EvansMiddle School

Band Handbook

Welcome to the Evans Band page. You are the most important part of one of the most successful instrumental music programs in our district. This handbook will outline your band program and it should become a very important resource that you can turn to when questions arise.

The rules outlined on the following pages are simple and sound. Abiding by these rules allows you to fulfill an obligation to your school, to your fellow band members, to your family, and to yourself. Only when every member of the band puts forth a 100% effort can a band attain its goals in musical achievement and service to school and community. The more you invest of yourself, the more will be your reward. Together we can make this the best year ever.

Please take special notice of the sections dealing with attendance at functions, fees, insurance, grading system, rehearsals, daily procedures, uniforms, and important dates.

Parents and students are requested to read this entire handbook, discuss it, and keep it for reference for the school year.

I appreciate all your support and look forward to another exciting school year.

Sincerely,

Bob Culbreth, EvansMiddle School Band Director

Band Handbook Index

  1. Evans Band Course Descriptions
  2. Method Books
  3. Discipline
  4. Daily Rules and Procedures
  5. Grading
  6. Practice
  7. Attendance to Performances and Rehearsals
  8. Early Entry by Music Students
  9. Band Office
  10. Concert Etiquette
  11. Band Officers and Section Leaders
  12. Forms
  13. Solo and Ensemble/Honor Band
  14. District 6 Band Performance Evaluation
  15. Instruments and Equipment
  16. Private Lessons
  17. Uniforms
  18. Parental Help

1.

Evans Band Course Descriptions

The Evans Band consists of four performing groups. All daily classes represent either a section of a larger group or a complete performance group unto itself. At this time there are in excess of 170 members in our program and those members are divided among the groups listed below.

Symphonic/8th grade Honors Band Prerequisite: Audition - Teacher Recommendation - This is the advanced band which is made up of 7th and 8th grade students who have attained a high degree of proficiency on their instrument. Members of this organization will perform at all competitions, contests, and concerts and should be prepared to spend time outside the school day preparing for these performances. (All Year) There is a uniform fee of $25.00 and a $30.00 maintenance fee for school owned instruments.

Student’s selection to this class will be greatly influenced by the student's past record of personal discipline, dedication, sense of commitment and their ability to function as a member of a team. Elements of music are approached through exercises of increasing difficulty which present challenging, interesting, and enriching activities. Solo and group contests are extremely important and provide competitive opportunities for students to receive constructive criticism from adjudicators out side the district. This is an all year class. Students are expected to come once a week to either a before school or after school rehearsal. Students not complying with the class requirements or not maintaining performance standards or discipline levels commensurate with an honors class will be moved down to Concert Band at the earliest opportunity. Students may be required to sign a contract with a parental endorsement acknowledging that they understand and will comply with the requirements for this class.

SYMPHONIC/7th GRADE HONORS BANDPrerequisite: Audition - Teacher Recommendation - This is the advanced band which is made up of students who have attained a high degree of proficiency on their instrument. Members of this organization will perform with the advanced 8th graders at competitions, contests, and concerts and should be prepared to spend time outside the school day preparing for these performances. (All Year) There is a uniform fee of $25.00 and a $30.00 maintenance fee for school owned instruments.

Student’s selection to this class will be greatly influenced by the student's past record of personal discipline, dedication, sense of commitment and their ability to function as a member of a team. Elements of music are approached through exercises of increasing difficulty which present challenging, interesting, and enriching activities. Solo and group contests are extremely important and provide competitive opportunities for students to receive constructive criticism from adjudicators out side the district. This is an all year class. Students are expected to come once a week to either a before school or after school rehearsal. Students not complying with the class requirements or not maintaining performance standards or discipline levels commensurate with an honors class will be moved down to Symphonic Band at the earliest opportunity. Students may be required to sign a contract with a parental endorsement acknowledging that they understand and will comply with the requirements for this class.

8th GRADE CONCERT BAND Prerequisites for this band include beginning band, seventh grade band and teacher recommendation-This course is designed for students who have completed two or more years of study on their band instrument but who have not yet achieved a level of excellence commensurate with being placed in an advanced band. Members of this organization may perform at UIL competitions and concerts and may spend time outside of the school day preparing for these performances. (All Year) There is a $25.00 uniform maintenance fee and a $30.00 maintenance fee for school owned instruments.

Students are expected to be performing at grade level on their instruments. They should be striving to maintain excellent team oriented discipline. Elements of music are approached through increasing difficulty which presents challenging, interesting, and enriching activities. Solo and group contests provide competitive opportunities for students to receive constructive criticism from adjudicators outside the district. This is an all year class. Opportunities will exist often, for students to be moved to 8th Honor Band if their performance and discipline are on a level justifying advancement.

7th GRADE CONCERT BAND Prerequisites for this band include beginning band, and teacher recommendation.-This course is designed for students who have completed one year of study on their band instrument but who have not yet achieved a level of excellence commensurate with being placed in an advanced band. Members of this organization may perform at UIL competitions and concerts and may spend time outside of the school day preparing for these performances. (All Year) There is a There is a $25.00 uniform maintenance fee and a $30.00 maintenance fee for school owned instruments.

Students are expected to be performing at grade level on their instruments. They should be striving to maintain excellent team oriented discipline. Elements of music are approached through increasing difficulty which presents challenging, interesting, and enriching activities. Solo and group contests provide competitive opportunities for students to receive constructive criticism from adjudicators outside the district. This is an all year class. Opportunities will exist often, for students to be moved to 7th Honor Band if their performance and discipline are on a level justifying advancement.

FOOTBALL BAND The football band will perform at all home games and some pep rallies. This group is open to all 7th and 8th grade band members. We will meet after school on Tuesday’s until 4:30.

BEGINNING BAND (6th GRADE)Instruments will be assigned primarily according to the abilities of the student and then the needs of the band program. (See instrument choice letter). This course will cover basic fundamentals of tone production and note reading. Elements of music are approached through exercises of increasing difficulty which present challenging and interesting problems for students to master through individual practice and class rehearsal. Students and parents will be assisted in all matters pertaining to instrument procurement and materials for class. This is an all year class. These classes are combined at various times through the year to prepare for concerts. These mandatory rehearsals are held after school until5p.m. before each concert. Students who have transportation problems with rehearsals or concerts should discuss the problem with their parents and band directors early so that a solution can be found. There are two concerts during the year, one during the holiday season and a spring concert in May. All concerts start at 6:00 P.M.

2.

METHOD BOOKS

Following are a list of method books used at Evans. They all should be available at your neighborhood music store. You will be given ample notice, on the order of three or four weeks, to purchase a new book.

All students should have a three ring binder and clear sleeves to place your music in.

BEGINNER BAND.

Band Expressions Book one.

SEVENTH GRADE BANDS
Essential Elements Book Two. Symphonic band members will also need Foundations For A Superior Performance.

EIGHTH GRADE BANDS
Foundations for A Superior Performance.

3.

DISCIPLINE
(GENERAL)

Band by its very name suggests oneness, teamwork, ensemble, and great cooperation, with everyone striving for a common goal. This all comes at a time in a middle school student’s life when students are striving for individual identity. A very small number of students find that they can't make this kind of sacrifice and become disruptive discipline problems in band class. These students will not be allowed to affect the quality of learning taking place in that class. Continued problems will result in that student being moved down to anotherconnections class. Band students are expected to acceptresponsibility for their actions.

All discipline problems will be handled on an individual basis.

4.

DAILY RULES AND PROCEDURES

The following is the guideline to a successful rehearsal. These guidelines should be considered rules. Rule violations incur a penalty and a resultant action that is negative to the band. The student who violates the rules is responsible for reducing the amount of time for rehearsal and consequently is hurting the entire band.

  1. Enter the rehearsal hall in a quiet, courteous, and orderly manner.
  2. Quickly get your instrument and music and take your seat.
  3. A student will be considered tardy if they are not in their seat, ready to rehearse at the end of the five minute passing period from the class change.
  4. Students will check the whiteboard or Smart boardfor the agenda and put their method books and music in the order of the agenda.
  5. Concert attention will be observed when the director steps on the podium and no further talking will be permitted.
  6. Students will not play instruments without permission.
  7. Students will not play other student's instruments. This includes percussion and district owned instruments.
  8. Band members should have the following for every rehearsal:
  9. INSTRUMENT with the necessary accessories.
  10. ALL MUSIC
  11. PENCIL
  12. All school books, horn cases, and equipment not needed for the rehearsal should be left in the instrument storage shelf or book shelves.
  13. Good posture is essential at all times.
  14. Music stands are for music.
  15. If it becomes necessary to take your instrument to a repair shop, please remember to bring a note from home, your mouthpiece and music. There is always a strong possibility that we might provide a temporary instrument.
  16. When class is over, quietly remain in your seat until you are dismissed.
  17. Individual practice is a must! You should practice most days either during homeroom or at home.
  18. Students who do not bring their instruments to school will have points deducted from their participation grade, lose chair ranking, and will endanger their band ranking. They will call home and do a written assignment during class.
  19. Students violating these simple rules on a regular basis risk demotion to the next lower band.

5.

GRADING

Evans band students are tested many times in any nine-week period. The vast majority of tests will be performance tests. Major tests will be assigned several days in advance and will usually consist of an exercise, scales, a music passage from folder music, or an etude from a required method book. Other tests may occur randomly and may or may not be graded. These tests will be given from any source in the student's folder. During any nine week period there will be several chair tests and challenges. All grades should be considered equal for the purpose of the nine-week average.

Areas that are graded:

  • Performance tests (discussed above)
  • Attendance at rehearsals
  • Concerts, Contests, Solo and Ensemble Contest
  • District Honor Band
  • Written Tests
  • Participation
  • Practice Reports

6.

PRACTICE

Band students at Evans should be prepared to devote a minimum of twenty minutes daily to individual practice. The rewards of playing a musical instrument increase in direct proportion to the number of hours invested in individual practice. These rewards include chair placement, grade, and self satisfaction. There will be many times during any seven day period when more time than twenty minutes can be devoted to practice. The key is to set aside a certain time every day for practice. Set up a daily schedule to insure that practice is an important part of your daily studies. If practice reports are utilized in your class they will be due each Monday at the beginning of class.

7.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance is required for all rehearsals and public performances of the various performing groups that make up the Evans Band Program. One primary purpose of any band program is the preparation for and participation in public performances and contests.

PUBLIC PERFORMANCES:

Most dates for public appearances are announced at the beginning of the school year or at the very least many weeks or even months in advance. The majority of our functions are listed in the back of this handbook. A band is a close knit team that is injured greatly by an individual absence at a contest or concert. The competitions are a very important and a vital part of being in band and missing a performance will be dealt with the same as if the quarterback for a football team missed the State Championship Game. Excused absences from public appearances will be granted in cases of genuine emergency only, such as serious illness of the student or death in the family. Please call if such an emergency arises. Jobs, family trips, etc., do not justify an excused absence. Students, who feel they have an excused absence, should discuss it with the director before the performance not after! An unexcused absence from any public appearance is very serious and will be dealt with as an individual case. No person may remain in the performing band that is not faithful in attendance. The student will receive a grade of 0 for an unexcused absence. If the student is excused, they will be expected to make up this grade as the director sees fit.

BAND REHEARSALS The bulk of our work will be done during regular band period. Do not ask to be excused from this period except in emergencies. School policy will prevail in dealing with unexcused absences and tardinessduring regular band period.

If a student has a tutoring/private lesson conflict with a rehearsal, the student needs a note from the teacher or parent.

SECTION REHEARSALS (early rehearsals) Attendance at section rehearsals is of utmost importance. This time is spent working on specific problems of the individual instruments and players. Sectionals will be scheduled both before and after school. All efforts will be made to work around scheduled conflicts such as athletics and other school functions. Excused absences will be granted only by the band director after a note from the parent is received prior to the absence. In the case of unforeseen absences, a note must be presented to the band director upon return to class. The directors are aware that there will be some conflicts with athletic events or practices that cannot be avoided. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the director of any problem well in advance. Unexcused absences from section rehearsals will result in loss of all chair rank and must be made up to avoid a grade of zero. Section make-up will be one and one half times the rehearsal. In other words the student will spend 45 minutes for a 30 minute section missed. Being more than ten minutes tardy will count as one-half absence. Every effort should be made to avoid doctor’s appointments, etc. on section days. During the first two weeks of school, students will be asked to write down their before and after school conflicts, and a sectional schedule will be prepared around those. If a student fails to report a conflict, that student will be held responsible for attending sectionals. The band director may need to change the schedule as the needs of the band changes. Advance notice of 24 to 72 hours will be given. Morning sectionals start at 7:30 a.m.punctual arrival is very important. After school sectionals start promptly at 3:45 p.m. and will be over at 4:45 p.m. Make arrangements to be picked up ahead of time.