HANDBOOK OF THE EAST COWETA MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PROGRAM 2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR MR. OWENS, DIRECTOR DR. SCHWANDA JACKSON, PRINCIPAL
PURPOSE The purpose of the East Coweta Middle School Band Program is to impart an appreciation of music to all of its members through successful study and performance. In addition, those students with the interest, talent, and dedication are given the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge of music that will prepare the student for the progression into the high school band program. FOREWORD This handbook is written as a guideline for students of our instrumental music department. This handbook is an effort to explain to every band student and parent what is expected of them in the band program and to outline many of the procedures and practices that govern the operation of the band. These guidelines have evolved over a number of successful years in some of the model middle school band programs in the country. The band has a unique place in the school curriculum. While it is an academic class in the sense that it has a definite curriculum and expected competencies, there are some aspects of the band curriculum that require participation outside of the normal school day. Responsibilities of the group cannot be divided up by the hours of the school day. Students and parents should understand that the success of the band depends on each band member being in place to perform his/her responsibility to the group and that participation is required of each member. There are a number of benefits that students can realize by participation in the band program. The intense concentration and training required to perform in band is the same kind of training that produces success in every field. Playing in the band develops coordination, organization, and mental discipline, and that explains why bands invariably have such a high percentage of the school s highest-ranking academic students in the organization. Scholarship and musicianship go hand in hand! Through the cooperation of every student, parent, and teacher, we can have many enjoyable musical experiences affording musical growth, accomplishment, appreciation, and recreation. Students will experience many hours of work and play as a member of the band, and hopefully each member will share in the spirit of doing a Quality Job! BAND CLASSES Band programs in Coweta Middle Schools are organized along grade levels. The sixth grade
is the starting point countywide for the study of instrumental music. There will be two randomly selected classes of even size to start the year in the 6 th grade. After a period of 9 weeks, these classes may be divided based on like instruments. This will be a help to everyone as all students will be playing like instruments and students will be more comfortable learning and helping each other as they progress. In the seventh and eighth grades there will be one band class for each grade level, which will be a 7 th grade Concert Band class and an 8 th Grade Symphonic Band class. All 7 th and 8 th grade bands will perform a Fall Concert, Christmas Concert in December as well as an end of the year Spring Concert. In addition, the Symphonic/Concert Bands will have a Performance Evaluation Concert in March as well as any other outside performance or travel opportunities which might arise during the year. SYMPHONIC/CONCERT BANDS The 7 th and 8 th grade Bands will serve as the top-performing ensembles for the ECMS Band program. Students will also be strongly encouraged to participate in individual musical activities such as auditioning for District Honor Band and All-State, and participating in the District Solo and Ensemble Festival. You will read more about these activities later in the handbook. Also, students in these groups will be required to attend a small number of after-school or evening rehearsals during the school year. These are kept to a minimum and are always scheduled well in advance to allow for adequate planning time on the part of the student and parents. Please understand that these rehearsals, like performances, are both an obligation and a responsibility of anyone accepting membership in a performancebased organization. ** Please see the grading policy later in the handbook. ** CLASS REQUIREMENTS 6 th GRADE STUDENTS: For the first several weeks of band class, the students will need paper and pencil (Song Flute and book will be provided). They will spend time learning the fundamentals of music reading, rhythm reading and comprehension, musical notation as well as going through the process of instrument/mouthpiece testing. In the instrument testing process, I will work briefly with each student to try and match him or her up with
an instrument that is best suited for them while also making sure I start the right number of students on each instrument to keep a balanced instrumentation and not be overloaded on any specific instrument. There are many factors that are taken into account when determining instrument selection including their level of success when trying out a particular instrument as well as physical characteristics such as hand and finger size, lip and teeth structure, and the physical size of the student. On some of the more popular instruments such as Percussion and Saxophone, I may also take other classroom factors into account such as behavior and quiz or test grades from band. I do try to give the students and parents a voice in this process, however, the final decision on instrument selection is ultimately that of the band director! 6 th GRADE PARENT MEETING AND KICK-OFF NIGHT: Once the instrument testing process is complete, students will bring home a sheet listing the instrument which they have been selected to play as well as some information concerning exactly what supplies they will need to go along with their instrument. We will then have a 6 th grade song flute/parent night where I will discuss a number of items with you concerning some things that the students have learned up to that point as well as some information and expectations you will need to know about concerning them beginning on an instrument. I will also have representatives from our local music stores present to talk to you concerning instrument rental programs. I would ask that you NOT go out and get an instrument or supplies until after we have had this meeting! Approximately 1-2 weeks after this meeting, we will have our 6 th Grade Instrument Kick- Off Night where the students will actually bring their instrument in on an evening to work with a professional teacher on their instrument and learn the basics of putting the instrument together correctly, routine maintenance for their instrument, proper embouchure and hand position and actually playing their first few notes. This is a VERY exciting evening for the students and it is extremely important that they be present as to not get behind from the start. The day immediately after the Kick-Off Night is when students will begin bringing their instrument and supplies with them to school everyday for use during class. 7 th GRADE STUDENTS: Students will need their instrument, band music folder, and their Essential Elements 2000 Book 1 (we have a class set available). Upon completion of Book 1, we will use Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 during the remainder of the year (paid in your band fees). We also recommend that students buy a metal folding music stand for use with home practice if they have not already done so.
8 th GRADE STUDENTS: Students will need their instrument, band music folder, and the Essential Elements 2000 Book 2. We will be getting an additional new band method book, Foundations For Superior Performance, for use throughout the year. We also recommend that students buy a metal folding music stand for use with home practice if they have not already done so. CONCERT ATTIRE 6 TH GRADE BAND During the sixth grade year, students will perform 3 times including a Christmas Concert in December, the 5 th grade orientation during the school day in early spring and a Spring Concert in May. For these performances, students should wear blue jeans and the 6 th Grade Band Shirt, which will be order at the beginning of the school year. 7 TH and 8 TH GRADE BANDS For all 7 th and 8 th grade band performances throughout the year, students will need to wear the formal ECMS Band uniform. It is very important that we look uniform in every way when we appear in public as a performing group. This not only enhances our performance, but it also helps to maintain and build a reputation for our program based on discipline and class. You will find that those two items are equally as important to me as our actual performance. Any student not in proper uniform will either lose a portion of their concert grade points or may not be allowed to perform which will then be counted as an unexcused absence from a performance. This will be at the discretion of the director depending on the severity of the uniform violation. Boys/Girls Formal Uniform Information coming soon! CLASS RULES AND EXPECTATIONS It is a privilege to be a part of the band program. Due to the large numbers of students, there are certain rules and regulations that must be followed in order to maintain a successful rehearsal environment. These are as follows: 1. Have respect for your director and classmates at all times! 2. Be in your seat with all equipment ready to play two minutes after the time class is scheduled to start. Otherwise you will be counted as tardy.
3. Do not play your instrument until the director begins the rehearsal. 4. Do not touch any instrument except your own. 5. Do not touch any piece of percussion equipment. 6. Raise your hand for permission before speaking or getting out of your seat for any reason. 7. You must have the restroom pass in order to go to the restroom. 8. No gum, candy, food, or drinks allowed. 9. Have permission before entering the band office or using the phone. 10. Do not touch anything on the director s stand, podium, or cart at any time. 11. Follow all directions. 12. Have pride in everything you do. 13. Keep the band room clean by picking up trash off the floor and straightening chairs at the end of each period. 14. Remember the first word of Self-Control and Self-Discipline is Self! Nobody can do it but YOU! 15. Think before you act! 16. If you have to question something, you probably should not do it! CONSEQUENCES STUDENTS COMING TO CLASS UNPREPARED: Students who come to class without their instrument, equipment, or music will lose their participation points for the day and will be given a written assignment to complete during class. They will not be allowed to sit and watch or do work for another class! This does NOT apply if a student s instrument is in the repair shop as long as I have a note to confirm that the instrument is indeed in the shop. These students will be allowed to sit quietly in their normal seat and observe the rehearsal while still receiving their full participation points. STUDENT BEHAVIOR / DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS: Band class, like the academic classes, uses step system for discipline. If a student has a first offense, they will be given a citation which will serve a warning. If a student has a second offense, a parent will be notified. If a student has a third offense, they will be sent to their grade level Assistant Principal with a discipline referral for further disciplinary action. Any student receiving any of the above will also lose their participation points for the day. Severe infractions may result in an immediate office referral (or any other consequence deemed necessary by the band director or Assistant Principal). STUDENT TARDINESS TO CLASS: Students are expected to be in their seat and ready to begin class within two minutes after the official starting time for class. If they are
not, they will be counted as tardy to class. When a student has been tardy three times, they will be issued a citation for excessive tardiness. GRADING POLICY PLEASE NOTE: The same grading formula will be used for 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grades! Numerical Grade: Since band is a year-long course, a student s numerical grade for band is cumulative over a period of one grading period (9weeks grades accumulated during this period of time will be averaged together to determine the student s grade in band. Typically all grades will be based on 100 points. These include any playing tests, written work or worksheets, pop quizzes, a weekly participation grade as well as concert/extra rehearsal attendance. Participation Grade: Students will earn a weekly Participation grade totaling 100 points (20 points per day). On weeks where there are less than 5 school days, the participation grade for that week will be determined at 20 points per day. Students will lose their participation points on any given day for things such as not having their instrument, equipment, or music in class, for offenses such as gum or candy or for behavior problems which interfere with their proper participation in class or the participation of any other student. Please also see the above section on Consequences for more details concerning loss of Participation Points. Concert and Extra Rehearsal Attendance: Extra rehearsals during a grading period will be counted as two grades (200 total points) and concerts will be counted as three grades (300 total points). Concert grades are earned not only by being present but also by being on time, dressed appropriately, and maintaining good behavior during the performance. Please see the next section about After-School Obligations for more information. Conduct Grade: During each grading period, a student who has exhibited excessive behavior problems will be given a grade of N for conduct. A grade of N in conduct for consecutive grading periods may result in the loss of performance privileges for the following grading period. ISS: Any student who is assigned ISS more than twice (from any class, not just from band) will not be eligible to participate in any performances or field trips that happen away from East Coweta Middle School students will still participate in concerts held at ECMS. ***Please note that this policy is cumulative for the entire year and not just for one grading period. AFTER-SCHOOL OBLIGATIONS Band is a performance-based activity which includes after-school rehearsals and
performances as part of its curriculum, and therefore these activities are included as part of the student s grade. This policy is also supported in the Coweta School System teacher handbook. I will provide you with all concert and rehearsal dates as far ahead of time as possible so that you can make the proper arrangements. We will schedule as few after-school rehearsals as possible but they will be needed occasionally, especially around concert times. The only excused absences from rehearsals or concerts are due to illness requiring a doctor visit or a death in the family. Anything else will be considered as unexcused. Please send an email or a note with the child on the next day they come to school explaining the absence so that I can determine if it is excused or unexcused. Any absence from a rehearsal can be made up by the student making arrangements with me to stay after school on another day for the time equal to the missed rehearsal time to practice music and/or perform other chores and duties around the band room. Excused absences can be made up for full credit and unexcused absences can be made up for 70% credit. For excused absences from a performance, there will be a make-up assignment made available which the student will have one week to complete for full credit. Unexcused absences from a performance cannot be made up and will simply result in a grade of zero for that performance. In rare cases, a make-up assignment may be given for 70% credit for an unexcused absence depending on the nature of the absence. In addition, a student in a Symphonic Band who misses a performance for an unexcused reason will also be moved to the Concert Band class. COMMUNICATING WITH THE DIRECTOR If you need to contact me for any reason, there are several ways to do that. The fastest and easiest way is through e-mail. Emails are read several times throughout the day and can usually be responded to no later than the following day. I can be reached at craig.owens@cowetaschools.org. You may also call me at the school at (770) 599-6610 ext 219. There is an answering machine in the band room if I am not available to take your call. TURNING IN MONEY TO THE DIRECTOR Anytime you are turning in money for band, please make sure it is in an envelope with the child s name, the amount, and exactly what it is for, especially if you are paying for several things at once. Also, whenever possible, please turn in checks only as this is much easier to count and also much easier to track in case of a mistake. Checks should be made payable
to ECMS BAND. PRIVATE LESSONS Without a doubt, one of the most important things that successful band programs throughout the country have in common is a thriving private lesson program. Individual private lessons are the best way for students to improve their individual playing skills, which in turn makes our band program better. Private lessons are also the best way to help students with individual honors and accomplishments such as Honor Bands, All-State, and Solo/Ensemble Festival. We will have a list of names and phone numbers of qualified private teachers in our area available at the beginning of school. Please give this some careful consideration and feel free to contact me should you have any questions about private lessons. DISTRICT HONOR BAND / ALL-STATE One of the biggest individual honors that a band student can receive is to be selected to perform with the District Honor Band or the Georgia All-State Band. These two ensembles are chosen through competitive audition. The first audition will be a district level audition held in December. On this audition, students will be expected to perform four major scales, a chromatic scale, a prepared etude, and a sight-reading exercise. The major scales and prepared etudes can be obtained from Mr. Owens or at www.gmea.org. If a student scores a minimum passing score (which varies by instrument), he/she will advance to the state level audition. The district level audition also serves as the audition for district honor band. A student s score on the first All-State audition will determine whether or not they are selected for district honor band. A student does not have to make it to the state level All-State audition in order to be selected for district honor band. Students selected to the district honor band will meet for a two-day clinic in February at the Rising Starr MS / Starr s Mill HS complex in Fayette County where they will rehearse for two days and present a concert on Saturday evening. Students who advance to the state level audition will have a 2 nd audition in January. On this audition they will play a prepared etude and a sight-reading exercise. From this audition, the Georgia All-State Band will be selected. Students selected to the All-State band will travel to Savannah in March for a three-day clinic, much like the district honor band, where they will rehearse for three days and present a Saturday concert.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL A vital part to improving the quality of a band program is to improve the individual playing skills and musicianship of its members. In addition to private lessons, a very effective way to improve these skills is through participation in Solo and Ensemble Festival. This event, which occurs in April, is an opportunity for students to prepare a musical selection and perform individually or in small groups in front of a judge who will critique their performance and give the students a rating. Students wishing to perform a solo on their instrument will need to work in conjunction with their private lesson teachers to select appropriate music to perform for the event. Students wishing to form small ensembles will work in conjunction with Mr. Owens to select music and set up rehearsal times. Participating students will receive a certificate at the Spring Concert to recognize their participation. ENCORE BAND CAMPS Encore! Band Camp is a week-long band camp in the summer designed specifically for middle school students. There is a week of Encore Primo Camp for students who will have just completed the sixth grade and a week of Encore Camp for students who will have just completed the seventh or eighth grade. This camp involves daily band instruction as well as individual attention with a specialist on every instrument. There are also many recreational activities for the students as well. It is a very fun and rewarding experience for all students involved. This camp is taught by some of the most well respected middle school band directors and instrumental specialists in the southeast. I am generally involved with Encore every year as staff members. This is a fantastic opportunity, and we would like to see ECMS well represented this summer. There will be more information throughout the year. Coweta COUNTY HONOR BAND Each year in May, a small number of band students will have the opportunity to participate in the Coweta County Honor Band. Each middle school in the county will be allowed to send a small number of students on each instrument to participate. Students will be chosen for this event based their musical progress throughout the entire year as well as their behavior. This event will start on a Friday afternoon and conclude with a Saturday afternoon concert.
BAND FUNDRAISERS During the early part of the year, we will start a traditional Cookie Dough fund-raiser. (Will take place in October) If we work together and really sale this product, I fell that we will generate more than enough money for the program for our band program. Hopefully by starting a cookie dough fundraiser and a donations program we can take care of the expenses that we have in establishing a strong band program BAND DONATIONS There are many items that are absolutely necessary to operate and maintain a successful band program. High quality large instruments such as tubas, euphoniums, french horns, oboes, bassoons, bass clarinets, baritone saxophones, and numerous percussion instruments, which the school is responsible to provide, can cost up to several thousand dollars each. It also takes several thousand dollars each year to build and maintain a current music library. There are also extensive repair and maintenance costs, which can arise during the year. Since we are no longer allowed to charge a required band participation fee to cover these expenses, we have to rely on a beginning of the year donation to help offset our yearly costs of running the program. Choosing not to make a donation will not take away any of your child s band privileges or have any adverse affect on your child s grade. INSTRUMENT STORAGE Instrument storage is offered as a service to all students in the band. There will be separate shelves: one for Woodwinds (Flutes, Clarinets, Saxophones, Oboes), one for Brass (Trumpets and Trombones), and three for large school-owned instruments (Percussion, Tubas, Baritones, French Horns, and Low Reeds). No one should ever be in this room except people who have instruments in this room. Please be aware that although this
room will be watched carefully, that I cannot be held responsible for any personal items left in the storage room, including your instrument. There are a couple of things that you can do to help insure the safety of your instruments. First of all, I encourage everyone to make sure you carry insurance on all personally owned instruments. The school only carries insurance on school-owned instruments and equipment. I also require that the student s name be on the instrument. This can be in the form of a name/luggage tag or a piece of masking tape. There is no excuse for finding an instrument without a name on it! Another thing you can do is to require your child take their instrument home everyday! This will prevent anything from happening to your instrument after school hours and it will make the students a lot more likely to practice!!! SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS Students playing the Tuba, Baritone, French Horn, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Baritone Sax, or Contra-Alto Clarinet will have the opportunity to use school-owned instruments. Included in the packet of forms you are receiving with this handbook is a form detailing the terms and conditions of using a school-owned instrument, and an agreement to sign. On some of these instruments, we will have to work out a revolving schedule between students for taking them home to practice. As we build up our inventory of instruments over the years, this will become less of a problem. When using a school-owned instrument, we ask three things of you: 1.) Each student should pay a yearly $60.00 rental for the instrument 2.) Each student should provide his/her own mouthpiece (see next section) 3.) Each student should make every effort to take private lessons *** We ask these things due to the fact that these students are using a school-provided instrument and not having to purchase or pay monthly rental an instrument of their own. MOUTHPIECES One thing that you can do even with a beginner model instrument to help make the students more successful is to make sure they are using a good quality mouthpiece and good quality reeds. Below is a list of recommended mouthpieces and reeds. All of these items should always be available at our local music dealers: Flute N/A Oboe/Bassoon medium-soft reeds (not plastic or fibercane) Clarinet Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds Bass Clarinet Bundy mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds Contra Clarinet - Bundy mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds
Alto Saxophone C* mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds Tenor / Bari Sax same as Alto Sax Trumpet 5C mouthpiece French Horn Holton Farkas MDC Trombone / Baritone 6 ½ AL mouthpiece or 51D mouthpiece Tuba Conn Helleberg mouthpiece *** PLEASE NOTE: There are a few types/brands of equipment that will not be allowed due to extremely poor quality. These include flavored reeds for woodwind instruments and any red, green, blue, yellow or any other irregularly colored instruments! PLEASE ask me first if you have any questions about any of these type products! RENTING / PURCHASING INSTRUMENTS With beginning band students, we always recommend starting out by renting an instrument from a local music dealership that deals with quality band instruments and provides a good warranty and repair service. In our area, we have several music dealers that will meet these needs and you will be able to meet them at our 6 th Grade Parent Meeting in August (please see your calendar for date). There are several reasons we recommend starting out with a rental instrument: To have a window of time to make sure the student is going to stick with it and not quit after the first year In rare cases, students may be asked by the director to switch instruments during the first year or at the end of the first year. Please note that instrument changes can only be made by the director, not by students and parents. USING A LOCAL MUSIC DEALER I urge you to avoid purchasing instruments from pawnshops, wholesale stores or clubs, department stores or superstores, yard sales, the internet or catalogs as these are most often not good quality instruments and usually will not carry a warranty or repair agreement. Also, our local instrument repairmen will not even work on these instruments due to the poor quality of the instrument as well as not being able to get parts for them which in effect makes these disposable items as opposed to a quality investment! In some cases, these instruments may offer a repair service where you would have to ship
the instrument back to them for repair which would then leave your child in class without an instrument for weeks or even months as opposed to just a few days with local service. Also, most of our local dealers will offer you a loaner instrument in the event that your child s instrument is going to be out for more than a couple of days so that they can continue to play in class everyday. STEP-UP INSTRUMENTS Another reason that we encourage you to rent at the start is because many students will be ready to step up to a more advanced model of their instrument during the 7 th or 8 th grade year. Just as students mature physically and grow out of clothes, they also mature musically and grow out of their beginner model instrument. Most music stores have a program where you can step-up to a higher quality instrument and put the money you spent on the beginner model rental towards the step-up model. Some parents will also look to purchase the step-up instrument once they feel comfortable that the child is serious about playing and is going to stick with it. Please feel free to check with me concerning recommendations for step-up instruments before going out to purchase one. AWARDS Each year, as part of our Spring Concert, we will give a series of end of the year awards. These will be annual awards and will be remembered with large add-on plaques hanging in the band room. Students receiving awards will also be given a plaque to keep for themselves. We will be giving the following awards: 1.) Most Improved Member There will be one most improved award given in each band class. This will be awarded to the student who has demonstrated the most musical improvement throughout the year while maintaining a good attitude and work ethic.
2.) Most Outstanding Member There will be one most outstanding award given in each band class. This will be awarded to the student who has demonstrated the highest level of musical achievement throughout the school year while providing and demonstrating true leadership skills in their particular class and in the band program as a whole. 3.) The Director s Award This is an award that is sponsored by The Instrumentalist, a national publication, and is awarded to students around the country. This award is given to a student who most exemplifies the qualities that I as the director most look for in my students. Not only will this student be an accomplished player, but this will be a student who is hard-working and self-motivated and does whatever it takes to make the band better at all times. This is much like a best all-around type of award. This award is given to one 7 th grade student and one 8 th grade student. 4.) Outstanding Contribution Award There will be one outstanding contribution award given in each class. This award is not based on playing ability but goes to the student in each class that most consistently displays the qualities that truly make an outstanding contribution everyday. This is a student that is always in class on time with all materials, who always gives 100% effort in their playing, who is always on task and who always gives maximum effort.