Coloma. Beginning Band Handbook

Coloma Beginning Band Handbook 2018-19

Coloma Bands September 7, 2018 Dear Beginning Band Students, Parents, and Guardians, Welcome to the 2018-19 school year! Congratulations on choosing to be part of the band program! You are in for a rewarding and enjoyable experience. The following handbook will be a guide to the goals and expectations of the school year. Read this handbook carefully because it is your guide to the responsibilities of a Coloma Beginning Band Student. Parents/Guardians, we need your help and support. Please attend all of your son or daughter s performances, invite other friends and family, encourage your child to practice at home what they have learned in school (or even in class that day), and get involved in our Coloma Band Boosters. Band Booster meetings are typically held in the high school band room on the third Monday of every month (see the calendar for specific dates). Please encourage your son or daughter during practice time. Give them a time and place suitable for all members of your family. We need you to be our biggest supporters! Please attend concerts, concert band festival, and any other event that we participate in, no matter what age or grade of your student. We need you to be involved. Please sign up to help with a fundraiser pick up or the Charlie s Piggin & Grinnin Dinner & Jazz night. Your involvement will not only help our program; it creates a positive opportunity to participate in your student s school life. Please consider supporting our band program. Read through this handbook and return the signature form at the end of the handbook as soon as possible. The Commitment Form must be returned by Friday, September 21 st. Thank you! I am looking forward to the very exciting and successful year ahead. Musically, Mrs. Cheryl S. Thomas Director of Bands cthomas@ccs.coloma.org CHS: 468-2400, ext. 15 cthomas@ccs.coloma.org Band Website: colomabands.weebly.com Special note regarding class times: Monday s & Wednesday s: flute, clarinet, alto sax, & French horn Tuesday s & Thursday s: trumpet, trombone, & baritone Friday s-all INSTRUMENTS HAVE BAND!

REHEARSALS, BEHAVIOR, AND RULES 1. Check the screen/white board for daily announcements, class objectives, and assignments. Get out all necessary materials (instrument, accessories, music stand, music, PENCIL). 2. The only things found on your music stand should be: your music, book and pencil. 3. Only the percussionists may touch/play the percussion equipment. 4. You may play the piano after receiving permission from the teacher. 5. Instrument storage instrument storage room. In the 5th grade band, each student will have an assigned spot with their name on it. Walk into the instrument storage room first thing in the morning. Some instruments may fit in your locker (flutes & clarinets). Instruments are expected to be taken home on the days you have band, and brought back on the next day you have band. 6. Be prepared for class ready to perform by practicing at home. Play for your dog, cat, goldfish, or line up some stuffed animal friends. 7. All rehearsals will be conducted in a professional work atmosphere, with emphasis on improvement. Students will always be told at least one element they are doing well and one element they need to work on improving. These are my goals for each student! 8. Corrections will be made regarding the student's musical performance. These are not to be taken on a personal basis. Each individual s performance affects the performance of the entire group. It is important for ALL members to do their very best. 9. Woodwinds (clarinet, oboe, bassoon, alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, bass clarinet) are expected to have 3 playable reeds at all times. Reeds must be purchased at the beginning or end of class. Checks are payable to Coloma Band. a. 5 th grade clarinets should play start playing on a 2 ½ or 3 Juno reed ($1.50 each/10 for $15), and then progress to Mitchell Lurie 2 ½ or 3 strength reeds ($1.75 each/10 for $17.50) in the 2nd semester. b. Alto Sax ($2.25 each for Juno s at the beginning and then 2nd semester=$2.50 each-lavoz medium strength) c. Reed prices are subject to change. Reeds change because some brands & strengths play better than others. Any changes in price will be posted in the band room. d. No credit is ever issued for supplies please have the correct change if possible. Quarters are awesome! Checks are payable to Coloma Band. 16. Behavior & conduct is expected to be exemplary at all times you are with the band, not just at rehearsals. Concert, bus, audience behavior is also a reflection on you and Coloma Schools. Band members are expected to: a. look people in the eye when speaking to them b. say please, thank you, excuse me, and you re welcome c. keep your instrument in good shape d. greet visitors to the band room-thank substitute teachers for teaching them that day e. offer to help before you are asked f. maintain a proper rehearsal atmosphere in class at all times talking, whispering, etc. during class just isn t done!

GRADING POLICY Grades (OSNU) are weighted according to the following three categories: 20% Performance Points (for Band Concerts in December & May) All required performances are mandatory for every band student. Excused absences from performances include: Sickness/Illness (parent/guardian contacts Mrs. Thomas directly via e-mail or phone call); if a student is absent from school because of sickness/illness, they cannot participate in the concert that night. This is CCS policy. Family emergency with parent/guardian contact Notification of absence indicated on the Commitment Form (that you already have plans/a conflict). Please add these two concert dates to your phone/calendar now! If a student is absent as listed above (excused from the performance), a make up assignment will be given for the student to receive credit for the absence. It is the parent/guardian s responsibility to communicate with the band director regarding the absence (phone call to the band director). Unexcused absences from performances include: Illness without parent/guardian contact Family Emergency without parent/guardian contact Sports obligations (we can usually work these conflicts out) Disinterest Students must be present & participating in the concert to earn their Band Award at the Spring Band Concert. This means that the student must be actively participating in the December & May Band Concerts. An unexcused absence cannot be made up and will result in a zero for the performance grade. If a performance does not occur in a marking period, then points will be given to reflect the weighted grade. 40% Evaluations & Assessments Includes all playing assessments, worksheets, workbooks, returning handout slips, and other assignments. Points are listed on the evaluation rubric that each student will receive after a playing test. All playing assessments may be replayed at the next band class. Students meeting the standard, earn a sticker on the chart. Those with all stickers earn a reward in January and May/June. 35% Daily Points (10 points daily/points entered weekly) Students will be able to follow directions and contribute to the best of their ability. This includes having all materials for class and giving their best effort. Gum & candy are not allowed. Band is at the end of the day. Please remember when they miss band class, your child really misses out! Your child will need to make up the time they miss, by practicing at home and recording the practice on a form available in the band room (within 1 week of the absence). Students are not allowed to call home if an instrument is forgotten. They must come to band anyway, complete the forgotten instrument paper, pay attention during class, and remember to bring it next time. It is the responsibility of the student to get into the habit of putting it by their backpack the night before. 5% Written Assessments Includes all written assignments (self assessments, concert reflections, performance evaluations, etc.).

EVALUATION REPORTS Fifth grade band students will receive detailed evaluation reports showing student strengths and weaknesses in all areas of musical comprehension. These reports will be sent home in December and May. ENROLLMENT Due to its unique nature, enrollment in band at Coloma Intermediate School is a year-long commitment. Please understand the skills necessary to be successful in band are developmental and each student progresses at his or her own rate. Practice and study usually dictate that rate. It is not unusual for even the most talented student to become frustrated at times. We believe it is then that the student s diligence will most often lead to the greatest understanding. INSTRUMENT SWITCHING If your student is not progressing on their first instrument, I will call you (parent/guardian). Any instrument switches must be discussed with Mrs. Thomas first. Please understand that we cannot have constant switching (which means starting over because we progress as a class). Some students will switch to a new instrument after the Winter Concert. Percussion, Saxophone, French horn, oboe, bassoon, baritone and tuba are examples of instruments that come from our starting instruments. Who will switch is based on desire, ability, and effort in band. If you think you would like to switch to one of the extension instruments, please make sure to work hard on your current instrument. (You should aspire to do well on assessments, evaluations, and be an active member of class with little disruptions.) Website: colomabands.weebly.com Please visit colomabands.weebly.com, our official Coloma Band Website where you can find important information, assignments, concert dates and much more! Feel free to bookmark colomabands.weebly.com for easy recall. Extra practice records are available under the handouts tab. CONSEQUENCES FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH RULES 1st time-verbal warning (What are you doing? What are you supposed to be doing?) 2nd time-discussed with student after class/student is asked to move to the corner of the room/play from there, or student packs up instrument and sits away from the rest of the band-to the corner of the room 3rd time-phone call home, detention (i.e. lunch detention-as determined by the teacher & school principal) 4th time-office referral, possible parent conference 5th time-period of reflection, probation, behavior/attitude contract, expulsion from band For severe infractions, progression through these steps may be immediate.

REPAIRS A music store representative from Meyer Music (1-800-792-0123) will call on us weekly to take care of individual repairs, which usually take one week. Meyer has a store in Kalamazoo, but please let me know what is going on so I can help. Parents will be billed for the repair unless your repair is covered by the rent to own agreement with Meyer. No instruments will be sent in without parental consent (either by phone, note, or email). You can also contact Quinlan & Fabish Music in Stevensville, their phone number is 429-6232. Ed Bagatini (Bagatini s in downtown St. Joe) also does a great job with quick repairs. Call first because his hours vary 983-1872. UNIFORMS 5th & 6th Grade Band: Black pants- Docker-type dress pants (NO JEANS), black socks, black dress shoes (NO TENNIS SHOES), and the band t-shirt. Jeans, and gym shoes are NOT to be worn. Long hair should be pulled up away from the face, no jewelry (except stud earrings), and avoid excessive make up. If there is any difficulty in finding these items, please ask Mrs. Thomas as soon as possible. I have a cabinet of donated items. We will order Band T-shirts in September, so please watch for the flyer. AWARDS Upon successful completion of 5 th, 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade band, students receive awards at the end of the school year. These awards include: band certificate and band pin. Students with an unexcused performance absence will not receive an award at the end of the year. Upon successful completion of the entire band program in the 12 th grade, students receive a band blanket with their name embroidered on it along with their band letter. BAND BOOSTERS Band Booster meetings are typically held on the third Monday as listed on the calendar at 7 p.m. in the CHS band room. Some meetings are on Tuesday s or Wednesday s. All parents/guardians of a band student are automatically a member of the band boosters, so please join us at a monthly meeting! HS BAND TRIP-SPRING 2020 & 2024 We go on a major trip every 4 years. We have gone to St. Louis (2004), New York City (2008), & Disney World-Orlando, FL (2012 & 2016). Most of the fundraisers we do over the next few years will go into each student's trip account. We run the following fundraisers: Mums (Sept.), Fall brochure (Oct.), Poinsettia (Nov./Dec.), and Zap-A-Snack (Feb.). Fundraisers are determined by the band boosters, so attend a meeting! More information will be given to the students as plans are finalized and meetings are set. Next trips in the spring of: 2020, 2024, etc. We will go somewhere awesome and perform there! Your child will be in the 10th grade on the 2024 band trip.

PLEASE POST THIS PAGE ON YOUR REFRIGERATOR & PUT THESE DATES ON YOUR FAMILY CALENDAR/CELLPHONE! :) Coloma Beginning Band Schedule 2018-19 Wed. Sept. 19, 7 p.m. Band Booster Meeting, HS Band Room Mon., Nov. 19, 7 p.m. Band Booster Meeting, HS Band Room Mon., Dec. 17 Winter Band Concert; 5 th at 6 p.m.; 6 th at 6:30 p.m.; JH Band at 7 p.m.; HS Auditorium, (Grades 5-8) Tues., Jan. 22, 7 p.m. Band Booster Meeting, HS Band Room Tues., March 19, 7 p.m. Band Booster Meeting & Marching Band Orientation, HS Band Room Sat., April 13, 5-7 p.m. Charlie s Piggin & Grinnin Dinner & Jazz (HS Cafe & Aud) April/May 2017 (exact date TBD)-5th Grade Band Instrument Demonstration for the 4th grade class (during the school day) Thurs., May 9 Spring Band Concert; 5 th at 6 p.m.; 6 th at 6:30 p.m.; JH Band at 7 p.m.; HS Auditorium, (Grades 5-8) Mon., May 20, 7 p.m. Band Booster Meeting, HS Band Room ***PERFORMANCES ARE REQUIRED*** Band Website: colomabands.weebly.com DATES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH NOTICE. Schedule is current as of: 9/5/18 PLEASE ADD THESE DATES TO YOUR FAMILY CALENDAR Take a selfie including: this Calendar, your parent/guardian, & you (student). E-mail it to Mrs. Thomas by Sept. 14th to receive 20 points extra credit! What days do I need to bring my instrument to school? Monday s & Wednesday s: flute, clarinet, alto sax, & French horn Tuesday s & Thursday s: trumpet, trombone, baritone, & percussion Friday s-all INSTRUMENTS HAVE BAND!

COLOMA BEGINNING BAND COMMITMENT FORM 1st assignment: PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS PAGE to Mrs. Thomas by Friday, September 21, 2018. WORTH 100 POINTS (must be completely filled out)! I have read the Coloma Community Schools 5th Grade Band Handbook and I have received the band calendar of events for the school year. I understand what is expected for this school year and am willing to abide by the policies listed in this handbook. As parent/guardian, I will do my best to help my son/daughter meet all the rehearsal and performance obligations. My child will participate in the December and May concerts, and I understand the uniform expectation (Coloma Band t-shirt--will not cost over $8, & black pants/socks/shoes). I will contact Mrs. Thomas at least 1 week in advance of the concert if I need help with part of the uniform. I understand that band is a year long class and I will encourage my child to fulfill this commitment this school year. Any changes will be made at the end of this school year. Student Signature Grade Parent/Guardian Signature Date Write your email address below. I can communicate with you faster via e-mail. Thank you! Parent/guardian e-mail address: @ Fill out this form completely (and prior to the deadline) & your child will receive a prize as well!