Escalon Unified School District Elementary Band Handbook 2016-2017 Jeremy White Collegeville, Farmington, Van Allen jwhite@sjcoe.net 209-838-7095 (El Portal) Ashley Crow Dent, Gateway acrow@sjcoe.net 209-838-7073 (EHS)
Welcome to Band Dear Beginning Band Families, We wish to welcome you to the 2016-2017 school year in our band program. Band is an exciting adventure that has the potential to take you places you never thought you would go, to bring you lifelong friendships, and to help you develop skills that you will be able to use for the rest of your life and it all starts here in Beginning Band! This handbook has been designed to provide comprehensive information about the band program. We ask that both parents and students take the time to read through this handbook as the first step in becoming familiar with the band policies, procedures, and expectations for this school year. Also, please keep this information for reference throughout the year. We believe open communication between a teacher and a family is key to the student s success. Please do not hesitate to contact us with questions or concerns using the information provided. We look forward to a fun and exciting year of music making! Sincerely, Jeremy White & Ashley Crow Beginning Band Directors Escalon Unified School District
Section Title Table of Contents Page Number Music Opportunities 1 General Information 1 -Important Dates -Practice -How Parents Can Help Class Rules, Consequences, and Rehearsal Expectations 2 Essentials for Each Instrument 3 Where to Buy/Rent 3 -Local Music Stores -Online Vendors What to Buy 4 District-Owned Instruments 6 Concert Attire 6 Private Lessons 6
Music Opportunities in EUSD Elementary El Portal EHS Beginning Band (5th Grade) Concert Band Concert Band Symphonic Band Wind Ensemble/Marching Band Jazz Band Drumline Beginning Guitar Advanced Guitar Jazz Band Orchestra Guitar Music in the 20th Century Marching Band Drumline General Information Important Dates: The beginning band will have two concerts throughout the year-one in the Winter and one in the Spring. The exact dates will be sent home in a flier later this fall. Practice: No official practice logs will be given this year. However, students MUST practice consistently if they wish to be successful on their instruments. We recommend at least 15 minutes per day on at least three days per week. How Parents Can Help: Read the handbook and sign and return the Statement of Responsibility Form on the first day of band. This form is your ticket into the band class. Make sure your child is practicing regularly. Maintain your child s instrument and keep consumables (reeds, cork grease, valve oil) wellstocked. 1
Class Rules 1. Absolutely NO TALKING when the teacher is working. 2. On a rehearsal cutoff, all playing stops instantly. 3. Water only during rehearsal. 4. At the end of rehearsal, put all instruments, music, and stands away. 1. Warning 2. Put instrument away, return to class Consequences 3. Contact parents to discuss possible removal from band for the remainder of the year Classroom and Rehearsal Expectations s are expected to: Use the restroom either before or after class. Be polite to other students and instructors. Enter the band room in a quiet, calm manner and be on time for each class and rehearsal. Walk while in the band room and refrain from horseplay. Have their instruments assembled when the teacher begins class or rehearsal. Have their instrument, folder, music, and pencil in class each day. Not talk during instruction time. Follow the directions issued by Mr. White, Ms. Crow, clinicians, and chaperones. Handle their own instruments. s causing damage to either EUSD band equipment or another student s instrument will be held financially responsible for the repair or replacement of the damaged item. 2
Essentials for Each Instrument All students will need the red Standard of Excellence book for his or her instrument. Additionally, students will need maintenance essentials specific to their individual instruments. The following is a list of items each student will need to ensure proper working order of his or her instrument. Expendable items, such as oil or reeds, should be restocked as needed. Flute: Cleaning rod, cleaning cloths Clarinet/Saxophone: Two good reeds, swab, cork grease Trumpet: Valve oil, slide grease, snake brush, mouthpiece brush Trombone: Slide oil, slide grease, snake brush, mouthpiece brush Percussion: Bell kit with mallets Where to Buy/Rent Local music stores can be an excellent resource for students and parents as they progress through the child s musical development. While there are many music stores within the area, the following three have had a long-standing history of providing outstanding customer service, quality instruments, and excellent repairs for the music students of the central valley. In addition to sales, these stores also offer excellent rent-to-own programs. Ingram & Brauns 1700 Yosemite Blvd. Modesto, CA 95354 209-571-0133 Gottschalk 133 Burney St. Modesto, CA 95354 209-523-5326 Bill s 2312 Pacific Ave. Stockton, CA 95204 209-466-4596 In case you are unable to make a trip to one of the stores listed above, many of the materials your child will need for band are available online. Please keep in mind that shipping time becomes a factor when making online purchases. s will not be excused from participating in band because they are waiting for ordered materials to arrive. 3
Vendor URL Specialization Woodwind & Brasswind Instrumental Savings wwbw.com instrumentalsavings.co m Instruments and supplies (reeds, valve oil, etc.) Instruments Steve Weiss Music steveweissmusic.com Percussion instruments, supplies, music, and books Lone Star Percussion lonestarpercussion.com Percussion instruments, supplies, music, and books JW Pepper jwpepper.com Sheet music and books Sheet Music Plus sheetmusicplus.com Sheet music and books What to Buy Buying a musical instrument is an investment, much like buying a car. While large department stores and ebay carry inexpensive instruments, deals that seem too good to be true often are. Unfortunately, many of these instruments are of poor quality and will result in frustration for a young musician. The following is a list of the best value instruments for middle school students. These instruments provide quality sound and durability without costing a fortune. As always, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. White with any questions you may have. Instrument Brand Model Mouthpiece Reed Level/Quality Flute Gemeinhardt 2SP N/A N/A Oboe Yamaha YFL-481H N/A N/A Professional Fox 333 N/A Lesher Medium Fox 400 N/A Lesher Medium Professional Bassoon Fox 41 Fox CVX bocal Andreas Eastman Medium 4
Instrument Brand Model Mouthpiece Reed Level/Quality Fox 222 Fox CVX bocal Andreas Eastman Medium Professional Clarinet Yamaha YCL-225 Vandoren M13 Rico Royal 2.5 Yamaha YCL-450 Vandoren M13 Rico Royal 2.5 Professional Alto Saxophone Selmer 400 Series Selmer C* Rico Royal 3 Yamaha YAS-480 Selmer C* Rico Royal 3 Professional Tenor Saxophone Yamaha YTS-26 Selmer C* Rico Royal 3 Yamaha YTS-480 Selmer C* Rico Royal 3 Professional Trumpet Yamaha YTR-2330 Bach 5C N/A Yamaha YTR-8335 Xeno French Horn Conn 6D Schilke 27 Bach 3C N/A Professional N/A Yamaha YHR-671 Schilke 27 N/A Professional Trombone Yamaha YSL-354 Bach 6 1/2AL N/A Yamaha YSL-448G Bach 6 1/2AL N/A Professional Euphonium Jupiter JEP-1000 Bach 6 1/2AL N/A Yamaha YEP-321 Bach 6 1/2AL N/A Professional 5
District-Owned Instruments Large instruments and a limited number of smaller instruments are available for students to borrow for the duration of the school year. s who wish to do so must fill out an Instrument Loan Agreement and return it to Mr. White or Ms. Crow on the first day of band. Instruments will be inspected and issued in good playing condition. It is the students responsibility to maintain these instruments throughout the year. At the end of the year (or in the event of a student leaving the band program), instruments borrowed will be returned to Mr. White or Ms. Crow and inspected. Any damages to the instruments will be assessed by a local repair technician and a bill will be issued to the students families as needed. Concert Attire s are to wear nice school clothes for the beginning band concerts. Picture Day clothing is a commonly-used standard in determining what is appropriate. s should avoid any articles of clothing that violate school or district dress code policies. Keep in Mind: This dress code for concerts is to keep the audience s focus on the students performance and on the music. Private Lessons To improve steadily on their instruments, students need as many opportunities to play as possible. For this reason, it is highly recommended that each student consider taking private lessons with a professional musician who specializes in the same instrument. Private instructors can be found by contacting any of the three music stores listed above. There are two other studios locally that offer music lessons: GK Music Hutton s Hamlet 1002 W. Center St. Manteca, CA 95337 209-923-4121 149 Church St. Oakdale, CA 95361 209-848-1216 6
Elementary Band Handbook Confirmation Statement Due to Mr. White or Ms. Crow on the first day of band. We have read and understand the information We have received in the Elementary Band Handbook, and have registered for beginning band online. Name (First & Last) Instrument Grade (Circle One) 6th 7th 8th School (Circle One) Collegeville Dent Farmington Gateway Van Allen Honest Effort Learning to play an instrument takes time and effort. In order to be successful, a student must attend band class during the designated time, practice outside of school, and participate in all required performances. s may find the process of learning to play an instrument frustrating at times, even to the point of wanting to quit. Everyone goes through these moments, and they are usually very brief. Unfortunately, a student may decide to quit band before having the opportunity to overcome such challenges. This can leave a bad taste in the student s mouth, and have an adverse effect on that child s future in regard to music or arts education in general. To avoid such discouragement, we as music teachers advise students and their families to stick with it through the winter concert and to always keep an open line of communication with the music teacher. I understand that my child is registering for a music class that will require regular practice outside of the school day. I also understand that my child will be required to attend concerts outside of the regular school day to fulfill the essential component of performance in music. Furthermore, I understand that my child will need to stay enrolled in band at least through the winter concert in order to give him-/herself a fair opportunity to learn. Parent Signature Parent Name (Print) 7