Eastwood Middle School Band Handbook

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1 OVERVIEW & WELCOME I am eager to work with your children in their pursuit of musical knowledge. The Band curriculum is designed to teach instrumental music skills, promote excellence, and create performance opportunities in which to share music with friends, family, and the community, as well as have fun! Throughout the year the students will be challenged as individuals and as members of an organization to be the best they can be. Band will be fun if everyone (students, parents, and teacher) has the same goal in mind and works to attain that goal. Here is a little background information about me: I am a 2012 graduate of Butler University with a Masters of Music in Music Education, and a 2006 graduate with a Bachelors in Music Education. I have worked at Eastwood since the school year. I have lived in Indianapolis since 2002, but I am originally from Lafayette, IN. I continue to perform in many local concert bands such as the Lafayette Citizens Band and the Kokomo Park Band, the Indiana Wind Symphony, Naptowne Tuba Ensemble, and am a substitute player with several local groups such as the Indianapolis Symphonic Band and Indianapolis Brass Choir on my principal instrument, euphonium. I frequently perform at Allisonville Christian Church for special services on trombone. My husband is musician as well and he plays french horn; he also attended Butler and currently works in the repair department at Paige s Music. We have a daughter named Cecelia who will turn one in September! Here is some more information about how Eastwood s bands are organized. The bands are divided by grade level (6, 7, 8) for performance at concerts. During the school day, the band classes meet every day. Why Music??? I Music is Science: It is exact, specific, and demands exact acoustics II Music is Mathematical: It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions, which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper III Music is a Foreign Language: Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French; and the notation is certainly not English-but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to present ideas. Musical notation is the most complete and universal language IV Music is Physical Education: It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, breath and mind-done precisely with others. (Borrowed from Don Ester, Prof. Ball State University)

2 Band Policies Required Materials Each student in band is required to have: a working instrument, necessary accessories, a pencil, Alfred s Essentials of Music theory workbook, and a method book. A small number of instruments are available from the school for a nominal fee. Please talk to Mrs. VanderHaeghen ASAP if you will need to use one of these instruments as they go quickly! Instruments are typically rented at Paige's Music (5282 E. 65th St.), and there are several other stores in town that rent as well. Necessary accessories vary by instrument: woodwinds-at least 3 reeds in working condition, cork grease, neck strap/seat strap, swabs; brass-valve oil, slide grease/cream, spray bottle (trombones only); percussion-mallets, sticks, stick bag ALL LABELED WITH YOUR NAME. The method book is called Essential Elements Interactive for grade 6, Essential Elements 2000 book 2 for grade 7, and Essential Techniques for grade 8, and these books range in price from $ All students should also have Alfred s Essentials of Music Theory complete workbook. All band students will be provided with a folder for their music. Extras are available in the band room. Students will have a materials check by August 8th. Grading System The band follows the grading policy set in place by the middle school. Please refer to the school handbook for any questions. Late work will be accepted for a lowered grade: practice cards may be turned in 2 days late for partial credit; calendars/theory can be turned in up to 1 week late for partial credit; playing tests and concerts must be made up prior to an absence, or as soon as possible upon your return (see performance attendance below). Grades are assessed in several ways based on the IB assessment criteria and are weighted based on category: Criterion A-Knowing and Understanding (20%) Theory workbook, written theory tests, vocabulary Criterion B-Developing Skills (30%) Playing tests and performances Criterion C-Thinking Creatively (10%) Compositions, improvisation, and projects Criterion D-Responding (30%)

3 Practice records and arts process journal BEAT/Participation (10%) Behavior, Effort, ATtitude or daily class participation with all required items Performance Attendance-All bands are performance based classes, and the end goal of rehearsals is the performance. An unexcused absence will result in the final grade being lowered (each worth points depending on the concerts). All performances are mandatory unless otherwise noted; conflicts should be brought to Mrs. VanderHaeghen no later than 2 weeks before a performance. The following policy will be used to determine which category the absence falls into should a student miss a performance: 1.Permitted: Two weeks advance written notice given, due to an Eastwood sanctioned activity (not including home games), students receive 3/4 credit and must do a make up assignment 2.Excused: Less than two weeks notice given due to family emergency or personal illness, student receives full credit for personal illness, must complete make up assignment for family emergency for 75% credit if informed of after the performance begins, 100% credit if told in advance of the performance (i.e. funeral, car break down, etc.) 3.Unexcused: Any absence which is not permitted or excused, zero credit given and no make up assignment BEAT-Behavior, Effort, Attitude: daily class participation which includes bringing all necessary materials to class in good working order and participating in the rehearsal at all times, working to help the class improve and be a productive member of the band; students should sign the blue binder if materials are missing, write sentences and have them signed by a parent to be returned the next day OR complete a rehearsal detective sheet and return signed by a parent OR finger along if unable to play due to illness, and will lose 5 points each day he/she does not have his/her materials. Practice Records-All students are required to practice 120 minutes each week which is best reached by 20 to 30 minutes each day for the most steady and consistent progress. Students who practice all 120 minutes in one day will not receive full credit. The practice week runs Sunday-Saturday and the card is turned in every Monday by midnight; late cards lose partial credit and will not be accepted after Wednesday; students taking private lessons should indicate their private teacher on the documentation form and turn it in at the end of the grading period. Please alert Mrs. VanderHaeghen to any illness or injury that may prevent practice. Practice card coupons may only be turned in twice a nine weeks in place of actual practice time-no ex

4 ceptions! The final twenty points of the practice card are awarded for completely answering the arts process journal questions each week. These questions fulfill a requirement from IB for our students to be reflective learners. No points are awarded if the questions are not answered, 10 point awarded for impartial answers or only answering some questions, and 20 points for complete answers to all questions. 6th grade practice requirements are modified for the beginning of the year. Practice Minutes Minutes required Total Points Opportunities for bonus points will be presented throughout the year. We need items such as a kleenex, band-aids, and hand sanitizer. Practice card coupons can be obtained by attending a live music performance and writing a summary. Private lessons earn 3 extra points each week. Students that take lessons should obtain a documentation form, and return it at the end of the grading period. Always check your grade! Concert Dress Uniform attire at performances is very effective, thus we require that all Eastwood Band students wear the following concert uniform: White Button-up shirt; Black tie-gentlemen only (provided by Eastwood); Black slacks or skirt; Black socks or dark hose; Black shoes The performance dress code will be strictly enforced. Concerts are normally 100 points and if you are not dressed properly you may not be allowed to perform which will not only hurt our performance but will result in a much lower grade for that grading period. If there are financial or transportation concerns with regards to concert attire or concert attendance, alert Mrs. VanderHaeghen with at least two weeks notice to make other arrangements

5 Classroom Rules & Procedures: Rules: Make your best effort daily. Use instruments and materials with care. Speak & play only when asked. Immediately follow all directions. Check the Essential Agreements & PBS Expectations to make good choices. Procedures & Need-to-Knows: 1. Use the following hand signs in class when you need something; no students should be out of his/her seat without permission: 1-drink, 2- materials, 3-nurse, 4-kleenex, 5-question requiring teacher s attention, ASL R for restroom 2. Turn in your calendar to the blue tray labeled with your class by the due date. 3. Keep instrument cases in your assigned cubby-not on the floor *tubas and bari saxes excluded from this procedure. 4. Lost materials are located on the percussion cart. Extra worksheets and handouts are in the file crate on the green cart. 5. Write music you need new copies of on the clip board. Do not tell mewrite it down! New copies are 25 cents, so be responsible and don t lose your music. 6. Sign the binder and follow procedures described in BEAT if you are not prepared for class. 7. Pay for reeds at the beginning of class only ($2 per reed). Oil valves & grease instruments before class starts. Extra cork grease, slide grease, and valve oil is available on an as-needed basis in the reed caddy. 8. Check the agenda each day to get prepared for the class. You will have 2 minutes after the bell rings to get ready. There will be a song playing, and when the song is over, you should be in your seat & ready. 9. Use only pencil to mark in your sheet music (no hi-liter, marker, pen, etc.)!

6 10.Instruments that need to be sent in for repair at Paige s Music should be placed in front of Mrs. VanderHaeghen s desk with a repair tag filled in (by the student) by Friday of each week to be picked up on Monday. Students will not have loaners if the instrument is not put there by Friday and you have not called in the need for one. Consequences & Rewards: Students who are late will be marked tardy and need to fill out an entrance pass. Those not prepared will lose participation points. Any student caught tampering with another person s instrument or belongings will face severe disciplinary action. If you damage a school instrument or piece of equipment, you are responsible for the repair or replacement costs. Students not following guidelines/rules will have various consequences depending on the severity of the offense. Reteaching, seating change, detentions, and office referrals are all consequence options. Rewards include: Eagle Eyes, free homework/practice card coupons, class free time/favorites, top scholar awards at end of school year, or class party. IB Units The students will experience several IB units over the course of the year with an extra project or playing test of some kind as the culmination of the unit. IB Learner Profile Traits: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Principled, Openminded, Caring, Risk-takers, Balanced, Reflective IB Assessment Criterion: Knowing and Understanding, Developing Skills, Thinking Creatively, and Responding With those items in mind, we should have a great year! Remember, never settle for less than your best, and keep the district s character values in mind on a daily basis