Hilburn Academy Band Program 7100 Hilburn Drive Raleigh, NC 27613

School Office: (919) 571-6800

Band Handbook

2015-2016

Laura Arévalo-Gallego, Director of Bands

larevalo-gallego@wcpss.net

www.hilburnacademybands.weebly.com

Welcome September 3, 2015

Dear Students and Parents:

Welcome to the Hilburn Academy band program! This band program is designed to provide its members with comprehensive, balanced, and sequential instruction. Students will gain fundamental music skills and knowledge in accordance with local, state, and national standards. By being a member of a learning community that is fueled by a common goal, students will also learn many life-skills that will help them to lead successful lives. Students must agree to be responsible, attentive, dependable, positive, and respectful members of this program.

This handbook is designed to inform parents and students of the expectations, policies, and procedures of the Hilburn Academy band program. If situations or conditions arise during the year, which are not addressed in this handbook, the director will make a decision that is in the best interest of the student and the program. Please read through the handbook and then complete and return the necessary forms, by the following date:

Thursday, September 10th.

I am happy that you as parents and students have chosen to be a part of our band program. I believe that with dedication and hard work, band can be one of life’s most rewarding experiences. It is my sincerest hope that through this program, young people will gain a deep appreciation for music as well as individual integrity and pride in their own accomplishments.

Musically yours, Laura Arévalo-Gallego, B.M.Ed. larevalo-gallego@wcpss.net

Philosophy

Music is an integral part of a student’s education for three reasons--

First, music is a vital discipline in its own right. Through the study of music, students gain a positive method of self-expression and an outlet for their creativity. The arts help to define our humanity. Music is the fabric of our society, and its study can help to shape our abilities and character considerably.

Second, music helps with brain development and academic achievement. Studies have shown that music instruction has a significant positive effect on reading skills, that it improves cognition, and spatial reasoning abilities. Multiple studies also show that there is a positive correlation with music instruction and higher grade point averages and SAT scores. Music reinforces what students learn in other disciplines, such as math, vocabulary and language skills, and historical/multi-cultural awareness.

Third, the study of music provides students with an opportunity to gain and develop many 21st century skills that are crucial to being a successful and contributing member of our society. Music develops creativity, collaboration, and communication skills. The study of music also allows students frequent opportunities to think critically and to problem-solve. Students in band become reflective learners that are self-sufficient. They learn the importance of goal setting, time management, and being a collaborative and dependable member of a team.

General Procedures & Policies A. When you arrive at school, put your instrument in your assigned cubby. B. Pick up your instrument by 3:15 PM so that you can take it home to

practice. C. Please DO:

- Have a name tag on your instrument at all times. - Take your instrument home every night to practice. - Turn in practice journals every Monday. - Raise your hand and be recognized before speaking out in class. - Bring your band notebook, pencil, and other necessary materials to class

every day. - Have proper respect for both teachers and fellow students. - Cooperate with fellow band members, and share all responsibilities of

being a good band member. - Make a real effort to learn and improve daily. - Keep food, drinks, candy and chewing gum out of the band room, unless

the director has given permission to do otherwise. - Keep your hands to yourself, and touch only equipment that belongs to

you. - Take care of school equipment, including music stands and chairs.

Procedures for the Start of Class A. Enter the room quietly, and pay attention to the listening. B. Always read the whiteboard for instructions when you first walk into the

band room. C. Check your instrument and equipment before playing. Oil valves and keys if

needed. Pull and adjust all tuning slides daily. Clean tendon corks and apply cork grease as needed. Wipe off excess grease. Check condition of extra reeds. Get out auxiliary percussion equipment as needed for the day’s music. Set percussion section as needed.

D. Be in your seat with the necessary materials within 2 minutes of starting class.

E. Give your full attention to the director when she raises her hand.

Rehearsal Procedures A. If you need to leave your seat, raise your hand, wait to be called upon and

ask permission. B. If you need to leave the band room for any reason, ask first and be sure to

have your agenda ready for the director to sign. C. Be silent while others speak or play. D. No band student will play an instrument before class begins. The entire

class will warm up together. Likewise, students will not play instruments once the director has instructed students to put away the instruments.

E. To ensure proper rehearsal etiquette, all students should demonstrate proper posture (sit on the front half of your chair with your back straight and feet flat on the floor), along with good hand and instrument position. When you are not playing, your instrument should be in “ready position” (up on your right knee) and your eyes should be on the director.

F. Students are to remain engaged and participate actively during class. Work for other classes and leisure reading is not allowed during band class.

G. At the end of class and after the director has made any announcements/reminders, perform all 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. Put away sticks in your stick bag. Lower timpani pedals to the lowest setting.

H. Pack and put away your instrument. Securely close all latches on your case. I. Cover and reset the percussion for the next ensemble. J. Return to your seat and sit down. Straighten your seat and stand. K. The director will dismiss the group, not the bell.

Consequences If a student fails to follow any of the procedures above, or continuously displays behavior that is disruptive to the class, the following actions will occur--

Verbal warning Student conference Parent phone call Student/parent conference Administrative referrals

Grading Policy Being in a band requires a group effort. We must work together, progress together, and perform together. Band class is unlike any other class in school. In most classes, the success or failure of an individual has little or no affect on others in the class. In band, the absence or lack of participation and poor performance not only hurts the individual but also the rest of the section or the whole band. The grading policy has been designed to reflect the performance quality of each individual in class despite natural ability or talent. It is also designed so that students can work at an individual pace as well as progress as a class or grade level ensemble.

Daily Participation and Preparation: 35% Formative Assessments: 25%

Summative Assessments: 40%

Daily Participation and Preparation: All students will receive a grade for their daily participation and preparation for class. This includes rehearsal etiquette, arriving on time, and coming prepared with all of your materials for class on a regular basis. This grade will also include practice charts. It is essential for all students to practice on a daily basis to progress on their instrument. Not only will proper practice lead to success as an individual, but it will also have an impact on the band program as a whole. Practice sheets will be collected every Monday and will be accepted only on Tuesday for late credit. After Tuesday, they will not be accepted. Practice sheets will be graded accordingly:

Grade Number of Minutes per Week 100 120 – 150 minutes 90 90 – 119 minutes 80 60 – 89 minutes 70 30 – 59 minutes 60 less than 30 minutes

Formative Assessments: Each student will be evaluated on a regular basis to provide clear and accurate evidence of their musical knowledge and performance abilities. These evaluations will include theory quizzes and playing tests. Students will be made aware of quizzes and playing tests at least three days in advance. Students are encouraged to retake all formative assessments as many times as they would like until the end of the grading period because practice makes perfect! It is the responsibility of the student to set up a time with Ms. AG to do a make-up test. Summative Assessments: Summative assessments will include unit tests as well as concerts. Unit tests could be written theory tests or playing tests. Students and parents will be made aware of these tests at least a week in advance. Since band is a performance-based class, student attendance at concerts is mandatory. Concert grades are based on performance and demonstration of proper concert etiquette. All unavoidable excuses for missing a concert must be submitted in writing to the director by a student's parent or guardian no less than 2 weeks before the event. Emergency situations beyond the student's control (illness, severe injury, death in the family) will be handled at the director's discretion. Even in such situations, a parent note to the director is required at first opportunity. Failure to do so will result in a zero for the concert grade. Please refer to the band calendar for event dates, and plan accordingly.

Concert Etiquette A. Listen attentively. Give your full focus to the music being performed. B. Refrain from talking, tapping, or making other distracting sounds or

movements. C. Refrain from chewing, eating, or drinking. D. Remain seated until the performance is over. E. Turn off cell phones or other electronic devices. F. Applaud only when appropriate and only in a way that will encourage the

performer(s). G. Be open-minded and receptive to different styles of music.

Concert Attire Boys’ Attire: Solid black dress shoes (no tennis shoes or flip-flops) Solid black socks Solid black dress pants (no jeans or shorts) White long-sleeve dress shirt Necktie Girls’ Attire: Solid black dress shoes (no tennis shoes or flip-flops) Solid black socks or hose Solid black bottoms (no jeans or shorts) White long-sleeve or ¾ sleeve top

Supplies All students should purchase a folding wire music stand and a metronome/tuner for home practice. All students must have a band (do not combine it with other classes) binder (3-rings, 1 inch) with at least twenty sheet protectors, loose leaf notebook paper, and blank staff paper (http://www.blanksheetmusic.net). The following method books will be used this year:

6th grade: Tradition of Excellence by Bruce Pearson, book 1, and Excellence in Theory by Ryan Nowlin, book 1 7th grade: Standard of Excellence by Bruce Pearson, book 1 (first semester), and Excellence in Theory by Ryan Nowlin, book 1 (year-long)

Tradition of Excellence by Bruce Pearson, book 2 (second semester) 8th grade: Standard of Excellence by Bruce Pearson, book 2 (first semester), and Standard of Excellence by Bruce Pearson, book 3 (second semester) Additionally, there are cleaning supplies and accessories that are needed for each instrument, as listed below:

Flute: cleaning rod, 2 lint-free cloth handkerchiefs

Oboe: cleaning swab, cork grease, soft cloth, small water container, reeds (consult private instructor as to brand and thickness)

Clarinet/Bass Clarinet: cleaning swab, cork grease, soft cloth, reed case for 4 reeds, Vandoren or Mitchell Lurie reeds (thickness: 6th grade: 2.5; 7th and 8th grades: 3)

Saxophone: cleaning swab, cork grease, soft cloth, neck strap, reed case for 4 reeds, Vandoren or Hemke reeds (thickness: 6th grade: 2.5; 7th and 8th grades: 3)

Trumpet: valve oil, tuning slide grease, mutes as needed

Horn: rotor valve oil, tuning slide grease

Trombone: slide cream (no oil please), spray bottle, tuning slide grease

Baritone/Tuba: valve oil, tuning slide grease

Percussion: 6th grade: bell kit, medium hard rubber mallets, practice pad, snare sticks 7th and 8th grades: Vic Firth 5A snare sticks, medium yarn mallets, medium timpani mallets, stick/mallet bag, pitch pipe

NOTE: Reed players must have at least 3 playable reeds at all times. It is generally less expensive (per reed) to buy them by the box rather than individually. Books and supplies may be purchased at Music & Arts; there is one location at Triangle Town Center (Raleigh) and another at Crossroads Plaza (Cary). Percussion students may also purchase their supplies from http://www.steveweissmusic.com. I understand that the percussion mallets can be expensive, but it is a comparable price in comparison to the investment that other students make each year on reeds, oils, and instrument repair.

All students must have the necessary books and supplies by:

Thursday, September 10th.

Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or need suggestions about instrument/supply brands, ect.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Students are strongly encouraged to take private lessons, especially those playing double reed instruments, French horn, or desiring to make an honors band. While a band director is trained in the instruction of every instrument, he or she cannot offer the detailed and individual instruction of a private lesson teacher who makes a living playing one instrument. A list of private instructors may be found on the band website.

Parent Participation

Parents play an integral part in the success of their child’s progress in band. It is not necessary for you to be a musician to encourage and support your child at home. Here are some examples of how you can assist your child’s musical growth. Make sure your child’s instrument is in good working order. Provide a time and place for daily practice. If possible, enroll your child in private lessons. Encourage your child to perform for you and others. Support your child by attending all band events. Teach your child responsibility by being on time for all band events. Support the rules, procedures, and policies that the band director has

established. Find ways to get involved with the program by volunteering. If you would like

to be a volunteer, you must register through the Wake County volunteer system. This must be done on a Wake County computer, so you will need to go through the process here at the school. The approval process can take a while, so please register as soon as possible.

Band Curriculum

When students complete eighth grade band, they should have a solid foundation in the following areas. The grade level indicates the point of instruction for specific concepts.

Rhythms

6th: whole, dotted-half, dotted-quarter, quarter, eighth, sixteenth notes/rests, percussion rudiments, ties, percussion rolls

7th/8th: triplets, syncopations, advanced percussion rudiments, swing

Meter 6th: 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 7th: 2/2, 3/8, 6/8 8th: 5/4, 6/4, 5/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8

Concert Scales & Arpeggios 6th: F Major, B-flat Major, E-flat Major, A-flat Major, G Major, one-octave

chromatic 7th: all major scales, extended chromatic scale 8th: all major scales-2 octaves where appropriate, minor scales, extended

chromatic scale

Tuning 6th: demonstrate the ability to use an electric tuner as well as adjust the

instrument by ear; percussion- tune timpani 7th/8th: demonstrate the ability to correct an instrument’s inherent

intonation problems

Articulations 6th: tongue, slur, lip-slurs for brass, staccato, legato, accents 7th: marcato, tenuto, sforzando, fortepiano 8th: multiple tonguing

Care/Assembly 6th: instrument parts, hand position, stick grip, posture, embouchure, reed

maintenance, storage, and transportation 7th/8th: review as needed

Dynamics 6th: pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, fortissimo,

crescendo, decrescendo 7th/8th: review and add new terms as needed

Tone Quality ALL: produce a characteristic sound, balance within sections and across the

band, play in tune

Breathing ALL: breath support, phrasing, staggered breathing

Sightreading ALL: successfully sightread appropriate grade levels of concert music

Pitch 6th: accurate pitches, use of register/octave keys, concert pitch, techniques

on all percussion 7th: transpositions, intervals, vibrato 8th: muting techniques, trills, grace notes

Ensemble Skills ALL: intonation, balance blend, tempo, follow conductor, play in various

styles

Theory 6th: identify pitches, counting systems, define terms and symbols, name

piano keys, construct whole and half steps, demonstrate understanding of key and time signatures, solfege

7th: identify intervals, identify advanced terms and symbols 8th: identify all major scales and types of minor scales, identify all key

signatures

Instrument Loan Agreement

I, __________________________ , accept full responsibility for _________________________, (Parent) (Description of Instrument)

__________________________ and accessories ________________________________________

(Serial Number) (Please list - mouthpiece, bow, case, etc.)

loaned from the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) for use of my child,

__________________________ , during the ____________ school term. I understand the

value of the instrument and accessories loaned to me is $_____________________.

I agree to care for the instrument and accessories as if they were my own and to pay for any damage made necessary by misuse, negligence, or carelessness as determined by the school’s instrumental music teacher. Under no circumstances will attempt to repair or have it repaired without permission from the director. I will be responsible for the total cost of repair to a damaged instrument. If the instrument is lost I agree to pay the minimum fee of $250.00. ________________________________ _ _______________________________

(Student Signature / Date) (Parent/Guardian Signature / Date)

___________________ ______________

(Grade)

__________________________ ________________________ ____________________

(Address) (Phone)

The instrument listed above has been returned.

________________________________ __ _______________________________

(Student Signature/Date) (Director’s Signature/Date)

7100 H I L BU RN DRI VE RA LE I GH , N O RT H C AR O LIN A 27613

PH O N E : 919 .571.6800 F A X : 919 .571 .6804

WW W .H IL B UR NAC A DE MY .NE T

7100 H I L BU RN DRI VE

RA LE I GH , N O RT H C AR O LIN A 27613

PH O N E : 919 .571.6800

F A X : 919 .571 .6804

WW W .H IL B UR NAC A DE MY .NE T

F A X : 919 .571 .6804

WW W .H IL B UR NAC A DE MY .NE T

Hilburn Academy

Personal Property Waiver

Students who bring musical instruments and other personal items onto Wake County Public

School System (WCPSS) campuses are responsible for the security of such items. Students

will also be responsible for the security of personal items when involved in performing arts

activities off campus (e.g. performances, contests, festivals, football games, etc.). WCPSS is

not responsible for the property of others that is placed on campus at any time or at other

locations during school sponsored events. On campus storage facilities such as band rooms

and various student lockers are provided as a convenience to students.

By my (our) signature below I (we) understand that the school system does not guarantee the

safety or security of stored personal property and I (we) agree to hold the school system

harmless in the event of property loss or damage.

__________________________ ________________________

Student Signature Parent Signature

_______________ ________________

Date Date

_________________________ ______________________

Instrument Make/Model Serial Number

Students that use a WCPSS owned instrument will not take that instrument off campus until a

signed Instrument Loan Agreement Form is on file at the school. Students are reminded of

the loan agreement provisions regarding care and security of the loaned instrument, and

personal liability for loss or damage.

This form must be signed and maintained on file with the music teacher at the beginning of

each school year.

7100 H I L BU RN DRI VE

RA LE I GH , N O RT H C AR O LIN A 27613

PH O N E : 919 .571.6800

F A X : 919 .571 .6804

WW W .H IL B UR NAC A DE MY .NE T

Hilburn Academy

Handbook Agreement

and

Parent Contact Form

I have read the Band Handbook and understand its contents. I will follow, to the best of my

ability, the procedures and policies contained therein. I understand that infractions of the

procedures and policies will result in grade penalties and/or disciplinary action.

________________________________________________________ ____________

Student’s Name (printed) Grade

________________________________________________________ ____________

Student’s Signature Date

I am aware that my child has received a Band Handbook which explains the policies and

procedures of the Hilburn Academy Band Program. I will encourage him or her to follow the

policies and procedures in the handbook. I understand that infractions of the policies and

procedures result in grade penalties and/or disciplinary action.

________________________________________________________ ___________

Parent Signature Date

_______________________________________________________

Parent Name(s)

_______________________________________________________

Parent Email Address

_______________________________________________________

Parent Phone Number(s)