Band Handbook 2018-2019

http://www.githensband.org

Welcome to the start of a new year for our Band program at Githens Middle
School! I am beyond thrilled to be a part of this experience, and I hope that all of you
are as anxious as I am to get started! As a member of Githens Middle School Bands,
you have chosen to associate with some of the finest scholars, athletes, musicians,
and student leaders in our school. Our expectations are high. Each Band member
will be held accountable for their actions, attitudes and performances.

COMMUNICATION:
Githens Middle School Bands Website & Facebook Page: Githens Bands
have their own website at githensband.org and a Facebook page, search for “Githens
Middle School Band”. Our twitter handle is @gitthensband. Check these places for
lots of information about what is coming up.

Githens Band newsletter and email announcements: Important information is

sent out via email regularly as needed. Make sure that you are on our email
announcement list and are receiving my messages. Because I send emails to many
people at once, some email servers will count my emails as spam. Please add
“patrick.blackburn@dpsnc.net” to your non-spam list.

MATERIALS:
We cannot nurture the gifts and talents of each child if he or she is in a class
where they are unable to participate fully, as they will fall behind quickly and be overly
stressed to try to catch up.

• Each student is required to bring his or her instrument and music to

class each day.
• If a student is without his or her instrument five times during a semester,
then he or she will not be approved to continue in band after the
semester has been completed. Exception: Students with instruments
that are out for repair will not be penalized.
• Students are also required to bring their books to class each day in
order to be given full participation credit.
• Individual necessities such as woodwind reeds and valve oil/slide oil for
brass instruments also must be brought in daily.
• Woodwind players need to make sure that their reeds are in working,
playable conditions (without cracks or chips).
 Reeds for any woodwind instrument may be purchased in the Band Room for
$3 each. Bottles of valve/slide oil may be purchased in the Band Room for $5 each.

The method book that we will be using this year in Beginning Band is “Do it!
Book 1” by James Froseth (Beginning Band only!). These books may be purchased
at Music and Arts or Gia Music, as well as other locations of which I may not be
aware. You may also want to consider ordering the book online. It is sometimes
difficult for music stores to keep these books in stock early in the school year. It is
crucial that students have this book as soon as possible. They average around 7 to 8
dollars each, with the exception of percussion books, which will be slightly higher. If
you are renting an instrument from a music dealer, you may be receiving a book with
the instrument. Please check with your company to see if this courtesy is being
extended to you, and please make certain that the correct book will be included.

CLASSROOM PROCEDURES:
PROCEDURE FOR STARTING CLASS

• Check the whiteboard for announcements and instructions as you enter

the classroom.
• Turn in papers, forms, or other assignments in the designated boxes.
• Get your instrument, book, and music.
• Leave cases and all other belongings out of your way and be in your
seat with your instrument underneath your chair within 2 minutes after
the tardy bell.

REHEARSAL PROCEDURES

• If you need to leave your seat for any reason, raise your hand, wait to
be called upon, and ask permission unless instructed otherwise.
• Be silent while others speak or play.
• It is acceptable to quietly speak with your neighbor if you need to
discuss a fingering or other musical issues. Please keep these
comments brief and to the task at hand, and do so at the appropriate
times.

PROCEDURE FOR ENDING CLASS AND DISMISSAL

• After the class is over, perform maintenance on your instrument.

• Swab your instrument.

• Put reeds in reed cases.
• Cover reed mouthpieces with cap.
• Check all tuning slides.
• Wipe off brass mouthpieces.

• Pack and put away your instrument. Securely close all latches on your
case.
 • Students who are car riders may leave their instrument neatly in their
designated storage area and pick them up at the end of the day.
• The director will dismiss the group when the bell rings.

GRADING:
Correct playing: Students will be graded by observation. I observe every
child throughout each class and am able to get an accurate account of whether each
student is able to play and read what is required in their music. Students will be
graded on various aspects, including proper instrument and body position, as well as
their ability to read and perform music.

Playing tests: Playing tests will be given at the director’s discretion. Tests
will be announced at least 1 day in advance and will be graded on correct notes,
rhythm, continuity and posture.

Written tests: Written tests will be given at the director’s discretion. Tests will
be announced at least 1 day in advance and will consist of material that has been
gone over in class and the students are expected to be accountable for based on the
National Standards for Music Education.

The rating scale for playing tests and other projects is generally outlined as follows:

4 – Student extends targeted elective standards.

(Student has mastered the skill and progressed independently.)

3 – Student demonstrates proficiency of targeted elective standards.

(Student has mastered the learned skill.)

2 – Student needs support to meet targeted elective standards.

(Student demonstrates the learned skill with teacher assistance.)

1 – Insufficient performance of targeted elective standards with support.

(Student does not demonstrate the learned skill.)

The rating scale for other tests and assignments will either be rubric based or based
on the number of correct or incorrect answers.

In order to receive full participation credit, the following is expected every day:

• Bring supplies to class. This includes books/music, pencils,

instruments, and instrument supplies (reeds, mallets/sticks, etc).
• Be on time for class. Students must be in their seats and ready for
class within two minutes after the tardy bell.
• Focus in class. Follow our classroom guidelines at all times.
• Attend required concerts and events.

Students who receive an “F” in Band for the semester will not be permitted to
continue taking the class.
DISCIPLINE:
Each Band class is expected to follow the guidelines outlined in our school-
wide behavior policy. Failure to comply with school and classroom guidelines will
result in taking the appropriate actions based on the PBIS policy. Additionally,
students who receive three warnings during the course of one class period will be
required to pack up their instrument for the remainder of the class, and will not be
given credit for participating that day. Students who consistently have discipline
problems may be held out of performances and events at the director’s discretion,
and may not be permitted to continue in Band after the semester is finished.

SCHOOL-OWNED INSTRUMENTS:

In some cases, students may be able to use an instrument owned by Githens

Middle School or the Githens Band Boosters. School owned instruments are
generally limited to the higher costing instruments such as tubas, baritone
saxophones, etc. Students who borrow instruments owned by the Githens Band
program rather than supplying their own instruments are responsible for both routine
maintenance of those instruments and for any damage incurred to those instruments
beyond normal instrument “wear and tear” from routine usage while they are in the
students’ possession, and must sign the School-Owned Instrument Maintenance
Agreement prior to using each instrument. In addition, each student using a Githens
Band program instrument is required to pay an annual $80 Instrument Maintenance
Contribution (IMC) fee ($10 per month). Families who cannot afford to pay the
instrument rental fee must speak with the director in person to arrange a way for a
student to still be in Band. Students who borrow instruments from the Githens Band
program will be responsible for providing their own reeds, valve oil, etc. as needed.
Important: If you do not wish to pay the IMC of $80/year or do not agree to pay for
damage/abnormal wear at the end of the school year, DO NOT sign and return this
form. Instead, you may purchase or rent (cost $30-$50/monthly) an instrument from
a reputable music dealer.

BAND FEE:

Band activities and needs are not entirely covered by the DPS allotted
instrumental music budget. In order to maintain the high quality operation of the
Githens Band program, each student taking Band this year is asked to pay a $10
Band Fee. This money will go towards instrument maintenance, music equipment,
sheet music, and other necessities. Please note that this fee is lower than most
middle schools in our class.

PRACTICE:
I cannot stress enough how important practice is. Simply put, students that
practice and practice correctly will enjoy more success. Practicing is part of good
musical work habits. In order to be skillful enough to earn a good grade (A or B) on
your report card, you MUST practice 20-30 minutes every day, or you will fall
behind. Remember, practice is your homework.
 It is nearly impossible to grow as a musician without daily practice. While
students will be experiencing a quality amount of ensemble rehearsal time each
week, students are limited in the amount of one-on-one attention that they receive.
The only way for each student to grow individually is to practice at home on a daily
basis. An average of about 20-30 minutes per day is great (though more is certainly
beneficial!). The muscles in our faces and hands are just like those we would use in
athletics – if we don’t maintain them, they will quickly weaken.

All Band students will be required to practice a minimum of 100 minutes each
week (which works out to roughly 20-30 minutes per day, five days a week). This is
the equivalent of a homework assignment in other classes. I know that sometimes
students are sick, or there are other circumstances that prevent students from
practicing. I will work with cases where students do not meet the required amount of
practice time individually if the need arises.

Practice is worthless if it is not done with regularity – practicing for two hours
one night a week is actually more harmful than practicing for 20-30 minutes everyday.
Students who consistently do not meet practice guidelines without a valid, approved
excuse will not be approved to continue in Band after the semester has been
completed.

MAINTENANCE:
To keep an instrument in proper working order, it is necessary to clean it
regularly.

• Woodwinds should be swabbed out daily, reeds removed after each

playing, and corks greased whenever necessary.
• Brass instruments should be cleaned out with a wire brush, and the
slides/valves should be greased/oiled as necessary.

Students will be instructed on taking good care of their instruments during the
first few days of class, as I understand that each instrument is an investment.
Students who constantly have their instruments in the shop will be missing valuable
learning time!

CONCERTS:
All Showcase performances are mandatory for all students enrolled in Band.
Failure to participate in these concerts will only be excused if a valid, written excuse
is presented before the end of the nine week period. Valid excuses include illness,
family emergencies, and unforeseeable circumstances preventing attendance.
Sporting events and practices are not valid excuses for missing concerts. When a
student misses a concert, it is like preparing a major project and then not turning it in.
All students in the band are needed in order to perform as an ensemble, and when
one student is not present, it is the whole group that pays the price. Advanced notice
of a conflict that prevents a student from being at a required performance will be
considered on an individual basis.

Performances, however, are not a right. Students who consistently have

problems with behavior will not be permitted to perform. Additionally, students who
do not consistently show effort both in and outside of class to do their best to learn
the material we cover in class will not be permitted to perform.

If a student is absent from a concert and it has not been excused, the student
will not be able to show their achievement, and therefore their grade will reflect that.

SYMPHONIC BAND AND WIND ENSEMBLE:

The Symphonic Band (7th) and Wind Ensemble (8th) are the top-level music
performing groups in the Githens Band program. These are audition only ensembles,
which means that students must complete an audition process to be considered for
the class. Instrumentation is limited to certain numbers based on the needs of the
ensembles. These groups play very high-level music literature, and are the
destinations for students looking for a challenge in their musical skills.

Students who are interested in auditioning for the Symphonic Band (7th) and
the Wind Ensemble (8th) are encouraged to do so. The window of auditions takes
place before the end of the previous school year at a time to be determined by the
director. Auditions to participate in either Advanced ensemble will consist of clearly
defined objectives that must be met in order to be placed in the class. These
standards will be based on the NC Standard Course of Study for music/band
education, and will also be based on the DPS music/band curriculum pacing guide for
middle school.

Students in either Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble will be required to

participate in events beyond the two Showcases. To be permitted to participate in
certain events, students must show mastery of the concepts required by the
individual events. For example, students would be required to perform the national
anthem correctly on a rubric based playing test in order to be able to perform it at the
Durham Bulls game or any other venue.

BAND BOOSTERS:
Our Band Boosters is an incorporated 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is
made up of parents in order to support the Githens Band and its director.
Membership in this group is free of charge, and all parents are encouraged to attend
meetings on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. The Band Boosters has an annually
elected board. This year’s board members are:

Tonya Hutchins, President

Beth Day, Vice-President
Elizabeth Thompson, Treasurer
Mark Bright, Secretary

FINAL THOUGHTS:
With the support of parents, administration, staff, and students, we are getting
ready to embark upon a journey that will be most rewarding for all involved. We have
a very strong foundation for our program, and have structured our classes so that all
students may excel regardless of experience. 8th graders may wish to continue in
Band next year in high school, and 7th and 6th graders will have the option of
auditioning for our Advanced Bands next year! Feel free to contact me with any and
all questions, and I look forward to a wonderful year!

Sincerely,

Patrick J. Blackburn
Band Director
Githens Middle School
919-560-3966
Patrick.Blackburn@dpsnc.net