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Band Directors Contact Info:
jim.pritchard@gcisd.net
brenda.hinton@gcisd.net
Handbooks were given to the students in September.
Heritage Middle School Band
Handbook
Preface
As a member of the Heritage Middle School Band, you represent an outstanding school and a band program with high standards of excellence. It is our responsibility to build upon prior successes and to maintain high standards for the future. We feel extremely fortunate to have parents, administrators, teachers, and school board members that are committed to a quality band program. We look forward to you being a part of our band and carrying on these traditions.
Please read the following handbook for information regarding attendance, rules, policies, and student/parent responsibilities. Students and parents must be willing to commit to the policies in this handbook so that the Heritage Middle School Band can be successful, fun and competitive.
SAVE THIS HANDBOOK FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Please read the handbook, sign the last page and turn it in.
Band Directors
Jim Pritchard – Band Director
Brenda Hinton – Assistant Band Director
Jeff Ausdemore – Beginner Percussion Instructor
Band Member Responsibilities:
Attendance
Regular attendance and participation is important for your daily progress and development. Students are required to attend all performances, before and after school rehearsals/sectionals, and contests. Most dates for public appearances are announced weeks or even months in advance. All absence requests must be submitted in writing and APPROVED by a director BEFORE the event. Please make every effort to plan jobs, family trips, etc. around these performances. Absences should be for GENUINE EMERGENCY ONLY, such as serious illness of the student or death in the family. Our performances are a large part of your grade and any unexcused absence from one is considered a VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE. Unexcused absences from a class, rehearsal, or a performance may result in a lowered grade, demotion in chair rank, a failing grade,
removal from the organization or a combination of these consequences. No person may remain in the performing band that is unfaithful in attendance. Students, please note that not having a ride does not constitute as an excuse. Students must inform their parents in advance so that arrangements for rides may be made. Plan ahead.
Sectional Rehearsals
All Honors and Symphonic Band Students must attend all weekly sectionals, unless previously excused by the band director. Students will earn a 100 for being present at the sectional, and often chair tests are given during the sectional for an additional grade. Thus, students will have the opportunity to earn two grades in a sectional. During the first two weeks of school, students will be asked to give their before and after school conflicts; a sectional schedule will be designed around these. Conflicts with other school functions will be avoided as much as possible. If a student fails to report a conflict, that student will be held responsible for attending the sectional. This first schedule will be in effect through the end of the semester. The second semester, another schedule will be developed for contest season. Every effort should be made to avoid doctor’s appointments, etc. on sectional days. One sectional
make-up day will be available per six weeks. Remember this motto: To Be Early Is To Be On Time, To Be On Time Is To Be Late. Sectional times will be posted in the band hall and on the Heritage MS Band web site.
Morning Sectionals are from 7:00am to 7:45am.
Afternoon Sectionals are from 3:15pm to 4:00pm.
Band Equipment
Instruments — Your instrument is extremely valuable and proper care should be taken to maintain its value. Should your instrument be in need of repair, you must bring it to the shop and have it repaired immediately. Never try to repair the instrument yourself, as you do not have the proper tools or skills required. You may get your instrument repaired or purchase any supplies at Mr. E’s music store, which is located on the corner of Bedford Rd. and Airport Freeway, next to Albertsons in Bedford or Brook Mays. All instruments must have a permanent nametag. No one should play or handle any instrument that does not belong to him/her.
School-owned instruments — Students who play school-owned instruments should take the same care as they would their own instrument. These students as well as advanced percussion students are required to pay a semester GCISD user fee of $50.00. The student is responsible for general maintenance as well as damage due to negligence or carelessness and for loss or theft. Instruments or equipment must be returned to the director at the director's request.
Instrument Storage bins — Each student will be given an instrument storage bin to store his/her instrument during the school day. These bins should be used for instrument and folder storage only. Keep your storage bin neat and clean! Combination locks are optional. If you choose to use a lock – it must be kept in the lock position at all times.
Music and Folders — All 7th and 8th grade band students are required to have a black, one inch, 3-ring notebook with plastic inserts. All 6th grade students will have a red binder of the same size. A detailed supply list will be made available to you during the first week of school.
Music Facilities — These are your rooms and should reflect your attitude towards the band program. Show respect and pride by keeping the band facilities neat and clean. No food, drink, or gum is allowed in the band hall!
Supplies — All students are required to have the appropriate supplies for their instrument. Supplies may be purchased from Mr. E’s music (corner of Bedford Rd. and Airport Freeway, next to Albertson’s in Bedford).
Flute — head joint rod, soft cloth, and a metronome.
Reed instruments — a minimum of four good, playable reeds (two for oboe and Bassoon), a reed guard (case), cork grease, and a swab for internal cleaning, and a metronome.
Brass instruments — a soft polish cloth for cleaning, valve oil, slide grease, mouthpiece brush, a water spray bottle (trombone only) and a metronome.
Percussion – Mr. Ausdemore will supply information.
Select and Region Bands
All Honors Band and interested Symphonic and Concert Band students must learn the Select and Region Band audition music. This will be played as an assignment for a grade. Each student will then compete in the Select and Region Band try-outs. We feel that through the work done on this music, each student improves greatly on his/her playing skills, and that the band plays more maturely and with greater confidence. We are not concerned with whether or not you make the Select and Region Bands, but with the improvement that comes from participation.
Eligibility Rules
Band students are ineligible to participate in extra-curricular activities for the six weeks period immediately following a report card of 69 or less in any class. However, if after three weeks the student is passing all of his/her classes they will become eligible at the end of the fourth week. All off-campus events (except concerts) are considered extra-curricular.
Students failing classes place an unwelcome burden upon the other students in the band and the band directors to compensate for their absence from an important event. The band works as a team! Parents please, help your children to pass their classes. Most failures are a result of a lack of effort on daily work, poor study habits, or not handing in major projects. Remember NO PASS, NO PLAY.
Classroom Rules and Procedures
In order to accomplish as much as possible in the up-coming year, we must have certain rules to get the most out of each rehearsal. The following are to be observed daily.
1. With so many students in the room, it is imperative that there be no talking
during rehearsal so that each student can hear what is being said and be
able to concentrate to his/her highest level. The better we can develop our
listening skills during instructional times, the better we can listen to tone
quality, balance, blend, and intonation while playing. We are very insistent
in this area. So please expect us to STRONGLY stress the need for your
cooperation. DO NOT TALK AT ANY TIME DURING REHEARSAL
WITHOUT PERMISSION!!!!!
2. Play only when the director is conducting and NEVER when he/she is talking.
3. No gum, candy, food or drink allowed in the band room.
4. Do not attempt to leave class until the director has dismissed you. The bell does not release you from class. You must be released verbally.
5. Only band students are allowed in the band hall. Ask your friends to wait
in the hall for you.
Grading
Your grade this year will be determined by the following:
Daily participation and preparation. Be prepared to play alone in class for chairs and/or a grade on ANY DAY upon request. Be sure to have your own music, pencil, and reeds with you at your chair.
Attention and attitude in class.
Attendance and participation in sectionals (Symphonic & Honors only).
Playing Tests
Practice Cards
Attendance and participation at performances and contests.
Daily improvement
Daily Grades are 40% - Attention and attitude, daily participation and preparation.
Test Grades are 40% - Performances, playing tests, written tests.
Homework Grades are 20% - Practice Cards, handouts.
Practice Card Grades
Your practice card is designed to help you establish an organized routine for daily practice. A practice card is not needed to tell whether you have practiced or not!! How you improve from day to day and week to week reveals this fact. Honesty is the best policy concerning practice time. It is helpful for the parents to be involved in the student’s practice and progress. Parent encouragement and support is important for success. Practice cards will be handed out at the beginning of the school year. Please fill out the practice card according to the guidelines listed below.
Write down the total number of minutes, not hours, per week.
A Parent must sign the card for a grade to be given.
Turn in your card every Monday.
10 points per day will be deducted for late cards. No cards will be accepted after Wednesday.
All time outside of class may be counted as 30 minutes on your practice card. For example: private lessons, sectionals, concerts, clinics, etc.
| Grade |
Weekly Practice Time |
Average Daily Practice Time |
|
|
|
| 100 |
210 Min. |
30 Min. Per Day |
| 95 |
185 - 209 Min. |
25 Min. Per Day
|
| 90 |
175 - 184 Min. |
| 85 |
150 - 174 Min. |
| 80 |
130 - 149 Min. |
20 Min. Per Day
|
75 |
| 105 - 129 Min. |
60 |
| 0- 104 Min. |
Daily Disciplinary Procedures
Verbal Warning.
Student will be moved to another seat (demotion in chair placement).
Student will sign the disciplinary log and be given a written assignment.
Citizenship Grades per Six Weeks
Students with no signature in the disciplinary log will earn an “E”.
Students with one signature will earn an “S”.
Students with two signatures will earn an “N”.
Students with three signatures will earn a “U”.
Bus and Travel Guidelines
Single file quietly to the bus/ No talking!!!!!!
Do not talk on the bus until a director or chaperone stands up and gives you permission to do so.
Do not move from one seat to another or stand up while the bus is moving.
No gum, food, or drinks are allowed on the bus.
No Radio/CD players allowed.
Do not unload the bus until a director or chaperone instructs you to do so. Do not talk once you are dismissed from the bus!!!!
All students must ride to and from the activity on the bus. Students who need to request a ride with their parents need to get director approval and send a written note prior to the day of the trip.
Pep Rallies
The Honors, Symphonic, Concert Bands and jazz bands may perform at some pep rallies throughout the school year. Students involved in sports, cheerleading, and other activities will participate with both the band and their other activity during pep rallies.
Pep Rally Procedure
Dress is Band Shirt and jeans.
You will be dismissed early from class in order to warm up.
Come to the band hall to get all equipment and then quickly proceed to the gym.
During the Pep Rally it is important that you pay attention to the director during the performance.
You may not make noise on your instrument or mouthpiece during the cheers unless you are a percussionist.
Participate enthusiastically to show that the band supports our school.
Dress Code for Performance Situations
Pep Rally Band Dress (Honors, Symphonic, and Concert Bands)
The dress for all pep rallies, football games, parades, and other designated functions is: Band T-shirt and jeans.
Concert Dress (Honors, Symphonic, and Concert Bands)
Uniform will consist of formal tuxedo pants, tuxedo shirt, vest, bow tie, black socks, black shoes, and belt. More detailed information will be sent home in September.
Concert Dress (Beginner Band)
Gentlemen: slacks, collared shirt, (tie and jacket are optional), dress shoes, and dress socks.
Ladies: dresses or nice slacks and blouse with dress shoes.
Beginners will purchase a band T-shirt at the beginning of the school year. These
T-shirts will come into use at the Sandy Lake Band contest in the spring or they may be worn to school for fun.
It is important to look proud, project a positive first impression, and portray a sincere respect for the audience and public. We want to represent Heritage Middle School in the best way possible with a professional, organized appearance in all situations.
Grapevine-Colleyville Band Booster Club
We are fortunate to have a district-wide band booster organization. By virtue of having a child in the band program all parents are encouraged to pay the $10 basic membership fee and to volunteer whenever possible. The main objective of the booster club is to provide funds for the various projects in our band programs. Some of these projects include supplemental lesson scholarships, social activities, senior scholarships, etc. It takes a great deal of work and cooperation from parents of all levels to accomplish our goals. Please help out in any way you can when called upon for service.
How to Help Your Child Practice
Your child’s progress in band will depend a great deal on what is achieved during daily home practice sessions. Learning takes place in school, but proficiency is gained at home. You may wish to use the following guidelines to help your child in his/her home practice.
Time Schedule
20 minutes a day is the minimum amount of practice time recommended for the average student. Practicing at the same time every day is good, but some flexibility should be built into this schedule. In other words don’t bring the world to a halt at 6:30 every evening because it’s practice time. Kids need time for fun and relaxation just as adults do. If the situation merits, reschedule the practice session to an earlier or later time.
Climate
Practicing should be done in an area that is free of distractions away from the TV, radio, CD player, telephone, and family traffic. Good lighting, a straight-back chair, a mirror, and a music stand are definite assets. All woodwind players should have several reeds available at all times.
It’s How You Practice That Counts
Incorrect habits are sometimes more easily developed than correct habits, and a habit is hard to change so THINK when you practice. Don’t just go through the motions. Remember that the playing of your instrument comes through development of coordination, just like an athlete.
Impatience is the Enemy of the Ambitious Player
Set a goal for the session, a scale, an exercise, a line or two of a tune, even a measure that’s giving you trouble. Don’t try to do too much at one sitting.
Isolate a problem or a section in a piece of music. It may be a rhythm, a measure, or a line. Work it slowly at first then, build up the speed gradually. Before you leave it, put it together with the rest of the line or exercise.
Repetition of a problem area, over and over, reinforces muscle memory.
In technical passages, change rhythms and articulations (slurring and tonguing) for even, accurate, fluid technique.
When you get tired, rest.
In accepting this band handbook, I accept the privileges and responsibilities of being a member of the Heritage Middle School band program, and promise to uphold in my actions and attitudes those qualities, which will honor the band and school. I have read and understand that I must abide by all of the rules and regulations stated in this handbook. Furthermore, I understand and agree with the consequences for not complying with these rules and regulations.
___________________________________________
Student Name (please print) Date
___________________________________________
Parent Signature Date
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