HANDBOOK
Contents
Pg.
1 Introduction, Bands/Ensembles offered, Sheet music,
Concert dress, Practice
Pg. 2 Punctuality, Sectionals, Band Officers,
Awards, Band
events
Pg. 3 Request for excuse, Extra events, Extra help,
Responsibilities of Students, Communications, Ways parents can
help
Pg.4 Band trips, Overnight trips, Fundraising
Pg. 5 Portfolios, Transportation
to Events
Pg. 6 Contract Agreement for Music
students –CHECK
CALENDAR FOR RETURN DATES
Pg. 7 Student participation
permission form - CHECK
CALENDAR FOR RETURN DATES
*****************************
Pg 1
Dear Band Student and Parent,
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the
Challenger Middle School Music Program.
We are looking forward with excitement to the coming school year. We have written
a handbook for this
year so that every band student and his/her family will know what to expect and
what is expected of them as a member of the CMS Band. Please read this handbook carefully so that all the band
policies will be clear to you.
Sincerely,
Mr.
Daniels
BANDS AND ENSEMBLES OFFERED
The following
performance ensembles are offered. Bands and ensembles are open to all CMS
students. Auditions and/or
director approval are required
- -Beginning band
--Concert band
--Jazz
Band
--Percussion Ensemble
--Various Woodwind and Brass Ensembles
SHEET MUSIC
There will be many pieces of music provided for use by the
members of the band throughout the year. Each student is responsible for
his/her music. The student must put his/her name on the back of
each sheet
(in pencil) and number each measure. The
student may be asked to return the music at any time. There will be a charge
for lost or damaged music.
UNIFORM CARE
Students
will need their own part of the concert uniform. .
The School will provide a bow tie and cummerbund (symphonic band). Students need:
a.
Black dress trousers
b.
White long sleeve button down shirt
c.
Black socks
d.
Black dress shoes
Any colors other than black are unacceptable. Any
deviation of this will result in the student’s removal from a performance.
PRACTICE
As a member of
the band, daily practice is the most
important thing the student can do for himself/herself and the band. The
director expects every member of the band to take instruments home daily and
practice at least 30 minutes. Here
are some practice hints to make student practice sessions easier and more
efficient:
1. Set aside a definite time to practice.
2. Prepare your environment:
no noise or distractions.
Use a chair and place your music so that your posture
will be correct (use music stand).
3. Practice for results, rather than time 1) start with
a
warm – up 2) practice music not yet mastered 3) end
practice with something fun to play.
4. Private lessons can be of great benefit to the individual
student and the overall band program.
************************************************** Pg. 2
PUNCTUALITY
Being
prepared and on time is something we deal with
throughout our lives. When a student arrives on time, everything starts
smoothly. When a student arrives late they not only hurt their chance of doing
well but also affect the entire band. A group is unable to begin until all
members are present and ready to begin. Performing music is a difficult task.
The individual student and the band as a whole need all the available time
possible to be adequately prepared. As a member of the band it is the student's
responsibility to do whatever it takes to be on time.
SECTIONALS
All
Wind Ensemble band students need to attend a sectional
for their instruments one day a week. We will follow the schedule below:
Sectionals begin the 2nd week of November through
the 3rd week of March
Monday-
Trumpets After school for 1 hour
Tuesday-
Low Brass After school for 1 hour
Wednesday- Flutes
after school for 1 hour
Thursday-
Clarinets one hour before school
French Horns and Saxophones after school
for 1 hour
Friday
- Percussion one hour before
school
Please bring
any conflicts to the attention of the Director a week in advance.
Conflicts may cause
some days and times to be changed. Sectional rehearsals are very important.
We will work on basics of specific instruments and challenges with music.
Please avoid scheduling appointments, etc. on the day of rehearsals. All
students will need to purchase a music book for this rehearsal.
BAND
OFFICERS
The following is a list of band officers and their duties:
Secretaries
(1-for each band) - will be involved in any
administrative aspects of the band.
Librarian (1- for each band) - will be involved in the
handling of all music to be distributed and collected from band students.
Section (squad) leaders
Student aides –see lists in the band room for jobs
AWARDS
Each student in band is expected to contribute in a positive
way. The directors will recognize the outstanding efforts of the students by
presenting awards twice a year, during the Winter Concert and Spring Concert
seasons. The qualities we look for in determining the recipients of these
awards are attendance, preparation for class, leadership, and willingness to
help the band. The awards given are listed below:
Outstanding
Section
Outstanding Performing Section
Most Improved Section
Louis Armstrong Award
Musicianship Award
Directors Award
Merit Award Sousa Award
BAND EVENTS
Band events can be divided into two categories:
SECTION REHEARSALS AND PERFORMANCES
Sectionals are practice sessions with like instruments.
(They will be held according
to the schedule given earlier
in
this handbook).
Performances include any activity that the band performs in public (band
festivals, school concert, evening concerts, etc.)
Each band
member will receive a grade for each band event
and is required to attend all band events. Repeated unexcused absences will
result in disciplinary consequences.
************************************************** Pg. 3
REQUEST FOR EXCUSE
FORM
This form is to be filled out if the student has a conflict
with a band activity. These forms
are to be given to the director at least one week in advance. It is the students'
responsibility to
check with the director to see if the request has been approved. Avoid scheduling
family events, appointments,
etc. during the time student is expected to be with the band. There will be a calendar
of events
given to each student on the first day of school.
EXTRA EVENTS
Besides
the events of which all members of the band will be
a part, there are other musical events in which each individual student has a
chance to participate; Solo/ensemble festivals, All-State, All-County and the
Florida Band Association festivals are some such events. These activities are a
great chance for the student to expand his/her knowledge of music. It is also a
good chance for the student to receive recognition for the hard work that
he/she is doing every day.
EXTRA HELP
The director will
be available to help students with any
music. Events like Solo, All-State, All-County and some FBA Festivals require
extra work by the student and extra help sessions with the director. The
director will be happy to work with any student throughout the school year. See
the director to set up a time for assistance.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF BAND STUDENT
Attend every band event
Be on time to class, rehearsals, and performances
Take instrument home and practice daily
Treat uniform, music, and instrument with
proper care
Inform the director of any conflict in advance (excuse
forms)
Have mouthpiece etc. in school so you may use a school
instrument if instrument is out for repair.
COMMUNICATION
Communication is one of the keys
to having a smooth and
successful year. The director at CMS wish to communicate with both the
students and the parents as much as possible. We welcome parents' and students'
questions to find out about the band activities as well as visit any time
during the school year. The
directors will utilize the Parent Link system, e-mail, band Website and letters
to parents to communicate important information.
School
Phone: 239-242-4341
Mr. Daniels
E- Mail: Craigda@leeschools.net
Challengerband.tripod.com
WAYS PARENTS CAN HELP
The director wants and needs parent
participation at any
time. The band will be involved in many events throughout the year and help
from the parents can make these events easier and a lot more fun. Listed below
are some of the ways parents can help.
1. Attend all performances
2. Help
students be on time for each event
3. Encourage and praise the efforts of each student
4.
Chaperone trips
5. Provide special help at fundraiser
Parents:
Your
child will be working hard all year to play his/her
instrument and make the CMS Band the very best. The public performances the
band gives are the best way for the students to show and receive recognition
for the hard work that they do. There is a special thrill when the students
perform for a large audience. The CMS Music Department hopes you; your family,
and friends will attend all the band events scheduled during the coming year.
*********************************************
Pg.
4
BANDTRIPS
During
the course of the year the band we will be traveling
on buses several times. The following guidelines must be followed to ensure
order and safety during these trips. While traveling, chaperones will monitor
student activities. If a chaperone asks a student to stop or to do something
instructions are to be followed without question. All chaperones are to be
treated with courtesy and respect.
1.
All students must ride the bus to every event. Any student
that fails to ride the bus will be prohibited from performing in that event.
Please be sure to be on time to avoid missing the bus departure time.
2.
Bus sign-up forms will be posted during the first week of
school. Students are to choose a
bus carefully because they will be riding it for the rest of the season. At no
time are students to change buses midway into the year.
3.
Large instruments are to be put in the equipment truck.
4.
Any student that wishes to ride home form an event with their
parents must have a note signed by the parent. This note is to be given to the
band director before the buses leave
school.
5.
No blankets will be permitted on the buses.
6.
Radios and CD players will be permitted with headphones. At
the driver’s discretion, these may be played without headphones if the noise is
in no way determined to be a safety hazard. Make no assumption that radios or
CD players may be used on bus trip.
OVERNIGHT TRIPS
Several weeks prior to any overnight trip, a bulletin will
be circulated with all of the pertinent information concerning the trip.
Information such as cost, room assignments and itinerary will be included in
this bulletin.
The following guidelines will be followed for all over night trips.
1.
All students’ luggage will be checked before being loaded.
Alcohol, tobacco or any other illegal substances are prohibited. Any items
found in luggage will be cause for forfeiture of band membership. Any student found
with any of these
items in his/her possession during the trip will be immediately sent home and
face the actions earlier discussed.
2.
Students will be housed four to a room. Room assignments will
be made prior to departure.
3.
No members of the opposite sex may enter an assigned hotel
room at any time.
4.
The director will set a curfew for each night. “Lights out”
will be one-half hour after curfew. Any items delivered to rooms after curfew
(pizza, etc.) become the property of the director after
the student pays for it.
5.
When extremely late-night bus travel becomes necessary, buses
will be segregated by sex at a designated curfew time. This rule is set by the
FHSAA and will be followed.
Common
sense is the best rule when traveling. The stated
guidelines are certainly reasonable, and students will be expected to follow
them. Any violation of these rules will result in the student being sent home
at his own expense, forfeiture of membership in the Charger Band and
disciplinary action from the administration of Challenger Middle School.
Students are expected to act sensibly during these trips, as they are
considered ambassadors of Challenger Middle School Middle School and must act
accordingly.
FUNDRAISING
The band will hold
fundraisers throughout the year. Students will be informed as to which
ones (cheesecake/cookie dough sale etc.) they may make money to go into their
student accounts for the upcoming year’s trip. This money can only be used for that year’s trip. Any monies
not used will be absorbed into the band’s internal account to pay for buses,
music, and instrument repair.
*********************************************** Pg. 5
PORTFOLIOS
Student will receive class syllabus for each class. Some of
the items each student needs to achieve will be kept in a portfolio. This portfolio
will be a part of the
grading process and the end of each semester.
The following is a list of some of the items to be kept in
the portfolio:
- Concert
programs
- FBA
solo/ensemble results
- All-County
band programs
- After
school hours performances
- Private
lessons records
Transportation
to
Events
From time to time, it is necessary to transport students via
private vehicles. We need to have
on file permission for each student to travel in a private vehicle. Please initial
the appropriate
choice(s) of travel for your child.
Students and parents must sign and date bottom of form.
1.
_____ Student may ride with another parent.
Student’s
signature_____________________________________Date________________
Parent’s
signature______________________________________Date_________________
Driver Information
Necessary
information for all drivers (teachers, parents)
will need to be on file for the duration of the year and includes the
following:
- Driver’s
Name______________________________
- Driver
License Number_______________________
- Car
Registration Number______________________
- Make
and Model of Car__________________________
- Insurance
Company Name_________________________ Policy Number______________________
- License
Plate Number of Car________________________
State______________________________
************************************** Pg. 6
CONTRACT AGREEMENT FOR MUSIC STUDENTS
The success of any music program is dependent
upon teamwork,
with each student completing his/her assigned task. With that understanding, all students who enroll in the
music program, and their parents, are to sign this music contract.
Following
is a quote from the course descriptions for
performance-oriented classes.
"As a co-curricular performance oriented activity, attendance is
required for rehearsals and performances beyond regular school
hours." These include, but
are not limited to:
Festivals/evaluations
Concerts
Performances for school, community, etc.
Extra rehearsals as required
Exceptions to this policy are
Religious holidays
Handicapped students whose handicap prohibits transportation
Documented illness
Family emergency as approved by the school administration
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REQUIREMENTS
I have read the CMS Band Program handbook
and will make
every attempt to meet all the requirements outlined with in to make my band
successful.
Student Name ( please print)_________________________
Student Signature_________________________________________
Date____________
Parent
Name (please print)__________________________________
Parent Signature__________________________________________
Date___________________
********************************** Pg.7
CHALLENGER MIDDLE
SCHOOL INSTRUMENTAL
ENSEMBLES
STUDENT
PARTICIPATION PERMISSION FORM
STUDENT NAME:___________________
AGE:____ BIRTH DATE:_________
Grade ___
Instrument ___________
ADDRESS:____________________________Home Phone _____________
(Street.
city, ZIP) (Parent’s)
E_Mail Address ___________________________
FATHER'S
NAME:___________________ MOTHER'S NAME:_______________________
FATHER'S EMPLOYMENT_______________________________________________
MOTHER'S EMPLOYMENT
______________________________________________
WORK
PHONE:___________________ WORK PHONE:_________________________
FAMILY
PHYSICIAN:_______________________ PHONE:_______________________
INSURANCE
COMPANY:______________________ POLICY NO. ___________________
HOSPITAL PREFERENCE (IN LEE
COUNTY):____________________________________
GENERAL HEALTH:______________________ LAST
DATE
OF TETANUS SHOT:_________
ALLERGIES:_________________________________________________________
CHILDHOOD
DISEASES:__________________________________________________
SERIOUS INJURIES OR
ILLNESSES:__________________________________________
MEDICATIONS/DIETS:___________________________________________________
-
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - -
I, ______________________, as
the parent or legal guardian of __________________, give permission for him/her
to participate in all scheduled activities of the Challenger Middle School
Band, including related travel. I certify that the above-listed information is
accurate to the best of my knowledge.
I hereby grant permission for the supervising director
to act “in
loco parentis" in the event
of
any medical emergency and if I cannot be contacted.
Parent
Signature:__________________________ Date:___________
