2011-2012 BAND HANDBOOK SCULLEN MIDDLE SCHOOL Directors Graham Heise Lisa Lehman
Dear Parents and Students, Welcome to the Band Department at Scullen Middle School! We are very excited about the 2011-2012 school year. The purpose of this handbook is to provide you with an awareness and understanding of the policies and organizational structure of the Scullen Middle School Bands. Please read the handbook in its entirety, discuss it with your family, and keep it for future reference. Music is a vibrant part of the District 204 curriculum. In addition to providing music education, our band program is designed to help meet the emotional, social, and cultural needs of every student. Goals for students include: 1. To discover, appreciate, and value their talents, the talents of others, and the beauty of music. 2. To develop the desire to improve their musical performance as well as increase knowledge of music theory, composition, and improvisation. 3. To gain a sense of pride by striving to reach their full potential. 4. To develop a life-long enjoyment and appreciation of music. We hope you will share in these goals and help us provide the best possible experience for everyone. Please feel free to contact us at any time with questions or concerns you may have. We re looking forward to a great year! Graham Heise Lisa Lehman 7 th & 8 th Grade Bands 6th Grade Band Wind Ensemble Jazz Band Jazz Ensemble 630-428-7000 x5957 630-428-7000 x5956
TIPS FOR SUCCESS IN BAND 1. Know your technique schedule! -Get an absence form turned in by the end of the next school day if you need to miss technique class. -Copies are in the band room and on Blackboard. 2. Keep your goal sheet up to date. -Complete written assignments. -Write down your scores. -Complete make-up work within one week. 3. Have your practice record/reflection signed. 4. Take private lessons. -You ll be amazed at the improvement and increased enjoyment! -Lists of teachers are available on Blackboard. 5. Keep track of the calendar. -Students need to be at performances. If a conflict is unavoidable, please follow our guidelines so we may excuse the absence. 6. Visit the Blackboard Site. -It s a great way to get announcements, reminders, forms, and listen to recordings. 7. Stay organized! -Students should have a binder with plastic covers for loose leaf paper. This allows students to keep their goal sheets, band music, and handouts organized. 8. Use SmartMusic! -Make home practice more enjoyable with play-along recordings that show you when you ve made mistakes. -Use it to accompany you while you practice solos. -It is great for home jazz practice!
TECHNIQUE CLASS In addition to a daily rehearsal, the District 204 music curriculum provides a weekly technique class for instrumental music students. They will come to technique class for 30 minutes once each week on a rotating schedule. Students should report to their regularly scheduled class for attendance and to receive assignments, for which they are responsible, before proceeding to technique class. The benefit of technique class is that it allows for small group instruction that addresses students specific needs. It also allows for individual assessment which makes it an important and necessary component of the grading process. Excuses from technique class are granted when a student is asked to remain by the classroom teacher in order to take a test, quiz, or work on a lab. Students are responsible, however, to inform us within one day of the absence by completing a Technique Class Absence Form available in the band room. Unless we receive a form in a timely manner, we will not be able to excuse the absence. It is a virtual guarantee that students who attend technique class with their materials and are prepared do well in band. HOME PRACTICE Home practice helps make it possible to play a musical instrument to the best of one s ability and truly enjoy it. All band members must practice regularly at home to ensure progress. The benefits of home practice include building self-confidence and pride in one s performance. A practice reflection will be used to help each student develop a regular practice routine and keep track of home practice. It is an important form of communication between student, parent, and teacher. To receive full credit, practice reflections must be completed by technique class and be signed by a parent/guardian. Practice reflections up to one week late will be given half credit. After one week, no credit will be given. Parents are asked to sign a week only after it is completed and filled out by their child. Please do not sign a blank practice reflection. Students will complete a practice reflection that allows them to rate the quality of home practice as well as the quality of assignment preparation. Please remember that the quality of practice time is more important than the quantity of practice time. Goal sheets include reminders of what quality practice is!
PERFORMANCES All band members have the opportunity to perform at least five times per year. These events are the culmination of daily rehearsals and give students the opportunity to share what they ve learned. Absences from performances Absences other than emergencies will only be excused if approved by the director at least two weeks prior to the performance. Any student who misses a performance will have the opportunity to complete a make-up assignment. An excused absence may receive up to full credit and an unexcused absence may receive up to half credit. Please mark your calendars carefully at the beginning of the year to avoid any conflicts with performances. Additional dates may be added, especially for the extracurricular ensembles. We will inform you of any changes as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding. GRADING A band grade is given each quarter because band is a part of the school curriculum. The grading process encompasses rehearsal participation, attendance, concerts, written and performance tests, home practice, and daily effort. Breakdown of grades by category: 25% - Technique attendance 25% - Written and playing technique assignments, practice reflections 25% - Daily Participation Includes having all class materials, music, instrument, and being an active participant 25% - Performance attendance Absences excused as stated above
EXTRA CURRICULAR BAND ACTIVITIES The Scullen Middle School Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Band are designed for students already in the music department who wish to broaden their musical development and participation. Membership for these ensembles is based upon student desire, musical ability, and instrumentation needs. The Wind Ensemble meets from 6:45 a.m. 7:50 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays. The Jazz Ensemble meets from 6:45 a.m. 7:50 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays. Participation in the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble is determined by auditions the preceding spring with possible additional audition opportunities in the fall. Audition information and materials may be obtained from the directors. The Jazz Band rehearses two days a week after school and is open to any student in the music department. Auditions may be required for rhythm section instruments to keep numbers manageable. IMEA and IGSMA All band students are encouraged to perform solos and/or ensembles at the Illinois Grade School Music Association (IGSMA) contest in February. More experienced band members also have the opportunity to audition for and perform in the Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) festival Jazz and Concert bands. Information for these events will be made available as they approach. Students involved with IMEA and/or IGSMA events are required to pay a small participation fee. PRIVATE LESSONS It is impossible for us to overemphasize the positive impact of private lessons. Individual instruction is the best way to help students fulfill their potential. The main benefit of a private lesson is weekly one-on-one instruction with a specialist on the same instrument. A private instructor will immediately reinforce strengths and give specific suggestions for improvement. Please see our list of recommended private instructors on Blackboard if this is an advantage you wish to offer your child.
MUSIC UNIFORM All students will have the following: Music department shirt to be ordered through the music department Black pants no jeans, shorts, skirts, or capris Black shoes and socks no athletic shoes LOCKERS Band lockers are available for students and will be assigned during the first week of school. We ask that students store only their instrument and band related materials in their band locker. Any student wishing to use a band locker should purchase a combination lock from Scullen and register it with us when they receive their locker. INSTRUMENT REPAIR Instrument repair is a highly specialized skill. It is very easy to damage an instrument in an attempt to repair it if you are not a trained professional. Please share any instrument problems with the band directors so that we can assess the problem and make recommendations as to what sort of repair is necessary. This will help protect you and your instrument from costly repairs. Students are expected to get a loaner instrument so they can continue participating if their instrument is left at a repair shop. SUMMER BAND & SUMMERS JAZZ Students are highly encouraged to participate in the District 204 summer music program. This is an excellent way to continue improving skills during the summer months. Registration information will be available in the spring.
SUPPLIES Woodwinds At least three good reeds at all times. The preferred brand is VanDoren. Please avoid Rico Royal. Strengths of 2.5 (medium) or above are acceptable, depending on grade level. Reed guard/mouthpiece cap Cork grease Cleaning swab Brass Valve oil (spray bottle for trombones) Slide grease (slide cream for trombones) Mouthpiece brush Snake internal slide cleaner made for brass instruments Mutes may be required, depending on literature. Percussion some of these items are included in the beginning percussion kit Drum sticks Vic Firth American Custom SD 1 Xylophone/bell mallets Hard rubber Timpani mallets Labeled General Yarn mallets any color Books All Students - Black three-ring binder 6th Grade Winning Rhythms, Standard of Excellence Book I, Festival Solos Book I (Percussionists purchase Alfred Drum Method Book I w/dvd instead of Festival Solos) 7th Grade Winning Rhythms, Standard of Excellence Book II, Festival Solos Book II (Percussionists purchase Alfred Drum Method Book I w/dvd instead of Festival Solos) 8th Grade Standard of Excellence Book III, Festival Solos Book II (Percussionists purchase Alfred Drum Method Book II w/dvd instead of Festival Solos)
Help us Keep in Touch! Student Name Student Email Grade Instrument Home Phone Home Address Parent Name Work Phone Email Parent Name Work Phone Email We have received the Scullen 2011-2012 band handbook, read it, and marked our calendar. Student Signature Parent Signature Please complete both sides and return this page by August 26. (This is part of the first technique class assignment)
Scullen Music Department Uniform Polo Shirt Order Form MUSIC All Band, Chorus and Orchestra students wear the music uniform for performances. Students must purchase a light blue Scullen Music polo shirt (combo students only need one shirt). The shirt is 100% cotton pique with our embroidered logo. Students must provide their own black pants, black socks and black dress shoes. While it is encouraged to allow for growth, these shirts tend to be big! They are adult men's sizes. This order form and a check for $14 (payable to "Scullen Middle School") are due no later than Friday, Aug. 26, 2010. Student's Name: Band Class Period: 2 5 6 7 8 Grade: 6th 7th 8th Adult Sizes (Please circle one - remember the shirts run big): X-Small Medium X-Large Small Large I do not need a new shirt, I already have one.
Blackboard Website Available Please access our Blackboard site for information such as: Calendar Announcements Concert information Goal Sheets (print new ones if you lost them) Permission Slips To access the site: 1. Go to: http://ipsdweb.ipsd.org/ 2. Select Blackboard on the left of the screen 3. Select Go to Blackboard at the center of the screen 4. Select User Login under the Blackboard logo on the left 5. Use either your normal student school login, or click on the Preview button, click on Search Blackboard, and then search for Scullen Bands. That should get you to our page. Please contact us if you have problems! 6. Use the tool bar on the left to search for information. The handbook will be under helpful documents. If you have questions or see discrepancies between the site and information we send home, please contact us. Get SmartMusic at home!! To register for a home subscription to SmartMusic : 1. Go to www.smartmusic.com 2. Register for a student subscription. If you have registration questions, please call SmartMusic sales customer support at 866-240-4041.
2011-2012 2012 Calendar September 7 WE/JE Clinics @ Scullen 4:00 pm Jazz, 5:00 pm Wind Ensemble 14 WE/JE Auditions @ Scullen 6:00 to 8:00 pm TBA WVHS 8th Grade Marching Night 30 NVHS 8th Grade Marching Night 7:30 pm October 1 IMEA District Band auditions @ Yorkville Middle School (optional) 20 6th Grade Band Dress Rehearsal - 3:15 to 4:15 pm 24 Fall Band Demonstration Concerts - 6:30 & 8:00 pm 25 8th Grade Band Concert @ WVHS - 7:30 pm 29 IMEA Jazz Festival @ Geneva Middle School (select students) November 5 IMEA District Band Festival @ Plano High School (select students) December 2 6th Grade Band Dress Rehearsal - 3:15 to 4:15 pm 6 6th grade BCO assembly during school 2:15 pm Families welcome! 6 Band, Chorus, and Orchestra Concerts - 6:30 & 8:00 pm (7th and 8th Graders, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble) February 25 IGSMA Solo & Ensemble Festival - Location TBA March 10 IPSD Band and Jazz Organization Festival @ Crone - Time TBA 12 6th Grade Band Dress Rehearsal - 3:15 to 4:30 pm 14 Band Spring Concerts - 6:30 & 8:00 pm April 17 South Side Jazz Festival @ NVHS Gold Building May TBA Honors Concert (WE & JE) - 7:30 pm 17-18 Drumline, Colorguard, 6th Graders - 3:15 to 4:30 pm 19 All District Festival of the Arts at WVHS 21-25 Drumline before school Entire band after school to 4:30 pm 28 Memorial Day Parade - Please plan to participate! 29 Funway More detailed information will be provided as each event approaches. Please check concert programs for our most current calendar.