Rondout School Bands

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1 Welcome Back! Concert Band Handbook Enclosed is this year s concert schedule and grading policies. Please review and return the Concert Band Agreement form by September 1st, signed by both student and parent. Parents will also need to register or update registration online for Charms (details enclosed). Description of Bands: All 5-8 th grade members meet twice a week in Concert Band and one additional day with either Cadet Band or Wind Ensemble, based on auditions and instrumentation. Wind Ensemble is designed for more advanced players with more difficult music at a faster pace. Cadet Band members spend time honing their skills and playing music to challenge them. Rehearsal Schedule: Students should arrive to school at 8:00 on band days giving you 10 minutes to set up; Rehearsals begin at 8:10am. You will be marked tardy and lose daily participation points if you are not prepared in your seat and ready to play at 8:10am. Concert Band Tuesday & Thursday (starts September 1 st ) Cadet Band Mondays (starts September 12 th ) Wind Ensemble Wednesday (starts September 14 h ) Band Lessons: Each student will receive a half hour lesson once a week during the school day on a rotating schedule. Equipment Requirements: Students need a portable music stand for use at home and for occasional rehearsals/performances. Metronomes and tuners are recommended optional tools (there are apps for that now!) In addition: Flutes: cleaning rod and swab, Vaseline Oboes, Clarinets & Saxes: cork grease, cleaning swab, and at least 4 working reeds in your case at all times. Brass: Valve oil and slide oil or Vaseline. Trumpets need a valve brush and trombones should have a cleaning snake. A mouthpiece brush is recommended. Percussion: Students must have a tuned and working snare drum/stand. Most days, they may leave these and use school equipment at school. Students are expected to bring their drums for performances and other times as needed. They will need a pair of their own sticks (wood tips) to bring to all lessons/rehearsals. Student Registration Charms Office Suite Charms Office Suite is an online program we will use to keep track of student data, grades, assignments, as well as parent/director/student communication. Returning band parents need to login and update their information. *If multiple family members share the same address, enter it for only one of you to avoid duplicate s in massed mailings. Contact Mrs. Studer if

2 you have forgotten your password and remember that students and parents share a password. New users will need to register online after receiving an ID# from Mrs. Studer. How to login: Visit and click to login (upper right corner). The login code is RondoutBand; the student individual ID# will be provided by Mrs. Studer. You will be asked to create a private password after your first login that must be shared with all family members. Please make sure your student knows the password as they will be asked to login at school. Once logged in, click the update info button in the lower left corner. The contact information you provide is what will be used for future band communications. You have complete access to change preferences and update your contact information at any time. Calendar Attached is the performance calendar for the school year. All dates are mandatory. Concert Band Uniform Students will need to be dressed in uniform for all concerts and performances. The uniform is a solid white dress shirt/top and solid black pants/skirts with black shoes. Absences Band members are required to attend all rehearsals and performances. Please review the attached performance dates and notify the band director of any potential conflicts. This allows us to plan and make accommodations in music selection and performance changes as necessary. With advance notice at the start of the year, parents and the band director can make arrangements for the student s absence and any make-up work. Unexpected conflicts and emergencies such as illness, family emergencies, and religious conflicts may arise and will be excused with no need for make-up work. Any unexcused absences for rehearsals or performances will result in lowering of your band grade. All absences require written notification to the Band Director. Practice Requirements: Be prepared to play music we are learning in band by consistently practicing at home. Students are expected to practice the 30 minutes a day six days each week, or simply the equivalent total time as schedules allow. Private Lessons Individual instruction delivered by a teacher who specializes in your specific instrument is truly invaluable and strongly encouraged. Not only will students become better musicians, but they can foster self-confidence and self-expression. The most current list of teachers is available on the band website.

3 Grading Policy Band grades are recorded in Charms Online throughout the trimester, including grades and any teacher comments on playing assignments. Only final grades will be entered into Edline at the end of each grading period. Grades are based on the following criteria: Rehearsal/Lesson Participation (50%): Participation points are assigned for each rehearsal and band lesson. For full credit each day, always come prepared and on time for all lessons and rehearsals with your working instrument, music, and pencil. Most importantly, practice before class so you are prepared for what is being covered that day. Tardiness to morning rehearsals will significantly affect your daily band grade!! Students must be in their seat with instrument together and ready to play when morning attendance is taken at 8:10am. Students are expected to attend and participate in lessons and rehearsals even if they do not have their instrument or are unable to play for any reason to still receive full or partial or credit as the situation warrants. Concert/Performance Participation (30%): As a member of a group, band members are expected to participate in all performances. An unexcused absence to any performance will affect your grade. Last minute absences can prevent an ensemble from performing music they spent months preparing, so do plan ahead when possible. The band is counting on you! Assignments/Tests (20%): Playing and written tests will be assigned to determine how well students understand and apply musical concepts. Students will be expected to record playing assignments in Charms and recordings must be completed by the due date. If you have difficulty recording at home, you will need to arrange a time to record at school in advance of the due date. A band s success depends on the participation of all its members.

4 Rondout Band Performance Calendar October 24 October 31 November 10 December 8 February 25 March 15 April 27 May 6 May 25 LHS Band Festival Rehearsal (Wind Ensemble) Highland Middle School, 7-9 pm Halloween Concert (Concert Band) Rondout Multipurpose Room, during the school day LHS Band Festival Performance (Wind Ensemble) Libertyville High School Rehearsal during school day; Concert at 7:30pm Holiday Concert (all bands) Rondout Gymnasium, 7pm Solo & Ensemble Contest (Concert Band) Assigned times range from 8am-4pm Little People s Music Festival, Concert Band North Chicago High School, during the school day Spring Awards Concert (all bands) Libertyville High School Studio Theater, 7:30pm Music in the Parks Festival (Concert Band) Awards held at Six Flags Great America, all day event Graduation (all Bands) Rondout Multipurpose Room, evening performance *Please remember that all of these dates are mandatory.

5 Private Lesson Instructors Instrument Name Phone Flute Laurel Kaiser* Oboe Marissa LaFevre* Clarinet Ember Miller* Jonathan Ulanday* Eloise Hides^ Saxophone Tim Barclay* Trumpet Andrew Jacob^ Christian Anderson* Dennis Sullivan* Sharon Stine French Horn Brenda Kublank* Nora Tucker^ Trombone Colleen Bayoneto* Beck Ghantous Euphonium Kendra Gohr* Percussion Brett Zwier* All Band Instruments Brad Hecker *Lessons offered at Libertyville High School ^Rondout Graduate available for Beginner lessons Private Lessons are highly encouraged for all band members. Personalized attention studying with an instructor who specializes in your particular instrument is the best way to improve playing and gain confidence! Visit the Rondout School website to find the most current list.

6 Audition Information for Band Members Finally, it s here! All you wanted to know about auditions! It is very important to come prepared to try your best but don t worry, everyone makes it! You may also have the opportunity throughout the year to earn a higher chair and possibly even change bands as your playing continues to improve! When? Audition schedules will be passed out the first day of band auditions will take place September 1-7 th in place of your normal band lessons during the school day. Extra music is available online in Charms or see Mrs. S. You will only play portions of the song as listed below. No one else will be listening!! (Yeah!!) Mrs. Studer will help you record your audition and only she will listen later. You will only be allowed one take to play your audition. If you make a mistake, just forget about it, focus on nailing the rest of the music and keep going. Everyone makes mistakes! There are 3 parts to the audition: 1. Chromatic Scale For those with 2 versions, you only need to play one scale and may choose to play the shorter one. You must play the longer one for Wind Ensemble inclusion. 2. Song Selection Optional for 5 th graders and new students. Play only the measure numbers of the piece listed below. Flute: Harry Potter 1-32 Oboe: Wipe Out 9-21 Clarinet: Harry Potter & 58-end Alto Sax: Wipe Out 34-41; Harry Potter Bari Sax: Wipe Out 9-21; Harry Potter Trumpet: Wipe Out 9-21; Harry Potter French Horn: Wipe Out 9-21; Harry Potter Trombone: Bumble Bones 8-15 & Baritone: Harry Potter Percussion: Harry Potter Sight-Reading You will see this for the first time at your audition - promise it s not scary! HELPFUL HINT!!!!! If some notes are too high or low for you at this time, instead play the same note higher or lower (up or down an octave). For example, instead of high C, play low C. Instead of low G, play high G. Questions? me at kathy.studer@rondoutsd72.org or stop by and ask! Break a leg! -Mrs. S

7 Concert Band Agreement Please return this form to Mrs. Studer by August 30th. Band Student Name I have read and understand the expectations. As a member of Rondout School s Concert Band, I agree to: commit to attending all performances. attend all rehearsals, arriving on time at 8am and prepared. maintain a working instrument and accessories (reeds, valve oil ). practice regularly (1/2 hour each day), complete practice assignments on time. This includes recording assignment online in Charms. I have reviewed the performance schedule and have listed any known potential conflicts below. I will notify Mrs. Studer as soon as possible of any conflicts that may arise. Event Being Missed: Reason for Absence: Event Being Missed: Reason for Absence: Student Signature Date Parent Signature Date Please remember to register online at