Transcript T.A. Howard Middle School BAND PARENT MEETING & HANDBOOK 2009-2010

T.A. Howard Middle School
BAND PARENT MEETING &
HANDBOOK
2009-2010
Nathaniel Neugent, Director
Meredith Keller, Associate Director
(817) 299-3526
Meeting Agenda - 8/27/09
 Introduction
 Most Important Info
 Handbook Information
 Forms and Fees
 Band Calendar
 Answer Any Questions
MII #1: Practice Records
Teach responsibility first, music second
Due every Monday, in basket by 4:10 pm
30 points off is one day late (correction)
Must have a “Grand Total”
Must be signed by parent Sunday evening
Encourage your kids to be honest and
accurate
 A 60 is better than a zero
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MII #2: Attendance
 Communication is the key.
 If your child will miss a rehearsal or
performance for any reason, please
communicate that to us ASAP.
 Email or a signed note is required.
 A phone call is best if it is a last minute
emergency but follow up afterward in
writing.
MII #3: Daily Rehearsals
 They must have all their materials and
necessary instrument supplies present
at each rehearsal to receive full credit.
 Before and after school rehearsals
count twice as they are very important
and very few of them.
MII #1, 2, & 3 – Grades/IC
 You can check your students grades
weekly in Infinite Campus (IC).
 It automatically puts zeroes after the
due date…so if we are behind in
entering them, it shows as a zero
 Feel free to email us anyway just to be
safe 
MII #4: Private Lessons
 Students are now in large classes with multiple
instruments making individual instruction more difficult.
 Private Lessons will help your child improve more than
anything else we do.
 Half-scholarships are available for those with a financial
need. You must qualify for free or reduced lunch to
qualify.
 An updated list of teachers is available on our
website…they will also be calling those who turned in the
MMEP forms.
 Lesson times are set up on a first come-first serve basis.
Those first in line get the premium times (in class).
MII #5: Pep Rallies & Football Games
 Students must arrive wearing band shirt
(tucked in), blue jeans, tennis shoes
 Bring Wire Stand (and take home when done)
 Clothespins help hold music down
 Tubas & Bari Saxes from home are required
 Tue, Sept 15 is our 1st Pep Rally
 Fri, Oct 2 & Tue, Oct 27 are our 2 Football
Game performances
MII #6: Band Concerts
 Arrive in with Tux shirt on and tucked in
 At Willie Pigg, drop off in back by band hall
 Students are expected to listen to other bands after
their performance given the few opportunities they
have to hear each other
 Tubas & Bari Saxes from school are required, except
Concert Band kids from home
 We are still waiting for Pigg dates to be released!
 Please support our new Fine Arts facility on
the district blog on www.mansfieldisd.org
Fine Arts/Prof Dev Facility
MII #7: Charms (Mass Email)
 With new info for parents…and prior to
every event, we send home a handout,
post it on our website, and mass email
using “Charms”.
 Please keep your email address up to
date with us.
 Changing it in IC does not change it
with us. A short email is the best way.
Expectations for ALL Bands
 Exemplary Rehearsal Skills
 Band Materials present & prepared
every day
 Instrument goes home every day
 Except Tubas & Bari Sax take MP only
 Must bring to performances
 Weekly Practice Records
 Each band has different grading scales
 Attendance at all required Performances
Band Class Schedule
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7:30 – 8:30
8:45 – 10:10
10:15 – 10:55
11:00 – 1:00
1:05 – 2:30
2:35 – 4:00
4:10 - 5:10
A Days
Sectionals
1st Symphonic Band
Quest
2nd Honor Band
3rd Concert Brass
4th Conference
Sectionals
Band Class Schedule
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7:30 – 8:30
8:45 – 10:10
10:15 – 10:55
11:00 – 1:00
1:05 – 2:30
2:35 – 4:00
4:10 - 5:10
B Days
Sectionals
1st Music App. (Neugent Team)
Quest
2nd Honor Band
3rd Percussion (Keller Team)
4th Concert Woodwinds
Sectionals
GRADING POLICIES AND
EXPECTATIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
PERFORMANCE – 40%
REHEARSAL – 40%
PRACTICE – 20%
EXTRA CREDIT
PERFORMANCE GRADES - 40%
Are made up of the following components:
 Playing Tests
 Written Work
 Public Performances (concerts, contests, etc)
 These count in your average twice. If you do not
attend a concert and do not have an approved excused
absence, two zeroes will be entered into the grade
book.
 We also expect proper concert etiquette from our
students while listening to other bands perform.
 Students are expected to stay and listen to all bands to
receive full credit for the concert…listening is part of
the learning process.
Playing Tests
Students should expect weekly playing tests that will be
announced in advance. These tests could cover, but
are not limited to covering, the following:
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Daily Drill
Scales
Exercises
Pep Band Tunes
All-Region Band audition materials
Concert band music (“your part”)
 Students must “pass-off” their part at a minimum
standard to perform with their band at contest.
Tests may decrease as we approach performances.
Public Performances
 With a performance oriented curriculum our
performances are the most important grade
we take
 We have very few performances each year so
they weigh heavily in their average
 Are on the Band Calendar and include but are
not limited to:
 All Concerts
 All Band Contests
 Individual contests such as All-District, Region, &
Solo & Ensemble Contest
 Football games & Pep Rallies
Public Performances
Attendance at all public performances is
required, except in the following
circumstances:
 Death in the family
 Critical family emergency (for example, a car
accident)
 Bed-ridden illness (for example, pneumonia)
 Once-in-a-lifetime family event (for example,
your grandparents’ 50th wedding
anniversary)
Public Performances
 In the case of a once-in-a-lifetime
family event, parents must contact the
director as soon as possible, in writing,
stating:
 1. The student’s name.
 2. The date and time of the conflict.
 3. The specific reason for the conflict.
Public Performances
 An unexcused absence from a public
performance could result in any of the
following, at the director’s discretion:
 Loss of their chair position
 Exclusion from any end of year party.
 Exclusion from contest trips (Any student that
misses a required concert or competition will not
go to Schlitterbahn).
 Reassignment to another ensemble.
 Removal from the band program.
Daily Rehearsals
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Beginning Monday, any student without their
instrument or mouthpiece will receive a ZERO for
their daily rehearsal grade
Tuners & Clips will have one more week to pass out
You must have a signed note from your
parent/guardian if your instrument is in the shop for
repairs. (Please include where and when it was
taken to the shop on the note.)
Daily Rehearsals - 40%
Students will receive full credit (100 points) for
each rehearsal that they:
1.
Have their materials present and in working order:
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5.
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Instrument
Mouthpiece, good reeds, or appropriate sticks/mallets
Band Binder (clean w/dividers, pencil bag, blue book & all music)
Pencil (no pens)
Tuner w/clip (required for All Brass & Woodwinds)
Follow entry & exit procedures outlined in Rehearsal
Expectations
Actively Participate in the rehearsal process by following the
etiquette outlined in Rehearsal Expectations
Daily Practice - 20%
 Practice is monitored through Practice
Records
 Minutes are recorded Monday - Sunday
 PR’s are due by the end of Monday
regardless of A or B day
 Must be signed by parent to be
counted…please review…don’t just sign
Practice Records
HONOR BAND
 240+ minutes per week = 110
 210-239 minutes = 100
 180-209 minutes = 90
 150-179 minutes = 80
 120-149 minutes = 70
 Less than 120 minutes = 60
 No parent signature = 0
SYMPHONIC BAND
 210+ minutes per week = 110
 180-209 minutes = 100
 150-179 minutes = 90
 120-149 minutes = 80
 90-119 minutes = 70
 Less than 90 minutes = 60
 No parent signature = 0
CONCERT BAND
 180+ minutes = 110
 150-179 minutes = 100
 120-149 minutes = 90
 90-119 minutes = 80
 60-89 minutes = 70
 Less than 60 minutes = 60
 No parent signature = 0
Extra Credit
 Attending or participating in a non-Howard
concert (15 pts.)
 Auditioning for All-District band (10 pts.)
 Making All-District band (20 pts.)
 Auditioning for All-Region band (20 pts.)
 Making All-Region band (40 pts.)
 Watching the HS band at half time (15 pts.)
Extra Credit
 Bring proof (ticket stub, program, note from
parent) and signed by parent
 Turn it in with their next Practice Record
 We file it away and enter it in IC at the end
of the 6 weeks
UIL Eligibility
 Extra-curricular vs. Co-curricular
 Contests vs. Concerts
 Can lose eligibility each 6 weeks
 Can regain every 3 weeks
 Must wait for the one week “grace
period”
Section Rehearsals
 Occur before school from 7:30 - 8:30
 A few small sectionals may be scheduled after school
from 4:10-5:10
 Since most sectionals only meet once a week,
attendance at every sectional is crucial for the
individual and section’s progress.
 An unexcused absence to a sectional will adversely
effect your students grade, jeopardize their chair in
the ensemble, and leave them behind in the music
and on playing tests we do in sectionals.
Band Supplies
 Should have all rehearsal supplies from Registration
 Must purchase supply again if lost or broken
 Binder, music ($.25 per pg.), Blue Book…the tuner Clip
can break easily if not cared for properly
 If you need to wait to buy more costly supplies like a
WW mouthpiece, please email me and let me know
your timeline
 See Handbook for recommended list
 M&A Price list will be published on website
 Students can purchase supplies from M&A through us
- make checks out to Music & Arts
Instrument Maintenance and Care
 Store daily in slot and take home each day
and every weekend
 We cannot be responsible for lost/stolen
instruments
 Brass students should clean, and oil/grease
them once every 2 weeks. This can be
counted as practice time!!!
 WW’s should swab after every practice and
use key oil every month. Check for loose
screws once a week.
Instrument Maintenance and Care
 Parents, if there is a problem with an
instrument, please do not attempt to repair it.
 Send it with a student to us as we can often
save you repair money by fixing it ourselves.
 We will not attempt a repair we know we can’t do
and we will then recommend sending it to a shop.
 Recommended repair shops are listed in the
Handbook.
 We will have a M&A Rep come once a week.
 We encourage parents to purchase insurance
coverage on your child’s instrument.
 The Music Agency offers affordable and thorough
instrument only insurance.
School-owned Instruments
 Are provided by the district due to cost
 Include: Piccolo, Oboe, Bassoon, Tenor & Bari Sax, French
Horn, Euphonium, Tuba, and large percussion
 MISD requires a $60 fee for Brass & Woodwinds and a
$20 fee for percussion
 Maintenance and repair is student/parent responsibility
while checked out…consider insurance
 Tubas & Bari Sax are provided one to stay home due to
size. You must bring your “home” instrument to all
performances (except Honor Band tubas use “school”)
 Extra School-owned instruments for home practice
can be checked out if we have one available for an
additional $60 fee.
Step-up Instruments
 Can drastically improve your child’s performance as they begin
to physically outgrow the smaller beginner models
 Please seek our advice along with your Private teachers advice
when considering buying one
 Do not buy online unless it is a quality used horn…we can help
with that
 See recommended list in Handbook
 Stepping up often means you will need a new mouthpiece (esp.
for brass)
 Even once you’ve settled on a make & model, try several
different samples before buying…good music stores will loan
them to us before buying so we can try them out!
 Consider keeping your beginner horn for high school marching
band
Fee Summary
Howard Fees (make check out to Howard Band)
 Band Registration Fee: $5 (covers misc. supplies)
 Howard Band T shirt: $12 (parents can still buy)
 Tuxedo Shirt: $14
MUSIC SUPPLIES (make check out to Music & Arts)
 Metronome/Tuner Combo
 Tuner Clip
Fee Summary
MISCELLANEOUS
 Instrument Usage Fee (School-owned Winds): $60
 Instrument Usage Fee (Percussion) $20
 Private Lesson (per half-hour lesson): $16
 Make checks out to your private teacher
 Lost Sheet Music (per page): $.25
 Pay with cash
 Lost Blue Book: $7 for Winds, $10 for Percussion
Calendar
 We are still waiting on Willie Pigg Dates
for Concerts – so No calendar yet…
 We will email everyone when the
calendar is posted on the website
Upcoming Events
 Mon, Aug 31-Nov 13 – Weekly All-Region Music
Sectionals begin this Monday – 7:30-8:30 am
 Wed & Thu, Sept 2 & 3 - Fundraiser kick-off
 Cookie Dough - 2 weeks long – Cumulative Prizes
 Tue, Sept 15 - Pep Rally - (3-4 pm)
 Wed, Sept 16 – Fundraiser Order & Money due
Oct-Nov Events
 Fri, Oct 2 - Game performance – Summit Band Night
 Summit vs. Mansfield at Newsom Stadium (Visitors side)
 Meet here, ride buses from Howard
 October ?? - Fall Concert – Willie Pigg, we hope
 Fri, Oct 16 - Legacy Band Night
 8th graders zoned to Legacy – RL Anderson - meet there
 Tue, Oct 27 – Howard Game Performance
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RL Anderson Stadium – meet here, ride buses from Howard
 Thu, Oct 29 – Howard Band Halloween Dance
 Sat, Oct 31 – All-District Auditions – Jones MS
 November – All-Region Audtion stuff
Questions???
THE END