LCCO Policies

Attendance at all Chamber Orchestra functions by all members is necessary for the success of the ensemble. Each individual player is an invaluable and irreplaceable part of the whole, and if even one player is missing, the sound changes. The following attendance policy has been agreed upon by the ensemble directors of the Lafayette College Department of Music.

Definitions:

1) Unexcused Absences: For play rehearsals, study time, sorority/fraternity events, athletic events, meetings with professors, club events, etc.

2) Excused Absences: For illness, family emergencies, housing lottery, or academic conflicts that are approved in the first two weeks of the semester.

3) Tardy: Defined as missing between five and twenty minutes of rehearsal at any point (beginning, end, middle). Two tardies are treated as one absence.

REQUIRED ATTENDANCE: per semester (whether you are enrolled for credit or not).

– No more than one unexcused absence.

– No more than two excused absences (except in cases of long-term illness).

– Attendance is required for all dress rehearsals.

II. Concert Dress

For all concerts, women and men:

Black dress pants, black shirts (if you wear a T-shirt under your dress shirt, it should also be black) black shoes and socks, or black dress / skirt (below the knee) and black dress does. All (visible) jewelry (including piercings) should be tasteful, and should not be easily seen from the audience. We are a fully inclusive organization so dress as you see fit within these parameters.

Perfumes and colognes should be used sparingly.

III. Grading

The grade for Chamber Orchestra will be determined by a combination of the factors below.

Attendance (see above. Any additional absences will result in the lowering of your grade by one-third letter).

Improving Musicianship (getting better, from wherever one starts, will be rewarded)

Preparation (being prepared for each rehearsal—practicing!)

Attitude (self-explanatory)

IV. Student Leadership

Principals

The primary responsibility of principal players will be to lead sectional rehearsals when the director is working with another section. Additionally, principal players may assign divided parts, solos, or full parts within his or her section as needed, and may do so on his or her authority in consultation with the director. Finally, he or she will be asked to help the members of his or her section with technical questions (counting, fingerings, etc.) and provide a role model for less experienced players.