Piedmont Middle School Band 2007-2008 Welcome to the 2007-2008 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 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 we take, ensemble choices, performance opportunities, concert attire, required materials, booster organization, 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.  We are going to try a new computer program that helps students take music tests.  We will show the students how to use the technology and give a few trial runs before doing actual testing.  We will tell the students how and where to purchase the program if you wish to have it for home use. Practice Reports The first few days of class are spent learning or refreshing our music reading skills.  Several paper assignments will go home.  When instruments are used in class, practice reports become “band homework.”  They are to be kept in the students’ agendas.  Agendas will be checked daily and must be signed by a parent or guardian in the fashion shown below.  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 report, or does not have it signed, he will lose a point for the day.  For example: BAND: 20 min. X____________ 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. Points can be made up, or extra points earned, by practicing extra over the weekend.  Students are required 20 minutes for Friday, but every 20 minute increment after that will count as extra credit. ***PRACTICE IS THE ONLY WAY TO GET BETTER*** 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 and behaving according to our class rules.  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 25 in the binder—will show example in class) Pencil (stays in the band binder) The following books will be used and can be purchased through Piedmont Band: 6th Grade—Standard of Excellence, Book 1 (RED Book) 7th Grade—Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (BLUE Book) 8th Grade—Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (continued) and Foundations for Superior Performance (PURPLE Book) We will give certain instruments a note within the first days of school with the types of 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. Suggested Materials: These materials are not required, but are strongly suggested! Tuner (especially for 7th and 8th !!!!!—number one item for this year!!!) Metronome (especially for 7th and 8th !!!!!) Wire music stand for home practice Private lessons—Private lessons are not required, but vastly improve performance and enjoyment of playing an instrument.  Students who are planning to audition for All-District should seriously look into taking lessons.  We will have professional guests in from time to time throughout the year to work with students in class, but it doesn’t take the place of getting one-on-one attention from a private teacher. We also have several high school students who are interested in tutoring middle school students this year.  If you are interested after the year starts, please send us an e-mail and we will get you in touch with a responsible high school band buddy. SPECIAL NOTE FOR PARENTS ABOUT UPGRADED INSTRUMENTS: We understand that you may wish to purchase an upgraded instrument for your child at some point throughout the year.  PLEASE do not purchase an instrument without speaking to a band director about what brand to buy.  Some instruments are not necessarily upgrades—they may look pretty, but may not be the best quality.  We will also be frank with you about whether or not your child is ready for an upgraded instrument. Rules and Expectations 1.      Be on time. a.       Band is a team effort.  We have such a short time in class that we need every minute; if you are late you hold up the group from getting better. 2.      Be prepared. a.       Same as above.  If you are not prepared, it takes time from the class.  In the event your instrument is in the shop we must have a note from the repair company explaining where your instrument is.  Please let a director look at your instrument before you decide to have it repaired. 3.      Respect others and their property a.       Do NOT talk while the instructor is talking.  Period.  Do NOT touch or play on another student’s instrument or equipment.  Period.  Do NOT make fun of another student for his or her ability level.  Period. 4.      NO Food, Gum, or Drinks a.       Instruments are delicate beings---they don’t work well with Cheez-it bits stuck in them.  We do allow bottled (and capped NORMAL) water in the room.  If it is abused, we will take away the privilege. 5.      “Leave it at the Door” a.       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 50 minutes of music making.  Please don’t bring in outside issues that will clog up our learning! Consequences 1.      Be on time. a.       You are allowed 2 tardies per grading period, which will be recorded in your agenda for your parents to see.  After that you will get silent lunch for each offense.  Chronic offenders will be written up for office referral. 2.      Be prepared. a.       Preparedness is graded.  If you do not have all of your materials you will be docked one point from your “Preparation” grade.  We’ve tried to make it easy this year with the band binder—if you have that then you have everything you need for the class period. 3.      Respect others and their property. a.       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. b.       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 a.       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” a.       We just trust you to do this one on your own. Calendar 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.  Also, letters will be sent home and it will be posted on the band website, www.piedmontband.org. The calendar below you will find important dates that have been set up for our year.  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 CONCERT dates on your calendar now as to avoid conflicts. *** If any of the dates are changed due to unforeseen circumstances, the students and parents will be notified immediately.*** 8th Grade Band Night (Home game vs. Sun Valley)--Friday, September 14, 2007 (8th grade) Cookie Dough Fundraiser—Nov. 1-14 (All grades) Christmas Concert--Thursday, December 13, 2007 PDMS Gym (All grades) All-District Audition--Saturday, January 12, 2008 South Point HS (Select students) All-District Clinic--Friday-Saturday, January 25-26, 2008 Piedmont-only Festival Preview--TBA County Middle School Festival Preview--Thursday, February 28, 2008 CATA (7th/8th grade) Concert Festival--Wednesday-Friday, March 12-14, 2008 CATA (7th/8th grade) Solo and Ensemble--Saturday, May 3, 2008 North Lincoln HS (Select students--All grades) Spring Concert--Thursday, May 15, 2008 PDMS Gym (All grades) Event Description—More details will be sent home before each event. 8th Grade Band Night—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.  Not required.  Will need chaperones. Christmas Concert—Each band, 6th, 7th, and 8th will perform in the gym, mostly holiday tunes.  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. 7th/8th Grade Piedmont-only Festival Preview—Pre-Festival evening concert held at Piedmont to prepare us to go to Festival.  7th and 8th only. Middle School County Festival Preview—Pre-Festival evening concert held at CATA in a mock-judging situation.  Let’s us play on the stage before the actual day.  Other middle schools will be joining us.  7th and 8th only.  Will need chaperones. Concert Festival—Festival is the most important performance of the year for us.  We will travel to CATA 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.  7th and 8th only. Will need chaperones. 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.  6th, 7th, and 8th all encouraged to go. Spring Concert—Evening concert, last concert of the year for Piedmont. Jazz Band We are currently entertaining the idea of having a jazz band this year.  As it’s a new ensemble we are tweaking the details, but if we have enough interest we’ll start in September with an informational meeting and go from there. Concert Dress Code Christmas Concert Gentlemen: Long-sleeve-button-up shirt, tie, dress pants, and dress shoes Ladies: Dress shoes, dress, skirt and blouse, or dress pants and blouse (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy) 7th and 8th grade Contest 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 or black pants, white blouse, black shoes (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy) Spring Concert 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 or black pants, white blouse, black shoes (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy) Special Notes about 6th grade band… We are starting all students on the four basic wind instruments this year, flute, clarinet, trumpet, and trombone.  In October we will have auditions for percussionists.  After auditions, percussion students will be expected to purchase or rent a percussion kit which includes a snare drum and a bell kit.  Percussion students are expected to master several instruments over the course of their band career, not just “the drums.”             We will also have auditions for other instruments.  Alto saxophone auditions will be in January.  Any woodwind class student will be allowed to try out, but clarinet is the recommended pre-instrument.  Students will be required to obtain a saxophone in a timely manner.  At the end of January and into February, other instrument auditions will be held to fill out the ensemble.  Instruments available in the past have been: oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, F horn, baritone, and tuba.  These expanded instruments will be auditioned within the instrument family, i.e. a trumpet player may not audition for bassoon, but may audition for another brass instrument. Requirements for promotion in Band We expect students to progress each year they are in band.  At the end of the year we will assess each student’s progress by looking at completion of practice records, test and quiz grades, and general attitude towards playing the instrument.  We can’t in good conscience promote a student who hasn’t completed practice records!!! We will also give an exam at the end of the year, part written, part played.  Students will be alerted weeks in advance as to what will be on that exam. It is our goal for the program to continue to grow and be successful and this is one more step in the process.  We look forward to seeing all of you improve as musicians. Field Trips We occasionally travel on non-required field trips as a way to enhance our musical education.  Last year we traveled to hear the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra perform “The Planets”---our students proved to be quite knowledgeable during the pre-concert talk!  I am looking at a field trip for this semester, but I will send home more information as I am able.  Only students with the best behavior in class are allowed to travel!!!  It’s not required, so we don’t have to take you; sounds mean, but we’re just being honest with you. Parent Involvement—Piedmont Band Boosters We are making an effort to expand the Piedmont Band Boosters Organization.  Many parents are under the impression that it’s just for high school parents, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth.  Schools just can’t provide all the funding it takes to run a successful band program, so most bands operate a band boosters organization.  The Piedmont Band Boosters funds both the middle school and high school band programs.  There are twice as many middle school students as high school students and so need all the help we can get from middle school band parents in terms of fundraising.  We also look to middle school parents for chaperones to events such as middle school band night at the high school, field trips, concerts, Concert Festival, etc. We spend the money on school instruments, repair and TONS of other things.  One specific goal this year is to bring in professionals on a weekly basis to help teach individual instrument sections, i.e. the clarinets would get a sectional from a local professional every other week.  But it takes money to help pay for these people. The way to help is to attend band booster meetings.  They are the best opportunity to help brainstorm about fundraising ideas to help the band program.  Booster meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of each month starting at 7:00 PM in the high school band room.  Your help is desperately needed in making the band program the best it can be. Our middle school parent liaison this year is Mr. Larry Gooch.  His e-mail is available on the band website, www.piedmontband.org.  Also, we will be asking you to join an e-mail list that the Piedmont Band Boosters is starting up.  Within a week or so of school starting we will post a link on the band website about how to join the list.  It should only take a few moments, and it’s really the best way for us to keep you informed.  Students will be allowed to join the list as well.  The more communication and help we have from parents, the better your child’s experience will be. Thanks for taking the time to read through things carefully.  We are going to have a great year and accomplish some pretty incredible tasks, I know!  Here we go! GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!