EAST HARDIN Middle School Beginning Band Handbook 2013-2014 Don t forget: Be Sure to Sign up for the TEXT MESSAGE service! Consider purchasing a folding music stand for practice at home! Consider taking private lessons! Contents: Class. Materials 2 Grades/Atten. 3 Concert Dress 4 Behavior 5 Signature Form 6 Welcome! Welcome to the East Hardin Middle School Band! It is the intent of East Hardin Middle School to offer each student the opportunity to participate in a well-rounded instrumental music program. Band will be a course designed to teach the students individual skills of instrumental music performance through group instruction. Instruction will take place during the regular school day. Additionally, some rehearsals and performances will be after school or on a weekend. Through their participation in band, students will receive the training necessary to be successful in music while also being prepared to learn responsibility and the necessary work ethic and attention to detail that they will encounter in other classes and in life situations. As with any program your child is involved in, it is my job to help educate students and parents alike on the ins and outs of our program and how we function. It is absolutely essential that you read the handbook thoroughly to orient yourself with our policies and procedures and to familiarize yourself with contact information and where to go to for updates, concert times, concert attire, and any other information of importance. Please keep this handbook as a reference should you ever have any questions. Your time, energy, and cooperation in continuing our tradition of excellence are appreciated. I am very much looking forward to a successful year with your student! Please sign the agreement form at the back of the band handbook and return it by Monday, August 12, 2013. Please be sure to include your email address on the last page of this booklet. Contact Information EHMS Phone: 270-369-7370 Mr. Baucum s E-mail: matt.baucum@hardin.kyschools.us EHMS Band Web Page: http://hcslms.hardin.kyschools.us/course/view.php?id=99 To Join the EHMS Band Mobile Text Message Service: You must send 1 text for each group you want to join (parents with children in more than one grade may want to join two groups). Send a text to 925-304-4219 with the appropriate message below: To join the 6th Grade Band group text the message @mrbaucum To join the 7th Grade Band group text the message @mrbau To join the 8th Grade Band group text the message @bauc If you did this correctly, you will be asked to reply with your full name once so I can identify you. To unsubscribe from this service, text the word STOP to the number above and it will drop ALL groups.
EHMS Band Handbook Page 2 of 6 Classroom Materials All EHMS Band students are responsible for the following items EVERY CLASS DAY. Flute- Cleaning swab, polishing cloth, and tuning rod Oboe & Bassoon- At least three working reeds, silk cleaning swab, reed case, water cup (an empty prescription bottle works great!) Clarinet & Sax- At least four working VanDoren reeds, Reed Guard to hold four reeds, swab, mouthpiece brush Trumpet, Horn, Euphonium, & Tuba- Valve oil (rotor oil for horns & rotary tubas), slide grease, polishing cloth, mouthpiece brush Trombone- tuning slide grease, slide cream, small spray bottle for water, polishing cloth, mouthpiece brush Percussion- Practice pad, mallets and snare drum sticks. In addition, all students are responsible for having. 1. Your technique book(s). 6 th Grade Band Students: Tradition of Excellence, Book 1 by Bruce Pearson ($6.00) 2. Pencils. NO INK PENS ALLOWED! 3. A metronome and tuner (or smart phone apps for these functions). 4. I strongly recommend the purchase of a folding music stand for home practice. Students who do not have a proper stand from which to read their music often develop incorrect posture habits that can harm their development as performers.
Page 3 of 6 EHMS Band Handbook Grading Policy TEST GRADES Individual music performance Pass-Offs o Students will be given eight (8) assigned pass-offs each grading period. These count as 100 point test grades and students must complete them before the end of each 9 weeks. Participation in required performances. o These include both school and festival performances. Performance grades count as a major test grade of 200 points. DAILY GRADES Preparation and Participation o Instrument present and in working condition o Music and pencil in folder o Seated and ready to play when class begins o Teamwork/Effort/Attitude o Participation in after school rehearsals Practice Reports o Practice reports turned in each Friday, signed by a parent. Late practice reports will be accepted on Mondays ONLY. o Students are required to practice 80 minutes a week to receive full credit. Performance/Rehearsal Attendance In order to achieve and maintain a high standard of musicianship, it is necessary to have some rehearsals outside of the school day. Any outside rehearsals serve as group tutoring sessions which are invaluable to our band s success and are mandatory, affecting the daily grade. A specific schedule will be posted at a later date and will be available on the website as well. Students are required to attend any and all required performances and after school rehearsals. Absences of any kind negatively impact the other students in the band. Absences from a performance or rehearsal will be excused for the following reasons ONLY: 1. Illness (absent from school the same day) 2. Family emergency 3. Approved conflict Excused absences can be made up by completing an alternate assignment given by the director. Performance make-up assignments must be completed within one week of the missed event OR within one week of the student s return to school. Any other absences are UNEXCUSED and CANNOT BE MADE UP. Unexcused absences will result in a performance grade of 0. The determination of an excused or unexcused absence, in all circumstances, is at the discretion of Mr. Baucum.
EHMS Band Handbook Page 4 of 6 Concert Dress Requirements The East Hardin Band takes great pride in projecting a professional, uniformed appearance at all of our events. If any student has a problem acquiring the proper attire, please contact Mr. Baucum for assistance. Any student who is inappropriately dressed for a performance will not be permitted to perform. The student WILL lose points from the performance grade. INFORMAL ATTIRE: Each student will need to purchase an EHMS Band T-shirt to be worn with jeans at some performances. T-shirt order forms will be sent home with students at a later date. FORMAL ATTIRE: BOYS Button down dress shirt or polo type of shirt. Ties may be worn if desired. Dress pants (no jeans, denim, or cargo pants) Dark socks (NO WHITE SOCKS PLEASE!) Dress shoes (no athletic shoes please!) GIRLS Dress shirt, blouse, sweater or a dress Dress slacks (no denim) or long skirt o DRESSES AND SKIRTS MUST BE KNEE LENGTH OR LONGER WHEN SEATED Dark socks or hose Dress shoes (no athletic shoes please!) Band Room Expectations Students will check the screen for the agenda for the day. Be seated 3 minutes after the tardy bell rings. This does not mean you can arrive to the classroom 3 minutes after the tardy bell! No large instrument cases should be left on the floor at any time (small cases under seats). On a daily basis, students must have a pencil, instrument and method book/music instrument cases must have an ID tag. Many instrument cases look similar. An identification tag is a requirement! Listen at all times! Focus on fully understanding the concept or instruction being presented. If something is not understood, ask APPROPRIATE questions at the APPROPRIATE time. Always follow directions the first time they are given. Please remain quiet during class. Raise your hand and wait to be acknowledged before speaking so we can have productive and efficient rehearsals. All students are expected to be respectful of others. Speak in a courteous tone, keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself and allow for a quiet classroom atmosphere. ABSOLUTELY NO GUM, CANDY, GOOD, OR DRINKS IN THE BAND ROOM EVER!! It is everyone s responsibility to keep the Band Room clean and neat. Stack chairs and stands when you are finished using them and throw all trash away. If you forget your instrument, you will be given an On-Demand writing assignment to do during class and your grade will be lowered for the day.
Page 5 of 6 EHMS Band Handbook Behavior Consequences 1. 1 st offense - Verbal warning 2. Each offense after that results in a mark. These will be recorded in the ABE system and will count against your team rewards. 3. Parent contact will be made for any student that receives 4 marks during the course of one week. If this behavior continues after parent contact, a teacher, parent and student conference will be scheduled. 4. Students whom are repeatedly receiving numerous marks following parent contact and conferece will be referred to the office for disciplinary action. Instrument Care All students are expected to keep their instrument in good working condition at all times this includes having the proper items necessary to take care of the instrument. Instruments that are in need of repair can be taken directly to the rental store or can be left in the band room for pick-up. Conrad Music Service will visit the band room on a weekly basis. The music store or EHMS will provide a loaner instrument while yours is being repaired. Supplies needed by instrument: FLUTE: cleaning rod, cloth handkerchief OBOE: 2 reeds, swab, cork grease CLARINET: at least four (4) no. 3 strength reeds in good condition (not chipped, cracked or warped), a reed guard, cotton swab, mouthpiece mouse, cork grease. SAXOPHONE: at least four (4) medium strength reeds in good condition (not chipped, cracked or warped), a reed guard, mouthpiece mouse TRUMPET, FRENCH HORN, BARITONE, TUBA: valve oil, mouthpiece-cleaning brush, cleaning snake TROMBONE: slide oil or trombotine (with spray bottle), cleaning snake or rod, mouthpiece brush PERCUSSION: Snare drum sticks, yarn mallets and hard rubber or plastic mallets. Private Lessons The private lesson program is the absolute most important factor in improving the quality of individual musicianship and thus the band program in general. Parents are encouraged to consider private lessons for their child. To experience the optimum amount of success, students should start lessons early and continue throughout the year. When available, Mr. Baucum will hire private lesson teachers that will come to EHMS to teach students during their normal scheduled class time (some lessons may have to be after school). The availability of teachers on each instrument determines if it is possible for your student to study privately at EHMS. Locally, the Music and Arts Center of Cultural Learning in Elizabethtown also provides private lessons (270-234-0007). You can also find more information on the web at: http://www.maccl.com/.
EHMS BAND HANDBOOK AGREEMENT Please sign and return this form only by August 12 th (Please keep the band handbook stored somewhere safely at your home for future reference) As the parent of, I have read and understand the content of this band guide. Date PARENT SIGNATURE As a member of the East Hardin Middle School Band, I have read, understand, and agree to abide by the rules, policies and procedures described in the band handbook. Date STUDENT SIGNATURE Please complete the information below (print legibly) **. Student Name Grade Parent Email **You will be sent emails periodically with important information concerning rehearsal times, performance dates, fundraising activities, parent volunteers, and other important informatio