Welcome
Welcome to one of the most exciting experiences of which you can be a part – the band! Experts have concluded that the study of music helps with spatial reasoning, test taking, and overall quality of life! When one factors in social skills, emotional development, leadership training, group interaction, aesthetic perception, music-making, and the discipline of being in a band program, then I don’t know why anyone would not want to be involved in a great band program like the one at our school. The ultimate goal is a lifelong understanding and appreciation for high-quality music and music-making, which will lead to becoming a better person.
This band handbook is new to us at MMS. You will find information you have heard before, and you will find some things which may be new to you. The intention of writing this handbook is so that students and parents have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. Most questions will be able to be answered by simply consulting the handbook. Policies will be adjusted from year to year as the need arises to clarify issues within the band program. I hope that the information in this handbook will both inform and inspire!
Last year proved to be a very successful year for our students. At the Fiesta Texas band trip, our Beginning Band earned a Silver trophy for their excellent performance, and our combined Symphonic/Concert students earned a gold trophy for their outstanding performance. Several of our student soloists and small ensemble members participated in the Liberty Hill Solo and Ensemble Contest. They each received one of the two highest ratings possible. Our Symphonic and Concert Band students participated in the UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest. Both groups received Excellent ratings in Sight-reading. Several of our students auditioned for the All-Region Band as well.
This year we are looking forward to some great opportunities. Students will have the chance to audition for the All-District and All-Region Bands in November. Students will perform in four concerts at Manor ISD throughout the year. Concert and Symphonic Bands will perform with the MHS Marching Mustang Band at the final home high school football game. Concert and Symphonic Band students will have the chance to play in both the Jazz Band and the Pep Band. Solo and Ensemble Contest will be in the spring. Concert and Symphonic Bands will perform at UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest in April.
Last year, we saw great growth in our band program. Yet, that was nothing compared to the growth we are seeing this year. The growth in Beginning Band this year is beyond expectation! In 5 years, the size of our beginning band has doubled!
There are so many things going on this year, and we, the band directors, are very excited. We look forward to seeing our band students grow and learn. We hope that our students will take advantage of all the opportunities they have to make music and have fun.
Phone #/Website
The phone number at the Manor Middle School band hall office is (512) 278-4622. It is a new number. The old number will not work anymore. We are also setting-up an MMS Band website. When it is up and running, you will be able to access it directly from MMS main site. Please check it periodically for information, dates/times, and resources for both students and parents.
Bands at MMS
Manor Middle School has three main bands: Beginning Band, Concert Band, and Symphonic Band. All students must start with Beginning Band unless otherwise given permission from a band director. Concert and Symphonic Bands are open by audition and band director recommendation only. Auditions for next year will be held in the spring.
Jazz Band is open to all Concert and Symphonic Band students with permission from a band director. Jazz Band meets either before or after school depending upon the season. We try to avoid conflicts with other extracurricular activities.
Pep Band is something new we will try this year. Pep Band will perform at some home football games, volleyball games, and basketball games as scheduling permits.
Getting an Instrument
Most students in Manor ISD rent or “rent-to-own” their instruments. The MMS Band does not have many instruments available for student use.
There are several local music stores which have instruments for sale or rent. They also have supplies students may need periodically. Businesses change locations and phone numbers from time to time. The following are current as of September, 2007:
Better Than New Band Repair: 388-7774
Holze Music Band Stand: 1-866-388-5790
Owens Music: 303-9101
Play It Again Music: 419-1003
Strait Music: 1-800-725-8877
Be careful of instruments available on e-bay, in pawn shops, and in discount stores. An instrument may look great, but that doesn’t guarantee that it will work well. Please make sure that you can show the instrument to a band director before you purchase it. Holze Music has an online store which can get you a quality instrument if you prefer to get one online.
Practicing (and how to do it)
Playing music is not always the same as practicing. When you practice, you are trying to improve your ability to play a song. You do this by listening for mistakes and correcting them. You also do it by playing exercises designed to improve your overall performance. These exercises include long tones, slurs, scales, arpeggios, articulation (tonguing and slurring), sight-reading, technical etudes, and lyrical etudes. It is important for students to practice daily so that the band can sound its best. After all, a band is only as strong as its weakest member.
There are a few practice rooms available for student use before school. If a student wishes to practice after school, that student must schedule it with Mr. Earp in advance.
Rehearsal
Rehearsal is when the band or a smaller group get together to practice music as a group. This is what happens in band classes. During rehearsal, it is very important that students are respectful of the group. Rehearsal is not an individual practice session.
Uniform
The MMS Bands will have two uniforms this year: a formal uniform and an informal uniform. The informal uniform will be the same for all bands. Formal uniforms are different.
All Bands Informal Uniform: Official MMS Band t-shirt, long blue jeans
Beginning Band Formal Uniform: plain white “dressy” shirt/blouse, plain
black slacks/long black skirt
Concert and Symphonic Bands Formal Uniform: White tuxedo shirt, plain black
slacks/long black skirt (bow tie and cummerbund provided by school)
Class Expectations
Exemplary behavior is expected at all times. All school rules apply in band. In addition, there are two basic rules that will cover most situations:
- Respect yourself and everyone else in the band hall at all times
- Respect all materials and instruments in the band hall at all times.
If students think about whatever they are doing, they should be able to determine
whether or not they are following these rules. For example, having gum in your mouth while playing is not respectful of your instrument. Keeping your instrument in good playing condition is respectful of your instrument. Talking while someone else is speaking to the class is not respectful of the speaker or the listeners. Raising your hand to let the band director know you have something to say is respectful of everyone in the room. Students should enter and exit the band hall respectfully as well.
Grading
Students will receive weekly grades which are based upon their performance and participation in class that week. Students will be given “chair tests” a few times each six-weeks. These will be worth the same amount as a weekly grade. Written music theory/history quizzes will be given from time to time. Students may also take part in music theory/history lessons on a computer. These will be worth less than the weekly grades.
The most important part of a band student’s grade will be their participation in band concerts. Concerts give students the opportunity to show what they have learned. Concerts/performances are also an essential part of the curriculum of the band as listed in the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. (TEKS)
Students may earn extra credit points for attending a performance of a professional caliber musical performing group such as a concert band, a symphony orchestra, a jazz band, or certain other groups. Students must check with a band director in advance to see whether credit will be given for a particular concert. Some examples of the many acceptable performing groups would be the Austin Symphonic Band, the Austin Symphony, the Austin Lyric Opera, and the Big Band Sound of Austin.
Performances
Students in all band classes will participate in four concerts throughout the school year. Students in all band classes will also have the chance to perform at a festival in the San Antonio area in May. In addition, Concert and Symphonic Band students will participate in the UIL Concert and Sight-reading Contest in the spring. Jazz Band and Pep Band performances will be determined later. Please see the band calendar which should follow this handbook shortly.
Private Lessons
All students are encouraged to take private lessons on their instruments. Most music stores can recommend good private instructors. Some university music departments will have students who give private instruction as well. Students may schedule a time for their private instructor to hold their lesson in one of the MMS band hall practice rooms. This must be scheduled with Mr. Earp in advance.
Fund Raising
The MMS Band will hold fund-raisers from time to time. All students are encouraged to participate. Students may earn money toward their festival trip in the spring. More importantly, the fund-raisers will raise money for their organization to buy needed items such as sheet music and music stands.
Eligibility
For seventh and eighth grade band students to participate in UIL events such as sporting events, pep rallies, and Concert and Sight-reading Contest, those students must maintain eligibility. Basically, students need to pass all of their classes each six-weeks. See the UIL website for more details:
http://www.uil.utexas.edu/
Trips
The band calendar will have further details. Students will have the opportunity to perform at a festival in the San Antonio area. That trip usually includes a theme park visit. Concert and Symphonic Bands will perform at UIL Contest in Georgetown. Students will be able to participate in a Solo and Ensemble Contest. Beginning Band may have the chance to perform at a concert for the fifth graders of Manor ISD.
Lockers and ID Tags
There are a limited number of lockers available for instruments in the MMS band hall. There are also a limited number of combination locks. Many students will share lockers/locks. If a student has a friend they would prefer to share with, we will try to accommodate that at the beginning of the school year.
Students may enter the band hall to put their instruments in their lockers before school. They may pick-up their instruments at the end of the day. Students who need to do these things at another point in the school day may do so provided they do so quietly and without disturbing anyone else in the band hall.
All students need to have some sort of identification tag on their instrument cases. Instrument serial numbers will be kept on file in the band hall office for security, but ID tags will make it easier for students to find their instrument cases in many situations. A luggage tag will work just as well.
Instrument Repairs
Sometimes instruments need repairs. Students should first see if a band director can fix it. Often, instrument problems are simple, and can be fixed quickly by a band director. In the case that the instrument needs to be repaired at a repair shop, parents should take the instrument to the shop as soon as possible in order for the student to miss as little time as possible. Some repair shops will pick-up instruments from MMS if asked.
Parent Volunteers
Parent volunteers are always needed. Chaperones for trips will be needed. The Manor Band Boosters club does a lot for both the middle school and high school bands. Parents of band students are encouraged to join. Contact a band director for more information.
Resources
Please see the MMS Band website once it is running. There will be links to music websites, performing group websites, and music advocacy websites.
Manor Middle School Band Contract 2007-2008
As a student in the Manor Middle School Bands, I, _____________________________, understand what is expected of me. I have read through the Band Handbook. I will follow the band rules, being respectful of everyone and everything involved with band. I will try my best to be a good student and a good person, realizing that I represent my classmates, my teachers, my family, my school and my community every time I perform.
Print student name _________________________________
Sign student name _________________________________
Date ____________________________
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I, __________________________________________, have gone over the Manor Middle School Band handbook with my child. I understand the expectations.
Print Parent/Guardian name ______________________________________
Sign Parent/Guardian name ______________________________________
Date ____________________________ |
