Bon Lin Middle School Band Handbook Ben Tucker Director
Dear Students and Parents: Welcome to the Bon Lin Middle School band program. My name is Benjamin Tucker, and I am your band director. I am excited about this school year, and the direction we are moving. For our returning students, Jazz Band will continue to take place during the Academic Exploration period, and the students will have Jazz Band every day. We will be working from a method book, and I will have more information regarding that later in this handbook. If you are a 7th or 8th grader and are interested in Jazz Band, but didn t sign up for that AE class, please let me know. There is still room. Also, in order to give more students the opportunity to perform in our competitive events, I will be changing from the previous Honor Band format to a Concert Band that will be formed by our 7th and 8th grade band classes. We will rehearse this music during class time, and only meet after school a week or two before each performance. This will give students with busy after school schedules the opportunity to participate our field trips and out-of-town Spring Trip, while still giving them the flexibility to participate in the many after-school activities that our students enjoy here at Bon Lin. Both of these opportunities are available to 7th and 8th graders.for all of our students and parents, please be sure to check out the Bon Lin Band website (www.bonlinband.org), and my teacher page on the Bon Lin website. I will have updates posted regularly to help keep you up-to-date. With that said, I want to take time to list out the rules and procedures that will be established for this band as well as the performance schedule for the coming year. Please read them carefully, and check all performance dates with your calendar. I need to know as soon as possible of any conflicts with these. I have high expectations for this band program, and I look forward to getting to know all of you and teaching all my students the joy of making music. -Benjamin Tucker Band Director director@bonlinband.org 901-487-0675 Music has the power of producing a certain effect on the moral character of the soul, and if it has the power to do this, it is clear that the young must be directed to music and must be educated in it. Aristotle
Band Supply List All Students: 1/2 3-ring Binder with 10 Sheet Protectors Pencil Method Book: 6th: Essential Elements 2000, Book 1 7th: Essential Elements 2000, Book 2 8th: Foundations for Superior Performance Jazz: Essential Elements for Jazz Flute: Cleaning/Tuning Rod Flute Swab Oboe/Bassoon: Reeds (Oboe and Bassoon students must keep a stock of at least 2 reeds) Cleaning Swab Cork Grease Clarinet: Reeds (all students must keep a stock of at least 5 reeds at all times) Cork Grease Pull-through Swab Saxophone: Reeds (all students must keep a stock of at least 5 reeds at all times) Cork Grease Pull-through Swab Neck Strap Trumpet/Baritone/Tuba: Valve Oil Slide Grease Vinyl Cleaning Snake French Horn: Rotor Oil Tuning Slide Grease Vinyl Cleaning Snake Trombone: Slide Oil Tuning Slide Grease Vinyl Cleaning Snake Optional: Folding Music Stand (for home use) Metronome Tuner Percussion Supplies All 6th grade percussion students will need to rent or buy a bell set and a practice pad. Many parents have found that purchasing is cheaper in the long run. Feel free to do either. They will also need a set of bell mallets, brass or nylon, and a set of drum sticks, size 2B or smaller. All 7th and 8th grade percussion students will need a set of snare sticks, mallets for bells, xylophone, and marimba, and a stick bag. All percussion students should also purchase a drum key. Local Stores All of these supplies can be found at your local music stores. If you go anywhere other than Amro or Bartlett Music Academy, call ahead to see if they have the supplies in stock. Amro Music 2918 Poplar Ave Memphis, TN 38111 (901) 323-888 www.amromusic.com Bartlett Music Academy 7505 Hwy 64 Memphis, TN 38133 (901) 213-4262 www.bartlettmusicacademy.com Lane Music 9309 Poplar Ave Germantown, TN 38138 (901) 755-5025 Online: Woodwind and Brasswind www.wwbw.com
Band Room Rules My rules are simple and easy to follow: 1. Be Respectful This includes respect for other students, teachers and other adults, and yourself. 2. Be Responsible Always be prepared to play your instrument. Practice the daily assignment each night to ensure you are as prepared as possible for the next day s class. I require 30 minutes of practice time each day, as at-home practice is the most important thing you can do while learning to play an instrument. 3. Be Ready Make sure you have all necessary supplies each day for class. By following these simple rules, we can assure ourselves of a fantastic year at Bon Lin Middle School. Grading Rubric 20% Weekly Participation Grade 30% Goal Sheets 50% Playing Tests/Concerts (May also include some written tests) Assignment Sheets: We are constantly working to update our methods to find ways to take grades in band that also provide value to the students. This year we will continue to utilize Assignment Sheets. At the end of each class, I will give an assignment for the students to practice, which they will record on their assignment sheet, along with the date. I will check these every Friday at the beginning of class, and then update the grade in PowerSchool accordingly. I must stress how important it is to keep these with you. These sheets help me plan lessons and show progress over time. These will start out handwritten, and then we will move them to the laptops once laptops are issued. Playing Tests: Playing Tests happen many times over the course of each grading period. Some may be planned and students will have advance notice of these. Some may be surprise playing tests when I feel that they are warranted. This is to ensure that all students are practicing at home and to gauge progress over time. There is a possibility that I will give written tests. If and when these happen, they will be included in the grades for playing tests. Concerts are also included in playing test grades. Weekly Participation: Weekly Participation includes in-class playing and having all supplies, method books, and music. It is an important part of band to learn responsibility, and having all supplies, every class, is very important. I do NOT dock participation points for absences, excused or otherwise.
Performance Dress Band Calendar Our concert dress will be as follows: Black Shoes Black Socks Black Pants Black Belt Band Polo (included in band fees) Part of giving a good performance is looking professional. Therefore, in order to receive full credit for a performance, you must be in full concert dress. If anyone has issues with obtaining these things, please contact me and we can talk privately. Band Fees Band fees at Bon Lin are $150. We will begin collecting on the second week of school. If, for financial reasons, you cannot pay the fee or would like to work out a schedule to pay gradually, contact me and we can speak privately. I would love to not have to have fees at all, but with little funding coming from the school board, fees are necessary. Included in our fees will be the band polo shirt, which all students will wear as part of their concert attire. Band fees may be paid with cash or check made out to Bon Lin Middle School. All checks must have a contact phone number on them. These are to be turned in to Mr. Tucker, who will submit payments with payment records to the main office for deposit each day. Here is the calendar for band this year. Please mark these dates in your calendar and let me know of any conflicts as soon as possible. 8th Grade Night at Bartlett HS: October 1, 2016 Winter Concert: December 13, 2016 BHS Auditorium Bartlett All-City 8th Grade Band: January 24, 2016, BHS All-West Auditions: Jan. 14, 2017 @ Arlington High School All-West Clinic: Feb. 9-11, 2017 @ The Canon Center for the Performing Arts Concert Festival (Concert Band only): March 23-24, 2017 Liberty High School, Jackson, TN Solo and Ensemble: April 1, 2017 @Elmore Park Middle School Spring Concert: May 15, 2017 BHS Auditorium Jazz Festival: April 21-22 (Jazz Band Only) @ Bartlett High School Spring Trip: King s Island, Ohio, Date TBA (Concert Band and Jazz Band Only) Contact Info: E-mail: director@bonlinband.org Phone: 901-347-1520 Ext. 235
Band Registration Bon Lin Middle School Band 2015-2016 Contact Information Form Student s Name Parent(s) Name Address Telephone Cell Phone E-mail Address Grade Instrument Performance Shirt Size: S M L XL XXL
I,, hereby affirm that I have read and thoroughly understand the Bon Lin Middle School Band Handbook. I further affirm that I will abide by the rules, regulations and intent of said Handbook, and understand the penalties for not doing so. I have had all questions concerning the content of this Handbook answered and will do my best to live up to the intent of this contract. Print Student s Name Student Signature Date I/We have read the Bon Lin Middle School Band Handbook and have discussed it with my/our child. I/We have had all questions concerning the content of this Handbook answered and I/we will do our best to encourage him/her to abide by the rules and regulations of the band as expressed in the Band Handbook. Print Parent s Name Parent s Signature Date Please tear off this page and the Contact Information Form, and return to Mr. Tucker signed by Friday, August 26, 2016.