Reno High School Orchestras

Gerald Willis - Director

Dear 8th Grade Parents and Students:
Since you are reading, the question you may be thinking about is:
Whats In It for Me?
I read an article on the National Association for Music Education (MENC) website. I
want to share some of it with you. The article talks about the benefits of music education:
* Success in society
* Success in school
* Success in developing intelligence
* Success in life
Success in societyThink about what students are experiencing right now as members
of the Reno High School Orchestras. They work with, play with, depend on, get angry at,
laugh, cry with, and accomplish much with an orchestra that represents almost every
social level. Together they are champions in every way! There is no better training
ground for success in society.
Music is a magical gift we must nourish and cultivate in our children,
especially now as scientific evidence proves that an education in the arts makes
better math and science students, enhances spatial intelligence in newborns, and
lets not forget that the arts are a compelling solution to teen violence, certainly
not the cause of it!Michael Greene, Recording Academy President and CEO
at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, February 2000.

Success in SchoolWe know that success in society is predicated on success in school.

The discipline of music readily transfers to study skills, communication skills, and
cognitive skills useful in all other areas of school.
Students with coursework/experience in music performance and music
appreciation scored higher on the SAT: students in music performance scored 57
points higher on the verbal and 41 points higher on the math, and students in
music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on
the math, than did students with no arts participation. College-Bound
Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers. Princeton, NJ: The
College Entrance Examination Board, 2001.

Success in developing intelligenceSuccess in school and in society depends on a

whole array of abilities. The MENC article cites a number of new and exciting studies
that shows how significant the study of music can significantly enhance the development
of ones brain.
The musician is constantly adjusting decisions on tempo, tone, style, rhythm,
phrasing, and feelingtraining the brain to become incredibly good at
organizing and conducting numerous activities at once. Dedicated practice of
this orchestration can have a great payoff for lifelong additional skills,
intelligence, and an ability for self-knowledge and expression.Ratey John J.,
MD. A Users Guide to the Brain. New York: Pantheon Books, 2001.

Success in LifeWe want our children to succeed in school, at work, and in society.
Being involved in music has countless benefits: physically, psychologically and
spiritually. And these benefits last a lifetime!
Music is one way for young people to connect with themselves, but it is also a
bridge for connecting with others. Through music, we can introduce children to
the richness and diversity of the human family and to the myriad rhythms of
life.Daniel A. Carp, Eastman Kodak Company Chairman and CEO.
Music is about communication, creativity, and cooperation, and, by studying
music in school, students have the opportunity to build on these skills, enrich
their lives, and experience the world from a new perspective.Bill Clinton,
former President, United States of America

Imagine! These benefits can occur by just being involved in any music education
program. What are the benefits when your child is in the best music program in Nevada?
I solicit your attention

Gerry Willis
Director, Orchestra Studies
Reno High School
GWillis@Washoeschools.net

FRESHMEN and NEW ORCHESTRA STUDENT INFORMATION

Reno High School Orchestras
Art of the State State of the Art

Imagine going to a new school and not knowing anything about where to go or who to
talk to. The transition from middle school to high school is easier for orchestra students
because you will have over 120+ friends to help you through this process. Incoming
Orchestra Freshmen have immediate contact with upperclassmen; in a Big Brother/Big
Sister kind of way. High School Orchestra is very healthy for students in a multitude of
ways. Lets look at a few:
WHY TAKE ORCHESTRA IN HIGH SCHOOL?

We know that high school orchestra students represent the top of the academic scale in
our schools. We know that orchestra students are averaging 62 points higher on SAT tests,
which would indicate they are stronger in verbal and math scores than other members of
the student body. We also know that orchestra students enjoy a successful high school
career, go on to college, and become the leaders in our society. There is a definite link
between the top achiever academically and the orchestra student. They are one and the
same.
In many respects, band is a microcosm of our society. Participating in orchestra
demands high levels of responsibility, social skills, ongoing communication, analytical
skills, and most importantly, the ability to work with others. Simply put, learning a
musical instrument and continuing to explore the limitless possibilities of music provide
an excellent preparation for life.
In The Arts: An Essential Ingredient in Education, J. Buchen Milley states:
Research shows that when arts are included in the students curriculum, reading, writing
and math scores improve.
Like all arts, music has a profound effect on the academic success of the student.
Orchestra is a group effort. Members are required to shift from an I/Me reasoning to
a We/Us concept. This means extending oneself beyond the normal considerations of
much of our day-to-day living. Instead of the logic being, what's in it for me, it becomes,
what's in it for us? The values of cooperation, communication, concentration, correlation,
and completion come into play each rehearsal and performance.
Orchestra builds positive self-worth. Although we share many similarities with our
athletic counterparts, the orchestra is a place for everyone. Rarely is a person serving as
an alternate or substitute. Everyone plays a starting role. Music is one of the few
academic disciplines that requires the student to master skills and apply them in
performance. In other words, music involves multiple forms of learning.

Studies by the College Entrance Examination Board show that:

New research on intelligence and brain function point in exciting future directions that
tie directly to music, while the continuing use of music as part of the curriculum is clearly
associated with both academic skills and personal characteristics that are highly desirable
for school progress and for developing the kind of well educated young people we need
for the nations well-being.
Students (1999) with experience in music performance scored measurably higher
in both the verbal and math sections of the Standardized Achievement Test (22
points above the mean on verbal and 18 points above the mean on math).
There continues to be a significant (and growing) spread between the scores
obtained by musicians and those of their non-musical counterparts.
The correlation between cognitive learning and musical understanding continues
to prove they are linked, and improving one will develop the other.
The theory of multiple intelligences tags music as one of the separate minds,
and being exposed to music strengthens all other learning forms.
Scores rise proportionately higher with the length of time spent studying music in
school.

WHY SHOULD YOU JOIN THE RENO HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRAS?

.. BECAUSE HIGH SCHOOL ORCHESTRA IS UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU HAVE
DONE BEFORE, IT CAN GREATLY ENHANCE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL CAREER,
AND IT IS, VERY SIMPLY, A GREAT EXPERIENCE....
Reno High School Orchestras have become "noted" for the high standards of
performance, and for the quality of experience given to its members. Our orchestra is a
model for programs across the state. The pride and sense of camaraderie that
are the cornerstones of our groups will profoundly impact your future. Incoming
freshman often assume that the only way to be successful is to do nothing else. THIS
COULD NOT BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH. We accomplish these very high
goals while maintaining a balance with the total school experience. We have top scholars,
athletes, honor society members and student government leaders among our ranks. We
believe that students should experience many diverse activities and encourage them
to do so.

ANSWERS TO MOST COMMONLY ASKED ORCHESTRA

QUESTIONS
WILL ORCHESTRA FIT IN AN AGGRESSIVE ACADEMIC SCHEDULE?
YES! We have students who are planning to enter all fields in college. The orchestra class
schedule is designed to allow these students to take a full schedule of classes and play in
one of the orchestras during all four years. Orchestra if a full year/one full credit class.
Sinfonia and Chamber Orchestras are available as HONORS CREDIT for any student
grades 10 through 12.
CAN I PLAY SPORTS AND BE IN ORCHESTRA?
YES! Contrary to popular assumption, many members of the orchestra are actively
involved in multiple seasons of sports at Reno, including football, soccer, tennis, golf,
baseball, track, basketball and ROTC.
HOW GOOD DO I HAVE TO BE?
ALL students are admitted into the orchestra program and placed according to ability
level. Yes, even beginners! There are limited spaces for winds and brass players in all
orchestras. Please see the audition page for additional information, or e-mail Mr. Willis.
HOW MUCH TIME DOES ORCHESTRA REALLY TAKE?
All orchestra groups meet during the regular school day for one class period. Beyond this
minimum, the time involved is related to your level of involvement. The Concert and
Sinfonia Orchestras will have four to five major concerts per year.
WILL PERFORMANCES AND TIME COMMITMENT ADVERSELY AFFECT
MY GRADES?
Whether you are in activities or not at Reno High School, good grades are dependent
upon having a good work ethic. Simply put, if you are conscientious and organized,
music groups or any other activity will not adversely affect your grades. If you are not
conscientious and organized, grades will be a problem even with no extra curricular
activities! The orchestra schedule has been carefully developed to work with the schools
academic demands. In fact, many of the schools top scholars are in orchestra. The grade
point average for the orchestra is 3.40. (Fall 2015).
.
DOES THE SCHOOL PROVIDE INSTRUMENTS?
Like middle school, we own and provide a full line of the usual instruments. These
include Violins, Violas, 'cellos and Basses. We do charge a class use fee of $40 per school
year for use.
If you have any questions, please e-mail at GWillis@washoeschools.net