IHM beginning band - grade 5

BAND CLASS POLICY, EXPECTATIONS, & GRADING:

CONTENTS:

  1. Band participation fee
  2. Students must have…
  3. Instrument repairs?
  4. Injuries & medical issues?
  5. Band grading
  6. Home practicing policy
  7. Practice tips & strategies

1>BAND PARTICIPATION FEE: $15

What your band fee pays for:

  • School-owned instruments that are used for instruction to teach the children
    supplies used to perform in-house instrument repairs
  • School-owned instruments that students are loaned when personal instruments go to the shop for repair.
  • Repair and upkeep of those school-owned instruments.
  • Bigger school-owned instruments that no one student due to the cost.
  • Extra supplemental music used to teach the kids throughout the program, including the sheet music library.
  • Sound and audio equipment used during everyday instruction.

2>STUDENTS MUST HAVE:

  • Student-model instruments in good working order, including any items related to the instrument (reeds, valve oil, etc.).*
  • A band method book (Essential Elements series)
  • A pencil
  • Student planner.

*Local retailers, like 3rd Rock Music, Buddy Rogers, or Willis Music are good choices. PLEASE. BE WARY about buying instruments online from sellers you don’t know.

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3>INSTRUMENT REPAIRS:

  • While instruments are in the shop, students MUST have a ‘loaner’ instruments for the duration of the repair. Repairs can often take several weeks to complete. If you lease from Buddy Rogers, a loaner instrument is included as part of your lease agreement.

4>INJURY & MEDICAL ISSUES:

  • If you can't play due to Injury / medical reason, please have a doctor's note on file with Mrs. Jasper.

5>BAND GRADING

  • Students must stay current on in-class assignments, keeping a weekly practice log (found on the inside cover of the band method book). Students will be checked in class and assessed on whether or not they are properly practicing at home.
  • Band students are continually assessed based on the following criteria:
    1. CLASS PROGRESS AND HOME PRACTICE.
    2. HAVING ALL REQUIRED MATERIALS AT EACH REHEARSAL
    including instruments, books, sheet music, and pencil
    3. PLAYING, WRITTEN, & ORAL TESTS
    4. PERFORMANCES – attendance required, except in the case of illness or documented family emergency.

Points received:

  • Weekly attendance grade = 6pts/per week
  • Practice check grades(3-4 per trimester) = 6 points per check
  • Formal playing quiz (1-2 per trimester) = 15 points.
  • Concert (2nd & 3rd trimester only) = 20 points.

Extra Credit:

Poor grades can ALWAYS be improved upon by asking Mr. Simmons for extra playing assignments.

6>HOME PRACTICING POLICY:
Students are required to stay current on band assignments by practicing regularly at home. Mr. Simmons generally assigns 3-4 exercises at a time and students are responsible for keeping track of these assignments in their journals. STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE MISSED WORK DUE TO ABSENCES.

  • 5th should practice at least 3 times a week for 20 minutes a session, totaling 60 minutes minimum.
  • Don't forget to total you minutes on your log and have mom or dad initial.
  • Use your band book DVD when you are practicing at home. All exercises found in your book are recorded for play-a-long there.

7>PRACTICE TIPS & STRATEGIES:

  • PRACTICE SMALL CHUNKS, one to two measures at a time. .
  • FIND THE HARDEST MUSIC and spend more time practicing those sections.
  • SLOW DOWN and play correct rhythms and fingerings (sticking).
  • PRACTICE FOR ACCURACY. Be able to play an exercise or song correctly 5 to 7 times without mistakes
  • ASK MR. SIMMONS for extra help if you are having problems at home.

Students can ALWAYS make up poor grades by asking Mr. Simmons for extra playing assignments.