Cape Henlopen High School Percussion Ensemble Handbook 2017-2018
Welcome back to school! This handbook is intended to be a reference for you and your family throughout the year. You should keep it in your folder and refer to it whenever you have a question. The last page is a form for you and your guardian to sign after reviewing the handbook. What is Percussion Ensemble? Percussion Ensemble is a course intended only for percussionists. Members of the Cape Henlopen Percussion Ensemble perform as a stand-alone group with it s own music and performances. What will I learn in Percussion Ensemble? Students in the CHHS Percussion Ensemble are required to learn to perform as snare drummers, mallet percussionists, timpanists and auxiliary percussionists. In order to develop these skills and to accommodate the wide variety of experience typically in this ensemble, students are presented with individual curricula that they are expected to follow throughout the year. Goals will be set for each student and they will be tested and graded based on their individual progress through these goals. The students will also receive group instruction through rehearsal of the Percussion Ensemble as a whole. What do I need for class? Each student is expected to arrive at rehearsal with their (1)stick bag, (2)drum pad (3)folder, and (4)pencil, everyday. Specific requirements are listed on the next page. The Cape Henlopen Instrumental Music Program is an inclusive organization that is committed to providing an education to every student that wants one. Please contact me if you are unable to purchase the materials for class so that we may find an alternate option for you. Mr. Burkhart
Required Materials and Recommended Brands: Each student s stick bag should contain the following items: (1) Snare sticks (2) Timpani Mallets (3) Xylo/Keyboard Mallets (4) Marimba/Vibraphone Mallets (5) A drum pad If a student is starting from scratch, the easiest way to obtain all of these items is to buy a pre-pack. These packs are available from steveweissmusic.com and ship quickly. They contain a stick bag and all of the mallets/sticks that are required for class. Students will still need a drum pad if they do not have one from middle or elementary school. The recommended pack for the Cape Henlopen Percussion Program is: Vic Firth EP2 Intermediate Education Pack: $77 (including shipping) The materials in that bag sound better and last longer than the following budget option: Liberty I Basic Stick Pack: $59 (including shipping) Most students entering the high school program already have sticks, mallets, a drum pad and a stick bag and may prefer to fill out the bag by purchasing individual items. The following page contains the recommended items for class:
All prices are from steveweissmusic.com Materials may be purchased from the above website and should be available at B&B Music. If you intend to purchase an alternate brand or item, PLEASE check with Mr. Burkhart first. 1+ pairs of general snare sticks: Vic Firth SD1 General ($7.25) Optional addition: 1 pair of Vic Firth SD2 Bolero ($7.25) 1 stick bag: Balter MBMB Mallet Bag ($24.95), Vic Firth Standard Drumstick Bag ($16.95) or any other bag that is able to hold a number of sticks and mallets. 1 drum pad: Vic Firth Double Sided Practice Pad, 6 inches ($19.95) or equivalent 1 pair of medium marimba mallets: Innovative Fundamental Series F1.5 ($14.50) or Innovative Soloist Series IP240 Medium ($30.75) 1 pair of medium xylo/bell mallets: Malletech Bob Becker BB34 Becker Blues ($29.95) or Balter Unwound Series Black Birch 05BB ($15.95) 1 pair of general timpani mallets: Vic Firth American Custom Timpani T1 ($24.95) or Liberty I LTM Medium Timpani Mallets ($19.95) 1 pitch pipe: Kratt Master Key Pitch Pipe ($18.95) or app 1 metronome: Korg MA-1 Digital Metronome ($18.99) or app Most students should already have many of these materials and will only be supplementing their already growing percussion bags. These are high quality materials that should last throughout high school with proper care.
Concerts Concert attendance is mandatory. Ensemble music is a collaborative effort and any missing member affects the whole group. Concert dates for the 2016-17 school year are: Winter: Wednesday, January 10, 2018 7:00 PM Spring: Wednesday, May 16, 2018 7:00 PM Both concerts will take place at Cape Henlopen High School. Any conflicts should be brought to Mr. Burkhart s attention via phone call or email a minimum of six weeks prior to the concert. A missed concert due to illness MUST be accompanied by a doctor s note and/or emergency room bracelet. The only in-school conflict at the time of this handbook s publication for the winter concert is an away wrestling match. Wrestlers will work out their schedules with Mr. Burkhart and Mr. Mattioni at the beginning of wrestling season. The attendance decision will be made by Mr. Burkhart and Mr. Mattioni, not the student. Regularly scheduled activities such as club sports games, martial arts, youth groups, work, dance classes and scouting will not be considered excused absences. Please let coaches, scout leaders, dance teachers etc. know the concert dates well in advance so that they do not schedule recitals, games or other major events at the same time. Please do not schedule your family vacation over a concert. Students will not be excused. It is not possible to pass a semester of band and miss the concert. Alternate assignments to make up points lost will only be offered for excused absences.
Dress Rehearsals and Festivals Dress rehearsals are also graded, mandatory activities. For each concert there will be a dress rehearsal on stage on the day (or a few days) prior. Students that participate in school organizations that regularly practice, rehearse or meet during these times will be excused from the dress rehearsal if deemed necessary by the advisor, teacher or coach supervising that activity. Once per year the Cape Concert Bands and Percussion Ensemble attend an adjudicated festival. This year the festival will occur on March 16 th during the school day. Students will arrive back to school around 5:00 pm at the latest. This is a mandatory event. In addition: the Symphonic Band will perform at the Temple Concert Band festival on a date TBD. A minimum of three months notice will be given for this event. Grades Students will be graded in three categories: Concert attendance (CA) 32% Ensemble citizenship (CZ) 40%, includes daily preparation, rehearsal etiquette and dress rehearsal & festival attendance. Students may earn extra credit in this category than can be applied to Individual Performance grades by attending optional extra rehearsal or by logging significant individual or group practice time during lunch, free periods and outside of the school day. Individual Performance (IP) 28%, includes playing tests and daily rehearsal performance. Due to the fact that we have concerts during marking periods two and four, concert attendance will be 30% of student grades for those marking periods and will be the student s mid-term and final exam grade, resulting in an overall impact of 32% on the final grade for the course (16% for each concert).
Grading Breakdown MP1 (20% of final grade): CZ: 60% IP: 40% IP= Individual Performance CZ= Ensemble Citizenship CA= Concert Attendance MP2 (20% of final grade): CA: 30% CZ: 40% IP: 30% Mid-Term (10% of final grade): CA: 100% MP3 (20% of final grade): CZ: 60% IP: 40% MP4 (20% of final grade): CA: 30% CZ: 40% IP: 30% Final Exam (10% of final grade): CA: 100% Grades will be kept up to date on eschool on a weekly basis throughout the year. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call me. I am very excited for an awesome year with the Cape Percussion Ensemble. Mr. Chris Burkhart (302) 645-7711 x2133 christopher.burkhart@cape.k12.de.us
PLEASE DETACH, SIGN & RETURN TO SCHOOL I have reviewed and understand the Cape Henlopen High School Band Handbook. I plan to adhere to all stated above policies. I am aware that I am expected to attend concerts on January 11, 2017 and May 24, 2017 in order to receive credit in this course. Student Name: Student Signature: Guardian Signature: