. Please contact the secretary at Summit View, Heyer or Rose Glen. Teachers may or may not have that information, but often they do not know until late in the day.
PROBATION AND DISMISSALS
The String Académie reserves the right to dismiss any student due to lack of sufficient parental involvement, frequent absences, frequent tardiness, behavior problems, or failure to abide by Académie policy.
The following procedure will be followed in such a case: I. Probation letter will be sent II. Probation III. Dismissal letter will be sent IV. Dismissal
REGISTRATION
NEW students should complete a registration form according to the directions on the form. New beginners will be admitted on a first come, first served basis.
LATE registrations will be accepted if space is available, but due to staffing limitations, the String Académie usually has a waiting list.
PURPOSE OF HANDBOOK
The policies and procedures of the Waukesha String Académie have been established in order to assist students to achieve continuity of study. All families are required to abide by them.
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The "Rainbow" is the Awareness of the Learning Process
that leads to fine violin playing with musical understanding .
The following four points are always part of the lesson and practice times.
Bow--Bow strokes and bow division : Awareness of the bow division and bow
strokes to be used in each piece.
Fingers-- Use of the Fingers: Awareness of finger placement, i.e. which fingers
stay down, when to lift the fingers, and how the fingers become independent.
Form--Form and the Music: Awareness of form is the first step to
understanding music in the beginning stages of violin playing. Other musical
concept s such as dynamics, tempo markings, ritards, etc. are incorporated into
learning the form. Thus each musical idea becomes a part of the total musical
expression.
Practice and Isolation of Difflculties: Isolate and practice the technical
difficulties. At every level of violin playing, practicing is a matter of both
discernment and informed repetition.