Student Expectations

NORTH MIDDLE SCHOOL BANDS STUDENT EXPECTATIONS

These expectations and guidelines are here so that your band experience can be focused on the enjoyment of making great music. Being part of the collective is the focus of band. The failure to follow these guidelines will result in a chaotic environment, which will greatly detract from our goal of making enjoyable music.

Concert Attendance Policy

One of the end goals in a fine arts class is to display a finished product. A concert performance is an example of display. Performances are group efforts where each and every individual is integral to the success of the performance. A large portion of instructional time is spent in the preparation for performance. Therefore a large percentage of a marking period grade is placed on attendance of performances. I follow the guidelines listed below to evaluate attendance at performances.

1. Missed performances will be excused only under the following circumstances: Illness or family emergency on the day of the performance. A written note explaining the absence is required, and the absence must be an excused absence from school. Students should make every effort to attend school, even for a half day on performance dates. Notes from parents indicating other family emergencies will be accepted. Please note that I consider family emergencies to be death of a family member, severe health emergency or other extenuating circumstance that prevents a student from being in a performance. Please notify Mr. Miller in writing or by phone as soon as possible regarding the absence.

2. Transportation problems will not be excused absences. With over 200 students in the program, rides to and from concerts should be easy to obtain. Concert calendars are given out in August and reminder notifications are sent home with students. Please arrange for transportation. Call me if you need help. I can find another student who lives close to provide a ride.

3. In cases where a conflict in schedule with a school-sponsored event exists with a performance, the student is to inform the teacher of the conflict with two weeks notice. The student should be prepared to assist Mr. Miller and the other VBPS coach or sponsor in finding a solution to the conflict. It is my policy to not pin down a student between myself and another adult, but I will hold the student accountable for giving proper notice. “ I didn’t know about it” is not going to be adequate. Since the concert performance is a curricular component of band class, I consider it to take precedence over all extra curricular activities.

4. All other conflicts of schedule require the same two weeks notice., including specific reasons for the request. These will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis. Fulfilling the notification requirement does not automatically mean the absence will be excused. Because time is required to rework a performance in anticipation of an absence of a member, two weeks notice is required. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

5. In cases of excused absences, students will perform their concert music for an exam with the teacher. In cases of unexcused absences, the grade will be lowered 20 % for the marking period in which the performance took place.

Concert Dress

Concert dress for 6th and 7th grade, unless otherwise stated, will be white collared shirt or blouse, black pants or skirt and dark shoes and socks. Please no jeans, t-shirts or tennis shoes. Performances are semi-formal events for the ensembles, and appropriate clothing must be worn. The Eighth Grade Concert Band will be purchasing matching concert shirts at a cost of $12-15 per person. The Concert Band has approximately 10 performances throughout the year, and this allows a more formal look. The 8th grade band will also wear black pants or skirt and dark shoes.

Class Expectations

1. Students are expected to be in class with their instruments, books, music, and a pencil each day.

* All reed players should have at least three usable reeds at all times. Use them on a rotation schedule so you are never without a working reed. This does not cost you any more. Students should remove reeds after each practice session or rehearsal, and store them in a reed holder. I will have reed holders for sale for around $2. Following these suggestions will extend the life of your reeds and cost you less money!

* All brass players should have valve oil and slide grease to keep their instrument in working condition. Brass players using school instruments will need to purchase their own mouthpiece and valve oil. *

* Percussion students are expected to purchase their own sticks and Mallets and have a Stick bag to safely store them.

* Students are expected to keep their instruments in good working order. Students are expected to perform daily on their instruments. However, instruments do require repair occasionally. Instrument repair should be no more than one week. When the instrument is away for repair, students must actively participate by fingering along and studying their music, or points will be deducted from the daily participation grade. It is the student’s responsibility to obtain class materials if an instrument is to be gone more than one week. We will occasionally have a loaner instrument available for the student to play for the duration of the repair. See Mr. Miller for details.

* A portion of the student’s grade reflects the manner in which he/she cares for his/her instrument. Instruction will be given on the care of the instrument. It will be expected that each student will handle their instrument with care, and keep it clean.

2. Students are expected to practice! This is their homework for band. The length of time depends on the individual, with thirty minutes a day for 3/7 days per week being recommended, or until the students can play the assigned music100% accurately. Students playing tuba should see Mr. Miller to obtain an instrument to practice at home. You will need to rotate and share instruments for home practice.

3. Students are responsible for taking proper care of music. Folders will be provided and music should stay in the folder, should not be bent, folded, or mutilated in any way. Damaged or lost music will be charged to the student at .50 cents per page. School owned music books will be charged at the replacement cost. Folders are not to be kept inside of instrument cases. Cases were not designed for music folder or book storage. Doing so will result in a damaged instrument.

4. No food, gum or drink will be allowed in the band room.

5. Students are responsible for the storage of their own instrument. Each student is assigned a storage rack and is responsible for placing the instrument and music in that space each day. Storage racks are not to be used for lockers. Coats, backpacks and books are not to be left in the band room. Students not following these guidelines will loose their storage space.

* ALL STUDNETS WILL PLACE THEIR NAME IN AND ON THEIR CASE!! This is for the safety and protection of your instrument.

* The instrument storage room should not be considered secure for overnight storage. Therefore, the school is not responsible for loss of an instrument in the band room overnight.

* It is always prudent to record the serial number, make and model number of your instrument and store this information in a safe place.

* Percussion students will be expected to own a stick bag, mallets and drumsticks. All percussionists are expected care for school owned sticks and mallets an to put them back in the percussion cabinet before they leave the room. Covers will be placed back on the large equipment to be ready for the next class. Order forms for Stick Bags and mallets and sticks will be available within two weeks.