Stone Middle School Symphonic Band Handbook Welcome back! As a band member this year, you will have the opportunity to further develop your skills as a musician and to become involved in our musical family throughout the year. This handbook is to inform you and your parents of the requirements and expectations of being a member of this band. Please be aware that this is a full one-year course and schedules cannot be changed after the first week of school. REQUIREMENTS* *Band T-Shirt All band students must purchase a band tee shirt, which will be worn at events throughout the year. Tee shirts will be $15.00. We will have a band fund raiser in September if students need help with the cost. Students may also use their band account to pay for their shirt. *SUPPLIES: All students need a black, 1-inch 3-ring binder, notebook paper, plastic sheet protectors, pencil bag and pencils. Additional supplies: Flutes cleaning rod and polishing cloth Clarinets, Bass clarinets and saxophones cork grease, swab, reed guard, 3 good reeds at all times Double reeds 2 good reeds at all times, cork grease, handkerchief type swab, water bottle for soaking reeds Trumpets brass-polishing cloth, valve oil, slide grease, snake, mouthpiece brush Horns rotary valve oil, slide grease, polishing cloth, snake and mouthpiece brush Trombones slide cream, spray water bottle, tuning slide grease, polishing cloth, snake, mouthpiece brush Baritones and Tuba valve oil, tuning slide grease, polishing cloth, mouthpiece brush. Percussion -- stick bag with appropriate sticks and mallets, practice pad
*Concerts: Students are required to participate in all performances. Attendance by all members is essential to the success of the band. An absence from a performance will not be excused unless the band director is contacted by the student s parent or guardian explaining the student s absence, such as in the following cases: 1. Student illness with doctor s note 2. Family emergency (such as a death in the family) 3. Special arrangements made with the director at least two weeks in advance of the performance by the parent or guardian. Transportation problems will not be excused. All performances will result in a grade of 100. Unexcused absences or lack of communication will result in a grade of zero for that performance. *Pre-UIL and UIL Contests: All members of this band are required to participate in both Pre-UIL Concert/Sight Reading Contest and UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest. In order to prepare for these contests, all members of the Symphonic Band will be expected to attend weekly after school rehearsal sectionals starting sometime around February. These sectional rehearsals are essential for our success at UIL. Any missed rehearsal must be made up at the earliest possible opportunity. After-school athletic practice conflicts will be worked out on an individual basis with the coaches. If students do not attend after school sectionals in preparation for UIL, they may not be allowed to participate in the UIL competition and will receive a 0 for each rehearsal they miss. If they do not participate in UIL competition, they will not be allowed to attend the Spring Contest Trip described below. *Spring Contest Trip (Murchison Performing Arts Center plus recreational activity): The Symphonic Band will compete in the Directors Choice Music Festival at the Murchison Performing Arts Center in Denton (April). This is a great opportunity for middle school students to perform and compete in a state of the art facility. Attendance is required. Following the contest portion of the day, there will be a recreational activity for the kids. The contest fee and recreational activities will be approximately $70 and must be paid for by the individual students. We will have a band fund raiser in September if students need help with the cost. Students may also use their band account to pay for the trip. *Contest Attire: Students will need a pair of black dress pants. Girls will need a pair of black flats and boys need a pair of solid black shoes (no tennis shoes) and black socks. The school will provide formal tops for both girls and boys. This attire will be worn at our UIL Contests/Concerts.
All-Region Band All-Region Band contest is an individual contest in which you will develop confidence in your musical skills and abilities. Weekly after-school practices will begin in September and will continue until auditions in November. Students who earn a position in the All-Region band will perform at the clinic/concert in December. More specific information will be sent at a later date. Symphonic Band members are NOT required to audition, but are highly encouraged to do so. Solo and Ensemble Contest Solo and Ensemble is held after school at Stone Middle School in February. All Symphonic Band members will be required to participate if they did not audition for the All-Region Band. EXPECTATIONS Grading Policy Grading will be done by individual evaluation in the following areas: 1. Daily participation includes coming to class prepared with necessary equipment and supplies, music, PENCIL, notebook, reeds, valve oil, etc., good playing habits, posture and hand position, paying attention during rehearsals and following directions 2. Playing tests on assigned material 3. Weekly practice sheets signed by parent/guardian to verify practice time 4. Written tests on music theory 5. Concert Participation (required) Care if Equipment Music Lockers All instruments must be labeled with your name on the case. (Luggage tags are great!) You will be held financially responsible for loss of or damage to books, music, or instruments (for those using school-owned instruments) issued to you. If you use a school-owned instrument, you will be issued a lock for your locker and are required to use it. Those who have their own instrument who want a lock for your locker, you can ask to be issued a school combination lock to use for the school year. Locks that are lost or stolen must be replaced at the cost of $5.00. Code of Conduct 1. Respect our rehearsal time - by being in your seat on time with all necessary equipment needed for rehearsals.
2. Respect our facilities by keeping all gum, candy, food, and drinks out of the band hall and leaving school property alone. 3. Respect yourself by showing your best posture, playing habits, and best effort at all times. 4. Respect others and their property by demonstrating good manners to other students and teachers at all times. 5. Respect our group by listening at all times, playing only at the proper times, and following all instructions given by the directors so we can be the best band we can be. Consequences 1. Conference with student after class 2. Teacher option (removal from rehearsal, detention, written assignment, etc) 3. Conference with parent/guardian 4. Student referred to assistant principal/principal ***If a student is a severe discipline problem in the classroom or refuses to comply with the rules and expectations, that student may not be allowed to attend the Spring Trip in April. Parent/guardian will be notified if a student is not allowed to participate in this festival. Remind.com All parents and/or students will sign up for "Remind"- a communication program in which information about upcoming band events and activities will be emailed or texted. This is our primary means of communication with parents. An instruction sheet on how to sign up is included in this packet. Stone MS Band Website Check the band website often for announcements, calendars, student recognition, etc. www.northlamar.net, scroll over the Departments tab on the yellow bar, choose Stone Band. Go to Practicing Continue to develop your practice habits! 30 minutes each day, 5 days a week will ensure that you become a more advanced player this year. You will be involved in more activities this year and this practice schedule will be difficult to maintain, BUT, you have worked hard to become the player that you are so keep the momentum going by practicing the more effort you put forth, the more success and fun you will have.
Calendar of Events A complete calendar of events is printed in this packet and on the Stone MS Band website. Band Booster Club All parents are encouraged to join the North Lamar Band Booster Club. Your involvement is always welcomed and greatly appreciated. Contact Information Feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns. I look forward to a fantastic school year with your child! Michelle Anderson, Stone MS Associate Band Director 903-737-2041, ext. 4027 manderson@northlamar.net BAND CLASS SCHEDULE PERIOD TIME CLASS TEACHERS 1 st 7:55-8:40 Honor Band Ervin 2 nd 8:45-9:30 Beginner Low Brass Beginner Trumpets Smith Jones/Ervin 3 rd 9:35-10:20 Symphonic Band Anderson 4 th 10:25-10:45 ZAP LUNCH 5 th 10:45-11:30 Beginner Percussion Boyce 5 th 11:20-12:05 Beginner Double Reeds Beginner Saxophones Anderson Ervin 6 th 12:10-12:55 Beginner French Horns Anderson 7 th 1:00-1:45 Concert Band Anderson 8 th 1:50-2:35 Beginner Flutes Beginner Clarinets Anderson Ervin 9 th 2:40-3:30 Conference
Parent/Child Handbook Agreement My child and I have received and read the Symphonic Band hand book. We understand that band is a full year obligation. We understand the requirements and expectations of the program and agree to abide by them as stated in the handbook. Parent Signature Student Signature Date Please circle if you child can or cannot have their picture or name published on our band webpage. Can have published Cannot have published Please circle t-shirt size-- THESE ARE ADULT SIZES: XS S M L XL 2XL 3XL You may begin sending money for band t-shirt at any time. ($15)