Hill Country Middle School Concert Band Guidelines Director: Chuck Fischer Office Phone: 732 9227 ext. 31804 e-mail: cfischer@eanesisd.net Web site address: hcms.eanesisd.net Concert Band is designed to give each student a meaningful musical experience and to prepare each student for continued success in music. Concerts are the musician s ultimate objective. A student may receive a failing grade for the grading period and may suffer removal from the band program if a performance is missed without an approved excuse (e.g. serious illness, death in the family). Should an emergency arise prior to a performance, please notify Mr. Fischer ASAP. Concerts are considered an extension of the classroom and will be graded as follows: 100 = on time in uniform 75 = Late / incorrect uniform 0 = Absent without approved excuse Every student is important to the overall success of each performance. Due to the uniqueness of each performance, a concert grade may not be made up at a later date. Sectionals 1. Sectionals will be held once a week and are considered an extension of the classroom. Weekly attendance is mandatory for all Concert Band members. 2. Each sectional will last approximately 50 minutes and will be scheduled to minimize schedule conflicts. 3. Weekly grades will be taken during sectionals. Advance notice will be given for all playing assignments. 4. Students who miss their regularly scheduled sectional must make up the sectional time prior to the end of the six weeks grading period. 5. Unexcused absence will result in a loss of chair and may result in a lower part. THIS WILL BE THE NORMAL SCHEDULE (changes will be given in advance) MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 7:20 8:15 am Flute and Oboe Clarinet Trumpet and Horn Saxophone Bassoon, Baritone, Tuba 4:05 5:05 4:05 5:05 pm Percussion Trombone Weekly Sectional Schedule will begin Monday, August 28 th.
Discipline Expectations 1. Individual conversations are disruptive to the rehearsal process. Students should refrain from side conversations during band class, sectionals, and full band rehearsals. 2. Please remember to raise your hand and be recognized before asking questions about the music during class. 3. Once in the classroom, students will remain seated unless directed otherwise. 4. Students will play instruments during class only when asked to do so by the teacher. 5. Students will leave instruments assembled during class. 6. Students will respect the band staff, instrument storage facility, band hall, and most importantly, each other. Discipline Procedures 1. Verbal warning 2. Removal from rehearsal + parent phone call 3. Discipline Referral Students are also expected to sign and follow the extracurricular code of conduct as found in the HCMS Student Handbook. Private Lessons Hill Country is fortunate to have an outstanding private lesson staff comprised of professional musicians and teachers in the Austin area who have been asked to teach after a careful screening process. Private lessons are crucial to the development of young musicians and are a staple of the Eanes band program. Lessons may be scheduled before and after school, during advisory or lunch, and during the student s band class period. Private lesson teachers will begin contacting prospective students as early as the first week of school. All private lesson checks should be made payable to the private lesson teacher. Uniforms Pep Rally Uniform: HCMS band t-shirt, blue jeans, belt, socks, tennis shoes (any athletic shoe that ties) Concert Uniform (also referred to as formal concert uniform ): Girls: Black dress purchase through HCMS Black hose Black dress shoes. Must be a closed-toe with no more than a 1 inch heel. Boys: Black dress pants (e.g. Dockers). Jeans are not acceptable Black belt Black mock turtleneck Black dress shoes. TENNIS SHOES ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. We will place an order for dresses, t-shirts, and mock turtlenecks at the beginning of the school year. Binders Students should have their 3-ring binder for band in class every day. Section Leaders Each band section will have a section leader. This band officer will be in charge of his or her own section and be a liaison between students and band staff. Section leaders will have the following responsibilities: Lead by example Maintaining discipline and respect in his or her section Making sure all section members have all music, supplies, etc. Guiding section members in sectional attendance and practice record completion Helping section members maintain good organizational skills of materials Alerting and reminding section members about upcoming concerts, days uniforms will be needed, etc.
Any other responsibilities as deemed appropriate by the band directors Section leaders will be chosen by application and band staff evaluation. Section leaders will be given the home contact information for each member of his or her section. Fund Raisers All 7 th and 8 th grade band students will have the opportunities to raise money for our Spring Trip to San Antonio. Past Fund Raisers have included Go Local Cards, Fall Sale (including poinsettias/new Canaan jams & jellies), and QSP magazine sale. More information will be distributed as it becomes available. Travel Accounts Travel accounts are created for each student upon entering the HCMS Band program. The Westlake Band Parents administer all accounts on a continuing basis. A percentage of all individual profits earned from any fund raising activity will be placed in the student s account. Accounts will remain active as long as the student is enrolled in the Eanes ISD Band Program. Contests/Competitions Middle School All-District & Region Band THE TRYOUT MUSIC WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CONCERT BAND STUDENTS, BUT MR. FISCHER WILL NOT TEACH THIS MUSIC. YOU MUST BE TAKING PRIVATE LESSONS TO BE ABLE TO GO, AND THE FINAL DECISION WILL BE BETWEEN MR. FISCHER AND YOUR PRIVATE LESSON TEACHER. ONLY THE MOST PREPARED STUDENTS WILL GET TO GO TO THE AUDITION. THIS IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STUDENTS THAT GO ARE TRULY READY AND WILL HAVE A POSITIVE EXPERIENCE. Those who make the district band will possibly be eligible for Region Auditions. Members of the Region Band are selected to perform in the All-Region Band, which is conducted by an expert clinician in the field of music. This clinic and concert will occur on January 12 th -13 th. District auditions will be held on October 28 th and Region auditions will be held on November 4 th These events will last from about 8:00 am 3:00 pm and are held on SATURDAYS!!! Students who complete All Region MS Orchestra commitment forms may be considered for placement in the All Region MS Orchestra as well. Forms will be available the first week in September. All-Region Audition, Clinic, and Concert Commitment Students that advance to the all-region tryout must sign a commitment letter given by the band director stating that he or she will play in the all-region concert if selected as a member. If this commitment cannot be made, then the student must forfeit their audition at the all-region level. This letter must be signed and turned in by Monday, October 29 th. Committing to the all-region band means that you will be at all rehearsals and the concert. You cannot miss any part of the rehearsals or the concert. Failure to complete this commitment will result in your all-region recognition and folder being forfeited and you will receive a grade of 0 for a major grade. Absolutely make certain that once you decide to enter the all-region round that you are fully committed to being a member in the all-region band! Eanes ISD Solo & Ensemble Contest All Concert Band members are required to prepare an ensemble and a solo. This event is held on Saturday, April 16 at HCMS. Ensembles and music selections will be assigned before Spring Break Solo & Ensemble contest will be held at Hill Country Middle School on April 7 th. This is a SATURDAY! Participation in this event is crucial to the technical/musical development of all HCMS band students. Pre-UIL This required performance will be held at WHS FAF on February 26 th. This is a practice run of our UIL contest. There will be adjudicators in the audience to provide us with feedback as we prepare for UIL contest. Dress is concert black for this performance. Parents may attend. This performance is required. UIL Concert/Sight Reading Evalutaion Our UIL Concert will be held on March 6 th. Our exact performance time will be made available approximately one
month prior to the event itself. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend. Dress is concert black. This concert is required as long as students are eligible via the state s no pass-no play rules. Spring Trip Both the Concert and Concert Bands will travel to San Antonio to participate a Music Festival. This will occur on May 6. We will perform on Friday at a venue in San Antonio, and then go to Fiesta TX. There will be no overnight stay this year. Students may earn money for this trip by participating in the Fall Sale, Chap Card Sale, and magazine drive. Other fundraisers will be considered as well. PLEASE NOTE: Trip deposits/payments are NOT REFUNDABLE for any reason, including No Pass, No Play or exiting the band program. Unexcused absences from performances will also disqualify a student from being able to go on this trip. No refund will be given in this instance. CHARMS website All parents are required to go to the website www.charmsmusic.com and update all information. This is a database used by the entire Eanes ISD band program to keep up with student info, calendar of events, instrument inventory, student handouts, group emails, financial info, travel accounts, and many other useful tools for effective communication. Please do the following: 1. Go to www.charmsmusic.com 2. Enter hillcountrymsband under parent / student login 3. Enter your student s 5-digit student ID (lunch number) 4. Click on student information and update all info To see if your student needs to turns in any forms, money, etc. Please go to student forms. This will give you an automatic notification if your student is lacking medical release forms, chap card permission slips, or any other items we will track using this database. All group emails will come through this website, so please update your information as soon as possible. Braces / Orthodontia Please refrain from making any major changes to a student s orthodontia for at least 2 weeks prior to any performance, contest, etc. This includes getting new braces or removing braces. These major changes in orthodontia will require an adjustment period for which parents should plan accordingly to facilitate student success. Instrument Care Supplies All students are expected to provide appropriate care for their instruments If a school instrument is in need of repair, the student should notify Mr. Fischer as soon as possible, so that arrangements can be made to repair the instrument and arrange for a loaner instrument if necessary All instrument cases must have nametags attached at all times! Instrument should be stored in the instrument storage room only. They may not be stored anywhere else. Insurance is recommended. Parents are encouraged to check their homeowner s insurance policy regarding musical instruments. An instrument usage fee will be assessed to those students using a school-owned instrument. Text: 204 Progressive Sightreading Tunes by Winslow published by Harold Gore. Text: Essential Musicianship by Green, Benzer, Bertman published by Hal Leonard Metronome. There are many inexpensive pocket size metronomes available Wire Music Stand (home practice only) Flip Folder for pep rallies and football games Music Lyre. Take your instrument with you to the store when purchasing to ensure correct fit. Flute, Oboe, Bassoon & Percussion players should not purchase a lyre
All supplies specific to instrument for proper maintenance (e.g. valve oil, slide cream, reeds, etc,) Percussion equipment list: 2 pairs of Marimba Mallets - Innovative Percussion IP300 2 pairs of Vibraphone Mallets - Innovative Percussion RS251 1 pair of Xylophone Mallets - Innovative Percussion IP902 1 pair of Glock / Bell Mallets - Innovative Percussion IP906 1 pair of Timpani Mallets - Innovative Percussion CT4 1 pair of Snare Drum Sticks - Innovative Percussion CL1 1 Kratt Master Key Chromatic Pitch Pipe (needed for tuning timpani) The Westlake Band Program recommends the following music dealers: Strait Music Co. - S. Lamar & HWY 71 476-6927 Mr. Fischer recommends the following online music stores for percussion equipment: Tommy s Drum Shop - 1100 South 8th Street Austin, TX 78704-2372 444-3786 www.lonestarpercussion.com www.steveweissmusic.com At the beginning of every rehearsal and sectional, each student must have the following readily available: Instrument Binder Pencil Any additional supplies necessary for proper performance
HILL COUNTRY MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND STUDENT INFORMATION Student's name Parent's name( s) Parent's email address #1 Parent's email address #2 Home phone Work phone Cell phone #1 Cell phone #2 Home address Zip Instrument Brand Serial # We have read the information included in the HCMS Band Guidelines and agree to follow all instructions. We are aware of the severe consequences involved with missing a concert performance. Should any question arise regarding band -related issues, we will contact Mrs. Hames or Mr. Fischer to obtain clarification. Student's signature Date Parent's signature Date