Belfield High School Band Handbook Director Ms. Misty Sipma
High School Band As with any other organization, the success of the band depends on the devotion and cooperation of ALL ITS MEMBERS. What makes a bandsman devoted and cooperative? First, you must make up your mind to be a proud and engaging band member. Part of the fun of band is to be able to pull off an outstanding performance that everyone can be proud of. Second, by giving the organization all you possess in attention, interest and effort. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, it takes work. Third, by observing and following the classroom procedures outlined which is a necessary part of a successful band year. These procedures outlined on the following pages are simple, sound, and easy to abide by. There is no place in any outstanding organization for half-hearted participants. Only when every band member cooperates can a band achieve the distinction of being truly outstanding. Band Objectives Cultural To develop an appreciation and understanding of music through the study and performance of instrumental music. Educational To develop interested listeners and provide a well-rounded musical background. Service To provide music and support for certain school and community affairs, while promoting and enhancing the dignity and reputation of the band at music festivals and concerts. Recreational To provide all students with an opportunity for worthy use of leisure time, an emotional outlet, and good social experiences. The Band Member s Responsibility to the Band Be regular in attendance and make sure all absences are excused by the band director prior to the absence. Make a real effort to learn and improve daily. Become responsible for and expect to assume the consequences for your actions.
Show respect for yourself, your director, substitute teachers, and fellow band mates. Remember: to earn respect you must give it. Be honest and fair with others concerning equipment, music, and school life in general. Cooperate with fellow band members and share with them the responsibilities and privileges that are a part of the band program. Contribute positively to your music education and that of others by the best use of your talents. Read and play music with insight and expression. Above all else: HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE!! We all get frustrated, so when that time comes take a deep breath, ask for a short break and then come back willing to learn. General Information Uniform The concert uniform will consist of the following: Ladies: Solid black dress or a black skirt with a white blouse. No spaghetti straps, midrise shirts, low necklines, or low backs. Black tights or socks with black shoes. Please no flip flops or tennis shoes. For concerts keep your jewelry to a minimum. Lots of bling reflects on the stage lights distracting the audience from our performance. No extreme makeup. Our goal is to look and sound professional. Gentlemen: Solid black dress pants and a solid white dress shirt. Ties are required. Footwear consists of black socks with black dress shoes. No tennis shoes or sandals please. No extreme jewelry. No dark eyeliner. Once again our goal is to look and sound professional as a group. If for any reason you are unable to come up with the appropriate uniform on your own, please see me so we can work something out. Grading Grades will be based on the following: Academic: Attendance at performances. I understand life happens; however, if there is a legitimate reason why you will be unable to attend a performance let me know ahead of time. Playing tests Practice Times Writing Assignments
Citizenship: Participation o Please note that gum is NEVER allowed in my band classroom. It is harmful to your instruments and can cause costly repairs. Failure to comply with the no gum rule will result in loss of weekly citizenship points. o A pencil is required in class at all times. Music can be marked with a pencil, but never with a pen. Conduct o Nothing goes airborn o Be respectful and come willing to learn. Equipment Students will be responsible for the up-keep and care of all of their equipment, whether it be school owned or not. Any damages to the instruments, music, uniforms, or any other equipment will be repaired or replaced immediately at the student's expense. Students who use school owned instruments will pay a maintenance fee of $50.00 per year. Classroom Procedures Entering the classroom Students are expected to enter the classroom in an orderly fashion. This means walking. No jumping, running, screaming, crawling, or playing chase into the classroom. After entering the classroom each student is responsible for setting up his/her own chair and music stand. This includes sitting in the appropriate instrumental section. Once a student has their stand and chair set up then he/she is able to get their instrument out and start warming up. Please note that warming up your instrument does not include blaring as loud as you can. Be respectful of others around you. Once the director takes their place at the director stand all individual warm-ups stop immediately, and attention is given to the director. Sheet Music All music for the school year will be provided by the music department. The procedure for keeping your school- issued music is to keep it in a band folder. This prevents your music from being lost and/or damaged. All sheet music will be turned in at the end of each performance. Failure to turn in your music can result with points being deducted from your citizenship grade.
Procedure for band rehearsal Students will listen and play together. This isn t a contest; we are a TEAM. Students will be expected to follow their conductor. When the conductor cuts you off everybody stops playing immediately, and all eyes go to the director. Ending a rehearsal After being told to clean up and put away, students will be expected to clean their instruments before final storage. Failure to clean saliva out of instruments when finished playing can lead to costly repairs and can make an instrument case stink. After cleaning and putting away their instruments students are to stack their chairs and music stands. Once every chair and stand is put away, students will be given the direction to line up at the door. The class does not leave until they are dismissed by the instructor. PEP Band To show school pride and support for our teams both Belfield and South Heart will be forming a pep band whenever our numbers allow us to. Belfield students are invited to participate with the South Heart band for their games at South Heart for free admission and vice versa. I strongly encourage any student who is not involved in another sporting event at the time to participate. Attendance Policy Rehearsal attendance is essential because the work that is missed cannot be made up. Once a rehearsal is missed, it is missed forever. Good rehearsal attendance is imperative if our band is to be successful. The attendance rule is not intended to punish the student who is really ill; it is included in the hope that it will discourage unnecessary absences. For your convenience a calendar of events will be presented two months in advance. Please schedule all appointments, work, and other activities around these commitments. Absences from a band rehearsal of any type, a concert, contest, clinic, or festival, will be categorized according to one of the following classifications: EXCUSED ABSENCE Excused absences are those due to emergencies such as illness, death in the family and other extenuating circumstances. The student or family spokesman should contact the band director and relate the facts causing the emergency and the probable length of time the student will miss rehearsals. The student should bring a note to the director prior to a performance or within two days upon returning to school.
UNEXCUSED ABSENCES An unexcused absence is failure to attend a scheduled rehearsal or performance without the specific approval of the Director of Bands. An absence will be declared unexcused for students who do not bring a note prior to the performance or within two days after returning to school. Work is not considered an excused absence.
Belfield High School Band Handbook Confirmation I have read and discussed the Belfield High School Band Handbook with my parents/guardians and we will abide by the rules stated in the handbook. We understand the responsibilities that come with being a member of the Belfield High School Band and agree to cooperate with the objectives herein. Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Date