 |
Trinity Band |  |
 |
| |
Trinity Band | |
|
Index
| Why Music? | Calendar of Events | Eligibility Instruments Music Lessons |
Ensembles | Practicing | Rehearsal
Procedures Instrument Storage Band Pictures |
Concerts Dress Code Etiquette |
Grading Band points |
“Why
is music so important?” The
answer is both complicated and simple at the same time – because it helps us
to live better lives. It takes many
of the other academic areas and ties them all together.
1.
Music is a Science. It
is exact, specific, and it demands exact acoustics.
A conductor’s full score is a chart…a graph which indicates,
frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody and harmony all at once, and
with the most exact control of time.
2.
Music is Mathematical. It
is rhythmically based on the subdivision of time into fractions which must be
done instantaneously…not worked out on paper.
3.
Music is a Foreign Language.
Most of the terms are in Italian, German or French;
and the notation is certainly not English, but a highly developed kind of
shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The semantics of music is the most complete and universal
language known to man.
4.
Music is History. Music
usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, often even the
country and/or racial feeling. Much
can be learned about a country or a race simply by listening to their music.
5.
Music is Physical Education.
It requires fantastic coordination of fingers, hands, arms, lip, cheek
and facial muscles in addition to extraordinary control of the diaphragmatic,
back, stomach and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear
hears and the mind interprets.
6.
Music is Faith. Music
is a gift from God (imagine church without music!) and can help us to worship
and grow closer to Christ.
7.
Music is Art. It
allows a human being to take all of these dry, technically boring (but
difficult) techniques and use them to create emotion.
That is the one thing science cannot duplicate:
human feeling, emotion, call it what you will.
That
is why we teach music…
Not because we expect you to major in music…
Not because we expect you to play or sing for the rest of your life…
But…so you will be human;
So you will recognize beauty;
So you can be closer to God;
So you will have something to cling to;
So you will have more love, more compassion, more gentleness, more
good…
More life.
All
students in grades 4-8 are encouraged to participate in the Instrumental Music
program. Students
may start an instrument at any time during the school year, in any grade.
However, it is easiest to start an instrument at the beginning of the
year.
Music
4th
Grade – Essential Elements 2000, Book One
5th & 6th Grade – Essential Elements 2000,
Book Two
7th & 8th Grade – Essential Technique (the black and gold book)
Band ensemble music is purchased by the school. Due to the high occurrence of lost or badly-damaged music last year, students will be given photocopies of music this year. Each student will have their own copy of each piece. No excuses for not having your music at lessons or rehearsals will be accepted.
Lessons
Each student is assigned to a lesson group according to instrument and grade level. Lessons are 25 minutes, once a week.
Private lessons from area professionals are highly recommended. West Music also has private teachers on-site. The Cedar Rapids Symphony musicians give lessons through the Symphony School. Another excellent resource is the music department at Coe College. Some of the professors take young students and the college students can be a great bargain for excellent instruction at lower prices.
Ensembles
4th
Grade Band
– All 4th grade band students come together for rehearsal on
Tuesday and Thursday, from 10:25 – 11:05.
5th/6th
Grade Band
– All 5th & 6th graders come together for rehearsal
on Monday and Wednesday, from 1:55 – 2:35.
7th/8th
Grade Band
– All 7th & 8th graders come together for rehearsal
on Tuesday and Thursday, from 1:55 – 2:35.
Beginning
Jazz Band
– Any student (5th grade or older) who wishes to begin in Jazz
Band, with little or no previous experience, is welcome.
Practice
will be on Tuesday, from 7:15 am – 7:50 am.
Advanced
Jazz Band –
Any student (5th grade or older) who has at least one year of
experience in jazz band, or has a high proficiency on their instrument, is
welcome.
Practice
will be on Thursday, from 7:15 am – 7:50 am.
Pep
Band – All
students in grades 5-8 are expected to participate in Pep Band, except:
7th & 8th Grade basketball players and 7th
& 8th Grade cheerleaders
Membership
in Pep Band will also be open to all faculty, staff, parents, and supporters of
the Trinity Basketball program!!
Practicing
In order to become proficient at anything, practice must occur on a regular basis.
Use the following guidelines for home practice:
1.
Have an area set aside for practicing that is free from distractions, and
away from the
television and high-traffic areas.
2. Practice time is graded, and the quality of practice will directly affect lesson performance, which is also graded. Therefore, practice time is the amount of time actually spent practicing, not just the amount of time the instrument is out of the case.
3. Treat practice time as
required homework for band class. It
should be treated with the
same respect as homework for any other class.
In order to
become proficient at anything, practice must occur.
Improvement and enjoyment will parallel the amount of time you spend
practicing.
Each student will receive a practice grade each week
according to the following table:
A+
120 or more minutes each week
12 band points
A
114 – 119 minutes
11 band points
A-
112 – 113 minutes
10 band points
B+
110 – 111 minutes
9 band points
B
104 – 109 minutes
8 band points
B-
102 – 103 minutes
7 band points
C+
99 – 101 minutes
6 band points
C
86 – 98 minutes
5 band points
C-
84 – 85 minutes
4 band points
D+
82 – 83 minutes
3 band points
D
78 – 81 minutes
2 band points
D-
76 – 77 minutes
1 band point
F
75 minutes or less each week
0 band points
Because grades are issued according to practice time,
all practice time must be recorded and initialed by parents each week.
If it is not recorded (I will check the sheets at students’ lessons) or
if it is not initialed by a parent, a “zero” will be recorded for the week.
If a student does not have their practice sheet at their lesson, it will
be treated as a late assignment, and will lose 10% for every day it is late.
A student’s practice grade is only a portion of
their band grade.
(See page 9 to find out more about the “band points” program)
Rehearsal Procedures
Rehearsal will start at 10:28 am for 4th
graders, and at 1:58 pm for all other students. This is according to the clock in the band room, not your
watch, and not your classroom clock. If
a student is not in their seat and ready to start playing by that time, they
will be counted tardy. Three (3)
tardies in one quarter will result in a referral.
Steps to follow for each rehearsal:
1. Come into the band room
and get instrument from the bins
2. Put your instrument together (flutes, oboes, & clarinets
at your seats)
3. Sit in your assigned chair as quickly as possible.
4. Warm up (QUIETLY).
5. When the director steps on the podium, all playing and all
talking stops immediately.
Students are expected to have their instrument,
music, book, and a pencil at all rehearsals.
During rehearsal, it is expected that students
will put forth their best effort at all times.
As with any organized activity, teamwork is important.
Instrument
Storage
Each student will be assigned a cabinet for
their instrument in the band room. Instruments
must be stored in these cabinets upon arriving at school, not taken to the
classrooms or lockers.
All percussion players must make sure all
instruments, sticks, and other percussion equipment are put away in the
proper place before anyone will be allowed to leave the room.
Band Pictures
We will again have band pictures taken by Fred Koontz. The dates of the pictures have not yet been determined. Notes will be sent home with further information.
Concerts
Students should arrive 30 minutes before the start of the program to warm up, tune, and hear any last minute instructions. Concerts present to the audience all that we have learned during the semester. It’s time to put on our best show!!
Dress Code for Concerts (and Band Pictures)
Girls
– Dress or skirt with an appropriate blouse or shirt.
No denim. Color does not
matter (within reason). Stockings are optional.
Nice sandals are allowed (no flip-flops). Length of skirts should be in compliance with the Trinity
dress code.
Boys
– Collared shirt with khakis or dress pants.
Color does not matter (within reason). Ties are optional.
Socks and nice shoes should be worn.
No jeans, no tennis shoes.
The quality of a performance ensemble is judged first by their appearance. Any team that exists has a required uniform. We will show enough respect for ourselves to appear in nice clothes for a public performance.
Concert
Etiquette
Show respect for yourself and your peers by arriving on time (30 minutes before the performance is to begin). Late arrivals put unnecessary stress on you and your director.
Before
the concert, while students are tuning, BE SILENT!!
Tuning requires careful listening, and talking is an unnecessary
distraction. Show respect by
remaining silent.
While waiting for your ensemble to perform, you will be seated in chairs on the far side of the gym floor, not in the bleachers. Instruments will be left in the cafeteria, and no student will be allowed to leave the gym/cafeteria area for any reason while the performance is going on. There is a restroom in the cafeteria area, and the cafeteria will be monitored by an adult volunteer during the performance.
Do not talk while music is being played. It’s rude. Wait until the clapping starts, and then stop talking when the clapping stops. Any conversations can wait until after the performance. This is simple courtesy and respect.
Leaving a concert after you are done performing (if the concert isn’t done yet) is disrespectful. Show your support of everyone in our program by staying and applauding. They worked just as hard as you did, and they deserve the same recognition.
Grading
All band students will receive grades in the following areas:
1. Rehearsal attendance
(instrument, music, book, pencil)
2. Rehearsal participation,
effort, and behavior
3. Lesson attendance (instrument, music, book, pencil)
4. Being adequately prepared for lesson
5. Weekly practice time,
recorded at each lesson (see pgs. 5-6)
6. Concert attendance (once per semester, and the Xavier
festival)
Since this is being graded as an academic subject, it
can affect athletic eligibility, just like any other class.
Band
Points
Band points can be earned based on participation and effort in band. Doing “right” things can earn points, and doing “wrong” things can take away points. Students will be given awards based on the number of points they earn for the school year.
Points may be earned in the following ways:
5 Instrument, book, music, and pencil at rehearsal
5 Instrument, book, music, and pencil at lesson
3 Earning a “5” on lesson performance
1 Each 10 minutes of practice over 120
10 Public performance (church, chapel, recital, etc.) Must be documented and signed by parent.
5 Earning sticker on “star charts” by band room doors (starts with 1st day of school – not summer)
20 Earning a “1” at Solo/Ensemble Contest (for solo or ensemble)
10 Earning a “2” at Solo/Ensemble Contest (for solo or ensemble)
10 Audition for Honor Band (Cedar Rapids, Luther College, or other)
25 Selected for Honor Band (any of the above)
10 Pep Band performance
20 Performance at Concert (including the Xavier festival)
Points may be lost in the following ways:
2 Late to lesson or band rehearsal
2 Inappropriate or excessive interruption of rehearsal (per incident)
5 Forget instrument
2 Forget book or music
5 Forget lesson
1 Each 10 minutes of practice under 90
5 Late to concert
10 Do not follow dress code for concert
25 Don’t come to concert (including the Xavier festival)
Awards will be presented at the Spring Concert. Points do not carry over from year to year.
TAKE PRIDE
IN TRINITY BANDS!!!
01/19/2006