Doerre Intermediate Band Handbook

Kleb

Band

Handbook

2016-2017

Kleb Intermediate Band Handbook

Table of Contents

How to Contact Us………………... pg. 3

Band Schedule…………….……… pg. 4

Kleb Band Descriptions….……….. pg. 4

Private Lesson Program……………pg. 5

Band Activity Policies……………..pg. 6

Rehearsal/Performance Schedule….pg. 7

Sectionals.………………………… pg. 7

Daily Individual Practice………… pg. 8

Practice Records………………….. pg. 8

Band Course Objectives………….. pg. 9

Band Hall Procedures……………...pg. 10

Grading Procedures………………. pg. 11

Uniform Requirements …………… pg. 12

School Owned Instruments……….. pg. 12

The Band Directors:

Mrs. Jennifer Wren is the Director of Bands for the Kleb Intermediate Band Program. The Associate Director is Mrs. Christine King. Mr. Bill Holden from Klein HS also assists with the program. Each director has specific band and beginner assignments as follows:

Mrs. Wren – Symphonic Band, assists with Concert A Band and Concert B Band, Beginning Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba, and Percussion

Mrs. King – Concert A Band, Concert B Band, assists with Symphonic Band, Beginning Flute, Oboe, Bassoon, Clarinet, and Saxophone

Mr. Holden – Assists with all Percussion students

How to Contact Us

By EMAIL (quickest & preferred method regarding non-urgent items)

Jennifer Wren

Christine King

Bill Holden

By PHONE (messages usually returned within 24 hours)

Band Hall Phone 832-249-5600

By STUDENT

You are always more than welcome to send a note with your student. Please include an email address or phone number where you can be reached.

Band Schedule

At Kleb Intermediate School, approximately 250 students will enjoy the daily musical experiences provided in their Band classes. These young instrumentalists not only learn a greater knowledge of all aspects of music; they also develop discipline, responsibility, and the ability to cooperate with others. When you add to this the discovery of a lifelong means of self-expression and pleasure, you can see why so many students benefit from and enjoy being a part of the Kleb Intermediate School Band Program!

The Beginning Band is made up of students who have had no prior experience in playing a band instrument. These students may be scheduled into the following separate classes: French Horns, Trumpets, Low Brass (Trombone, Euphonium, and Tuba), Saxophones, Clarinets, Percussion, Flutes, Double Reed (Oboes & Bassoons). The performances that the Beginning Band will be involved in include the Winter and Spring Concerts, and a solo contest.

The Concert A and Concert B Bands are made up of seventh graders and eighth graders with at least one prior year of band experience. These students have full Band every band class. The performances that the Concert A and Concert B Bands may be involved in include the Winter and Spring Concerts, one or two band contests including UIL Concert & Sight-Reading (Concert A only), Klein ISD Solo & Ensemble Contest, and pep rallies.

The Symphonic Band is made up primarily of eighth graders but may include seventh graders. These students have full Band every band class and have had at least one prior year of band experience. The performances that the Symphonic Band will be involved in include the Winter and Spring Concerts, one or two band contests including UIL Concert & Sight-Reading, Klein ISD Solo & Ensemble Contest, Region and District Band auditions and performances, school assemblies, pep rallies, and recruiting performances.

Another extremely important aspect of the Kleb Band is the Private Lesson Program. Please read the information about this fantastic opportunity that is included in this handbook.

At the end of each year, 6th and 7th grade students will audition for placement in the Symphonic, Concert A, or Concert B Band. 8th grade students will audition for band placement in the Klein HS Band.

Private Lessons

The value of private, or “one-on-one’ instruction has long been recognized as an important asset in the musical development of young students. It is the one time when a student receives the full attention of a professional musician/teacher to work on a special problem unique to the student or his/her instrument. Band members who are involved in the private lesson program tend to maintain a greater interest level, practice longer, and generally progress faster and reach a higher level of proficiency than other students.

Private lessons are available to all band students at Kleb, and are held each week before/after school or during a child’s band class. Days and times are arranged individually by the private instructor in order to avoid conflicts.

The Klein Independent School District is pleased to be able to provide qualified private teachers. Their instruction is coordinated to enhance and complement classroom instruction. Although students are under no obligation to take lessons and special consideration in placement will not be given to a student enrolling, we highly recommend this program and hope every serious student will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have any questions, or would like the name and phone number of a private teacher, please call us during school hours (see Page 3 for “Contacting Directors”).

Responsibility

Students should commit to study for the entire semester in which they enroll unless extenuating circumstances require them to withdraw.

Billing

Each month’s lessons should be paid for in advance, usually on or by the first lesson of each month. When an account becomes in arrears, lessons will be suspended until payments are brought current.

The financial agreement is between the teacher and the student and his/her parents. In order to guarantee that teachers will be available and that the continuity of lessons will occur, students will be expected to pay for any lessons they miss unless advance notification is made to the teacher. Make-up dates will be scheduled, if possible and at the discretion of the teacher.

Established Rates

Attendance

The student is responsible for notifying the private teacher at least 48 hours in advance of a lesson to be missed (do not ask the Band Directors to inform the instructor; this is your responsibility). Also, it is the student’s responsibility to reschedule any make-up lessons within a month of the cancelled lesson or forfeit the payment for that lesson.

*Make sure to fill out the Private Lesson Form.

Band Activity Policies

Charms Calendar (most up to date) & Major Events List (hardcopy from Band Directors) – You will be provided with a list of band activities, rehearsals and concerts that the Kleb Bands will be involved in during the school year. If there are any additions or changes, we will edit the Charms calendar, send an email notification about the change, and tell the students at school. Hopefully, there will be few, if any changes. Each student is required to be at all rehearsals and performances listed for his/her band. Students should have their own personal email address listed in Charms so that they receive our emails. We place the responsibility on the students for knowing when they have to be where.

We request that you check the Charms calendar, mark it on your family calendar, and schedule other activities and appointments at times that do not conflict. It is impossible for the band to schedule around the activities of individual students and families. Therefore, we ask your cooperation in scheduling around band activities.

Students are encouraged to plan ahead and know their obligations for Band, other school activities, and personal schedules such as vacations, dentist appointments, etc. The director must be informed of any potential conflict no less than two weeks prior to the event to allow time to work out the conflict. Last minute notification or simply not attending any performance or rehearsal may result in a parent conference to determine what action should be taken and will result in a low grade or zero.

Excused absences will be given only for illness, death in the immediate family, or immediate family emergencies. Outside of school activities (baseball, volleyball, etc.) are not considered reasons for excused absences. An unexcused absence from a band rehearsal or performance may result in that student in being moved to a lower band. Should a student be excused from a performance, that student may be required to complete a written report or perform for one of the directors either live or on a tape. Even then, only partial credit may be obtained because of the inherent nature of the class.

Also, please be careful when scheduling major orthodontic work. Having braces put on or taken off just before a performance or contest can be detrimental to a student’s performance. Contact your director if you have any questions!

If possible, consider getting the Invisalign type of braces. These will help your student transition to braces more comfortably.

Your help, planning, and cooperation in these situations will be appreciated. Thank you!

Rehearsal/Performance Schedules

·  Participation at sectionals, outside of school rehearsals, and performances is required and will be integrated into the student’s grade in accordance with the Grading Guidelines in Music contained in this Handbook, KISD policy and TEA/UIL regulations.

·  A schedule of activities and events will be provided to students and parents. Updated schedules will be provided as needed.

·  Regularly scheduled sectionals, rehearsals, and concerts are curricular and have no academic eligibility requirements, provided they are on campus and do not charge admission. Ineligible students must plan to attend these.

·  In addition to local performances, special performance ensembles may make numerous other appearances during the year.

·  Performance courses in Band involve outside of school rehearsals and performances. Students who are members of principal performing groups are expected to participate fully in all performance activities including approved travel.

·  According to the TEA/UIL Side-by-Side Constitution and Contest Rules, students must be eligible in all classes to perform at UIL events as well as other contests or performances that have an admission. Students should keep up with their assignments in all classes in order to participate in important Band events.

Sectionals

All Symphonic and Concert A Band members are required to attend a weekly practice for one hour either before school (7:30 — 8:30 AM) or after school (4:10 — 5:10 PM). Each section has voted and approved this rehearsal schedule according to their personal schedule conflicts. It is during sectionals that playing tests are administered and individualized help on material covered in band is given. It is most important that students make every effort to participate in these sectionals. Failure to attend sectionals will affect chair placement and grade. Repeated unexcused absences may result in reassignment to another band.

Sectional rehearsals are probably the single most critical factor that has contributed to the success of the Kleb Band over the years, and attendance is very important. Please do not schedule appointments during sectional time. The Kleb coaches and other academic teachers work closely with the Band Department to help solve conflicts for student’s schedules. Communication is the key! Let the Band Director know about a problem and she will assist in finding a solution.

If for some reason a section rehearsal must be missed, please make every effort to contact your child’s band director BEFORE the day of the sectional. In most cases, there are make-up sectionals that your son/daughter may attend to make-up the grade. However, many of the section rehearsals also include chair tests. If your child misses a section rehearsal, and there is a chair test, they can attend the make-up sectional for a grade, but they may not necessarily be included in the chair test results. Comparing one performance to another is much easier when they are heard back-to-back.

ATTENDANCE

Any activity that is included in the course objectives is considered curricular.

Sectionals and performances are part of the course requirements and are therefore graded activities.

Daily Practice and Practice Records

In order to be prepared for class and ready to pass off Objectives, students are required to practice on their instruments daily. This is the band equivalent of “homework”. Getting the school year started with a developed practice routine is KEY. Practicing helps students be successful, which makes them like band, which encourages them to practice more! The opposite effect will occur if a routine isn’t established in September/October.

Our students are required to practice 180 minutes a week to receive a 100 (Beginner students will work up to 180 throughout the year).

Practice Logs are handed out at the beginning of each six weeks. Extras can be found on Charms.

Students should attempt to enter their practice times as they practice throughout the week, and it is important to make sure the records are completely updated on Sunday night when students ask for a Parent Signature.

Practice Records must be turned in on the day it is due (first day of the school week) – signed or un-signed; filled out or not. 10 points will be deducted for each day it is late.

·  Any student practicing more than their required amount number of minutes can earn extra credit.

·  If a student cannot practice during a given week (due to extended illness or instrument in need of repair) please enter a practice session with zero minutes and notate SICK for each day you are unable to practice.

·  Practicing is considered band homework. Practice assignments are given in class everyday, as well as on objective sheets at the beginning of each six weeks for the Advanced Bands. Therefore, if a student misses school or is away for a weekend, they are expected to make up work/practice time the same as if they miss other classes. If you are going out of town for the weekend, please consider this as you plan your practice minutes for the week.