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ABOUT THE ORCHESTRA

John Paul Stevens High School in San Antonio, Texas opened in 2005 with a student population of 1,800. Like any other program at John Paul Stevens High School, the orchestra program emphasizes the importance of QUALITY WORK.

The orchestra program aims to provide an enjoyable learning environment where students can develop skills that are necessary to become competent and independent musicians who are capable of playing alone or with others: technical facility on one's instrument; a thorough understanding of music history and theory; efficient practice without teacher direction; creative musical expression; and creative thinking. 

To contribute to the success of the group, orchestra students experience a professional environment in an educational setting. The director immerses the students in practices and protocol identical to those followed by professional orchestras to drive learning, stage presence, and performance standards to the highest level.

To aid students in becoming better musicians, students are educated on issues that are not musical in nature but have a direct effect on the learning process and music performance (e.g. music performance anxiety or "stage fright" and performance-related injuries). Students use this knowledge to improve their musical learning and performance.

COMPREHENSIVE MUSICIANSHIP PROGRAM (CMP)

The Comprehensive Musicianship Program (CMP) is an interdisciplinary approach to music education that has been adapted to suit the needs of the orchestra program in educating the "whole musician": someone who truly understands music beyond knowing how to play it. Performance is only ONE aspect of being a part of an educational performing ensemble. By focusing on performance alone, students do not experience the full benefits of an education in music. By integrating the CMP with music performance, students receive a music education that allows them to become competent musicians AND musicians who have a deeper understanding and appreciation of music.

All these CMP activities and projects go into a student's online portfolio. So often in performing ensembles such as orchestra do we focus solely on the finished product (i.e. the concert) that we forget that there is a process that creates this product. Through an online portfolio system (using SmartMusic and Practica Musica WebStudents), parents are given the opportunity to periodically review their child's work and performance in class. In most cases, parents can see the actual work instead of merely looking at grades. The more involved the parents are with the process, the more appreciative they will be of the finished product.

SEATING SYSTEM

In every orchestra class, there will be a mix of students who have already achieved an exemplary level of musicianship, developing musicians, and students who are struggling. In this program, every student is important to the success of the orchestra, whether they are gifted, developing, or struggling.

Competition, according to one music educator, is where “some persons must lose in order for others to win a prized status.” Contrary to popular belief, not all orchestra musicians are motivated by competition. These students join orchestra simply because they love music and enjoy performing. This orchestra program aims to continue its tradition of completely eradicating any form of hostile competition between peers. Instead, the program will foster an environment where students help each other succeed. For this reason, the Advanced Placement Seating (APS) System will be used.

The APS System is followed by most college orchestras and professional orchestras. This system allows the orchestra to sound at its maximum efficiency by placing strong players all around the orchestra, not just in stands closest to the conductor. The APS System satisfies both the competitive and the non-competitive student. Strong players who want to play leadership roles in the orchestra are given the opportunity to audition for section leader positions. Students who are just happy to be a part of the orchestra are seated in a NON-HIERARCHAL order. Students are seated in complementary pairs to allow opportunities to learn from one another.

The APS System also makes use of rotational seating system. ALL STANDS will rotate at the beginning of the week and keep that same seating assignment until the end of that week. This rotation will allow the students to experience the different challenges of sitting in different stands in their section.

In the end, making beautiful music by working as a team is more important than fighting over who sits where and who has what chair.