BADGER MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND HANDBOOK

Transcription

1 BADGER MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND HANDBOOK Mrs. Sandi Konrath Mr. Brandon Yahn Band Office Phone:

2 Why participate in band??? The things I learned from my experience in music in school are discipline, perseverance, dependability, composure, courage and pride in results... Not a bad preparation for the workforce! - Gregory Anrig President, Educational Testing Service In a 2000 survey, 73 percent of respondents agree that teens who play an instrument are less likely to have discipline problems. - Americans Love Making Music And Value Music Education More Highly Than Ever, American Music Conference, 2000 Music majors are the most likely group of college grads to be admitted to medical school. -Lewis Thomas, Case for Music in the Schools, Phi Delta Kappa, 1994 Students who participate in school band or orchestra have the lowest levels of current and lifelong use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs among any group in our society. -H. Con. Res. 266, United States Senate, June 13, 2000 The College Entrance Examination Board found that students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math than students with no arts participation. -College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test Takers. Princeton, NJ: The College Entrance Examination Board, % of respondents to a U.S. Gallup Poll believe participation in a school band is a good way for children to develop teamwork skills. -Gallup Poll, American Attitudes Toward Music, 2003

3 BAND CLASS 1. Band meets as a class every other day. 2. Students are expected to have their IMAP Instrument Music (lesson book included) Assignment notebook Pencil 3. The following instrument accessories are required: Name tag on case Appropriate cleaning supplies 2-4 working reeds for reed players 4. Students are expected to follow class rules, participate and try their best! BAND GRADE Band is a graded class. Grades are a calculation of points from: *Performance and written assignments completed during lessons *Performance and written assignments completed during band class *Class participation, and concert attendance LESSON FORMAT Lesson attendance is a big part of the band grade and is required for a successful band experience Every student is assigned to a lesson group. Consistent lesson attendance provides the student with needed individual attention that is not possible in the large band rehearsal. Students must come to lessons with their IMAP (Instrument, Music, Assignment notebook, Pencil). Lessons are scheduled in a pullout format. Students leave another class to attend the lesson. The schedule rotates so the student does not leave the same class every week. Missed lessons must be made up before the next scheduled lesson. (Extended absences are an exception).

4 PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Practice is considered band homework. Goal: minutes, three separate times a week. Parents, please make an effort to sit and listen to what your child is working on. If the instrument is large and difficult to carry home, students can come to school at 7:30 AM to practice or practice during their study labs (IST). Although we do not require students to take home their instruments every night, the more they practice, the more successful they will become!! PRACTICE TIPS 1. Try to develop a consistent schedule when you can practice. 2. Always sit on a flat chair with good posture. Put your music on a music stand. Make sure your instrument is in good working condition, your valves are oiled, your reeds are not chipped or cracked, etc. 3. Practice for short periods of time. A good minutes, concentrated practice session is better than an hour session. 4. Practice difficult sections in small parts-maybe one measure- and repeat often (called wood shedding) and then put the entire piece together.

5 INSTRUMENT REPAIRS A student cannot be successful on their instrument if they don t have the required accessories or their instrument is in need of repair. Band instrument repairs must be attended to whenever they arise. Students should first seek out their band director for a diagnosis of the problem. Quite often the director is able to make repairs that do not cost the students/parents anything. If that is not possible, the instrument must be taken to a music store that does repairs. Whenever you take an instrument in for repairs, make sure to ask for a loaner instrument to use while your instrument is being fixed. White House of Music from West Bend makes weekly visits to our school to pick up and deliver instruments in need of repairs. MUSIC FEES Students playing a school owned instrument (tuba, baritone, bari sax, and bass clarinet, french horn) are required to pay an $85.00 maintenance fee at the beginning of each school year. This fee will be used for the maintenance/cleaning of the instrument to ensure students have an instrument that is in proper working condition every year. BAND AWARDS Most Improved Award & Outstanding Musician Award At the end of the year, the band director recognizes one student per category in each band for the following awards: Most Improved Musician and Outstanding Musician. Director s Award This award is given to one student that has made significant contributions to the band program throughout all three years of middle school. The student will receive a certificate of accomplishment and their name is engraved on the continuous plaque in the band room.

6 BADGER BAND CONCERT DATES Please mark these concert dates on your calendar early to avoid all conflicts. ALL CONCERTS ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF A BAND GRADE Monday, November 25 Time TBA Large Group Festival-Badger School (Concert & Symphonic Band Only) Thursday, December 5 7:00 PM Winter Concert Badger Gym Tuesday, March 4 7:00 PM Spring Concert --Badger Gym Thursday, March 13 After School Solo & Ensemble Festival-(optional, Concert & Symphonic Band Only) Thursday, May 22 7:00 PM Pops Concert --Badger Gym Saturday, June 1, Early Morning Jazz Band Performance at Farmer s Market (tentative) Performances are the time when all musicians can demonstrate what they have been working on throughout the year. Concerts are a very important step in one s musical growth. ALL CONCERTS ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF A BAND GRADE. Please plan ahead to avoid conflicts. Students your classmates are counting on you to be there! Concert Dress Code: Concert attire is crucial to a good ensemble performance. Students need to look their best to represent Badger s band program. Here is the required concert dress code: Males: Black dress pants, black dress shoes and socks, white dress shirt. No jeans, sneakers, or t- shirts. Females: Black skirt or dress pants, black dress shoes, white long sleeved or ¾ length sleeved shirt or blouse. No jeans, sneakers, or t-shirts.

7 Please complete & return this page to band director by September 20. Student Name (First and Last) Band (circle one): Cadet Concert Symphonic Instrument Brand Serial # I have read the band handbook and understand the responsibilities and expectations that go along with being a band member and will do my very best this year!!! I understand that: Participating in a concert is an extremely important part of my musical growth. If I do not attend a concert, my absence will affect the entire band. Missing a concert will affect my band grade. Student Signature Date I have read the band handbook and will support my child s interest in band. I understand that concert attendance is an extremely important part of the band s curriculum and if my child misses a concert it will affect his/her band grade. (Parents please mark all concert dates on the calendar at your earliest convenience, thank you.) Parent/Guardian Signature Date Is there any information you would like to share about your child that may help me provide the best possible musical experience? Cut on dotted line. Turn in top portion to band director by September 20. Keep bottom portion for your records THE BAND HANDBOOK IS FOUND ON THE BADGER MIDDLE SCHOOL WEBSITE. (Go to Staff Directory/Music/Sandi Konrath) ALL CONCERTS ARE REQUIRED AS PART OF A BAND GRADE Monday, November 25, after school Large Group Festival, Concert & Symphonic Band Only Thursday, December 5 7:00 PM Winter Concert Badger Gym Tuesday, March 4 7:00 PM Spring Concert --Badger Gym Thursday, March 13 After School Solo & Ensemble Festival-(optional, Concert & Symphonic Band Only) Thursday, May 22 7:00 PM Pops Concert --Badger Gym Saturday, June 1, Early Morning Jazz Band Performance at Farmer s Market (tentative)