Welcome to the Citrus Hills Band Program! My goal is to teach you all I can about music and to help you become the finest and most knowledgeable performer possible. If you always put forth your best effort, you will experience a lot of success. The study and performance of music should be both rewarding and FUN! This handbook will help explain how you can find those rewards and discover the joy of music. Please read this handbook carefully. It contains very important information. Keep it in a safe place and refer to it throughout the year; it will answer many questions that you might have (and has some GREAT phone contacts). - Mr. McGee 1
IMPORTANT Contact Information Mr. Kevin McGee kmcgee@cnusd.k12.ca.us CHIS Music Boosters chismusicboosters@gmail.com Charms Office www.charmsoffice.com STUDENT/PARENT SCHOOL CODE LOG IN: CHISMUSIC Band Website www.chisbands.org Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/chisbands AND we are on Facebook: www.facebook.com/chisbands SMART MUSIC: www.smartmusic.com Smart Music Support: www.smartmusic.com/support Citrus Hills Intermediate School 3211 S. Main Street Corona, CA 92882 (951) 736-4600 x4104 Band Room (951) 736-4623 School Fax (951) 736-4616 Attendance Office 2
MUSIC CONTRACT and PARENT INFORMATION SHEET You will find a MUSIC CONTRACT and PARENT INFORMATION SHEET at the back of this handbook. The purpose of this contract is to make certain that both you and your parents have read this handbook thoroughly and are aware of the responsibilities involved in band membership, including attending all rehearsals and performances outside the regular school day. The Music Contract must be signed by you and your parent/guardian and returned by August 17. Those who turn in the contract on time will receive 20 points. ^^^^^^ BAND INSTRUMENTS It is expected that the band student and his/her parents or guardians provide instruments NO LATER than Monday, August 13 th to begin rehearsals. Music stores in the area offer several rental and/or purchase options. It is the responsibility of the band student and his/her family to maintain the instrument or to make necessary repairs to keep it in proper playing condition. Although percussion section membership is extremely limited (only 5-8 percussion students in each band), as musicians, they are an important part of the band. They, too, have required materials. Citrus Hills will provide bass drum mallets; however, percussionists will need to have the following: stick bag to store personal equipment snare sticks (size 5A recommended) hard plastic-headed bell mallets medium or hard timpani mallets (Vic Firth Staccato mallets recommended) one pair of medium to hard yarn mallets **This entire set of percussion sticks can be purchased as a set (Vic Firth EP2 Intermediate Education Pack) or separately. Be careful with your investment. There are many sticks and mallets that are substandard (warped or inferior materials) and sold inexpensively. In addition, the following items are recommended: practice pad or drum for home practice practice bell kit for home practice All percussionists will learn to play the orchestra bells and xylophone. Therefore, percussion students may wish to rent or purchase a 2-octave student bell set for practice at home. Percussion students will have to demonstrate scales on them during our scale tests. Mallet parts will be assigned as needed to perform with the band. ^^^^^^ MUSIC BOOKS Each group will use a supplementary TECHNIQUE BOOK in addition to regular band music. Essential Elements 2000, Book 1 for ALL Band students and Essential Elements 2000, Book 2 for Intermediate and Advanced Band students. It will be used in class and serve as a personal guide for individual student practice. Students will need this book by August 13 th. The books can be purchased from a local music store listed below or other local music retailers of your choice. I recommend calling first to see if they have the correct book in stock prior to driving to the location. IE Music (DELIVERY TO CHIS!) Corona Music Store Music&Arts(Alta Loma) Infinity Music iemusicstore.com 1191 Magnolia Ave Ste. B 650 E Parkridge Ave 710 N Main St 951-479-1261 (call/text your order!) 951-898-2630 951-735-5924 951-549-9399 3
PERFORMANCE ATTIRE Every band student will need to be measured for our band performance attire. The cost for rental of this attire (except footwear) is included with your Booster Membership. Cash, money orders, or checks made payable to CHIS Music Boosters - Band are accepted. Students and their families must provide their own black socks, and black, polish-able dress shoes (no sandals or sneakers of any kind). For the boys, look up Drillmaster marching band shoes for an example. It is also what will be needed in high school for marching band! Girls, look up black character shoes to get an idea of shoes style. No student will be permitted to perform without the performance attire described above. Any student who misses a performance due to inappropriate attire will have his/her grade lowered. Refer to the section in the grading policy covering an unexcused absence from a performance. BEHAVIOR Your primary responsibility in band is to learn about music. Any behavior that distracts from or interferes with this learning process will not be permitted. As a member of a Citrus Hills band, you are representing yourself, your family, your band, your school, the Corona Norco Unified School District, and our community at ALL times so keep your behavior at its very best! Remember, we're all here to learn about music and have a great time! Having a positive attitude will only enhance your experience, both in band and your other classes. MATERIALS NEEDED BLACK 1 1/2in. 3-ring binder with at least 15 clear page protectors for the music (first one provided by CHIS Music Boosters in 7 th grade) your Band Book and other music a pencil pouch with at least two sharpened pencils with erasers (first one provided by boosters) at least 3 playable reeds for woodwind players (NO LOWER THAN 2 1/2 or Med hardness) valve oil for brass players your instrument (sticks and mallets for percussionists) After every rehearsal and performance, it is YOUR responsibility to put your music and binder away. Occasionally, original copies of music are handed out to students. Do NOT mark on these copies. If the music gets lost or defaced, you are responsible for replacing it (normally $2.00 or more per sheet). The music we use is very expensive and, in some cases, no longer available to purchase, so please take very good care of the original copies. Student copies may be written on using PENCIL only. DO NOT leave your folder out in the band room, on a counter, or on the percussion cabinet! The BEST place for it to be following rehearsal is inside your backpack or cubby to pick up at the end of the day. Before a concert or performance, the director will inform the students about the order of the songs to be performed. Music should be arranged in their notebook based on this order prior to the performance. 4
SCHOOL INSTRUMENTS A small number of school instruments are available for use by band students. The following priorities are used to assign school instruments: Students who play a large instrument that is not easily available to rent (tuba, baritone saxophone, tenor saxophone, F horn, euphonium, etc). Students who are not able to rent at this time due to financial hardship (PLEASE NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR IN WRITING IMMEDIATELY). In the event that there are more students than available instruments, a lottery system will be utilized to ensure fair distribution of the school instruments. Normal maintenance will be covered by the school district to keep the instrument in proper playing condition. However, students and parents are financially responsible for any damage and all necessary maintenance due to negligence. MAINTENANCE OF INSTRUMENTS It is recommended that students take their instruments to a professional technician periodically for maintenance, just as you would maintain a car. The technician can inform you of any work to be done and the estimated cost for such service. The student may not even suspect that anything is wrong with the instrument, but may simply be accustomed to compensating for its problems. School instruments that need repair should be brought to the teacher s attention; these repairs will be handled through the school district. If you need repair to your personal instrument, contact one of the persons listed below for assistance. Arnie Barrera (951) 737-6895 Jim Cobb (909) 261-4858 PRACTICE!!! Practicing a minimum of 150 minutes per week is required for all Citrus Hills Band members. This is your band homework. Practice time will need to be entered on the www.charmsoffice.com website. Practicing is PART of your regular trimester grade. GRADES Performances and Extra Rehearsals 30% Daily Behavior and Participation 40% Practice Records/Quizzes/Smart Music/Written Work 30% 5
SECTIONAL GRADES Sectional rehearsals will be scheduled after school or during lunch. A schedule of these rehearsals will be posted so that you can make necessary arrangements to attend. Those who attend will receive 20 points. Much like daily attendance points, an unexcused tardy from a sectional will subtract 5 points. Those who do not attend and fail to bring a valid written excuse from their parent before the sectional will receive zero points. Please work out transportation for your student on these days as there are no late busses available. PLAYING TESTS You will have several playing tests in band. Some will be completed in class and others will be completed using the Smart Music computer program. You will earn a GRADE based on your individual performance. Your GRADE will not be determined by comparing your performance with that of other band members; it will be based entirely on your own effort and progress as they relate to your musical potential and aptitude. I will also place you in a seated chair position based on your tests. If you would like to move to a higher chair, you may Challenge the person seated one chair higher than you. To help you prepare for all tests and chair challenges, pay special attention to each of the following while you are practicing: Tone Quality (maintaining a full, rich tone without wavering) Pitch Control (maintaining proper intonation) Note Accuracy (playing the correct notes) Rhythmic Accuracy (playing the correct rhythms with a steady tempo) Articulation (using the proper attacks, tonguing and slurring) Dynamic Control (playing at the correct volume) Phrasing and Musical Effect (breathing in the correct places and playing with expression) Memorization (playing the full range of the scale without looking at the sheet) Each test will cover one of the following: a major scale the chromatic scale a revolving scale a study from your supplementary TECHNIQUE BOOK a part in your band music written music theory exercises All individual tests may be retaken as many times as you wish during the grading period to earn a better GRADE. You may challenge or be challenged up to 2 times per week only. It will be your responsibility to arrange a time with Mr. McGee to come in before school, after school, or during lunch to play challenges, make up missed tests or to retake a test (see EXTRA HELP). All incomplete playing tests will automatically become failing grades (0 points) at the end of the grading period. 6
PERFORMANCE GRADES A PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE will be handed out by the beginning of September. Please review this schedule and put the dates on your family calendar. If an unavoidable conflict arises, you must let the director know IN WRITING (preferably several weeks in advance to make necessary adjustments in the band). To be excused, the note must be signed by your parent or guardian. Below are the expectations to receive high PERFORMANCE GRADES: Arrive on time to warm-up with instrument and music dressed appropriately (see PERFORMANCE ATTIRE) behave appropriately both on stage and while in the audience listening to other band members stay with the band for the entire performance 100 points You fulfill all of the above requirements. 75 points You fulfill all but one of the above requirements. 50 points You fulfill all but two of the above requirements. 25 points You fulfill all but three of the above requirements. 0 points You fail to fulfill any of the above requirements. An unexcused absence from any scheduled (or yet to be scheduled) performance will result in a Grade of "0" for that performance. You may also be required to attend a parent conference to reevaluate your participation in band. PERFORMANCES are similar to Trimester Final Exams they are not optional! EXTRA CREDIT You will be made aware of concerts and recitals that you may attend for 10-25 EXTRA CREDIT points. To receive credit, you must write a one-paragraph summary of the performance. The summary needs to be attached to a program/ticket stub from the performance and turned in the next school day. To receive full credit, the document must be signed by your parent/guardian or any other school personnel, including myself (if you see me at the performance), for credit. If you wish to attend a performance at another school or somewhere else in the area, please check with me that it will be accepted for extra credit. Honor band auditions and participation in honor bands are also worth extra credit points. Each audition is worth 20 extra credit points. Participation in an honor band is worth an additional 25 extra credit points. Please let me know through a note or email that you have participated in these events. EXTRA HELP If you are having difficulty with any of the music or assignments we work on during class, PLEASE come for EXTRA HELP. You need to make an appointment with me so that a schedule can be arranged. I strongly encourage everyone to ask for help. 7
PRIVATE LESSONS It is highly recommended that every student take PRIVATE LESSONS. Nothing can match the benefits of this type of individualized attention and expertise. You will be surprised at how much faster your skills improve after just a few short weeks! Below is the list of private teachers who have been working with students in our area. Call for pricing and schedule availability. Amy Bowers (Trombone/Euphonium/Tuba) (714) 931-1216 Ralph Torres (Saxophone) (909) 260-8077 Ray Nowak (Trumpet) (714) 654-9129 Jeremy Brown (Drums) (951) 991-9535 Stan Steele (F Horn) (714) 615-1055 Kimberly Duvall (F Horn) (760) 596-9339 Janelle R.A. Janovich (Flute/Piccolo) (562) 822-6097 Deanna Schultheiss (Flute) (951) 734-2846 David Lopez (Clarinet) (562) 805-0994 Alta Loma Music (All Instruments) (951) 735-5924 AWARDS During the last concert of the year, the following awards are presented to deserving students in the band program. Spirit Awards Given to outstanding members of each band as selected by the band members. MVP Award Given to students who have helped the band program in unique and special ways. Outstanding Musician Award Given to the student who has displayed outstanding musical and technical abilities on their instrument as selected by the members and director. Louis Armstrong Award for Jazz Given to the outstanding member of the Jazz Band as selected by the director. Outstanding Soloist Award Given to the outstanding soloist in the Jazz Band. Director's Award Given to the outstanding 8th grade band student in the areas of attitude, participation, and performance as selected by the director. 8
How can you help your child this year in the band? BE A VOLUNTEER Help the CHIS Music Boosters any way that you can! Parent Name (please print): Phone Number(s): I am available to volunteer in the following areas Music Booster Board Member Spaghetti Dinner (Feb) Bingo Event(s) FALL & SPRING Reception/Food & Snacks Coordinator Uniform Fittings/tailoring Concert Videographer & DVD Build-A-Bear (Nov/Dec) Photocopy Parent Social Activities (All Year) Donations (snacks, raffle items, etc) Photography (Concerts & Events) Chaperone (field trip & dance) 2012-13 Music Contract Student s First name Student's Last name Parent First name Parent Last name This contract serves as a written agreement that the student and parent/guardian understands and are willing to follow all expectations outlined in the Citrus Hills Band Handbook. Parent/Legal Guardian Signature Date Student Signature Date Sign and return this entire page (please do not cut at middle) to Mr. McGee by Friday, August 17, 2012 9