AMSW Band Handbook 2017-2018 Teacher: Lora Ukaegbu - Course Title: Level I (Band 6) E-Mail: lora.ukaegbu@ahschools.us (Best Contact) Course Synopsis Students will gain a broadened understanding and knowledge towards the elements of music: o Tone quality o Intonation and Pitch o Rhythm o Technique and Interpretation Students will be exposed to a variety of music with opportunities to listen, play and perform in small and large ensemble groups. Students will be introduced to instrumental music techniques and pedagogy with an emphasis on fundamental development in the following areas: o Instrument assembly and care o Posture o Hand position o Tone: Embouchure, Articulation, Breath Control o Foot tap formulas/rhythm & Beat Rehearsal and Concert Etiquette Rehearsal and Performance Expectations Behavior/Participation Expectations Be on Time! Be seated at the bell and begin instrument assembly. Be Prepared for learning! Bring instrument, accessories, music, pencil, planner & notebook to and from school each band day. Be Respectful, kind and helpful! Be a Good Participant and try your best in all class activities! Be Positive! Good attitudes lead to success! Be Attentive! Focus on the teacher, conducting, music, sound. Be Persistent: Continue to work towards band goals/targets. Be Gum & Food Free during rehearsals and concerts. Be in Attendance for all required performances (Total of 3) Be Responsible for your own individual growth and learning. Be Ready for Concerts! o Know your music! o Have all equipment needed at the concert site! o Bring instrument home the day of the concert so it isn t locked inside the building. Be the BEST MUSICIAN you can be each time you play & practice! Be Responsible for your OWN Instrument! Do not play other people s instruments. Only Percussionists play percussion instrument!
Materials Needed for Class for ALL BAND STUDENTS! o Instrument in good working condition (Percussion must have a starter bell/snare kit for home practice) o Name tag on instrument case o Instrument accessories (Details for each instrument on the following page) o Planner o Notebook o Folder (band teacher will give folders in class) o Pencil o Method Book (Essential Elements Method Book 1 for your instrument) Woodwind Accessory Needs Flutes o Cleaning rod o Cleaning swab or 100% cotton handkerchief Clarinet and Saxophone: o Mouthpiece (comes w/instrument unless renting from ISD 11) o Ligature (comes w/instrument unless renting from ISD 11) o 4 GOOD reeds at all times! (strength 2 ½) o Reed guard holder for four reeds o Mouthpiece Brush o Neck Strap (Saxophone-Neoprene is best!) Oboe and Bassoon: o 2 GOOD Reeds (Oboe=Medium, Bassoon=Medium/Soft) o Small container to soak reeds (pill bottle, etc ) All Woodwind: o Cork grease o Cleaning Swab Brass Accessory Needs French Horns, Trumpets, Trombones, Baritones, and Tubas o Mouthpiece o Mouthpiece brush o Cleaning Snake o Valve Oil (Trumpets, Baritones, Tubas) o Slide Oil (Trombone) o Rotor Oil (French Horn) o Tuning Slide Grease (All Brass) o Cloth to wipe down instrument after use Percussion: o Concert Band Drum Sticks with name clearly written on them.
Homework Work will be done during class unless student doesn t finish on time. Practice playing instrument at home 4 x s per week. Communication Email is my best contact! lora.ukaegbu@ahschools.us I will e-mail information needed for student success. I will send information home with students prior to upcoming concerts. I will post information about upcoming events on my website. Teacher Grading Practices Grade Posting: 3 times a trimester midterm, two-week notice and final. Rehearsal Expectations and Learning Targets o Formative Assessments take place each rehearsal by the teacher. o Self-evaluation+ teacher-evaluation assessments are given monthly based on a set of criteria within MN State Music Standards and learning targets - 40% Required Performances 40% Written assignments, quizzes, playing tests 10% Playing Tests will be assessing the following areas of musicianship: o Correct notes o Correct rhythm o Accurate articulations (tonguing, slurring, accents, staccatos) o Accurate dynamics (forte, piano) o Steadiness of beat o Posture o Embouchure (formation of your mouth or hand position) o Quality of sound District Summative Assessments 10%. Rehearsal Rubric Example:
Concerts are Required for State Standards! Concerts are the culmination of months of study and hard work by all band members. We rely on 100% attendance at each concert. This is a required part of our band program. o Concerts are worth 40% of a student s grade o Students will not automatically earn 100% for simply showing up to the concert. A Concert Grading Rubric will be used as both a self-evaluation and teacher evaluation after each concert. o The Concert Grading Rubric is used to maintain fairness with points earned for each concert based on curriculum expectations. o The rehearsal rubric example on the previous page is similar to the concert rubric (dress code, timeliness, preparation, posture, music knowledge, etiquette). Required Concert Dress Code Concert dress is something we should all take pride in! When on stage, in front of an audience, it is necessary to realize the importance of that moment. Concerts are special and our dress reflects an event that is above our normal everyday routine. *Dress in a dressy style with ALL black color (down to the shoes). An optional splash of color in a tie, scarf or jewelry is allowed. No Jeans, Yoga Pants/Leggings (unless under a skirt) or Tennis Shoes. Winter Concert and Band Blast Concert Dress Shirt (minimum of cap sleeve length) Black Dress Pants (best) or black skirt (below knee) Black Socks/Tights Black Dress Shoes May wear splash of color such as: Tie, Scarf, Jewelry No Jeans, Yoga Pants/Leggings (unless under a skirt) No Tennis Shoes. Spring Concert Purchase AMSA Band T-Shirt + Black Bottom
Concert Etiquette Every member of the band must perform with focused attention. Any large movement, twisting heads, giggling, laughing, elbowing surrounding musicians, talking or playing instruments, obnoxious noise making with instrument equipment, acknowledgment of people in the audience (waving), takes attention away from the performance. Students who continually break this concert protocol and etiquette will be asked to leave the stage and go sit with their parents during the concert! 1. Enter the stage quietly, looking straight ahead 2. Remain standing until the conductor gives the signal to sit down. 3. Do not talk between songs. 4. Between songs, remain focused when the audience is applauding. Resist the temptation to adjust your music on the stand until the applause has stopped. 5. Leave the stage quietly and realize that the audience can still hear you backstage. 6. Listen to others when they are performing. 7. Do not ridicule, discredit, or criticize performance of others. 8. When you are finished playing, avoid leaving during the performance of others. 9. Encourage other performers, as you would wish to be encouraged! 10. Even if the performance of others did not strike you favorably, attempt to find some positives to discuss with others. 11. Unless it is a competition, concerts are not meant to be band against band or performer against performer. It is a time when fellow musicians share in the love of music and strive towards the fulfillment of musical potential together. Concert Excused Absences Must have pre-authorization and include: Sick from school that day. Post notice to teacher within 48 hours (note or email) Out of town (notify teacher by 1 week before concert date) Religious/Cultural (notify teacher by 1 week before concert date) Concert Unexcused Absences List includes but not limited to the following: Sports practices or games Dance practices or recitals Lack of transportation o Forgot to bring instrument/music home from school. Doors were locked! o Forgot the concert date o Birthday parties or other celebrations of the like
Missed Concert Make-Up Options
IMPORTANT BAND CONCERT DATES & INFO! THESE PERFORMANCES ARE MANDATORY FOR BAND STUDENTS! Please, let me know about any conflicts ASAP! 40% of Grade! Excused conflicts include: Illness the day of the concert, death in family, out of town/state. Since this is part of our Performing Arts Curriculum, sports/dance practices and games do not count as an excused absence. Coaches know this and work very well with our music programs in the district. Give them the info ahead of time so they can be prepared. Come to the Instrument Rental Display! All store rented instruments and ISD 11 Instruments can be contracted from Schmitt Music, Groth Music, Reynold s Music and All Strings Attached. Where: Fred Moore Campus Cafeteria = Store Rentals Band Room = Large ISD 11 Instruments When: Wednesday, September 6 th anytime from 3:30-6:00pm 6 th Grade-Level I Concert Info What time does your student perform? Our band is too large to fit on the stage at one time. Therefore, I have split all five sections into two separate bands that perform at different times on concert nights. The band names are Puppy Band and Unicorn Band. Students Performing in BOTH the White/Maroon Concert Times French Horn, Baritone, Tuba, Percussion (TBA) Students that started and played an instrument in 5 th grade band can join both concert times. Student Assigned Bands Puppy Band Students: Student in this band will be announced in October. Unicorn Band Students: Students in this band will be announced in October. Instrument & Music must be brought home after school each concert day. All concerts are off site and the AMSW building locks by 3:15pm. There will be no way to get an instrument for your student if they forget. Points will be lost towards their grade if they can t participate! They will need to do a make-up assignment.
6 th Grade-Level I Concert Dates *Students need to arrive 20 minutes prior to concert start times. *Dress Code (All): All black dressy down to your feet. No skirts above the knee (pants are best). No jeans! May wear a splash of color such as: jewelry, scarf, tie. Spring Dress Code (Band): Purchase AMSA Band T-shirt with black bottom (level I) Jeans (level II).. *Performances are required as part of music grade. *Students in 6th grade are Level I and 7th grade are Level II. *Jazz Squad starts towards the end of October (TBA). 6-8th grade (jazz instruments). Group Event Date Time Location Notes Band Level I Band I & Winter Dec. 19 6:30, 7:30 AMSA-FM 2 Different Bands Jazz (Olson s) (TBA) Band I (I-IV) Band Blast March 1 7pm Anoka HS Music Stand Band I + Spring May 15 6:30, 7:30 AMSA-FM 2 Different Bands Jazz Squad Band Level II Band II-IV Winter Dec. 21 7pm AMSA-FM Meet Cafeteria Band II (I-IV) Band Blast March 1 7pm Anoka HS Music Stand Band II-IV + Spring May 17 7pm AMSA-FM Meet Cafeteria Jazz (Olson s) Orchestra Level II Orch II-IV Winter Jan. 18 7pm AMSA-FM Meet Cafeteria Orch II (I-IV) String Fling Feb. 27 7pm Anoka HS Music Stand (Field House) Orch I-II Spring May 22 7pm AMSA-FM Meet Cafeteria Jazz Squad (Ukaegbu s Jazz Band) Jazz Squad ISD 11 March 27 6:30pm AMSA-FM Meet Band Rm Jazz Fest Jazz Squad Art Fest May 3 TBA (5pm?) AMSW Solo/Ens. Voluntary Band I + Spring May 15 6:30, 7:30 AMSA-FM 2 Different Bands Jazz Squad
Equipment Needs for ALL Concerts All: Instrument/Bow or Mouthpiece All: Music All: Pencil All: Dress Code Strings: Rosin Brass: Oils Woodwinds: Extra GOOD REEDS Percussion: Drum Sticks/Mallets Percussion: Some may need to bring bell or snare Students that play large band instruments can bring their instrument from home! Band Blast Concert Only: All students bring music stand from home! Preparedness! Know your music! Practice makes PROGRESS! Jazz Band Option Jazz Squad meets Mondays and some Wednesdays after school at the Fred Moore Campus from 3:15-4:00pm. Students will have the opportunity to sign up for this class sometime in early October. Ms. Olson runs the top level jazz band and auditions for spots in this group at the beginning of the year. My students are made up of students that are not in Ms. Olson s Jazz band (7-8 th graders) and well established 6 th graders. Instruments in jazz band include: saxophone, trumpet, trombone (maybe baritone), percussion (parts are rotated and shared), piano (must be accomplished), electric and bass guitars (must read notes and chords). Students, grades 7-8, that do not make it into the top level jazz band. 6 th grade students that show enough progress near end of October-January. Commitment is yearlong! We depend on every member at rehearsals and concerts through our last concert.