Information for YYO Families

Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra

 2024-25 Season Calendar for Families

All YYO activities will meet on the following dates unless otherwise noted. Please reserve the hours of 8:30 AM-11:30 AM on Saturday mornings until you receive your class schedule. 

Community Days (November 2, 2024 & February 15, 2025)- We will offer special community-building activities for YYO students and families in attendance.

Fall 2024 Term:

9/14 - Orientation/ Instrument Petting Zoo

9/21- First Day of Classes

9/28

10/5

10/12 - Holiday Closure- No Classes

10/19

10/26

11/2 - Community Day

11/9

11/16

11/23 

11/30- Holiday Closure- No Classes

12/7 - Last Day of Fall Term

12/8 - Winter Showcase/Presentation

Spring 2025 Term:

2/1 - First Day of Spring Term

2/8

2/15 - Community Day

2/22

3/1

3/8

3/15

3/22

3/ 29 - Spring Break-No Classes

4/5

4/12

4/19

4/26

5/3- Last Day of Spring Term

5/4 - Spring Showcase



Absence Notification Form- Click HERE to report a student’s absence.

Class Location & Mode of Instruction:

All classes are offered in-person.

Rehearsal Site: 510 Emerick Street, Ypsilanti 48198

 

Family Involvement

  • We ask that parents/guardinas of beginner students attend class with them sitting with the students and engaging with them as they participate in class.

  • Parents/Guardians who have more than one beginner student in YYO classes may rotate between their students’ classes.

  • Families may sign up for volunteer opportunities throughout the season at the following link: 2024-25 Volunteer Signup. Volunteer opportunities include: Helping with set-up/take-down on Saturday mornings, serving on our board or committees, helping with fundraising, and helping with publicity.

  • YYO families are welcome to connect with each other through our private Facebook group, Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra Parents, Guardians, and Family Sponsors | Facebook.

Instruments & Music Stands

YYO exists to provide students with access to music education. For some families, the inability to obtain an instrument is a barrier to that access. If a family needs assistance obtaining an instrument, there are resources in our community that we can recommend..

  • Instrument options: Students may bring their own instruments and music stands, rent instruments from a retailer, or request to borrow a YYO instrument/music stand (based on availability). A list of local retailers is available HERE.

    • Students may only borrow one (1) YYO instrument at a time. We ask that you and your family be extra careful and loving of the instrument!

    • We strive to make every available instrument accessible to students who need them. We ask families who can rent or purchase an instrument to consider those options before requesting to borrow a YYO-issued instrument. This will allow YYO to make more instruments available for families who cannot rent or purchase an instrument.

  • Class instructors will advise families when students are ready to begin working with instruments and music stands

  • Students registered for Lil’ Drummers will need a drum pad and sticks.

  • Students enrolled in Do-Re-Migos will not need an instrument for their class.


Protocols:

  • Our partner organization, Ypsilanti Community Schools, requires us to provide Pre-Placement Instruction to all YYO students and families before they can attend classes in YCS buildings. We provide this instruction in our registration form and through our Parent Orientation. YYO families are expected to respect YCS building policies while in the building.

  • Update to our COVID Protocols: Masks are optional. Contact tracing is no longer required.