THS BANDS HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 THS BANDS HANDBOOK

2 2 Table of Contents Welcome Mission Statement... 3 Student Leadership /2017 Band Schedule... 5 General Expectations... 6 Classroom Expectations.. 7 Grading Information... 8 Uniform Policies... 9 Wind Ensemble/Concert Band... 9 Marching Band Color Guard.. 11 Jazz Band Pep Band Pit Orchestra.. 13 Performance Assessments (Lessons). 13 Solo & Ensemble Other General Information. 13 Band Letter Band Varsity Letter Requirements Handbook Contract

3 3 Welcome! Whether you have been a part of the Tomah High School Band Program, or you are new to our program, I would like to welcome you to our family. The bands at Tomah have a storied history and we are glad you are a part of continuing a tradition of excellence. A mentor of mine once stated, Band is the best thing you could ever do, don t you let anybody tell you otherwise! Mission Statement The mission of the Tomah High School Band is to provide students with quality instruction to help each student improve individually on his or her instrument. In addition, we strive to maintain and build the highest quality ensembles throughout the program. The ultimate goal is for each student to have a life-long appreciation of music and to be a functional musician upon graduating from Tomah High School. Contact Information Instructor: Mr. O Brien Office: THS Band Room (Room 158) Phone: CharlesOBrien@tomah.k12.wi.us Instructor: Ms. Prihoda Office: TMS Band Room Phone: KatherinePrihoda@tomah.k12.wi.us

4 4 Mr. O Brien s Schedule: 1 st Hour: Lessons 2 nd Hour: Lessons 3 rd Hour: Study Hall (Concert Band 2 nd 4 th Quarter) 4 th Hour: Prep/Lessons 5 th Hour: Marching Band (Wind Ensemble, 2 nd -4 th ) 6 th Hour: Lunch 7 th Hour: Lessons 8 th Hour: Music Theory 9 th Hour: Lessons Student Leadership: Drum Major: Cameron Shuck Assistant: Jenna Stott Assistant: Gohan Whitebull Section Leaders: Flute: Kendra Jankowski Clarinet: Erica Stott, Kenzie Batten Alto Saxophone: Haden Lambert, Shelby Foss Tenor Saxophone: Haley Bradley Trumpet/Mello: Alex Taylor, Riley Krultz Trombone: Kayla Stott Tuba: Jay Johnson Percussion: Jenna Jereb, Leah Renaud Drum Majors and Section Leaders have been chosen based on their experience, leadership skills, musical skill, and positive attitude. The Section Leaders are the student teachers of the band. They teach music in sectionals, help teach drill during field rehearsals, and work to develop marching technique.

5 Tomah Bands Schedule *Please note that schedule is tentative and dates/times are subject to change. Dates are being added and updates will be made available shortly. Friday 8/26 Home Football Game v. Black River Falls, 5:30-9:30 PM Tuesday 9/2 Home Football Game v. Logan, 5:30-9:30 PM Saturday 9/10 UW-La Crosse Band Day! 7:45 AM-3:45 PM Friday 9/16 Home Football Game v. Sparta, 6 PM-9:30 PM Sunday 9/18 Applefest Parade in LaCrescent, MN, 10:30 AM-4 PM Sunday 9/25 Warrens Cranfest Parade, 9 AM-2 PM Friday 9/30 Homecoming Parade, 3:30 PM Friday 9/30 Home Football Game v. Onalaska (Homecoming), 6:00-9:30 PM Friday 10/7 Home Game v. Aquinas 6:30 PM-9:30 PM Saturday 10/29 15 th Annual Marching Band Concert, 7 PM Saturday 11/5 UW-Eau Claire Honor Band- Eau Claire, WI (Voluntary) 11/6-11/7 Gustavus Adolphus Honor Band- Saint Peter, MN (Voluntary) Friday 11/25 Tomah Holiday Parade, 6-8 PM Saturday 12/10 Winter Band Concert, 7 PM 2/10-2/11 Tri-State Honors Band - UW-Platteville (Voluntary) 2/26-2/27 Dorian Honors Band- Luther College (Voluntary) Tuesday 3/7 Band-O-Rama Concert, 6:30 PM Friday 3/10 Final Showchoir Concert, THS Auditorium, 7:00 PM Saturday 3/18 District Solo Ensemble- Tomah High School 4/10-4/14 Nashville Trip, Nashville, TN 4/28-4/30 Spring Musical, THS Auditorium Saturday 5/6 State Solo Ensemble- UW La Crosse Tuesday 5/19 Jazz Ensemble Concert, 7:30 PM Thursday 5/25 Band Concert, TBA Saturday 5/27 Graduation Friday 7/4 Tomah 4 th of July Parade

6 6 General Expectations 1. All students will attend all required camps, rehearsals, and performances as outlined on the band schedule. At no time will a job-related conflict be considered an excused absence. Any unexcused absences will result in a loss of points and possibly a lowered band grade. 2. If you have an unavoidable conflict (ie.: wedding, vacation, etc.), please notify Mr. O Brien at least 2 weeks prior to the event. A parent-signed note will be required. Students with an excused absence must complete an alternative assignment to earn the points for the missed performance. 3. All students will maintain all equipment (instrument, uniform, music, etc.) so that they are always functioning and usable for rehearsal and performance situations. Any repairs or replacements that are needed should be taken care of immediately. SSE Music and Leithold s Music, both out of La Crosse, handle our repairs. Repair costs for privately owned instruments are the responsibility of the owner. Damage to school instruments, due to misuse or carelessness, will be the responsibility of the student who caused the damage. 4. All students will report to performances before the announced time and in the appropriate uniform for that event. 5. All students will ride the bus to any event not on school grounds. Any student not riding must have a parent-signed permission slip given to Mr. O Brien prior to the event.

7 7 Classroom Expectations 1. All students will be inside band room doors when the bell rings. Failure to do so will result in the student being tardy. 2. All students will be seated with instruments ready to play at the designated time after the final bell. Failure to do so will result in the student being tardy. Note: When we are outside on the field or parade formation for class, students must be in position ready to march to at the designated time. 3. All students will adhere to the podium rule. The podium rule states that when the director (substitute or student director) is on the podium, all students are to be quietly listening for instructions. When the director is off of the podium, students may talk quietly. If a student continually breaks this rule, parents will be contacted to discuss further actions that need to occur. 4. All students will keep instruments in lockers. Locks will be provided for the lockers upon request. All school owned instruments will be kept locked. Please keep your lockers clean. Music will be stored in a folder cabinet. Music that is handed out is our textbook, lost or mistreated music will result in a fine. Students with messy lockers will lose the privilege of having a locker in the band room. 5. It is the responsibility of all the students in the band to take care of disruptions by fellow students. The best bands have strong leadership within the group. Please take advantage of this opportunity to become more of a student-led group. 6. Each student is responsible for learning his/her music for each performance. Practice time will vary from student to student, but all students need to spend individual time working with their instrument. Please see the director if you need any extra help.

8 8 Grading Information Daily Participation points Points are earned by full participation in class. Up to 5 points per quarter per class will be deducted for unexcused absences or tardiness, disruptive behavior, not playing instrument, etc. Performance Assessments (Lessons). 120 points Students are required to sign up & attend lessons each quarter (40 pts/lesson). Students receive a grade based on preparation for the lesson. Three lessons are required per quarter. Listening Assignments. points vary Throughout each quarter we will occasionally record rehearsals. Recordings will be posted on the website. You will be required to listen to these recordings and will be asked to write a brief, two or three paragraph response to your listening. Due dates will be announced ahead of time. Performances.. points vary Concerts = 100 points Parades = 75 points FB Games/HC Parade/Misc. = 50 points Pep Band = 5 points (points are added to lettering) TOTAL POINTS.....varies from per quarter The above points system is for one quarter. Grades are determined by a percentage of the points earned using the scale below: A+ 99.0% B % C % D % F 59.9% A % B % C % D % A % B % C % D % This scale is the THS scale used in all classrooms.

9 9 Uniform Policies Marching Band 1. The entire uniform is to be worn at all times unless told otherwise by the director. Never be seen in the public eye with an incomplete uniform. Gloves and shoes must be clean. No cell phones while in uniform. 2. Hair must not cover any part of the jacket. Long hair will be worn up inside of the hat. 3. No jewelry, watches, accessories, or sunglasses should be visible when in uniform. 4. Much of the uniform is provided by the school. Any damage caused to the uniform beyond normal wear & tear is the financial responsibility of the student. You need to provide: Black socks No skin showing Black shoes THS order form Gloves THS order form Band T-Shirt THS order form Provided by school: Jacket w/ cape Bibbers Hat w/ plume Concert Ensembles You need to provide: Men: Black shoes & socks Black pants (not jeans) White, collared dress shirt (Concert Band) Black, collared dress shirt (Wind Ensemble) Women: May wear the above men s uniform or: White blouse (Concert Band)

10 10 Black blouse (Wind Ensemble) Black skirt (below the knees) or pants Black shoes w/ nylons or black socks NOTE: Students may use their marching shoes for concert performances as long as they are clean. Wind Ensemble and Concert Band The THS Wind Ensemble is our audition concert ensemble. The Concert Band is open to all band students. Students will be split into the two bands as a result of an audition process. Auditions take place near the end of 1 st quarter. Participation in one of the two concert bands is a requirement of being enrolled in high school band. Both performance bands perform in three concerts and a music festival yearly. Travel opportunities are also a possibility with these ensembles. The purpose of the concert band season is to perform a variety of musical styles and to improve musically in areas including breathing, balance, blend, expression, intonation, and accuracy. Music selected will be at an appropriate difficulty level for each group. It is important to note that grade level bears no factors in determining participation in the two bands. Skill level and work ethic are the determining factors in the audition process. Marching Band Marching band is also a requirement of enrollment in band. The August camp and rehearsals are a requirement for the class. Any events in June and July are highly recommended but not required. The marching band performs at all home football games, local parades, and other special events, including the 2007, 2011, & 2015 trip to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, and the St. Patrick s Day Parade in New York City in 2009 & 2013.

11 11 The marching band serves as our program s strongest public relations component. Many people have the opportunity to see the marching band, so it is vital that the quality of the group is the highest possible. Marching band is a significant out-of-school time commitment. All students must attend all scheduled rehearsals and performances. Leadership opportunities are available for students to be drum major, section leaders, or color guard members. Color Guard Color guard is open to freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Selection for this group is by audition. Color guard members are required to attend extra rehearsals outside of the normal schedule. Non-band students are encouraged to participate in color guard, but must enroll in the 1 st quarter class of Color guard. Jazz Band Jazz Band is an extra-curricular activity that meets outside of the school day. Rehearsal times will be determined in the coming weeks. Jazz band will begin in late September. Students must be in band to be a part of the jazz ensemble (special circumstances will be dealt with on an individual basis). If there is a need for additional rhythm section members, non-band students may be used at the director s consent. Participants will be expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals and performances. The jazz band performs in at least one concert and one festival each year. The jazz band may be split into two groups if interest is high enough. In that event, audition results will determine group assignment. All interested students will be able to participate in at least one of the groups, regardless of the results of the audition. Instruments needed for jazz are trumpet, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, and rhythm section. Rhythm section instruments consist of drum set, guitar, bass, piano, and

12 12 auxiliary percussion. Those playing flute clarinet, horn, or tuba may join our lab group if enough overall interest exists. Pep Band Pep Band is offered as an extra-curricular activity for any student that would like to participate. Students are required to perform at a minimum of three Pep Band events. Additional games will count as points towards lettering in band. The pep band is a highly visible aspect of the band program and plays an important role in supporting our school. We need as many participants as possible. A detailed schedule will be developed for all students so that we can maximize our performances. Pit Orchestra The Pit Orchestra provides the music for the Spring Musical. We will need a handful of brass, woodwind, percussion, and possibly string players to help with the musical. Preference will go to seniors and juniors, but playing ability and chair placement will certainly be a factor. Performance Assessments (Lessons) As seen on the grading information, lessons are a requirement for being in band. Three lessons must be completed each quarter. Lessons will be completed during the school day. Students will miss minutes of class time to complete a lesson. Every effort will be made so that a student will not come out of any class more than once a quarter. Before and after school lessons are available on a limited basis. Lessons are an essential part of the band program. It is the only way to monitor individual progress and teach techniques that pertain to each instrument. Every instrument has unique characteristics that require

13 13 specific instruction. It would be an inefficient use of time to teach these in a large class with multiple instruments in it. Lessons are also the only opportunity to individually evaluate a student s performance on the instrument. Solo & Ensemble The District Solo & Ensemble Festival is a supplementary experience that is strongly recommended. All students are strongly encouraged to learn a solo, duet, or trio, but are not required to participate in the festival. Solo & Ensemble is an outstanding opportunity for an individual to grow musically and find new challenges on their instrument. Adjudicators listen to the performance and then offer valuable feedback to the students to help them become better musicians. The festival rotates from year to year among Tomah, Black River Falls, and Sparta. This year, Tomah will be the host for District Solo & Ensemble on Saturday, March 18 th. Students who receive a I* rating on a Class A solo or ensemble advance to state at UW-La Crosse on Saturday, May 6 th, Other General Information 1. It is crucial to note that the weeks/days before any performance are essential for all students to be in attendance for rehearsals. The final stages of the performance are put together at this time and any missing voice can upset the balance of the band. I urge parents to emphasize the importance of regular attendance and participation during rehearsals, especially those before a performance. 2. Students who skip class, miss required performances and/or have significant disciplinary action taken against them may jeopardize participation in travel opportunities, including future band trips. 3. Practice!

14 14 Band Letter As participants in the Tomah High School Band Program, students are eligible to earn a varsity letter. The requirements are currently under revision, but general guidelines are as follows: 1. Must attend August camp dates and rehearsals. 2. Must attend all required performances. 3. Must participate with an extra-curricular band group. 4. Must participate at District Solo & Ensemble

15 15 Tomah High School Band Requirements for Receiving a Varsity Letter ALL FOUR of the following requirements must be completed to obtain a Varsity Letter in Band: 1) Attend all required performances (Football shows, parades, concerts, etc.) as listed on the master band schedule. Any one UNEXCUSED absence will make a student ineligible for a letter. 2) Attend ALL REQUIRED August Camps and Rehearsals 3) Participate in at least one solo or ensemble (duet, trio, quartet, quintet or choir) at District Solo & Ensemble (Jazz Band is not included). This year s festival is at Tomah on Saturday, March 18 th. 4) Accumulate 150 letter points using the chart below: 4 th of July Parade 10 pts Pep Band 5 pts/event Jazz Band Pit Band Show Band District Solo & Ensemble Class A Solo Class B Solo Class C Solo Duets/Trios All other ensembles State Solo & Ensemble Honors Band *All State / Dorian / Gustavus/Etc. *50 bonus pts for attending at least 12 events 5 pts/rehearsal (Max 100 pts) *15 pts per performance 5 pts/rehearsal (Max 100 pts) 5 pts/rehearsal (Max 100 pts) 40 pts 30 pts 20 pts 30 pts 20 pts 20 pts (additional per event) 30 pts Attendance at Band Camp 2 pts/complete day Section Leader / Drum Major 40 / 50 Attendance at Music event/concert 5 pts/event (30 Max) Not associated with HS events Civic/Church performances 5 pts/event (30 Max)

16 16 Handbook Form Acknowledgement We, the undersigned, understand the information contained within this handbook and agree to abide by the expectations and policies contained within this handbook. We also understand that failure to comply with the expectations could result in forfeiture of participation in future trips the band will make. We have entered all of the performance dates into a calendar and acknowledge the dates listed as being a requirement for the class. Student Signature (required) / / Date Student Name (printed) Parent/Guardian Signature (one required) / / Date Parent/Guardian Name (printed)

17 17 Uniform Usage Form Student Name: Our uniforms are intended to last until at least the year 2022, so we need to take very good care of them. In the Tomah Area School District, we do not charge a usage or rental fee. We do expect the uniform to be well maintained and treated with the highest level of care. The uniform is to be returned in the same condition it was checked out. If a part or multiple parts of the uniform are damaged or lost, it is the responsibility of the student s family to pay the replacement cost. Any damage done to the pants while hemming, this includes but not limited to: cutting fabric or melting while pressing. The uniform is dry-cleaned after the season in preparation for the next school year. This does not come at any cost to the student. Any uniforms that are soiled during the marching season should be taken to a dry-cleaning facility at the expense of the student s family. Please do not hand wash or machine wash the uniform. The breakdown of costs are listed below, but prices are subject to change as costs increase: THS Marching Band Embroidered Jacket...$155 THS Marching Band Embroidered Cape.. $90 Black Bibbers (Pants). $42 Aussie Style Hat...$25 Feather Plume. $15 Black Wool Beret (tubas only)....$6 Garment Bag....$5 Rain Poncho.. $8 We, the undersigned, agree to pay the replacement cost for any items of the uniform that are damaged or lost. Jacket / Cape #: Pants #: Hat #: Student Signature (required) / / Date Parent or Guardian Signature (required) / / Date