Band Handbook 2016-2017bmsbandofwolves.weebly.com/uploads/2/5/9/4/25942396/bms... · 2018. 9. 10. · The BMS Concert Band is our largest performing ensemble at BMS. This ensemble

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Band Handbook 2016-2017

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Buford Middle School Bands 2700 Robert Bell Parkway

Buford, GA 30518 (770) 904-3690 ext. 2127

“Inspiring creativity and enriching lives through music.”

Dear Parents, It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to another exciting year with the Buford Middle School Band program. I would like to extend a very special welcome to those students and parents that are joining us for the very first time. I believe that you will find this year fun, exciting and full of wonderful experiences! Please take the time to review the contents within this handbook. Enclosed you will find extremely important information regarding rules and regulations, grading policies, required uniforms and calendars, as well as forms needed to be turned in for participation in band. Please keep this handbook as a reference guide throughout the year in the event you have questions concerning the logistics of the Buford Middle School Band Program. We are excited about this coming year! With hard work, dedication and the help of your student, I am sure we can continue molding the Buford Middle School Band Program into an organization that will bring pride to our parents, students and community. If you have any questions regarding the Band Program, please feel free to contact me! Musically Yours, Luther E. Harris II Director of Bands Buford Middle School [email protected]

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Class Descriptions 6th Grade Beginner Band The Beginner band is comprised of 6th grade students. Prior experience is not necessary as students are taught all fundamental elements of instrumental music including embouchure, tone, reading and technique. Beginner classes are divided into separate classes of like instruments (clarinets, flutes, trumpets, etc.). Beginner students will perform as a class twice a year in the winter and at the spring concert. By the end of their 6th grade year, students are expected to know 4-6 major scales (full range), chromatic scale (full range), all eighth note, dotted note, and sixteenth note rhythms, 2/4, 3/4, and 4/4 time signatures as well as demonstrate reading abilities commensurate with a 6th grade level. 7th Grade Band The 7th grade band students are placed into two different ensembles containing mixed grades and full instrumentation. During the day, students are grouped with like instruments with full ensemble rehearsals occurring after school. Each student will have several opportunities to perform at solo and ensemble contests, GMEA All-State and Honor Bands, winter and spring concerts as well as ensembles (Percussion, Brass, etc.). Students will continue the development of musical skills, flexibility exercises and sight reading. By the end of their 7th grade year, students are expected to know 6-8 scales, chromatic scale, syncopated and compound rhythms, 6/8 time signature as well as demonstrate reading abilities commensurate with a 7th grade level. 8th Grade Band The 8th grade band students are placed into two different ensembles containing mixed grades and full instrumentation. During the day, students are grouped with like instruments with full ensemble rehearsals occurring after school. Each student will have several opportunities to perform at solo and ensemble contests, GMEA All-State and Honor Bands, winter and spring concerts as well as ensembles (Percussion, Brass, etc.). Every 8th grade student also has the opportunity to march as a member of the Buford High School Band of Wolves. Students will continue the development of musical skills, flexibility exercises and sight-reading. By the end of their 8th grade year, students are expected to know 8-12 scales, chromatic scale, all rhythms, all time signatures, as well as demonstrate reading abilities commensurate with an 8th grade level. Concert Band The BMS Concert Band is our largest performing ensemble at BMS. This ensemble is comprised of our intermediate level band students. These student perform at least two concerts per year. This ensemble meets on Tuesday Afternoons from 3:00 until 4:30pm. Symphonic Band The BMS Symphonic Band is the smaller of our two large performing ensembles. This ensemble is an audition only group. This group is comprised of our advanced level students. This group will perform at least three concerts a year including our Large Group

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Performance Evaluation (LGPE) performance in the spring. This ensemble meets on Wednesday afternoons in the fall from 3:00 until 4:30

Financial Obligations

In an effort to offset the cost of supplies and ensure that all students have the proper materials, we will have band dues for this upcoming school year. The Prices will be:

• Returning 7th and 8th graders that will not be purchasing a new Uniform shirt: $40 • 6th graders: $75 • 7th and 8th graders in need of a uniform: $75

These costs cover the following Items for your student: At $40:

• 1 ½ inch durable 3-ring D-ring binder • Notebook paper • Manuscript paper • Pencils • Pencil pouch • Sheet protectors • “Habit of a Successful Musician” Method Book

At $75 • All of the Previously listed items • Uniform shirt w/ band logo, instrument, and student name • Green and Gold striped uniform bowtie

Your student’s dues will also help to offset the cost of emergency materials such as: • Instrument specific reeds • Mouthpiece sanitizer & cleaners

My hope is that with these dues, your student can enter the classroom worry-free knowing that he/she will have all of the materials that they will need to be successful in this class. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the band fees, Please feel free to contact me at [email protected].

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Concert Uniforms We take pride in having a neat, professional appearance each time we perform. Please make sure that your child has the following attire. This attire will be worn at all performances throughout the year. Students out of uniform will have point deducted from their performance grade.

• Green Buford Band Button down w/ student name • Black Pants • Black Belt • ALL Black Shoes • ALL Black Socks

Band Spiritwear

I truly believe that students love to represent the activities that they are passionate about. This year, there will be “Band Swag” on sale for students and parents to purchase. Swag items include.

• Polo shirts • Hoodies • Pullovers • Jackets • Hats (including beanies)

I am excited to provide these items to our students. Information on ordering will be given to the students and emails will be sent to the parents. Order forms will be available in the band room.

Attendance Policy The daily instruction in band is always geared towards a common goal – performance. For band students, the concert/contest is the long-term goal of all the practice hours and daily rehearsals. Students must attend all concerts and rehearsal that are school related. Failure to attend concerts may result in a grade of 0 for that event. I understand that schedules can get rather busy throughout the year. Due to this, we have spent a lot of time developing the yearly calendar (enclosed in this handbook). The yearly calendar is handed out at the beginning of the year so that parents/students can plan accordingly. Examples of Excused Absences:

• Personal Illness which causes absence from school (Doctor’s note is required) • Death in the Family (note from parent required)

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Examples of Unexcused Absences: • Not having a ride • Forgetting • Sporting events such as games/practices • Anything other than list of excused absences

Students who miss performances during the course of the year with unexcused absences will need to complete all of the following before the missed concert date. Students who fail to complete this before the missed concert date will receive a performance assessment grade of zero.

1) Perform their band music alone for a grade. (must be completed prior to any absence)

2) Turn in alternate writing assignment (History of instrument, Composer paper, etc) 3) WILL NOT be allowed to participate in special performances and/or field trips

(ex. ASO, Six Flags, etc…) **Absences without prior notice will be marked as unexcused in the gradebook. Prior notice is classified as at least 30 minutes BEFORE the designated call time.** School Owned Instruments Buford Middle School has very high quality equipment available for student use. Thousands of dollars have been invested for school owned instruments. Students performing on a school owned instrument will receive an instrument in proper working condition. Students are expected to treat and maintain the instrument with care throughout the year. There is a $35 instrument rental fee to help cover the cost of maintenance. Should the instrument need repair due to student error, it is the responsibility of the student to take the instrument to an approved repair facility for proper maintenance. At the end of the year, instruments will be returned and any damage assessed and charged to student. Instrument Cubbies Each band student in the BMS band will be issued a band cubby. Students may keep their instrument and band supplies in their cubby. These instrument cubbies DO NOT lock. It is the responsibility of the student to make sure that their Materials are clearly marked with his/her name. The Buford Band Program and middle school cannot be held responsible for unmarked items that go missing in the band room. I will, however, make a diligent effort to find marked items that go missing. Students are NOT allowed to keep anything else in their band lockers! Gym clothes, math books, lunches, etc… will be removed and thrown away if found in students lockers.

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Private Lessons With very limited time during our regular school day, I do not have the opportunity to give students the individualized attention that they may need. Fortunately, there are many professional musicians in our area who offer private lessons on a weekly basis from 30 to 60 minutes in length. Students who take private lessons tend to progress at a faster pace than those who don’t. Private lessons are for:

• Students who are doing well and wish to be pushed beyond the pace of the class. • Students who are having problems in class and need tutoring assistance. • Students who wish to participate in solo contests and All-State/Honor Bands

If interested in private lessons, please contact me at [email protected] and we will find the right instructor for your student. Payment Procedures Throughout the course of the year, there will be many times that students will need to bring payments to school (i.e. Band dues, field trip fees, fundraiser turn in, etc…). Payment of funds should follow the policy below:

1. Checks should be made out to Buford Middle School. 2. Student name and reason for payment should be written on memo line of the

check. 3. Payment of ANY sort should be placed into the envelopes provided at the school. 4. Students must write their name and what the money is for on the envelope. 5. The sealed envelope should be placed into the green box located at the front of the

school.

Supplies Students are expected to have the materials that will be supplied to them. This list does not include instruments, reeds, oils and other band supplies. ALL if these items need to be in class EVERYDAY. Failure to have any of the items will result in point deduction from daily grade.

Grading Policy Grades will consist of several different categories; Daily Grade, Tests, Quizzes, and Practice Logs. The category weights are as follows:

Category Weight Class Participation(Daily Grades) 40%

Tests 30% Quizzes 20%

Projects(Practice Logs) 10%

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DAILY PARTICIPATION GRADE: This class is a performance and participation based course. The participation grade will be based on the student’s preparedness and behavior during class. Grades will be posted weekly. A total of 50 point per week (10 points per day) are available to the students. Points are deducted based on infractions that the students commit daily. The list of infractions and point deductions is as follows.

Infraction Deduction

No instrument (NI) 5 pts Not Prepared (NP) 4 pts

Tardy (T) 2 pts Off Task (OT) 3 pts

Disruptive Behavior (DB) 3 pts Description of Infractions:

• (NI) No instrument; Student does not have his/her instrument during class • (NP) Not Prepared; Student does not have ALL materials necessary for class. • (T) Tardy; Student enters classroom tardy or is not ready with all materials at the

start of class • (OT) Off Task; Student is participating in activities not relevant to current

instruction. • (DB) Disruptive Behavior; Student is not on task and is distracting to other

students. **If your child’s instrument is in the shop for repair please send a note and no points will be deducted.** **If there is any concern about your child’s participation grade, please email me for a list of infractions and dates.**

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Practice Logs Each student will be given a practice log to record home practice. Logs are due four times per semester – at mid quarter, and at the end of quarter. Students will receive a grade for EACH week they practice. Logs MUST be signed by a parent in order to get credit. Times should be recorded in minutes. Students will also be given a grading sheet so they can see what grade they will receive before they turn it in. Practice log grades are as follows:

6th Grade Log Grading

Minutes Practiced per week Weekly Grade 150 and above 100

140 – 149 95 130 – 139 90 120 – 129 85

110 – 119 80 100 – 109 75

80 – 99 70 60 – 79 60 30 – 59 50

Less than 30 0 7th/8th Grade Practice Log Grading

Minutes practiced per week Weekly Grade 120 and Above 100

115-119 95 110-114 90 105-109 85 100-104 80 95-99 75 90-94 70 80-89 65 60-79 60 50-59 55 30-49 50

Less than 30 0 Please Remember: • Logs Must be signed be the parent • It is better to spread practice out into 4-5 shorter sessions • Logs are due every 4-5 weeks. • Be honest! • Logs are NOT accepted late.

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Practice Log Due Dates

• Log #1: Begins August 8 - Due September 5 (6th Grade exempt)

• Log #2: Begins September 5 - Due October 3 (4wk log)

• Log #3: Begins October 3 - Due November 7 (5 week log)

• Log# 4: Begins November 7 - Due December 12 (5wk log [4wk + 1 ex cred])

• Log #5: Begins January 9 - February 6 (4wk log)

• Log #6: Begins February 6 - Due March 6 (4wk log)

• Log #7: Begins March 6 – Due April 17 (6wk log [5wk + 1 ex cred])

• Log #8: Begins April 17 – Due May 15 (4wk log) ** Practice logs are NOT accepted late. If a student is absent on the due date the student must turn in the log upon their return to school** **Ex Cred. Policy – 1 pt for every 10 extra minutes of practice** **After School Rehearsals Count for ONLY 45 Minutes PER WEEK on the student’s log** **Marching Band student’s receive ONLY 45 minutes PER WEEK on their log** Band Rehearsal Etiquette 1. Be On Time All students must be in the band room before the bell rings. Be in

your seat ready to play 2 minutes after the bell rings. 2. Be Prepared Practice any assignments given at home. Have your instrument and all listed materials EVERYDAY. 3. Be Respectful When a band director steps on the podium, all talking stops. No talking is allowed without a raised hand. Please respect teachers, band directors, guest clinicians and fellow students. Blurting out and back talking are unacceptable. 4. No Food/Drink There will be no food, gum or candy allowed in the band room at anytime. This excludes water. 5. Clean up Your instrument case must be left in your locker during and after class. Binders should be stored in lockers as well after class. Make sure to pick up any papers that may have fallen out of your binder during class.

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6. Do Not Touch What Does Not Belong to You Enough said. This includes friends’ instruments and/or percussion. 7. No “Horse Play” No running, chasing or anything that resembles horseplay is

allowed. Chair Tests and Placement Auditions for chair placement within a section can sometimes bring stress to students. Please remember that each student is important to the success of the band. Auditions and playing tests judge the students’ performance at one specific time under one specific set of circumstances. Therefore, it is essential that chair and playing tests be viewed only as part of the learning process. Performance tests may be announced or unannounced. Audition material will always include the material or literature currently being taught. As per school policy, there are NO retest in band, however student will receive one(1) restart on test attempts. After School Band Rehearsals and procedures Rehearsals Because of limited time during the school day, we will have mandatory after school rehearsals for the Concert and Symphonic band throughout the school year. These rehearsals are the only times that the students have an opportunity to put together the hard work that they do individually. Each rehearsal, and each student is vitally important to the success of the ensemble. Please make arrangements for your student to participate and be picked up. If you have conflicts with these days, please send me an email and we will make every effort to make accommodations for your child. Instrument Drop-off and pick-up Morning: Upon arrival to school, students are to drop their instruments off in their designated cubby in the instrument storage room. The band room is open for practice and tutorial from 7:00am until 7:15am. Students who choose to practice will report to the band room, practice and then put their instruments in their cubby. Students SHOULD NOT take their instruments on grade level. Afternoon: When retrieving instrument from the band room in the afternoon, students may not leave their classrooms until after the 2:45 announcements. Once their instrument is in hand, they must remain in the band room until their class is dismissed. Students found lingering in the hallway may be subject to disciplinary action.

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Calendar Below is a list of the important dates for this school year. Please remember that ALL performances are mandatory unless accompanied by a valid excused absence. Event Date All-State Auditions (Round 1) December 3, 2016 UGA Midfest December 8-10, 2016 Fall Concert November 1, 2016 All-State Auditions (Round 2) January 7, 2017 District Honor Band February 3-4, 2017 Large Group Performance Evaluation TBD (pending GMEA Scheduling) Spring Concert April 13, 2017 Chamber Music Festival ** TENATIVE May 3, 2017** 8th Grade Trip May 13, 2016 ** A full schedule including rehearsal Dates can be found on the BMS Band Website at

www.bmsbandofwolves.weebly.com** Media The BMS Band has several ways to stay informed. Feel free to use any of the following resources to stay up to date with current announcements and events. Website www.bmsbandofwolves.weebly.com Twitter @BMSbandofWolves Remind **Primary means on communication** 6th Grade: Text @333b8 to 81010 7th Grade: Text @ekhk34 to 81010 8th Grade: Text @b2b3f to 81010 GMEA Events The Georgia Music Educator’s Association holds several events throughout the year. These events include Solo & Ensemble Festival, District XII Honor Band and the All-State Middle School Honor Band. All events are open to any student wishing to participate. The District XII and All-State Bands require auditioning to be selected. Registration forms will be available upon request. Required audition materials can be found at http://www.gmea.org/info/Band/msetudeslinks.htm.

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Please Sign and Return (Due ________________________)

Please review the information in this handbook carefully. It may be beneficial to review it with your child in order to make sure that students have an understanding of expectations and procedures. We ask that you initial by each item below. This signifies that you have read, understood, and agree to the items in this document. Please return to Mr. Harris by the date listed above. ______ Financial Obligations ______ Uniforms ______ Attendance ______ Calendar ______ Cubbies ______ School Owned Instruments ______ Grading Policy ______ Practice Logs ______ Band Rules ______ Discipline Policy ________________________________________ ______________________ (Parent/Guardian Signature (Date) _______________________________________ ______________________ (Student Name PRINTED) (Date) _______________________________________ ______________________ (Student Signature) (Date)