Piedmont Middle School Band
2009-2010
Welcome to the 2009-2010 Piedmont Band!!!!
We hope you’ve had a restful summer and are refreshed for another great school year. This handbook has information for parents and students. Parents, please take the time to read the handbook with your child and understand all policies. You will find information on the events we do throughout the year, field trips, performance opportunities, concert attire, required materials, and more. Any questions or date conflicts should be discussed with the band instructors immediately.
Grading Policy
Tests/quizzes 40%
Practice Reports 30% (roughly one point per day)
Daily Participation 30% (roughly one point per day)
Tests
Tests and quizzes will be given on a regular basis and will be both playing and written. We use the words interchangeably, but they count the same. Some pop tests will be given, but most tests will be announced a few days prior to the testing date.
Practice Records
With the exception of the first few days of school, practice records are a required part of the student daily grade.
Practice records are to be kept in the students’ agendas. Agendas will be checked weekly and must be signed by a parent or guardian in the fashion shown below.
BAND: 20 min.
X____________
Students are expected to practice at least 20 minutes every night. Parents must sign on the day the homework was assigned. If a student does not have his practice record, or does not have it signed, he will lose a point for the day. If the student is absent, he must still get his agenda signed for practicing that day. Any missed days must be made up on the weekend as extra credit.
Points can be made up, or extra points earned, by practicing extra over the weekend. Students are required 20 minutes for Friday’s practice record, but every 20 minutes after that over the WEEKEND will count as extra credit.
Generally, new homework is assigned daily, i.e. “Lines 20-22 are to be practiced tonight.” Students should work on the assignment, but also devote time to other exercises such as warming up, scales, All-District solos, etc.
Daily Participation and Materials
Every day the students will have the chance to earn one point for their daily participation grade. Daily participation includes being prepared for class.
Required Materials:
- Instrument
- Method book
- BLACK 1” three-ring binder (it must be black because you will use them at concerts)
- Clear sheet protectors (about 20 in the binder—will show example in class)
- Pencil (stays in the band binder)
Students are expected to purchase a book for band. This book is their own, personal band book. These books will be used a daily basis in class. Books can be purchased through the Piedmont Band. Bring in your cash or check made out to PIEDMONT BAND BOOSTERS.
- 6th Grade—Standard of Excellence, Book 1 (RED Book) $10.00
- 7th Grade—Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (BLUE Book) $10.00
- 8th Grade—Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (continued from 7th grade)
- It is STRONGLY suggested that each 8th grade student purchase a tuner/metronome to use daily at home.
We will give certain instruments a note within the first days of school with the types of accessories (reeds, ligatures, mouthpieces, sticks and mallets, etc.) we require. We will make sure that you can purchase these items through the band. We do not make money on this equipment, we do this as a convenience to the student and parent and also to make sure you get the correct materials.
***Anytime this year you send a check to the band, please make it payable to PIEDMONT BAND BOOSTERS and write your child’s name on the check. Send in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and what the money is for.
Rules and Expectations
1. Be on time.
2. Be prepared. Have all materials ready at the beginning of class.
- We’ve tried to make it easy by having a band binder. If you have that, then you have everything you need for the class period.
3. Respect others and their property.
4. NO Food, Gum, or Drinks.
- Instruments are delicate beings---they don’t work well with food stuck in them and mold begins to grow. We do allow bottled water (with a screw-on cap) in the room. If it is abused, we will take away the privilege.
5. “Leave it at the Door”
· Everyone has a bad day from time to time, including your teachers, but it doesn’t
mean rehearsal needs to be that way.
- Band is 41 minutes of music making. Please don’t bring in outside issues that will clog up our learning.
Consequences
1. Be on time.
- When the tardy bell rings, you must be in YOUR assigned seat with your instrument put together, your band book and band binder, and all other belongings neatly underneath your chair.
2. Be prepared.
- Preparedness is graded. If you do not have all of your materials you will be docked one point from your “Preparation” grade.
3. Respect others and their property.
- Talking while the instructor (teacher or substitute) is talking is inexcusable. You will get one warning, then silent lunch for each offense afterwards. Writing assignment, parent contact and office referral for chronic offenders.
- Playing on another student’s instrument or on percussion equipment if you aren’t a percussionist is inexcusable. You will get one warning, then silent lunch, then office referral.
4. NO Food, Gum, or Drinks
- If we catch you with anything but regular, capped water, you will get a warning, then silent lunch.
- Writing assignment, parent contact and office referral for chronic offenders.
5. “Leave it at the Door”
- We just trust you to do this one on your own.
Calendar
*** If any of the dates are changed due to unforeseen circumstances, the students and parents will be notified immediately.***
- 8th Grade Band Night (8th grade) Oct. 16
- Cookie Dough Fundraiser (All grades) Nov. 2-13
- Winter Concert (All grades) Dec. 8 @ , PHS gym
- date subject to change due to basketball schedule at the high school
- All-District Auditions – Jan. 9 (Select students)
- All-District Clinic – Jan. 29 and 30 @ AL Brown HS
- County Band – Feb. 12 and 13 @ Porter Ridge HS
- Piedmont-only Festival Preview Concert – TBA @ Piedmont HS Auditorium
- Concert Festival (7th/8th grade) March 10-12 @ Central Academy in Monroe
- Solo and Ensemble—Saturday, May 1 @ N. Lincoln HS
- Spring Concert (All grades) May 11 @ PHS Gym @
Band is a performance-based class, so all concerts are required for every student. Failure to attend the performance will result in an automatic failure for the current six weeks!!! All performances will be announced prior to the actual date, letters will be sent home, and will be posted on the band website, www.piedmontband.org.
Not all dates apply to all students! Please pay attention and read the descriptions of the events to find out what applies to you. Please put ALL dates for your student/grade level on your calendar now as to avoid conflicts.
Event Description
- 8th Grade Band Night – Optional Recruitment effort by the Piedmont HS Band program. Students will observe a high school football game from the band’s point of view. Students will sit with the band and play pep tunes during the game, watch half time, and in general be treated like a HS band member.
- Winter Concert – Each band, 6th, 7th, and 8th will perform in the gym. THIS IS REQUIRED OF ALL BAND STUDENTS.
- All-District Audition – Competition against other students in the same grade levels in our 10 county area to win a spot in the All-District Band. Must know scales, solo, and sight-reading. 7th and 8th graders only.
- All-District Band – Two day intensive band clinic held for students who auditioned and made the band. Overnight trip to Mooresville, NC.
- County Band – All students interested in performing in the county honor band, must first audition for ALL-DISTRICT BAND. Students that make the All-District Band are automatically invited to perform in the Union All-County Honor Band. For all remaining available spots offered to Piedmont Middle, Ms. Short and Mr. Lukac will look at the scores from the All-District audition, as well as classroom behavior and overall quality of performer.
- 7th/8th Grade “Piedmont-only” Festival Preview Concert – Pre-Festival evening concert held at the Piedmont High School Auditorium to prepare us to go to Festival. Required for 7th and 8th only.
- Concert Festival – Festival is the most important performance of the year for us. We will travel off campus and play for a group of judges to get a rating. It’s not a competition against other schools, but it’s the time we should do our best for the year. Required for 7th and 8th only. Chaperones needed!!!!
- Solo and Ensemble – Festival-style event. Students play solos, duets, trios, etc for a judge to get a rating. No scales or sight-reading. Students are responsible for preparation on their own. 7th, and 8th encouraged to go, but not required.
- Spring Concert – Evening concert, last concert of the year for Piedmont.
Concert Dress Code
Winter Concert (does NOT have to be black and white)
- Gentlemen: Long-sleeve-button-up shirt, tie, dress pants, and dress shoes
- Ladies: Dress shoes, dress, skirt (all dresses and skirts need to be no shorter than mid-calf) and blouse, or dress pants and blouse (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)
7th and 8th grade Contest (BLACK AND WHITE)
- Gentlemen: Black shoes, black socks, black dress pants, black belt, white long- sleeve-button-up shirt, necktie (does not have to be black)
- Ladies: Black skirt (see winter concert attire) or black pants, white blouse, black shoes (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)
Spring Concert
- 7th and 8th Grade Bands (BLACK AND WHITE)
- Gentlemen: Black shoes, black socks, black dress pants, black belt, white long- sleeve-button-up shirt, necktie (does not have to be black)
- Ladies: Black skirt (see winter concert attire) or black pants, white blouse, black shoes (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)
- 6th Grade Band (same as Winter Concert)
- Gentlemen: Long-sleeve-button-up shirt, tie, dress pants, and dress shoes
- Ladies: Dress shoes, dress, skirt (all dresses and skirts need to be no shorter than mid-calf) and blouse, or dress pants and blouse (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)
Requirements for Band
In order to make sure that the band program and every student in the program is improving, there will be scale and rudiment (percussion only) requirements that every student will have to accomplish by the end of the year from memory. All scales and rudiments will be worked on during class and the tests will start in the Spring time.
6th Grade:
Scales: Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F
Rudiments: Drag, Flam, Flam-tap, paradiddle, buzz roll, 5-stroke roll, and 9-stroke roll
Special Notes about 6th grade band
We are starting all students on the five basic wind instruments this year, flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. In October we will have auditions for percussion, tuba, baritone and bass clarinet. In order to be eligible for to audition for these instruments you must be a current band student, have an A average on practice records, and a positive behavior record in band.
7th Grade:
Scales: Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F, C, chromatic scale (one octave)
Rudiments: Drag, Drag tap, Flam, Flam-tap, paradiddle, double paradiddle, buzz roll, 5-stroke roll, 9-stroke roll, and 17-stroke roll
8th Grade:
Scales: Concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F, C, G, chromatic scale (one octave)
Rudiments: Drag, Drag tap, Flam, Flam-tap, ratamacue, paradiddle, double paradiddle, buzz roll, 5-stroke roll, 9-stroke roll, 17-stroke roll, open-stroke roll (open-closed-open)