As a public school band program, the majority of our yearly budget will be acquired through fund raising projects. Although students are not required to participate in fund raising, they are strongly encouraged. Fundraising efforts are for student trips and benefits, so students have the opportunity to help themselves. All fundraising will be handled through the band booster organization. All monies raised will be used directly for educational enhancement opportunities and educational materials. Any student not participating in ANY of the fundraisers during the school year may be asked to cover their personal costs to attend band camp or any other band event. Fundraising takes place for a number of reasons:
1. To allow students the opportunity to attend band camp. Fundraising covers the cost of transportation, food, housing, insurance, and clinicians.
2. To allow students the opportunity to perform in festivals. Fundraising covers entry fees and transportation costs when no school or district funds are available.
3. To allow the band program a flexibility of curriculum, to enrich student learning by supplying new music, to maintain school owned instruments and for other projects approved by the booster organization.
Grading Scale
Grades will be weighted 33% daily grades, 33% tests and 34% performances (if a performance occurs during that grading period).
-Daily grade: Student should be in their seat on time with instrument and all supplies needed for class. No instrument=ZERO for the day. Student is expected to be on task working as an individual and as a member of a group throughout the class period. **Student will be required to show parent signature in their agenda book at the beginning of every class to show that all assigned material has been practiced since the last class. Parent signature counts for 30% of the student's daily grade. (New for Fall '08)
-Tests: Announced at the beginning of each week (although there may be unannounced pop quizzes). Worth up to 100 points per test. Posture, hand position, tone production, notes, rhythms, dynamic markings, tempo markings and overall musicality will be taken into consideration.
-Performances: ALL PERFORMANCES ARE REQUIRED. In a nine weeks without a performance, daily and test grades will each be worth 50%.
Concerts and Performances
Band, by its very nature is a performing art. As such we will be involved in several performances. Performances are worth 34% of the students’ grade for each nine weeks in which a performance occurs.. Because of the one of a kind nature of a performance, it is literally impossible to ‘make up’ a concert. Should a student miss a performance, the grade may be made up in one of two ways:
1. Perform a solo of the band director’s choice, in front of the class, one week after the missed performance. The make up performance will graded according to the standards of a Solo/Ensemble performance as set by the District. It is the student’s responsibility to request a solo and set up a performance time with the director.
2. Write a paper on a musical topic of the band director’s choice. Minimum of three pages, single spaced, no larger than 14-point Times New Roman Font. A bibliography is required if you cite other works. Plagerism will not be tolerated! This paper must be turned in one week after the missed performance. It is the student’s responsibility to request a paper topic and set up a due date with the director.
Students are expected to display exemplary behavior during performances as performers or audience members. This exemplary behavior involves the following:
-Do not talk at any time while a performance is in progress. Listen!
-Do not bring cell phones into a performance area unless they can be silenced.
-Vocal appreciation in the form of yelling, screaming or whistling are not appropriate at this type of performance, but clapping is always welcome.
