Arizona Symphony Orchestra

Dr. Thomas Cockrell
Director of Orchestral Activities
Studio:  153 Music

András Derecskei, DMA conducting student, assistant conductor

Juan Daniel Montoya, DMA conducting student, assistant conductor, Symphony manager

Course information.  Music 200-O, 400-O and 500-O, Section 1  

Course objectives:

• To rehearse and perform important new and established works of the orchestral and operatic repertoires
• To train, develop and and nurture students in their large ensemble playing skills
• To place the students' understanding of the art of music in the context of the sister arts, history and culture

Office hours:    By appointment.  

Rehearsals:  Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 2:00 sharp - 3:50 PM. Dress rehearsals are scheduled until 4:30.   

Additional Rehearsals

• Saturday February 27, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
• Arizona Opera Theater:   Monday-Wednesday, April 4-5-6, 7:00-10:30.  There are no afternoon rehearsals this week.

Location:  Room 170, School of Music.  Often rehearsals will be in Crowder Hall. 

Performances 7:30 PM in Crowder Hall unless noted:

• Saturday February 6 at 7:30, and Sund February 7 at 3:00
• Saturday March 5
• Thursday April 7 - Saturday April 9, Sunday April 10 at 3:00
• Wednesday May 4 at 7:30
• Attendance at UA Philharmonic performances is required:  Thursday March 3 and Wednesday May 4

Please refer to the master calendar posted on the UA Orchestras bulletin board for extra rehearsals and the most up-to-date  semester schedule which is subject to minor changes.    

Grading   Since the Arizona Symphony is the School's premier pre-professional ensemble, it is a class-participation, performance-oriented course.  It is expected that each member will attend all rehearsals and  performances and master his/her individual parts.  For any musical ensemble to be successful, each member must be committed to the group.  Lateness, absence and less than pre-professional demeanor are detrimental to the espirit de corps and the making of music together.  There are no examinations or papers for the course.  On rare occasion additional written, listening or attendance assignments are made.  Grades are based on attendance,  musical preparation, pre-professionalism and care for orchestral materials.

Attendance 

• Courtesy requires that Dr. Cockrell be notified of all absences in advance.  Only in this manner can an absence be considered excused.  Substitutes are to be provided at the discretion of the conductor.

• Absence from rehearsals and sectionals will be excused only in cases of personal emergency or incapacitating illness and a doctor or health services note may be required.   

• Absence from dress rehearsals and concerts will result in a failing grade. Absences for reasons other than the above and frequent lateness will lower your grade.   

• Each unexcused absence may result in your grade being lowered one letter.  Four (4) unexcused absences may cause dismissal with an F.  

• Two tardies will count as one unexcused absence.  Prompt return from break is also expected.

• Attendance is taken at 2:00 PM (Cockrell AT&T iPhone time).  All musicians should be in their places and warmed up before the start of each rehearsal and after break which is usually only five minutes.  Rehearsal ends at 3:50.

• It is the student's responsibility to request excuses, and document absences/lateness.  Requests for excused absences must be made online. Absence request form.  

• The Arizona Symphony Orchestra program is highly demanding, with the most intense performance schedule of any SOM ensemble.  Students are highly recommended not undertake contracts with outside performing organizations, gigs or other activities which might conflict with Arizona Symphony obligations.  

Musical preparation and professionalism

• In order for the orchestra to function at its optimal level and maximize each student's experience, significant amounts of practice outside of rehearsal are necessary.  In order to assist some students to focus their attention on specific difficulties in the repertoire, assignments with performance exams may be made at the conductor's discretion.

• After initial marking by the orchestral assistants, the timely copying of bowings and changes are the responsibility of the players and section leaders.

• Students will be held to the standards of preparation, commitment and demeanor expected of pre-professional musician.
• The use of cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. during rehearsal is a distraction to you, me and your neighbors.  They are to be turned off and stowed away (not just on vibrate).

Library and rental materials 

• Each member is assigned music and a folder or envelope. To preserve the orchestral library and expensive rental parts, all music must be kept in this folder.
• Members are responsible for the music until the entire folder and all music is collected at the final performance of each program.
• Charges for missing or damaged parts and folders will be the responsibility of the player and a grade of incomplete will be filed until the situation is resolved.
• If the player must be absent from a rehearsal, arrangements must be made to deliver the music to the rehearsal.   

Seating   Seating and part assignments are made on a concert-by-concert basis and are at the discretion of the conductor, often in consultation with the studio faculty.

Concert dress   Women Floor-length dresses, black skirts or black pants, long-sleeved black blouse, black hose, black shoes. No decolletage, bare midriff, bare shoulders or low neck lines, distracting jewelry, flip-flops, etc.  Men:  Black tuxedo, white shirt, black bow tie, black socks and shoes.

Accessibility and Accommodations:

It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible.  If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options.  You are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (520-621-3268) to establish reasonable accommodations.  Please be aware that the accessible table and chairs in this room should remain available for students who find that standard classroom seating is not usable.

Changes to this syllabus, other than the grading and absence policies are subject to change with reasonable advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.

UA policy regarding threatening behavior by students

UA policies regarding plagiarism, etc. within the Student Code of Academic Integrity:

"Integrity is expected of every student in all academic work. The
guiding principle of academic integrity is that a student's submitted
work must be the student's own. This principle is furthered by the
student Code of Conduct and disciplinary procedures established by
ABOR Policies 5-308 - 5-403, all provisions of which apply to all
University of Arizona students."
                                   --- Code of Academic Integrity

"The aim of education is the intellectual, personal, social, and
ethical development of the individual.  The educational process is
ideally conducted in an environment that encourages reasoned
discourse, intellectual honesty, openness to constructive change and
respect for the rights of all individuals.  Self discipline and a
respect for the rights of others in the university community are
necessary for the fulfillment of such goals."
                                  ---The Student Code of Conduct