Band/Orchestra Syllabus

Florence Nightingale Middle School

3311 N. Figueroa St.

Los Angeles, CA 90065

(323) 224-4800

I am glad you have chosen to be a part of the Music Department here at Nightingale Middle School. I look forward to a bright and successful year of music making.

The performing groups at our school are Mariachi Gavilancillo, Advanced Orchestra and Advanced Band. Students in Beginning Orchestra and Beginning Band will perform in these groups next year. The following pages will give you some guidelines that will help you succeed in the music program.

A list of all concerts and events will be given to you as soon as possible. Please post it somewhere so that you will plan ahead. Finally with a growing music program, donated instruments are always welcome. If you have an instrument that you would like to donate to the school please contact me at the school’s phone number.

Again welcome to the Nightingale Middle School Music Department. I look forward to an exciting and successful year!

Sincerely,

Dr. Diana McConnell

Instrumental Music

Why Music?

Philosophy of Music Education

  • The study of and performance of music allows students to gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them. Music is a direct expression of the thoughts, feelings and experiences of human kind and allows students to learn first hand from this expression.
  • Music is standards based and is regulated by standards at the national and state level.
  • Music is part of the core curriculum according to Goals 2000, educational reforms put into law by the federal government. This puts music on the same level as math, English, science, and history.

Educational Requirements

  • Students are required to take a visual or performing art to graduate from high school in LAUSD.
  • One full year of a visual or performing art is required to attend a University of California school (UCLA, UC Berkley, UCSD, etc.)

Benefits of Studying Music

  • Studies show that students who study music score higher on standardized tests.
  • Studies show that students who study music earn higher grades in classes outside of music.
  • Studies show that students who study music are more likely to be well-adjusted and successful students in all areas of their education.
  • Participating in music programs helps students get into and earn scholarships for college.

The Fun Stuff!

  • Music students get to go on various field trips throughout the year.
  • Music students get to perform in concerts during and after school.
  • Music students get to perform in various festivals including ones at Knott’s Berry Farm and throughout LAUSD.

Music Department Policies

Music Room Philosophy

  • Being a music student at Nightingale is an honor and privilege. As such you are expected to maintain a high standard on conduct, ethics, and teamwork in our music room, on campus, and when on school trips.

Good Musician Rules

  • Listen to the conductor.
  • Follow ALL directions.
  • Only play when asked to play.
  • Stop playing instantly at cut-off.
  • Sit quietly (No fidgeting, talking, or extra noise).
  • Use good posture and technique.
  • Play with their very best tone.
  • Play with energy!
  • Support your fellow musicians.
  • Keep the music room neat & clean.
  • Work diligently throughout period.
  • Practice everyday!!!!

Attendance

  • Good attendance is vital to your success since most rehearsing and learning takes place during class. Don’t schedule appointments during class time.

Tardy Policy

  • Students must be sitting in their assigned seats ready to play with their instrument, music, stand, binder, and penciland working on their warm-up or practicing quietly when the tardy bell rings. Otherwise, they will be counted tardy. Simply being in the room when the tardy bell rings DOES NOT make them “on time”.
  • A signed note from an adult is required to excuse a tardy.
  • Excessive tardiness could lead to a lowering of the student’s work habits/cooperationgrade and possible disciplinary action.

Classroom Behavior

  • Students whose classroom behavior excessively disrupts the teacher’s ability to teach and other students’ ability to learn will lead to a lowering of the student’s work habit/cooperation grade and disciplinary action.

Practicing

  • Students are required to come to class prepared to play all of their music. Being prepared comes from practicing. All students are expected to practice every day at home.
  • Instruments will be brought to school every day and taken home every day after school.

Assignments

  • Throughout the year there will be various assignments given. Students are expected to complete and turn in these assignments according to the due dates given.
  • Weekly practice sheets are due every Monday.

Tests

  • There will be various playing tests given on both technical exercises and the music the group is performing. These tests may be pop quizzes or scheduled tests.
  • There will be various written tests given on material covered in class.

Notebooks

  • Students will be required to keep all finished assignments and tests in a Black 3-ring binder that is separate from other binders for other classes.
  • These notebooks may be graded for organization and completeness throughout the year.

Concerts

  • Concerts and festival performances are like a Final Exam for this class because they represent all that the students have learned for that semester. For this reason concert attendance and participation is required. Missing a concert will result in an “F” on the Final Exam and will significantly lower the student’s grade in the class.
  • Advanced Orchestra and Advanced Band will perform in a Fall Concert, Winter Concert, Spring Concert, Festival, Culmination, and additional performances throughout the year.
  • Beginning Winds and Strings will perform in a Fall Concert, Spring Concert, and Culmination.

Concert Dress For Advanced Orchestra, and Advanced Band

  • Concert dress is as follows. If any student has any difficulty acquiring the proper attire, please contact the teacher in writing for help with an acceptable alternative uniform. Failure to contact the teacher for an alternative, will result in their concert performance grade being lowered.

GIRLS

  1. Black shoes/boots with black socks(NO SNEAKERS!)
  2. Your choice of:

*Black dress that goes past the knees when sitting down. (No spaghetti straps or strapless dresses.)

*Black skirt that goes past the knees when sitting down and a black blouse. (Black leggings or tights must be worn with any skirts that do not go past the knee).

*Black dress pants. (NO JEANS!)

BOYS

  1. Black shoes/boots with black socks. (NO SNEAKERS!)
  2. Black dress pants. (NO JEANS!)
  3. Your choice of:

*Black dress shirt with a long dark tie.

*White dress shirt, black suit jacket, and long dark tie.

Tee shirts, jeans, or tennis shoes are NEVER acceptable for girls or boys!

Concert Dress for Beginning Winds and Strings

GIRLS

  1. Black dress shoes/boots with black socks. (NO SNEAKERS!)
  2. White blouse. (School polo shirt is fine.)
  3. Black slacks or skirt that goes past the knees when sitting down. (NO JEANS!))

BOYS

  1. Black dress shoes/boots with black socks (NO SNEAKERS!)
  2. White dress shirt. (School polo shirt is fine.)
  3. Black pants. (NO JEANS!))

Tee shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes are not acceptable for girls or boys!

Concert/Performance Absence Policy

  • All concert absences must be submitted in writing, with as much advanced notice as possible, and the teacher must approve the absence. Any absence that could have been avoided with proper planning with not be approved.
  • All approved absences will be given 3 days after the concert to submit their make up their performance.
  • All unapproved absences will not be allowed to make up their performance grade.
  • Make up Performance Criteria
  • The student will be video recorded performing their concert music – for grading purposes only.
  • The music must be performed in Concert order, at the tempo used in classroom rehearsals.
  • The recording must be submitted via a flash drive or emailed within 3 days of the performance.

Contact with Dr. McConnell

  • All important parental contact with Dr. McConnell MUST be in writing. This can be done via email or a letter signed by a parent. The following are reasons that need written contact:
  • Missing a concert or performance
  • Needing a concert uniform exception.
  • Not being able to take instrument home or take instrument to school.
  • Not being able to practice at home.
  • Injuries or other issues that prevent classroom participation.

Music Shirts

  • Music students will be able to purchase our very own music t-shirt to be worn to school on Spirit Days every Thursday.
  • Music shirts are required for Advanced Band and Advanced Orchestra students, as they will need them for some performances throughout the year. Beginning classes purchase is optional, but recommended.

Grading

  • The academic grade (A, B, C, D, or F) will be averaged from all grades from assignments, tests, practice sheets, daily rehearsals, and concert performances. The students work habits, cooperation, and behavior may also effect their academic grade.
  • 10 % - Tests, Quizzes, & Performances
  • 15 % - Weekly Observation
  • 20% - Instrument taken home daily
  • 20% - Instrument brought to school daily
  • 15% - Weekly Practice Record
  • 15% - Notebook checks & Assignments
  • Report card grade scale
  • A = 90 - 100
  • B = 80 – 89
  • C = 70 – 79
  • D = 60 – 69
  • F = 0 - 59
  • The work habits grade (E, S, U) will be averaged from the student’s practicing, turning in assignments on time, being prepared for class with all materials, and the student’s effort.
  • The cooperation grade (E, S, U) will be based on the student’s behavior in class and when representing Nightingale Middle School on group outings.

Behavior and Attitude

  • Good behavior and a positive attitude are essential for the performing group to be successful. Behavior and attitude are often more important than talent. Poor behavior will not be tolerated.

Personal Electronics & Technology Usage

  • Any personal electronic used in class without permission will be confiscated.
  • If unapproved usage becomes a habit, the electronic device will be given to the Dean and parents may be required to pick up the device.
  • Approved list for classroom electronic usage is:
  • Use of a tuner when tuning the instrument
  • Updating personal calendars with music department events
  • Contacting a parent about something music related
  • Using a music app for musical study

Finger Nail Length

  • All finger nails need to be kept short at all times for the following reasons:
  • Long nails interfere with proper playing technique
  • Long nails can damage musical instruments and equipment.
  • Acrylic and/or fake nails are not allowed – At any time!!
  • Any student found with long nails will be given a warning and time to trim their nails.
  • Failure to cut their nails in a timely manner, will lead to them having to cut their nails in class.

Class Content

  • Students are expected to learn the curriculum based on the California State Content Standards. These standards will be discussed in class.

Costs

  • The use of school instruments is FREE!
  • The only cost that may be incurred will be due to instrument/textbook misuse, loss, or neglect.

Your Commitment and Responsibility

  • The success of the music department as a whole depends on the students. Advanced Orchestra,Advanced Band, and other groups are all made up of students who once took Beginning Band and Beginning Strings at Nightingale. This means that when you sign up for the beginning groups you are committing to the program for 3 years.
  • The department has a lot of fun and educational activities you can be a part of. You also have being a part of music in high school and college to look forward to.
  • Remember it is a privilege to be a music student and you don’t want to miss out!

Instrument Check Out Policy

Every student enrolled in Mariachi, Advanced Orchestra, Advanced Band, Beginning Orchestra and Beginning Band is welcome to use a school instrument at no cost. Students will use these instruments in class and take them home to practice. To ensure that the process of checking out instruments is fair and to keep down repair costs the following policies must be followed.

  1. You may only check out the instrument assigned to you.
  1. You may only take your instrument out of its case when you are inside the music room and when you are inside your home. Do not take the instrument out when outdoors or when anywhere else at school. The instrument can get stolen or damaged easily.
  1. When transporting your instrument always take good care of it and be aware of it at all times. It can get damaged or stolen if you do not.
  1. Your instrument must come back to school the next day BEFORE school. That means before 7:56 AM. Do not use homeroom to drop of your instrument. The instrument must be at school to be used by the other students that share your instrument. Do not carry your instrument to other classes even if you are late. If you are absent the next day, you must have your parent or carpool bring the instrument to the music room for you.

Practice Record Guidelines

Students are required to turn in practice sheets to earn an E in Work Habits and an A in the Academic Grade.. Students are encouraged to at home. The music room will be open before school, break, lunch, and after school most days for students to practice at school if they cannot practice at home. Check with the teacher for details. It is important that students plan ahead so that they can get all of the practicing time in. Do not wait for the weekend and cram in practice!

Practice records are due every Monday. They will include practicing for the previous week. The student must complete the practice sheet and have their parent sign it. Every day that the sheet is late will result in a lowered grade.

Tear Off Sheet

Please keep this entire packet for further reference in your notebook. It should help you to be successful in the music department. If you have questions or concerns feel free to contact me at the school. A successful music department needs everyone, teachers, administrators, students, parents, and the community involved. Parent volunteers are always welcome. Volunteers will be needed to help with chaperones on future trips and performances. If you are interested please indicate that on this form. I thank you ahead of time for all of your hard work and commitment to the program. I look forward to a successful and fulfilling year.

Sincerely,

Dr. Diana McConnell

Instrumental Music

Please return ONLY this page as soon as possible!

Florence Nightingale Middle School

Band/Orchestra Syllabus

I have read and understand all of the information stated in the Music Department Information Packet. By signing below, I agree to all the rules and guidelines outlined in this packet.

______

Student Print NameStudent Signature (Cursive)Date

______

Parent Print NameParent Signature (Cursive)Date

______

Street AddressCityStateZip Code

______

Home Phone NumberWork/ Daytime Phone Number

______Yes I am interested in being a chaperone on future field trips.

______Yes I am interested in being a parent volunteer for the Music Department.