Roswell High School
“THE BIG RED BAND”
Student Handbook
2011-2012
Administrative Staff
Michael Gottleib, RISD Superintendent
Ruben Bolanos, Roswell High School Principal
P.J. Garnett, Roswell Assistant Principal
Brian Byrd, Roswell Assistant principal
Band Staff
Greg Odom, Director of Bands
Humanities Department Head
Sandra Weikel, Assistant Director
Contact Information
Roswell High School Main Office-575-637-3200
RHS Band Office- 575-637-3263
E-mail:
Table of Content
1. Introduction
2. Philosophy
3. Expectations
4. Parent Expectations
5. Student Expectations
6. Instructor Expectations
7. Program Organization
8. Marching Band Class
9. Grading procedures
10. Concert/Symphonic Band
11. Grading Procedures
12. General Policies
13. Band Camp
14. Band Uniforms
15. Uniform Policies
16. Academic Eligibility
17. Make up Work
18. Discipline
19. Game Day Procedures
20. In the Stadium
21. Away Games
22. RHS Band Trip Policies and Expectations
23. Band Fees
24. Instruments
25. Personal Instruments
26. Percussion Equipment
27. Instrument Storage and Practice rooms
28. Percussion Storage Rooms
29. Band Boosters
30. Fundraisers
31. Money Collections
32. Band Awards
33. Student Leadership
34. Officers
35. Other Classes Offered
36. Important Forms
Introduction
Welcome to the “THE BIG RED BAND”! Over the years, the Big Red Band has performed all over the country at various contests and festivals for thousands of people. You have now become part of a tradition that spans several decades and even generations.
As you get to know the many others that have also chosen to become a part of our tradition, you will find a cross section of RHS students in our band. We have scholars, athletes, and socialites. You will find a tremendous diversity of interests represented in our band. We have leaders in virtually every club and/or activity in school. Members of the National Honor Society fill many of our chairs. Many of our members will earn scholarships not only in the field of music, but in many areas. Your time spent with “The Big Red Band” will afford you many opportunities to be in the spotlight and be recognized as a performer and perhaps even as an outstanding soloist.
Our band is one of the cities most recognizable organizations. You will have the opportunity to perform in a variety of situations that will give you life long memories and will give you the chance to be a member of a select group of individuals that are hard working, dedicated musicians and students. As a member of this group you will not only find friends and colleagues, but it is our hope that you will find a home as well.
PHILOSOPHY
It is our goal for every student in the Big Red Band to develop a lifelong love of music. Furthermore, it is our goal and hope that each and every student gains the highest possible proficiency as a young musician. While we urge all young musicians to seek music performance opportunities in college or in local musical organizations after high school, we realize that many of our students will enjoy music as an avocation and as listeners much more often than as performers after they leave our program. With that in mind, we will strive to help them develop the widest possible range of musical taste by exposing them to as many diverse musical styles and ideas as possible thus we can be musically literate, and become critical and perceptive listeners.
Through involvement in our band program, we hope to instill a strong sense of self-motivation and inner drive in all we do. We provide the opportunity to develop morally, socially, academically, and musically through the medium of instrumental music and the experiences associated with individual, small ensemble and large ensemble performance. Our success and achievement individually and collectively as a performer and performing group will be directly affected by the degree of unity that we develop and share. We believe that all students enrolled in the program will improve their performance level if they possess a cooperative spirit, a desire to learn, and a strong work ethic. In order to achieve the level of success we aspire to achieve, we must first identify our goals. Then we must each aspire to achieve them through a personal commitment to musical excellence. We must show loyalty and dedication toward our group and our goals on a daily basis. We must each be willing to extend mutual respect and a positive attitude toward each of our fellow members on a daily basis. This will foster self-control, self-discipline, personal integrity, personal responsibility for one’s own actions, personal integrity, a cooperative spirit, and inspire group pride.
Expectations
We believe that the success of the band program is dependent upon the collective and cooperative performance of parents, students, and instructors. No organization is greater than the sum of its parts. At a minimum, to promote a successful program, each person involved is asked to meet the expectations stated below.
Parent Expectations
All parents want to see their children achieve success. Each child has a greater chance of attaining success if he/she has parental approval and support. We, the band staff, believe that each band member will have a greater chance of success if the parent will:
1. Encourage the child to follow the rules outlined in the RHS and Band Handbooks.
2. Provide a high quality instrument for the child to play.
3. Provide a place in your home for the child to practice each day.
4. Provide timely transportation to and from rehearsals and performances.
5. Meet financial obligations on schedule.
6. Participate in band activities: join the booster club.
7. Support the child by attending concerts and performances.
Student Expectations
A student who has a positive attitude, a desire to learn and a willingness to give consistent and continuous effort will achieve success. Band students are asked to:
1. Always strive to have a positive and cooperative attitude.
2. Follow all rules outlined in the RHS and Band Handbooks.
3. Be on time and prepared for each rehearsal and performance.
4. Have all required materials, pencils, paper, drill charts, music, instrument,
and equipment in good repair for all rehearsals and performances.
5. Know your music and drill assignments to the best of your ability.
6. Give your best effort, go beyond your limitations and exceed your expectations.
7. Be a team player. Do your part and help others achieve success.
8. Be serious about your academics. Pass all of your classes.
9. Follow the 3D principle of Desire, Discipline, and Dedication.
Instructor Expectations
The band director’s vision, guidance, leadership, and experience are critical to the success of the program. It must be understood by all members, prospective members, and parents that all decisions concerning the band, or band policies, band auditions, or placement in the band will be made by the director and those decisions are final. With that understood, the RHS band staff will meet the expectations stated below:
1. Always strive to have a positive and cooperative attitude.
2. Provide an atmosphere that is conductive to learning.
3. Plan rehearsals that are effective, educational, and productive.
4. Provide continued musical growth and development for each student.
5. Design performances that are challenging, educational, entertaining, and of the highest
musical standards.
Program Organization
The Band program at RHS is organized to provide students with continuous development of musical skills through the study and application of wind and percussion instruments in large and small ensemble settings. The band ensembles include Marching Band, Concert Band, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble.
Marching Band will meet during the fall semester during football season. After football season, concert band will take its place. Concert band will also meet during the spring semester. During Concert season there will be opportunities to focus on small ensemble activities like All-District Honor Band, All- State Honor Band, and Solo and Ensemble.
Students enrolled in band class also have the opportunity to participate in other music classes like Percussion Ensemble, Music Theory, and Music Appreciation. An explanation of each class follows.
MARCHING BAND CLASS
Marching Band provides students with a balanced comprehensive study of music. The semester consists mostly of marching activities and is concluded with a winter concert at the end of the semester providing a smooth transition to the spring semester. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Band repertoire is of the highest caliber.
All members of the marching band program are required to participate in the Concert Band class during the spring semester unless special arrangements are made with the director. The sections of the Marching Band include but are not limited to Drum Major, Pit, Drum line, Horn line and Color Guard. Extra rehearsals are scheduled on an arranged basis with a minimum of 5 extra hours of rehearsal scheduled outside of the school day each week during the marching season as scheduled by the director. All members of the band are encouraged, but not required, to study privately.
Attendance is required at all rehearsals, performances and competitions unless excused by the Director as they are used as assessment tools as per the New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks for music education. All students who elect to take the Marching Band class must participate in the Summer Band Camp in preparation for the fall marching activities and performances. Membership in the marching band as instrumentalists is open to all students with previous band experience in grades 9-12 or by permission of the director. An audition for placement may be required. Preliminary chair placement as well as specific assignments and positions in the competition show will begin to be made during band camp and periodically throughout the semester at the discretion of the director.
The marching band typically performs for all home football games, away football games when funding is available, at pep assemblies, the Southeast New Mexico State Fair Parade, SENMMEA District Marching Festival, and other regional marching contests or performances as determined by the director.
Grading Procedures
Grades will be based on the following criteria: Daily Participation, Performance Test, Written Test, Performance Participation, Uniform Inspection, and Rehearsal Participation. Grades are based on a 100 point scale. The explanations of grades are as followed:
1. Morning Rehearsals= 100 points
2. Daily Participation= 20 points
3. Performances= 100 points a performance
4. Playing Test= 100 points
5. Music Memorization= 100 points
6. Uniform Inspection= 100 points
7. Performance Line Up= 100 points
8. Friday Rehearsals= 100 points
9. Sectionals= 100 points
10. Quizzes= 100 points
11. Miscellaneous= 50 points
12. Required music folder at games= 50 points
1. Morning rehearsals start at 7 am. Roll will be taken. If you are on time you will receive full credit. Five points will be deducted for every 10 minutes you are late.
2. There will be daily participation points. If you are late, fail to participate, or do not have your required material you will lose those participation points.
3. Performances (games, parades, concerts, other performances) are worth 100 points. If you attend the performances and are on time you will receive full credit, if you are late 50 points will be deducted from the performance points.
4. Playing tests are worth 100 points. One point will be deducted for each mistake. You will be notified of your score on the playing test. You will have one week to retake the playing test if you choose to try to improve your grade.
5. Music for the half time show, fight song, school song, parade songs, and Star Spangled Banner must be memorized. Each song is worth 100 points. Stand tunes do not need to be memorized, but it is encouraged.
6. There will be a uniform inspection before each performance. If you are in full uniform you will receive full credit. If you are out of uniform 50 points will be deducted. If your uniform is in need of cleaning, 1st time there will be a warning, 2nd time 100 points will be deducted.
7. You are expected to be at each performance on time. Roll will be taken. If you are late 50 points will be deducted.
8. There will be Friday after school rehearsals on game days. Failure to show up for the rehearsals or showing up late for the rehearsal will mean you will lose those points.
9. Extra rehearsals and sectionals are mandatory. Failure to show up for sectionals or showing up late will mean you lose those points.
10. Quizzes will be given periodically. They will be either written quizzes, playing quizzes, or marching quizzes. These quizzes are worth 100 points.
11. Miscellaneous points will be given for extra credit or extra effort. The points will be deducted if you continue to “forget” your required material, gum on the field, no drill charts, disruptive behavior, or have disciplinary actions against you (on trip or at performance).
12. You are required to have a music folder at all performances. Failure to bring your folder to performances will result in 50 points being deducted
Concert/Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band provides students with a balanced comprehensive study of music. Instruction is designed so that students are enabled to connect, examine, imagine, define, try, extend, refine, and integrate music study into other subject areas. Ensemble and solo activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including, but not limited to: (1) tone production, (2) technical skills, (3) intonation, (4) music reading skills, (5) listening skills, (6) analyzing music, and (7) studying historically significant styles of literature. Band repertoire is of the highest caliber. All members of the Symphonic Band are required to participate in the Marching Band class during the fall semester unless special arrangements are made with the director. Extra rehearsals are scheduled on an arranged basis as scheduled by the director. All members of the band are encouraged, but not required, to study privately. Attendance is required at all rehearsals, performances and competitions unless excused by the Director as they are used as assessment tools as per the New Mexico Standards and Benchmarks for music education. An audition for placement may be required. The Symphonic Band students typically perform a preview concert, at District Solo/Ensemble Festival, at SENMMEA District Large Ensemble Festival, and other performances as determined by the director.