Band

Handbook

Community Unit School District 200

2013-14

Table of Contents

Parent and Student Registration Information Page 1

Payment Information Page 2

Description of 5th Grade Band Page 3

Program Goals Page 3

Recruitment Page 4

Overview of Program Page 4

Participation Fee Page 4

Private Lessons Page 4

Parent Expectation Page 4

Student Expectation Page 5

Evaluation Page 5

Concert Attire Page 5

Performance Calendar Page 5

Care of the Instrument Page 5

Materials Needed Page 6

Special Note Page 6

Choosing an Instrument Rental Vendor Page 7

District 200 Band Staff Page 8

Parent and Student Registration Information

Please fill out completely and return to your child’s school by September 27th

Student Name: ______

Student ID Number: ______

School: ______

Band or Orchestra (Circle One): Band Orchestra

Instrument: ______

Classroom Teacher: ______

Guardian 1: ______

Guardian 2: ______

Primary Email: ______

(Important information regarding concert times/dates, logistics, event reminders will be handled through email. Please make sure that your listed email address is accurate and is checked regularly.)

Secondary Email: ______

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September 2013

Dear Parent,

Thank you VERY MUCH for giving your child the wonderful opportunity of learning music at the elementary level! District 200 provides each child with a solid musical education which creates a great foundation for learning other subjects each and every day during school.

As stated in previous pamphlets, there is a one-time music fee of $80.00 in addition to the instrument rental. If a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, this fee is reduced.

Please pay your $80.00 fee through the ParentVUE link on your school website by September 27th

Pay online using your credit card

·  On the left column click on the Student Fees tab

·  Click on the Pay Student Fees link

·  Select your 5th grade student

·  Scroll down to the section Yearbook / Drivers Ed / TCD

·  Use the drop down and choose BAND FEE OR ORCHESTRA FEE

·  Select ADD FEE

·  Click UPDATE

·  Follow payment procedure.

If you choose to pay by check or cash, please submit your payment to your school secretary

by September 27th

Thank You!

The District 200 Music Faculty

Music is the Universal Language of Mankind.”

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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Community Unit School District 200

Administration and School Service Center

130 West Park Avenue

Wheaton, Illinois 60189

Phone: (630) 682-2000 Fax: (630) 682-2442

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT #200 5TH GRADE BAND

The band program is designed to provide our students with the opportunity to further explore and pursue the imaginative and affective aspects of music and their contributions to our cultural heritage. Through study of a musical instrument, students will be given another vehicle for their creativity and development of their full musical potential.

PROGRAM GOALS

The goal of the Community Unit School District 200 5th Grade Band Program is to allow each student to:

1.  Select a musical instrument best suited for himself/ herself using the following criteria:

♫  Musical aptitude as determined by teacher evaluation

♫  Physical characteristics

♫  Balanced instrumentation

♫  Student interest

2.  Learn to play a musical instrument using proper posture, hand position and tone quality.

3.  Develop an awareness of major and minor tonalities, a means to decode rhythms and techniques for good tone production.

4.  Develop an understanding and respect for different musical styles and their links to various cultures both past and present.

5.  Develop the ability to set individual goals, maintain a good work ethic, and realize a sense of achievement upon completion.

6.  Develop the ability to work towards common goals in large groups.

7.  Respect the talent and diversity of others while participating on a musical team.

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BAND INFORMATION

Recruitment

Prior to starting the band program, each student will be interviewed by the band director. All students will be tested and have the opportunity to try instruments according to interest. Through observation, the instructors will match students to instruments that are best suited for each individual.

Overview of Program

Each beginning band member will be excused from regular classes once a week to receive a small group lesson. Most lessons are 30 minutes in length. Attendance at all group lessons is required. Students are responsible for making up any missed classroom assignments. The band teacher makes every effort to work with the classroom teacher in determining the best time for each student to miss class.

In addition to the weekly lesson, all band students will participate in a regularly scheduled full band rehearsal at their respective schools. Scheduling of this rehearsal will vary according to the needs of the building facility and teacher’s schedule. The full band rehearsal schedule for both semesters will be sent home at a later date.

Participation Fee

¯  District 200 charges an $80 participation fee for Elementary Orchestra. You may pay this fee on line by September 27th. Please see page 2 for payment instructions. Students on Exempt or Reduced Waivers have fees adjusted.

¯  There is no fee for Middle School or High School Orchestra.

Private lessons

Private lessons are recommended, but not required. If you are interested, a list of recommended private instructors will be sent home with your child.

Parent Expectations

Parents play a crucial role in helping their children succeed in the band program. The following guidelines will help contribute to your child’s success.

¯  Sit down with your child and together make a daily practice schedule – six days per week. 5th graders should practice 20 – 30 minutes per day.

¯  Provide a quiet place to practice. Sign the weekly practice chart.

¯  Equipment needed: Chair, music stand and pencil

¯  Encourage our child to practice and have them play for you. Praise does wonders for their self-confidence

¯  Encourage them when the going gets tough. Some things are easy to learn; others require intensive and repeated practice.

¯  See that your child is present and on time for all rehearsals and concerts.

¯  Attend all concerts and other performances.

¯  Please feel free to call the director with any questions you may have or if you would like to observe a lesson or band rehearsal.

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Student Expectations

¯  Establish daily practice habits (20-30 minutes per day.)

¯  Always be on time to lessons, rehearsals and performances

¯  Always be prepared by having your instrument, music, a pencil and other material as instructed by your director

¯  Be responsible for making up any missed classroom assignments

¯  Promptly deliver all letters to your parents

¯  Keep our instrument clean and in good playing condition

¯  Participate in all scheduled concerts

Evaluation

Progress reports will be sent home at the end of each semester. These reports will recommend methods of improvement. Please feel free to call your child’s band instructor at any time with concerns about progress or any other questions.

Concert Attire

The required outfit for beginning band concerts is as follows:

¯  Black or dark blue pants or skirt

¯  Solid white dress shirt (gentlemen will wear a tie)

¯  Dark shoes

Performance Calendar

Your child will be in three or four performances his/her first year. Our first performance will be held in late October or early November. This event will include ALL South side students performing at Hubble Middle School and ALL North side band students performing at Monroe Middle School. More information will be forthcoming. The All-District Music Calendar is also accessible from the District 200 webpage. Your child’s director will notify you of individual school performances.

Performances are important evaluative tools for instrumental music and an integral part of each child’s complete musical experience. For this reason, attendance at all performances is required. Every effort has been made to avoid conflicts with other activities. Should an emergency arise, please contact your director as soon as possible.

Care of the Instrument

¯  Never try to repair the instrument at home. If something breaks, leave a message for the director at your child’s school, and he or she will take care of it.

¯  Keep the instrument away from extreme heat or cold. Do not leave the instrument in a parked car in extreme temperatures.

¯  Only the student should be allowed to touch the instrument.

¯  Keep the instrument in the case when it is not in use.

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Materials Needed

All Band students will need the following:

¯  Instrument in good playing condition

¯  Music stand

¯  Name label on instrument case (provided by most rental companies)

¯  Pencil to be stored in instrument case

¯  Measures of Success Book 1 for the appropriate instrument

¯  Standard of Excellence FIRST PERFORMANCE for the appropriate

Instrument

All woodwind students (oboe, clarinet, and saxophone) will need the following:

¯  A minimum of two reeds in good playing condition

¯  (strength 2 ½ for clarinets and saxophones)

¯  Reed guard that will accept two or more reeds

¯  Cork grease

¯  Cleaning swab appropriate to the instrument

All brass students (cornet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba) will need the following:

¯  Valve oil appropriate for the instrument (except trombone)

¯  Water rag (wash cloth)

¯  Tuning slide grease

All percussion students will need the following:

¯  Measures of Success Book 1

¯  Standard of Excellence FIRST PERFORMANCE for Drums and Mallet

Percussion

¯  Percussion kit (including orchestra bells and practice pad – kit with snare drum and orchestra bells is preferred)

¯  Bell mallets and Vic Firth “General” snare drum sticks

*All percussionists will be learning bells in combination with rhythm instruments

Special Note

The quality of the instrument can affect the quality of the learning experience for your child. If you obtain an instrument on your own, we recommend the brand names listed below because of the reputation of these companies for producing excellent instruments. If you are looking at a used instrument, bring it in for evaluation at either Band Information Night, or to one of the Band Registration Nights before you purchase.

Flute / Gemeinhardt,Yamaha
Clarinet / Buffet or Accent by Buffet, Yamaha
Trumpet/Cornet / Selmer/Holton, Bach, Yamaha, Blessing
Trombone / Holton, Yamaha
Euphonium/Baritone / Jupiter, Yamaha, Blessing, Bach
Tuba / Yamaha/Jupiter
Percussion / Pearl, Vic Firth, Ludwig Percussion Kit

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Choosing an Instrument Rental Vendor

District 200 has selected Quinlan and Fabish as the district preferred instrument vendor. Through a formal evaluation process, this endorsement was granted because Quinlan and Fabish has met the following criteria:

¯  An experienced staff in instrument music education

¯  All rental instruments are delivered to each school

¯  Instrument switches are easily done through the teacher and the representative- parents do not have to drive to take care of repairs or exchanging instruments

¯  A trained company representative visits each school weekly to provide personalized service

¯  Loaner instruments (during repairs) are provided at no charge

¯  The Maintenance and Replacement Program is included in the rental fee

¯  A large, fully staffed repair facility provides professional quality service

NOTE: Parents are free to choose any musical instrument supplier they prefer.

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District 200 Band Staff and Contact Information

Wheaton Warrenville South High School

Vic Scimeca

Wheaton North High School

Jon Noworyta

Edison Middle School and Lincoln Elementary

Jill Carr

Franklin Middle School

Dan Dupree

Hubble Middle School and Johnson Elementary

Blake Jancius

Monroe Middle School and Sandburg Elementary

Jeff Novak

Emerson, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Lowell, Pleasant Hill and Washington Elementary

Robert Blazek

Bower, Madison, Whittier and Wiesbrook Elementary

Kurt Makaryk

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