Ellen Forslund

Ellen Forslund
General/Choral Music Teacher

ellen_forslund@gfps.k12.mt.us

406-268-7535

Information for All Music Classes:

Classroom Management Plan

Grading Policy

Information for all 7th Graders and Ram Choraliers (8th Grade Choir):

Concert Dates

Concert Attire

Assignments:

Non-Participant Performing Arts Event Report

Composer Questionnaire (concert make-up assignment)

Classroom Management Plan

General Music Expectations (D1 & D2)

By the time the tardy bell has finished ringing, all students will be seated and ready to learn.
Students will follow all directions.
Be respectful to everyone every day.
Keep hands, feet, and objects to self.
Be polite.
Treat instruments with care.
No gum chewing nor eating in class.

Rewards

Self-satisfaction of a job well done.
Praise: directly to student and/or notes/phone calls home
Social time during the last 5 minutes of class.
“Select a Seat Day” (reserved for stellar class behavior)

Consequences*

Students are formally warned with their name on the board.
Students are warned to correct their behavior by a check mark next to their name.
Student-Teacher conference with a parent called to talk to their child in order to have a chance to help the student change his behavior.
Behavioral counseling with the Student Services Advocate.
1 hour and 15 minutes detention will be issued. The parent will be contacted.
The teacher will issue the student ISS. The parent will be contacted.
Pupil Action Report and all evidentiary documentation will be submitted to the Associate Principal and the length of the Extended ISS or OSS will be determined.

*Severe Clause: Students demonstrating harmful or out of control behaviors will be sent directly to the office.

**Excessive tardies and gum chewing/eating will automatically earn 30 minutes detention.

Detention

Music detentions are served on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 3-3:30 pm. You are expected to be on time and have homework and/or a book to read for the duration. If you arrive late or without materials, you will need to reschedule your detention time. Your ticket into detention is the copy of the detention slip that your parent has signed. The detention will not count until that slip is returned. Do not ignore a detention. Failure to serve detention in a timely manner will result in additional time assigned and/or an office referral. Communicate with your teacher if you have issues regarding your detention.

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Grading Policy

General Music grades are determined by the following:

Daily grades: We give a maximum of 5 points daily based on attitude, behavior, cooperation, participation, effort and progress. Points are automatically deducted for disciplinary action. An occasional absence will not negatively affect your grade; however, if you are frequently absent, you may contact your teacher for an assignment to make up the time you’ve missed.

Written assignments, tests, quizzes, and singing/playing proficiencies. It is expected that homework will be completed on time. Late work is subject to reduction in points. Absent work is due within the 2 days following a student’s return to class unless other arrangements have been made with the teacher.

Music Trivia: Each week, a trivia question will be posted in each classroom. The answers are due by the end of the day on Friday of that week and correct answers will receive 3 extra credit points.

Possession of binder with music section and appropriate class materials including a pencil. Pens are rarely used in music classes.

Mandatory Homebase Rehearsals (for Grade 7 General Music and Grade 8 Choir, prior to each concert): Points are deducted for disciplinary reasons, including a lack of participation. Severe disruptions will result in removal from that rehearsal and possibly from the concert with parent notification of the situation.

Performance Attendance (for Grade 7 General Music and Grade 8 Choir): Each concert is worth 300 points. Points are deducted for arriving late, leaving early, lack of effort, and inappropriate behavior. If you must be absent from a concert, your parent should notify your teacher as soon as possible. Students who miss a performance have an opportunity to make up the points by completing a written assignment. It is the student’s responsibility to request, complete, and return the assignment to the teacher by the deadline given.

Outside Performing Arts Attendance: Each student is required to attend one performing arts event per quarter and it must be one in which they do not participate as a performer. Any public performing arts event is acceptable. For more details, see the attached report form. Students need to submit a program and completed form to receive credit. Additional forms are available in the music classrooms. Partial credit may be earned for this requirement if the student reports on an event he/she was in, but on the part he/she did not directly participate, such as a concert of band, orchestra, and choir. We will keep the students informed as to public school concerts, concerts in the community, and plays/musicals. The Hot Ticket in Friday’s Tribune is a great resource. Elementary school performances and videos of performances are not accepted.

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08-09 Concert Dates

Since music is a member of the Performing Arts area, concerts are an important part of our curriculum. We expect and encourage student attendance and participation at concerts. Therefore, we are providing you with the dates now to help you as you plan your schedule for this school year. All concerts take place in the East Middle School gym and begin at 7:30 pm, unless otherwise noted. Students should plan to arrive 30 minutes early for warm up and are expected to stay for the duration of the entire concert.

October 30: Ram Choraliers (Grade 8 Choir)

December 16: Grade 7 Choir

December 18: Ram Choraliers

February 26: Ram Choraliers: MIOSM concert at GFHS Old Gym

April 23: Grade 7 Choir and Ram Choraliers

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Concert Attire (for Grade 7 General Music and Ram Choraliers)

As of now, we do not have a uniform shirt for performances. Therefore, for all concerts, students are asked to wear solid white shirts with solid black jeans or pants (please, no baggies nor shorts). For safety reasons, shoes that cover the entire foot are required for performances. (Absolutely no flip-flops!) Attire must comply with the school dress code. Students who arrive at a concert inappropriately dressed will not be allowed to perform. They will have the choice to change clothes or sit out the concert and complete the written assignment.

In addition, jewelry is considered a distraction, so necklaces, bracelets, big rings, and/or big, dangling, glittering earrings will not be worn. Other piercings should also be small and non-glittering. Also, some people have allergies to strong scents, so please don’t use cologne or perfume before a performance.

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Non-Participant Performing Arts Event
Here is the actual report form for your convenience. Students are required to complete 4 reports per school year (one per quarter).

Non-Participant Performing Arts Event Report

Reminder: Elementary programs, videos, and tv are not accepted.

This report is required for all East general/choral music students to fulfill Music Education National Standards, Great Falls Public Schools Music Benchmarks, and grade level music curriculum as approved by the Board of Trustees for School District #1.

Students are required to complete 4 reports per school year (one per quarter).

In order to receive credit, this report must be filled out in its entirety with a program and/or ticket stub from the event attached.

Student Name_____________________________________________Class period_____

About the event:

Name______________________________________________________Date_________

Location____________________________________Starting/Ending times___________

Performer(s)_____________________________________________________________

Answer in complete sentences:

What did you enjoy most?

What was your least favorite part?

What did they do well?

What was one thing that could’ve been better?

Using good writing skills (paragraph form, please) and good penmanship, describe the event: What did you see/hear? Try to use music vocabulary (tempo, dynamics, melody, rhythm, genre, tonality, balance, musicality) and for plays/musicals, comment on the sets, characterizations, and interpretation. Give specific examples. Avoid comments like the following: “It was good.” “It sucked.” “It was stupid or boring.” When you are finished, turn it in to your teacher.

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Composer Questionnaire
Students who miss a concert will complete one composer questionnaire as a make-up assignment. For your convenience, this is the actual form.

Composer Questionnaire

Name of Student______________________________________________Class Period ___________

Using your research skills, find the answers to the questions on the following pages.

You must use at least one text source (book), and at least one electronic source (web site).
Text sources can include encyclopedias, dictionaries of music, or books about music.
Web sites can most easily be found by going to a search engine like dogpile.com.
You do need to write in complete sentences on this questionnaire.
You do need to spell correctly.

Sources:

Text/Book(s)

Title: ___________________________________________________________________

Internet/Web Site(s)

Title: ___________________________________________________________________

Location: http://___________________________________________________________

Title: ___________________________________________________________________

Location: http://___________________________________________________________

Title: ___________________________________________________________________

Location: http://___________________________________________________________

Personal Information:

Composer’s Name: ___________________________________________

What period of time was he/she from? ______________________________

When was the composer born? ______________________________

Where was the composer born? ______________________________

When did the composer die? ______________________________

Where did the composer die? ______________________________

How did the composer die? ________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Music Training:

Where did the composer learn his/her music? ___________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What was the composer’s childhood like? ____________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

What other composers influenced this composer’s development? How?

________________________________________________________________________

General:

Name something special or one interesting fact about this composer.

________________________________________________________________________

Describe the composer’s family.

________________________________________________________________________

Did this composer travel as a musician? If yes, name the travels he/she made.

________________________________________________________________________

Life as a musician:

What was this composer most famous for in his life? (playing piano, writing music, etc.)

________________________________________________________________________

What jobs did this composer have as a musician? (Who did he work for? Where? Why? When?)

________________________________________________________________________

The Music

What kinds of music did this composer write? (symphonies, piano miniatures, etc.; How many?)

________________________________________________________________________

What are some of this composer’s most famous pieces? (Name at least 3.)

________________________________________________________________________

*Find 3 music selections to listen to on the internet. Where did you find them?

Title of selection: ___________________________________________________

Location: http://_____________________________________________________

Title of selection: ___________________________________________________

Location: http://_____________________________________________________

Title of selection: __________________________________________________

Location: http://_____________________________________________________

Which was your favorite? Why?

________________________________________________________________________

*Find a picture (graphic) of the composer on the internet.

Where did you find this graphic?

Location: http://_____________________________________________________

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