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_________________________________________________________________________
North Scott High School Instrumental Music
_________________________________________________________________________
Department
Handbook
Click
HERE for a
printable version
Table
of Contents (Click on the topic to be sent directly
to it):
1. Mission
2. Expectations
3. Band
Grading Policies / Procedures
Lessons
Students
Studying Privately
Computer
Assignments
Progress
Reports
4. Jazz
Band Grading Policies / Procedures
5. Attendance
Policies
6. Audition
Procedures / Challenges
Concert
/ Symphonic Band
Jazz
Bands
Jazz
Combos
7. Instrument
rental
8. Uniforms
9. Band
Letters / Awards
10. Band
Trip Information
11. Frequently
Asked Questions
______________________________________________________________________________________
Mission
The
Instrumental Music Program at North Scott High School serves many
purposes. First and foremost, it is
structured in a manner that will
provide and facilitate a well-rounded learning environment for
students that
generates a genuine understanding
and appreciation for music and the fine arts. Through this
approach, students
are exposed to many learning concepts
in the classroom, and then are given the opportunity to apply
those
concepts through performance.
Expectations
Students
enrolled in the Band Program are expected to:
1)
Prepare for and attend
all rehearsals and required performances
on time
2) Prepare
for and attend 5 lessons
per quarter (nine weeks)
3) Complete
1 or 2 computer assignments per quarter, as assigned. Click here
for detailed info
4) Conribute
to the success of the program by demonstrating the proper work
ethic and behavior in
all
rehearsals and performances
5) Represent
themselves and the school appropriately during all trips and traveling
performances
See
Department Travel Policy
6) Have
fun learning music!!
Band
Grading Policies / Procedures
Band
grades are determined by averaging the PARTICIPATION
grade and the LESSON / COMPUTER
ASSIGNMENTS
grade.
1) Participation- This
grade is determined by attendance, preparation, and attitude /
behavior.
2) Lessons
/ Computer Assignments- This grade is divided
into seven parts, consisting of the 5 required
lessons
and two Music Theory computer assignments.
Lessons:
Lessons
come out of other regular classes. Students sign up for lessons
on the
lesson schedule one week in advance of the lesson, after checking
with the classroom teacher
regarding tests or any other potential conflict. We will then
send the schedule for the week to
teachers on each Monday morning. Students are responsible for
5 lessons during each quarter,
one of which may be an approved concert attendance verified with
a program, a detailed description
and evaluation of the concert, and ticket stub. Only 1 lesson
per week will be allowed. Only 2
lessons per quarter out of the same class will be allowed.
Each lesson is graded individually
based on preparation and demonstration of the concepts
presented.
(See grading scale) While
5 are required, every student is encouraged to do more, as
this is where the real learning of the instrument takes place. If
a student chooses to attend more
than 5, the top 5 grades will be recorded. Among these
5 lessons, the students are required to
attend a "Scale / Arpeggio Evaluation
Lesson". For this lesson, the students will
prepare a group of scales
and arpeggios and perform them from memory. This lesson
grade will be weighed more
heavily than the others and will definitely be counted as one
of the five required (even if it does not fall in
the "top five lesson grades" for that student during
that particular quarter.)
View lesson grading scale HERE
Download scale sheets for the current quarter HERE.
Students
Studying Privately- Students who study with
a private instructor will need to attend 3
in-school
lessons and turn in a Lesson
Voucher for the remaining 2. Please click on the
link to
download the voucher form. The private instructor is
to fill each out and assign a grade. The
student
will then turn it in to Mr. Kessinger or Mr. McMann by the end
of the quarter.
Computer
Assignments:
These Music Theory Programs help the students gain a deeper understanding
of music and its
characteristics. Each student is taken through a series
of lessons, and then given a review quiz over
the covered topics. The score of the review is recorded
and entered into the gradebook. As
previously mentioned, the computer scores count twice, since some students will
be covering two
units in one quarter. Those that are assigned only
one will have that grade entered twice. If a
student is not satisfied with his/her score(s), they can redo
the computer assignments as many times
as they wish during
that particular quarter. When the quarter
ends, the grade is recorded.
Click
here for the list
of computer assignments sorted by grade level.
PROGRESS
REPORTS: These reports are sent
out as an indicator of the students' progress,
AND can
also be a reminder that the student is headed for a less than
stellar grade. This is the procedure
used
to figure these grades:
Reminder:
The final quarter grade is based on 5 lessons and the
computer assignments.
Jazz
Band Grading Policies / Procedures
1) Participation- This
grade is determined by attendance, preparation, and attitude /
behavior.
2) Artist
/ Theory Quizzes- Each quarter, jazz students
will be quizzed on the jazz artist packets in
their binders. Basic Jazz Theory may appear on these quizzes as
well, covering concepts discussed in
rehearsals.
For
the list of artists and quiz dates, click here.
3) Opinion
Paper- During
the second semester, students may be asked to write an opinion
paper on a
jazz-related
article (given to them), including intro, atricle summary, agreements/disagreements
and
support
for the argument, and conclusion. This will be averaged
with the quiz grade for that quarter.
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Audition
Procedures / Challenges
Symphonic
/ Concert Band
AUDITIONS for chair placement will
be held during the last part of marching band season. Audition
material
will be given out in lessons. Audition material will consist
of the following:
1) Watkins-Farnum Standardized Music Test (Sight-reading)
2) ALL major scales - C,F,Bb,Eb,Ab,Db, Gb(F#), B,E,A,D,G,
and chromatic over full playing range.
2 1/2 points will be awarded for each correct, complete octave.
3) Prepared piece(s) selected by directors.
CHALLENGES may be made with the person
in the chair immediately above. The challenge is made first by
informing the person to challenged, then by informing one of the
directors. The challenger is to select a piece
of music from his folder, the person challenged is to select a
piece from his folder, and each is to give a copy
of their piece to the other THE NEXT DAY after the challenge is
made. Each student will then have three
school days (after exchange of music) to prepare BOTH pieces of
music. On the fourth school day after
music
is exchanged, both players must play for the directors. All challenges
will include scales. Any student
refusing to accept a challenge or not abiding by the challenge
rules will automatically forfeit their chair position.
The only exception is if a student is ill on the day of the challenge.
A challenger losing a challenge may re-
challenge, but must wait at least one week. Challenges may also
occur between Concert and Symphonic
Bands and Jazz I and Jazz II. The directors have the option of
selecting another piece of music of their
choosing, if they so desire. While a challenge may occur
during the time immediately prior to a performance,
a change of seating will not occur within two weeks before
a performance.
Jazz Bands
AUDITIONS
for one of the two jazz bands take place in the Spring, usually
early May. Standard
instrumentation includes Alto, Tenor, and Baritone Saxophones,
Trombones, Trumpets, Piano, Bass,
Drum Set, and Guitar. Clarinet, Flute, and Double Reed Players
are encouraged to try out on sax if
interested.
We have many Flute and Clarinet players currently performaing
in our jazz bands. Euphonium
players
are also encouraged, as the school owns a couple of valve trombones
that translate nicely into a
jazz
band setting. The auditions consist of the following:
EVERYONE BUT DRUMMERS SHOULD PREPARE THE FOLLOWING:
1)
The mixolydian and dorian scales on attached sheet (sheet may
be used in audition)
2) Prepared tune (given by directors)
3) OPTIONAL (but recommended)- Perform a 12 bar improvised
solo over concert Bb or F Blues
changes
with a pre-recorded rhythm section.
DRUMMERS:
1) Perform these drum styles:
Up-tempo Swing, q= 180
Bossa Nova, q= 120
Samba, q= 104
Funk Groove, q=96
2)
Snare rhythms provided on sheet
3) 1-minute solo in style of your choice.
CHALLENGES
in jazz band use the same rules as for Symphonic / Concert Band. Each
will pick a piece
of
music, prepare both, and perform the same scales used in the auditions.
Jazz
Combos
Auditions
for these small jazz ensembles take place in early/mid September,
and are open to any student
enrolled
in Jazz Band. For these auditions, the student is asked
to improvise over Bb or F Blues.
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Attendance
Policies
Performances:
Attendance
at all performances by all members is strictly required, except
for serious illness or a death in the
family.
We must be notified if a student is sick, or otherwise unable
to attend a performance, by a phone call
BEFORE
the performance. Unless it is illness related or a family
emergency, the directors need to be notified
TWO
WEEKS IN ADVANCE. An unexcused absence will
result in an "F" for that performance, thus
lowering
the quarter grade by at least one letter, if not two. Work
is NOT considered an excused
absence! For
the band program to be successful we must have every student in
attendance at all
performances.
Rehearsals:
School
attendance policy applies for rehearsal attendance. If
a student forgets their instrument, they get a
warning
first, and then issued a tardy for every instance after that. Three
tardies = one unexcused absence.
Homecoming
Week:
There
are three required performances during NSHS Homecoming Week: The
Parade and Aud on
Thursday,
followed by the halftime performance on Friday. ALL
BAND MEMBERS ARE REQUIRED
TO
MARCH, unless they are a Varsity
Football Player or Varsity Cheerleader. No exceptions
will be
made.
Instrument
Rental
There
is a $40.00 per year rental fee if your child is using a school
owned wind or percussion instrument. This
minimal
fee covers only a portion of the yearly maintenance performed
on these instruments. Our inventory is
quite
old and many of these instruments need the maintenance to keep
them in good working condition. This fee
should
be paid by August 14. Send the check to the band office
and make it out to: North Scott High School
Band.
Uniforms
All
band members must purchase black socks and plain black shoes to
complete the marching band uniform.
Every
student in the band will be fitted with a complete uniform. These
uniforms are very expensive and need
careful
attention to keep them looking nice. All marching band uniforms,
concert dresses and concert tuxedos
will be
kept at school. We furnish coat, trousers, gloves, bow ties,
dresses and blouses. Each student must
supply
his/her own black socks and black shoes (PLAIN BLACK-- NO COLORED
TRIM). Men will need a
white tuxedo
shirt for the concert season. You may contact any tuxedo
rental store. Skeffington's in the Village
Shopping
Center has agreed to give a special discount on the tux shirt
if you mention the North Scott Band
when shopping
there. Please also note that we do not wear the concert
uniforms a couple of Spring performances.
The Pops
Concert and Graduation are warmer weather performances that we
ask the students to wear "nice"
clothes
of a lighter nature. This outfit should not include jeans
or jean skirts, shorts, t-shirts, gym shoes, etc.
We want
the students to look nice for their audiences.
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Band
Letters / Awards
Band
students are given the opportunity to earn Band Letters based
on their participation in the program. After
the
initial letter is earned, the students may earn bars. The
point system is as follows:
500
points are required for a Freshman to receive a letter
800 accumulated points are required for a Sophomore to receive
a letter
500 points in one year are required to receive a bar after receiving
a letter
Points
are given for the following musical activities:
Football games - 25, Concerts - 25, Honor Band - 25, North Scott
Solo - 25, All State tryout - 25,
Band Camp - 25, State Ensemble - 35, State Solo - 50, All State
- 50, All State Jazz - 50, Jazz I - 50,
Jazz II - 35, Mentoring Program - 20, Commencement - 15, Pep Band
- 10, Summer lessons - 5
The
following two awards are given at the end of the year and are
voted on by the band students:
John
Philip Sousa Band Award- Given
to an outstanding senior band member who demonstrates
strong
leadership, work ethic, dedication, and contribution to the band
program.
Louis
Armstrong Jazz Award- Given
to an outstanding senior jazz band member who
demonstrates
strong
leadership, work ethic, dedication, and contribution to the jazz
program.
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Band
Trips- Every odd year, the band program takes
a trip to a destination voted on by the students. There
are
significant fund-raising opportunites available each year to help
offset the cost. As these trips are
considered
a reward, each student will have to remain eligible academically
(at least a C in band leading up
to
the trip and NO F's in any academic classes). Any school
discipline problems will also be subject to review.
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