2015-2016 Navarro Intermediate and Junior High Band Handbook Dear Students and Parents, Welcome to the NAVARRO BAND PROGRAM! This handbook will outline your band program and it should become a very important resource that you can turn to when questions arise. Abiding by these rules allows you to fulfill an obligation to your school, to your fellow band members, to your family, and to yourself. Only when every member of the band puts forth a 100% effort can a band attain its goals in musical achievement and service to school and community. You are embarking on lifetime of musical enjoyment. The more you invest of yourself, the more will be your reward. Together we can make this the best year ever. Roxanne Heckmann (830)372-1931 roxanne.heckmann@ni sd.us Phelecia Neal (830)401-5550 phelecia.neal@nisd.us This handbook will prove to be a valuable source of information as music groups are not like other classes, nor are they exactly like team sports or clubs. Instead, they possess characteristics of both: (a) music classes are similar to other classes in that there are concepts and skills that must be learned through a definite curriculum, and (b) they are similar to team sports in that success depends on all individuals performing their parts and relating with others as teammates in a cooperative and supportive spirit. Parents and students are requested to read this entire handbook, discuss it, and keep it for reference for the school year. We have a web page that will be updated often. (You can access it through the Navarro ISD web page ) A copy of this handbook will also be available online. We look forward to working with you this year! Ms. Heckmann Ms. Neal
The following section outlines expectations and course descriptions for the Middle School Bands. 6 th GRADE BAND Most of you are beginning your first year of band. Ms. Heckmann and/or Ms. Neal will be teaching your class, with occasional help from some of our High School Band students. Students will be working out of the Essential Elements 2000 Book 1 (with CD and DVD) and our goal is to finish book 1 by semester or the middle of next semester so we can advance to book 2. The students will be learning about how to make a proper sound on their instrument, and how to clean and care for their instrument, all while playing music of increasing difficulty. This is an all year course. Students are expected to show a certain level of responsibility in areas such as practice, classroom discipline, instrument care, and attendance. In order to be the band that we have the potential to be, it takes 100% of the students trying to do their best 100% of the time. Notice, I said trying to do your best 100% of the time. I don t expect each sound to be your personal best, but I expect that you try to achieve to the best of your ability. This class will be performing a Holiday Concert sometime in December and they will also have the opportunity to join the Panther band on the field at halftime of the last home game for the Varsity Panther Football team. This band will also be expected to perform in one school concert in the Spring Semester. 7 th and 8 th GRADE BAND This is an all year course. Students are expected to show a certain level of responsibility in areas such as practice, classroom discipline, instrument care, and attendance. In order to be the band that we have the potential to be, it takes 100% of the students trying to do their best 100% of the time. Notice, I said trying to do your best 100% of the time. I don t expect each sound to be your personal best, but I expect that you try to achieve to the best of your ability. You will be working on full band arrangements. There will be music of increasing difficulty, but don t worry, you will be ready for it. You will learn more scales, and will begin to make better sounds on your instrument.
This class will be performing a Holiday Concert sometime in December; they will be expected to all learn the music for All Region Band auditions. The class will also play at one or two of the Junior High Football Games and Pep Rallies. They will participate in Solo and Ensemble in the spring, as well as participate in UIL Concert and Sight Reading Contest. This band will also be expected to perform in two school concerts in the Spring Semester. DISCIPLINE AND CLASS RULES The following is the guideline to a successful rehearsal. These guidelines should be considered rules. When these rules are broken, the entire band has to suffer the consequence of lost rehearsal time for the actions of one or two students. Therefore, rule violations will not be tolerated. 1. Enter the rehearsal hall in a quiet, courteous, and orderly manner. 2. Quickly get your instrument and music and take them to your seat. No one is allowed in the bathroom hallway after the director steps on the podium. The result will be a tardy slip. 3. A student will be considered tardy if they are not in their seat, ready to rehearse by 2 minutes after the tardy bell. Ready to rehearse means instrument out and put together and music ready. 4. Students will check the board for the agenda and put their method books and music in the order of the agenda. 5. Students should fall into ready position when the director steps up on the podium. 6. Students will not play instruments without permission. Before or during rehearsal. 7. Students will not play other student's instruments. This includes percussion and district owned instruments. 8. Band members should have the following for every rehearsal: o INSTRUMENT with the necessary accessories. o ALL MUSIC o PENCIL 9. All school books, large cases (saxophone cases and larger), and equipment not needed for the rehearsal should be left by the bookshelves or in your instrument locker. 10. Good posture is of great importance at all times. You are expected to follow ready and set positions. 11. Music stands are for music. 12. If it becomes necessary to take your instrument to a repair shop, please remember to bring a note from home, your mouthpiece and music. There is always a strong possibility that I might provide a temporary instrument. Without a note from home you will lose points from your grade just as you would if you had forgotten your instrument. 13. When class is over, quietly remain in your seat until you are dismissed. 14. The band director will check the horn slots daily to make sure every one has taken their instrument and music home to practice. It is, of course, impossible to practice at home if your instrument is sitting in the band hall overnight. It should
be rare for your instrument to be left overnight in your locker, you never know when you ll find 10 minutes to practice and it will do you no good if your instrument is here! Bus drivers are expected to find room for your instrument. Please let the band director know if you experience a problem with your instrument on the bus and I will follow up on it. 15. Students who do not bring their instruments to school will have points deducted from their participation grade, and could lose chair ranking if it is a continued problem. Students without their instrument should expect a written assignment during class. 16. Students violating these simple rules on a regular basis may not be able to continue band, and may be asked to choose a different elective. 17. Respect the rights, safety, and property of others. o Play instrument and speak only when given permission to do so. o Stop playing instrument immediately when signal to stop is given. o Keep hands, feet, and objects to one s self. o NO GUM, DRINKS, OR FOOD are allowed in the band hall. 18. Accept responsibility for yourself and your learning. 19. Be honest with yourself and with others. 20. Be a responsible citizen, obey all school rules. The band hall will open about 7:30 am. allowing students to store their instruments in their assigned instrument locker for the school day. Students may remain in the band hall before or after school only if they are playing their instruments or in some other way involved in music (i.e. practice, section rehearsals, small ensembles and/or private lessons.) We will strongly encourage this! Students will be asked to leave if they are in any way disturbing the directors or other students. Only current band members are allowed into the band hall at any time. It is the band student's responsibility not to allow their friends to enter the band hall with them. No students are allowed in the band hall without the presence of a director or other instructor. Students need to be invited in before entering the Director's Office. Knocking on the door or asking politely is the best way of accomplishing this. No one should ever use the office phone or be in the band hall office with out permission.
GRADING PROCEDURES/ATTENDANCE POLICIES You may find that there are more performance tests each 6 weeks and each one may determine a new chair order. Major tests will be assigned several days in advance and will usually consist of an exercise, scales, or a music passage from folder music. All grades average equally make up each 6 weeks grade. Areas that are graded: Performance tests (discussed above) Practice cards (7 th /8 th grade only) Attendance Concerts, Contests, Solo and Ensemble Contest All Region Band (7 th /8 th grade only) Written Tests Participation Instrument taken home regularly Attendance: Most dates for performances, contests, solo and ensemble, etc. are announced at the beginning of the school year or at the very least many weeks or even months in advance. A band is a close knit team that is injured greatly by an individual absence at a contest or concert. Performances are a very important and a vital part of being in band and missing a performance will be dealt with the same as if the quarterback for a football team missed an important game. Excused absences from public appearances will be granted in cases of genuine emergency only, such as serious illness of the student or death in the family. Please call if such an emergency arises. Jobs, family trips, etc., do not justify absences. Students who feel they have an excused absence, and do not discuss it with the director before the performance and miss the performance will receive a zero for the performance and may lose chair ranking. An unexcused absence from any public appearance is very serious and will be dealt with as an individual case. If attendance becomes a problem, choosing or being placed in another elective may become necessary. The student will receive a grade of 0 for an unexcused absence. If the student is excused, they will be expected to make up this grade as the director sees fit. The bulk of our work will be done during regular band period. Do not ask to be excused from this period except in emergencies. If you have work due for another teacher or a make up test, we ask that you arrange a time before school, after school, or during tutorials. If such a time cannot be arranged, do not assume you will be excused from band class.
Return Authorization Form: If the band travels to an event such as a contest or Region Band Tryouts, it is assumed that you will ride to and from the event with the band. Every student must ride TO the event with the group. If you should choose to ride home with a parent, you MUST bring a filled out Return Authorization Form. These can be obtained in any NISD office or in the band hall. These are due BEFORE we leave the band hall. Parents, please do not approach me at the event and tell me you are taking your child without having turned in a signed form. Practice: Band students at Navarro should be prepared to devote time to practice each day, even if for just 20 minutes. The rewards of playing a musical instrument increase in direct proportion to the number of hours invested in individual practice. These rewards include chair placement, grade, and self satisfaction. The key is to set aside a certain time every day for practice. Set up a daily schedule to insure that practice is an important part of your daily studies. Remember that the secret to success is practice and that the difference between the best player and the rest is the number of hours practiced. INSTRUMENTS/EQUIPMENT/MUSIC School Owned Instruments: There is a maintenance fee of $40.00 per year for using district owned instruments. The fee may be paid in $20.00 installments at the beginning of each semester. It is the duty of each student playing a school instrument to take the best possible care of it. Those persons using school equipment must fill out an agreement use form, have it signed by the parent, and return it to the director. Students using school instruments are responsible for any damage brought about through carelessness. It will be the student's responsibility to have the instrument repaired at an approved music store. Instruments and equipment: Each band member will be expected to keep his or her instrument in excellent condition. Grades may be given on periodic inspections if necessary. All cases should have the students name clearly marked on both sides and ends. Whether or not your instrument is personally owned or district owned, always make sure that you have a written record at home of the make, model and serial number. This information will be required if something should happen to the instrument.
Repair: Should your instrument need to be repaired, you may take the instrument to any of the music stores in the area and bring a note to the band director letting them know that the instrument is being repaired. We suggest that you may want to bring the instrument to school with a note authorizing the band directors to send the instrument to be fixed. We have two music companies that have representatives stop by the band hall weekly. If your instrument is in need of repair, they will take it and return it to school. In this case, you would receive a bill from the company and you may bring the payment to me at the band hall. WOODWINDS WOODWINDS should have 3 good reeds, swab, key oil, cork grease, mouthpiece brush, mouthpiece cover, neck strap (saxophone), and a clean cloth FLUTES - tuning rod, clean cloth 1. Keep instrument free of dust. 2. Check pads weekly for worn or torn skins. 3. Mouthpieces should be cleaned daily, (things you can't see start growing) 4. Clarinets and saxes should have 3 playable reeds. Playable means no chips or cracks and looks new. Reeds may be purchased from the band director. But, it is often cheaper to buy a box of them from a music store. If you choose to purchase on your own, look for Vandoren (blue box) and ask a band director if you aren t sure what strength. BRASS VALVED BRASS INSTRUMENTS - valve oil, tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brush, cleaning "snake", clean polishing cloth TROMBONES - slide oil (or slide cream Slide-O-Mix is recommended), tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brush, cleaning rod or "snake", two clean cloths (for slide and rest of horn) 1. Instrument should be washed often, inside and out. Do not perform this task without instructions from your director. 2. Mouth pieces should be cleaned daily. (things will grow in them, often green nasty things) 3. Tuning slides should be greased after the weekly wash. 4. Trombone slides should be lubricated with the slide cream as necessary. (Slideo-Mix is highly recommended) 5. Valves should be oiled as necessary. PERCUSSION PERCUSSIONISTS-all sticks and mallets must be marked clearly so that they may easily be identified.
1. All players in 6 th grade should have a percussion kit with practice pad, bells, bell mallets, snare mallets, and stands. 2. All 7 th 8 th grade players should have at least one pair of snare sticks that are kept with them, not in the back of the band hall. 3. All players are responsible for keeping all equipment clean and in good working order. Instrument insurance: Many instrument dealers offer instrument insurance policies specifically for theft or damage. Some homeowner insurance policies will offer protection for your instrument while it is at school. Please call you insurance agent for more information. It is a good idea to keep the following information in a safe place in the event the instrument is lost or stolen: The instrument serial number, instrument manufacturer, and instrument model number. Also from whom you purchased it, and when the instrument was made. In the event that an instrument is lost or stolen, contact the director immediately. After that point a decision will be made concerning the involvement of the police department. The best way to protect your investment is to take the instrument home with you every night. Music: Music and folders will be provided free to students in band. The folder should last a semester. If a replacement is required before the end of the semester, a replacement may be purchased for a fifty cent fee. All students are responsible for all music in their folders. It is very important that all music is taken care of and preserved for use in future years. Music lost or destroyed must be paid for at the rate of fifty cents per part. Students will be charged replacement costs for school owned method books that are lost. Folders or music left out after rehearsal will be picked up and the student will move down one chair or lose 10 points on class participation grade. Music may be marked in pencil only and music must never be folded. Try to get in the habit of numbering all measures of music in your folder. Mark all music with your name in pencil as soon as you receive it.
FUNDRAISING: Every year the 6 th Grade and Junior High Band Program undertakes at least one fundraiser. The money raised by our students is used for the operating expenses of the band, i.e. repairing school-owned instruments, buying new instruments, new equipment for the band hall, music for concerts, solos, ensembles, clinicians and extra activities for the students, etc. Parents, if you have a problem with your student participating in a fundraiser, it is your responsibility to let the director know in writing, so that no fundraising materials are distributed to your student. Lockers: At the beginning of the school year each student will be issued a locker to store their instrument (with the exception of Tubas, and 7 th & 8 th grade percussion). Each locker will have a combination which should not be shared with other students. The locker is expected to be locked unless class is in session. They will be responsible to keep that space clean and tidy. In some instances students will have to share that space with another student. Students are expected to respect each others property and treat it as if it were your own. You will be charged $5 for a lost lock. UNIFORM: This year the Junior High school band students will be required to purchase a purple band polo shirt with the panther logo to wear for concerts, contests, etc. This shirt will be used 7 th and 8 th grade and will continue to be worn in high school. We will be making an order for these shirts sometime shortly after the start of school. The cost of each shirt will be $15. The students will also be required to purchase (on their own) a pair of black slacks for all concerts and contests. 6 th grade students are encouraged to purchase a purple band t-shirt to wear for concerts and school activities. The cost of the shirt will be $10.
A Primer For Our Band Parents We would like to encourage your involvement in your child's musical development. If you play an instrument, playing along aside your child is a wonderful way to spend time together. Talk with us. We will be happy to help you find music for your instrument. Even if you have no musical background you can be actively involved with your child's daily practice routine, an area where young musicians generally need guidance. By understanding what it means to practice, and by asking the right questions, you can help keep your child focused as he or she is practicing. The method book has a cd and dvd with play along tracks, and music software for help in practicing that can be purchased. "Only those who have the patience to do simple things perfectly will acquire the skill to do difficult things easily." Daily practice can be broken into two parts (this applies to professional musicians as well as students!) Warm up and technical studies which include long tones (holding out notes for a long time), scales, rhythmic studies, articulation studies, etc. These tend to be simple sounding so that the musician can easily isolate one aspect of their playing and make improvement. Many students forget that there is more to music than just playing the notes. Tone quality, attacks, releases, correct breathing and phrasing are just some of the aspects of playing an instrument that have to be addressed. When your child practices, ask him/her about his/her warm up exercises. Make sure they understand what they should be listening for while they are warming up. Please understand that we want your children to practice with a big full sound for the first year or two. The sound may not be pretty at first, but by playing loudly, young musicians can develop good breathing habits and a good tone. You cannot learn these things by playing softly all of the time. Practicing the music - Ask yourselves three questions while listening to your child practicing: 1. Is he/she breaking the music down into small enough sections? It doesn't help to try to play the whole song over and over if he/she can't play the first measure well. Start with small sections and then put them together, like building the bricks before you build the house. 2. Is he/she practicing slowly enough to play the music correctly? Once again, if he/she practices too quickly, he/she will be practicing mistakes. 3. Is he/she finding the spots that need to be worked on and working on them. For example, Kids love playing Mary Had a Little Lamb, or the opening to "We Will Rock You" because it's easy to play, but they need to be practicing middle sections and songs they don t have memorized. Probably the easiest and most rewarding way to encourage your child to enjoy and thus succeed at their instrument is to hear them perform. We strongly encourage you to come hear your children performing their concerts at Navarro. They will really appreciate your presence, as will we. Encourage your child to perform for you and your family at home, as well. The more they perform, the better performers they will become, and, the more they will enjoy performing.
STUDENT AGREEMENT I have read this handbook and understand the information and policies contained in it. If I do not understand a part of this handbook, I know that I should ask the director. I agree to follow the guidelines in this handbook to the best of my ability. I understand that the policies and guidelines presented are to achieve the best band possible. Name: Signature: Date: PARENT AGREEMENT I have read this handbook with my student so that they understand the policies in it. I agree to help my student follow the guidelines presented in this handbook, and understand that if I ever have any questions that I may call the band directors at (830)372-1931 or (830)401-5550. I understand that the policies and guidelines presented are to achieve the best band possible. Signature: Date: