Dear High School Band Students and Parents,2 September 2015

Dear High School Band Students and Parents,2 September 2015

Welcome back to another school year. This fall’s first performance is a Football game on Friday, September 11!Please attend and support our great student athletes and musicians. This year our first concert performance will be a Veteran’s Day Assembly during the school day on Tuesday, November 10. Please support your students and honor our Veterans by attending. Finally, thank you for your support of our program, which includes paying the $10 Uniform Cleaning Fee to maintain our band uniforms.

Performance Schedule

Band is a performance class and as such, all evening concerts and football games are REQUIRED for all students. Participation in band assumes concert attendance. There is truly no way to “make-up” a missed concert, as each member of the band is integral to the group’s unique and one-time performance. Parental support by attending concerts is desired and encouraged. All conflicts are expected to be cleared for these dates. If the student misses a performance, an alternative assignment will be offered for a maximum of 75% of the performance points, and your student may not be able to earn an ‘A’ grade in band.

I have scheduled the following concerts this year, some of which also serve as a final evaluation for each semester of our class. Unless otherwise noted, they will be in the JHS Cafetorium. Please note the new Recital concert that we will do in January. Please note that some concerts include the Middle School Band as detailed below.

Veteran’s Day Assembly (HS only):Tuesday, November 10, 2015; 10:45 AM

Christmas Concert (6-12 bands):Thursday, December 17, 2015; 7:00 PM

Recital Concert (with MS):Thursday, January 28, 2016; 7:00 PM

Solo/Ensemble Festival (HS only)Saturday, February 6, 2016; Rogers HS, Spokane

Festival Concert (HS only):Thursday, March 24, 2016; 7:00 PM

HS Large Group Band Festival, Lewis & Clark HS, Spokane: Mon/Tue March 28/29

Lilac Parade:Saturday, May 21, 2016; 7:45 PM, Spokane

Pops/Final ConcertThursday, June 2, 2016; 7:00 PM

GraduationSaturday, June 11, 2016; 11:00 AM

Overnight Trip: one will be chose by band vote and subject to Principal/School Baord Approval:

University of Montana Concert Band Festival: Feb 22/23, 2016

Western Washington University Concert Band Festival: Fri/Sat, Mar 4/5, 2016

Football Games

The Band will be attending all home football games, which are required for participation by all members of the band. Any conflicts must be arranged ahead of the game with the director. Just like a concert, the football games are required performances for the band class. If a student misses the game, an alternative assignment will be offered for a maximum of 75% of the performance points. For those planning on earning their Pep Band Letter, all football games are required (see those requirements on separate page).

DateOpponentTime to be at School

Friday Sept 11Warden5:30 PM

Friday Sep 18Lakeside5:45 PM

Friday Oct 2Colville5:45 PM

Friday Oct 23Newport (Homecoming)5:45 PM

The band will wear the marching uniform at all football games. Students are required to furnish black dress shoes & socks while the school provides the uniform. Any ‘snivel gear’ like long sleeves, hats, etc, must be worn under the uniform and should not distract from the colors of Navy Blue and White.

Uniforms & Uniform Fee

The concert attire for each band student is black slacks and a white, long-sleeved and collared dress shirt. Females may opt for conservative, past the knee black skirtswith black leggings/tights. Males are required to wear an appropriate long tie of their choice. All students will wear their own black dress shoes and black socks. If any students are in need, there is a very limited backup supply of concert attire available from the band program, but this must be coordinated well before the concert.

The marching band (football games and Lilac Parade) will wear the band uniform, which is provided by the school. The students need only to provide black dress shoes and black socks. We are very fortunate to be using newer band uniforms. In order to maintain these uniforms, a $10 maintenance and cleaning is required of each band student. Students and parents are requested to pay this fee before the end of September.

Grading & Classroom Discipline

Band class is primarily graded by daily participation and public performances. Each day the students will earn up to five points for participation. Since the student cannot participate in class without their primary instrument (and required reeds, drumsticks, etc), the student will lose at least half of their participation points if they do not have their instrument and music. Punctuality includes the student being ready to play when the bell rings, not just in their chair. While I do not anticipate any problems with student discipline at the high school level, disruptive students will be corrected in the following manner:

1st Offense – Verbal warning

2nd Offense – Loss of one daily participation point

3rd Offense – Further point loss/ enactment of School-wide Disciplinary Process

Grading will be weighted as follows (note the concert attendance change this year):

Daily Participation/Assignments/Playing Tests45%

Performances (in correct uniform and on time)45%

Attendance of one concert outside of our performances10%

Practice

Finally, no Band Director’s letter would be complete without a plug to practice. Parents, you should be seeing (and hearing) your student’s instrument at home! Individual practice outside of class is essential to developing the skill and discipline of each student, and in turn, will help our entire band to improve. Class time is devoted to helping the group to learn to play together, which requires individual responsibility of every member to learn their part. If students have the desire, private lessons will greatly aid their study and enrich their experience in band. Please contact me if you need help finding a private instructor.

Required Materials

Parents, please ensure that your student has everything they need to play: including but not limited to drumsticks, reeds, valve oil, slide grease, working ligatures, etc. Each student in band should have their own copy of the Accent on Achievement Book 3, by O’Reilly/Williams. This is available for about $8 at local music stores such as the House of Music in Colville and Amend Music Center in Spokane. Also, each percussionist is required to have a set of drum sticks in class each day. Extra music outside of band class, both to play (sheet music) and to listen to (CDs/mp3s) will greatly enhance your student’s learning and improvement. They also make great birthday and Christmas presents!

Music Boosters

Parents, all of you are encouraged to participate in the Chewelah Music Boosters, which primarily supports the middle and high school band programs. This group generally meets on the second Thursday of every month at 5:00 PM to coordinate support activities for the band and choir. In the past the boosters have fund-raised, secured board funding for new uniforms, and coordinated support for field trips such as providing food and chaperoning trips. Additionally, the boosters often fund scholarships for our seniors every year. The Boosters are available by contacting me or Mrs. Avery Thomason at .

Closing

I look forward to working with each and every student in this class. Parents, complete the following page with your student and return. Also, please feel free to contact me at any time by the following methods:

Sincerely,

Joe Trudeau, Band Director

Phone: 685-6800 ext 2100

Email:

Please Return to Mr. Trudeau by Friday, September 4

Student Name (print): ______

Primary Instrument: ______

Is it owned/rented/school instrument? ______

Make/Brand and Serial Number: ______

Parent Signature: ______

Parent interested in Music Booster involvement? ______

If yes, the best method to contact (phone/email): ______