Hosford Middle School

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(Changes from previous years are in red)

I look forward to another exciting year at Hosford. As always, parents are encouraged to be in our classroom! Whether you’d like to file, lead sections, or just play with the group—we’d love to have you! Please feel free to contact me at any time.

Band is a fun and exciting way to gain many valuable skills for life! I hope to instill upon each you the value of hard work, dedication, and teamwork through the avenue of music. I hope that you come away with a new appreciation for yourself, your classmates, music, and the world around you!

What will you learn in band? Band is not only about playing an instrument. Band is also about learning music—how to play, sing, write, read, listen, analyze and describe….music! The National Music Educator’s Conference has adopted these standards that EVERY music student should have the opportunity to participate in. Listed below are these important standards…

1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music
3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
5. Reading and notating music.
6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
7. Evaluating music and music performances.
8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts.
9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

This class IS an academic class! You are expected to practice and study just as you would for any other class. Here is the breakdown of what you will be graded on:

Daily Participation 25%

You will receive 5 points per day—if you disrupt class, one point will be taken off for each disruption. A time out will mean automatic zero for the day. Any worksheets we work on in class are also considered as part of your participation grade.

***Students will be allowed to “shadow” for one day after having braces tightened. After the first day, students will need to make up the class time on their practice slip.

Concerts 25%

You are expected to be at all performances. If you miss a concert for any reason, you must practice an additional 4 hours to make up for the missed concert. If there are extenuating circumstances, such as a planned vacation, you need to let me know 2 weeks prior to the concert. You must also make up concert absence due to illness.

**You are also expected to help set up, tear down, and STAY for the entire concert. Band is a community. I expect you to support that community.

**Please keep in mind—Music performances are scheduled as far in advance as possible. Occasionally a performance may come up with short notice. You are expected to participate unless there are extenuating circumstances for your absence.

Playing/Performance or Written Tests 25%

Each quarter there will be at least one test. This can be a playing test, a written test, or even an oral report. Playing tests are performed individually in front of the entire class. You will be graded on such things as notes, rhythm, stylistic considerations, dynamics, and key signatures. If you fail a playing test, it may be retaken ONE time.

Daily Practice Homework 25%

You will be required to practice outside of class 2 hours per week. Practice Slips will be turned in every Friday. Late practice slips will not be accepted. You must have 17 hours by the end of the quarter. Students taking private lessons on their instrument or the piano may record 30 minutes a week of practice time on their practice slip as extra credit.

Please see practice expectations for tips on practicing. Keep in mind—two hours a week is the minimum you should be practicing. If you can’t play your part—you should be practicing more! I expect you to come to class prepared!

Practice Expectations:

• Practice a minimum of two hours weekly. You need to practice more if you can’t play your part in your concert music.
• Practice a minimum of three times weekly.
• Practice a minimum of twenty minutes per practice session.

What Should I Practice?

1. Warm up each time you practice using the appropriate warm-ups---either out of your method book or Sam Barlow warm-ups
2. Practice at least TWO scales daily. These scales WILL be memorized so you might as well start early!
3. Practice concert music—spending extra time on sections that are more difficult.
4. You may only practice additional non-band material if you are competent on your band music parts. This should only be a small amount of your total practice time.

*Do not practice music fast! Always practice music slowly, and work your way up to a faster tempo. If you learn it wrong to begin with, it’s even harder to relearn the right way!

Required Materials for Band

Daily materials:

Instrument, music, pencil, method book, supplemental music

Woodwinds:

Flute: cork grease, cleaning rod, tuner, and metronome.
Clarinet/Saxophone: cork grease, cleaning kit, tuner, metronome, at least 2 reeds at all times.
Bassoon/Oboe: cork grease, cleaning kit, tuner, metronome, and at least 3 reeds at all times.

Brass:

Trumpet/French Horn/Baritone/Tuba: Valve oil, cork grease, tuner, metronome.
Trombone: Slide oil, cork grease, tuner, metronome.

Percussion:

Practice pad/snare drum and bells kit (both for home use), Vic Firth SD-1 or comparable sticks, metronome.

This year I have added a tuner and metronome under the required materials for band. Both of these items are very important. These items are for home use only. While I cannot require that each student have them, I strongly suggest they get these items for the best practicing environment.

Below is a description of these devices and their importance:

Metronome: This device is used to keep steady time(tempo). A young player will often play inconsistently, and will not develop the internal clock they need to play consistently without it.

Tuner: This device checks to see if the student is sharp (high) or flat (low) of the correct pitch (note). As young players develop their embouchure (mouth muscles), it is very important for them to be able to check themselves to ensure they are playing properly. For instance, a clarinet may play flat, not knowing that his/her embouchure is not firm enough. A tuner would let them know that they need to firm up their embouchure, thus correcting themselves.

*Due to the expense of replacing materials, you will be charged the following:

• .10 cents per page per copy of sheet music
• .50 cents per folder
• Students who lose their method book are expected to buy another one from a music store.

*Sheet music is VERY expense. You are required to keep your sheet music clean and free of folds, crumples, or paper airplanes! Music must be kept in a folder at all times. You will be assigned 10 minutes of work duty each time you don’t have your music in your folder!

Concert Dress

All students are required to dress appropriately for concerts. Concerts are a formal event. Much time and effort have been put forth to ensure the students sound great. The band should both look and sound great. Here is the required dress code:

Men: White dress shirt, black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoeWomen: White dress shirt or blouse, black dress pants or skirt, black socks, and black dress shoes.

*I understand the financial constraint some may have in obtaining the appropriate clothing. Please let me know in advanced so that your child does not get graded down for being dressed inappropriately.

Chair Seating and Challenging

The first test of the year will determine seating placement in each section. The test is taken just like a normal playing test, and scores determine from highest to lowest the seating order of the section. In order to keep the seating in sections competitive and fair, you may challenge up to a higher chair. Here are a few rules to keep in mind for this process:

• The one getting challenged picks the music
• You MUST except a challenge, or automatically lose your seat.
• If you lose a challenge, you must wait two weeks to challenge the winner back.
• There will be no challenges two weeks before any concert.

Once you have decided on the challenge piece, you need to inform Mr. Eide what day your challenge will take place. Both musicians will then have three days to practice. On the fourth day, you will each play your music for the class. You will perform behind a screen. The class will then vote blindly on whom they think won the challenge. The winner either moves up, or stays in his/her existing seat.

Classroom Rules

• Respect others
• Be on time and be prepared
• No eating, drinking (except water), or GUM
• Keep room clean—instrument and music stored where appropriate

Tardy Policy

I adhere to the schools tardy policy—the bell rings and you’re in the room! As it does take some extra time to get out your instrument and music, I also go one step further. You need to be in your seat ready to play two minutes after the tardy bell rings.

Discipline Policy

• Verbal warning—This is your first warning
• Your name on the board—This is your final warning
• Your name with a check mark—Ten minutes of work duty done before school the next day.
• Your name with 2 checks—Time Out

Tag Modifications

Band is an ability based class. All instrument sections are organized according to ability. Higher performing students are put on advanced parts. Tag students are also encouraged to audition for Jazz Band, Hosford’s “elite” performing group. Tag students comprise well over 50% of the Jazz Band population.

*Grading may be changed in the event that not all materials are covered.