Orange Grove Band/Choir

Transcription

1 Orange Grove Band/Choir Handbook

2 Orange Grove Band/Choir Handbook Administration Superintendent Lynn Burton Director of Student Achievement Ernest Henderson High School Administration Principal Arnold Diaz Assistant Principal Diana Aguilar Junior High Administration Principal Gil Salazar Assistant Principal Carlos Flores Music Faculty Director of Music Emerico Perez, III Junior High Director Belinda Garza Band Director Cristina Carrion Choir Director Joshua Perez 2

3 BAND STAFF Director of Bands.. Emerico Perez Junior High Director Belinda Garza Assistant Director...Cristina Carrion Jazz Band Director Cristina Carrion Marching Band Director....Emerico Perez Color Guard Director....Belinda Garza Band/Choir Booster Preside.Gerald Phelps BAND HALL PHONE NUMBERS High School Band Hall...(361) Ext. 509 Junior High Band Hall (361) Ext. 406 HELPFUL PEOPLE There are several people who are in charge of a specific area. Usually problems are best handled by those people who are most directly involved. Beyond this, we are all working together toward one goal. We want our music program to be the finest we can possibly make it. You are surrounded by people who care about you. Ask questions!!!! Questions about High School attendance, grades....emerico Perez Questions about Junior High School attendance, grades.. Belinda Garza Cristina Carrion Questions about Choir attendance, grades....joshua Perez Uniform Problems..Belinda Garza Questions about music or drill...directors or Section Leaders Suggestions, requests for excused absences....emerico Perez Accounts, Fines, Travel Arrangements.Directors Band/Choir Booster Concession Stand.. Gerald Phelps 3

4 Junior High and High School Band/Choir Policies GRADING POLICY Participation 50% of Final Grade We use a grading system that is designed to allow the student to accumulate points for his/her six weeks participation grade. This grading system causes students to focus on his/her commitment to the program. A student who attends class daily, cares for his/her equipment and uniform, and completes his/her assignments may earn up to 10 points a day for every day of the six weeks. (See chart below.) Six Weeks Number of Days in the Six Weeks Total Possible Points for the Six Weeks 1 st Six Weeks nd Six Weeks rd Six Weeks th Six Weeks th Six Weeks th Six Weeks Points are deducted from a student s grade for forgetting his/her instrument and/or supplies for class, not participating in class, talking and/or disrupting class, and being tardy. Students must also be in uniform for pep rallies and concerts. Failure to be in uniform will also cause the student to lose points from his/her participation grade. The number of points taken from a participation grade is at the discretion of the director. (See chart below.) Infraction Forgetting Instrument Not Participating Talking or Disrupting Class Not in Uniform Tardy Number of Points Deducted -20 Points Every Time -5 Up to -20 Points -5 Up to -20 Points -10 Points -5 Points Every Time Tests 50% of Final Grade (Six Weeks Grade) All after school rehearsals and sectionals are graded and input into the computer as a test grade. This includes, but is not limited to, HS and JH Honors band sectionals, Honors Choir rehearsals, Monday night marching rehearsals, Color Guard rehearsals, Pep Rallies, Parades, and Football Games. At the Junior High beginning band level, the students will be given a weekly chair test grade in their classes. All major performances are counted as THREE test grades. This includes, but is not limited to, any Pre-UIL and UIL performance, Winter Concert, Spring Concert, and Choir Concert. 4

5 ATTENDANCE POLICY All band and choir students must abide by the Orange Grove Independent School District attendance policy. Attendance is required at all rehearsals, sectionals, and performances. A student placed in In School Suspension, or DM, is ineligible to perform in a concert or football game with the band or choir on that day. However, the student may practice with the band or choir if a rehearsal is scheduled. Students that become ineligible due to grades can still practice with the band or choir, but cannot perform until eligibility under UIL guidelines is met. TARDY POLICY A student is tardy if not playing or singing when the warm up routine starts. In band, a student must continue to play the warm up unless his/her instrument breaks. A student tardy because he/she was meeting with another teacher before class begins, must notify the director before he/she meets with the teacher, or must bring a note from that teacher. An unexcused tardy will receive a five-point deduction for each incident. After three (3) tardies to class, the student will be given a referral to the office. ABSENCE POLICY A student must call or have a written excuse when absent. Absences will be excused for the following reasons: Death in the Family Medical Emergency Religious Holiday Circumstances may justify an excused absence for reasons other than those listed above. An Unexcused absence includes, but is not limited to: Social Activities Rock Concerts, etc. Senior Portrait Settings Work Outside School All absences are to be reported in writing no later than three (3) school days after the activity has taken place. After the third day, the absence will be unexcused. If an absence is anticipated, a written request for an excused absence should be submitted at least two days in advance. In case of illness or family emergency, an explanatory telephone call to the Director prior to the rehearsal/performance is appropriate. Grading for an Excused Absence An Excused absence is input into the computer as an E. The computer calculates the E as a 90. We, the directors, have no control over the computer s calculation. As with any class, an excused absence means the student has the opportunity to make up the missing assignment. The Director of the excused student may choose to give the student an alternate assignment, written or otherwise, to make up the missed sectional, practice, or performance. 5

6 DRUG TESTING POLICY The band and choir students in grades 7-12 perform at UIL sanctioned events. Because of this, all 7-12 grade band and choir students must have a drug test through Pinnacle on file with the School Office. Most high school students took care of this at the Junior High level during his/her seventh grade year. If you are unsure of this, the Band Directors can check for you. Paperwork, for those students who need this test on file, will be sent out at the beginning of the year. Parents can either take their child to Pinnacle in Corpus Christi or return the receipt to the school, or can turn the signed paperwork in and the next time Pinnacle comes to the school the student will be tested. If the student does not have this test on file with the school, the student will be considered ineligible by Orange Grove Independent School District Board Policy FNF (LOCAL) and will not be allowed to perform with the group. BAND/CHOIR ACCOUNTS Each band and choir member has an established account. The money in this account is used to help the band and choir members pay for trips and/or uniforms that will be used during the school year. Students add to this account by doing fundraisers and/or by contributing his/her own money at any time. The Band Boosters also provide several opportunities throughout the year for students to earn money for his/her account. Money that is not used during the year will be carried over to the next year. Junior high band and choir members may use the money from his/her account when starting high school. The total price of a trip is established at the beginning of each school year. Deadlines for turning in money or getting a refund are set throughout the course of the year and students are made aware of these deadlines in letters sent home and by verbal reminders. Refunds of personal deposits may be given less the trip deposit amounts that are non-refundable through commercial carriers and travel companies. Refunds cannot be given if they are requested after a set deadline. Money will not be transferred from one student s account to another. For more information about an individual account, please contact the band directors. ORANGE GROVE BAND/CHOIR BOOSTERS The Orange Grove Band/Choir Boosters is a parent organization that supports the band/choir by fundraising activities, provides aid with social activities and provides students with opportunities to earn credit in his/her account. Any parent with a student in the Band or Choir program from grades 6-12 is invited to attend these meetings. The meetings are scheduled on the first Monday of every month at 6:00 PM in the High School Band Hall. STEREO and/or COMPUTER USE These items are available for student use on a privilege basis. Permission is required and great care and responsible actions are the minimum requirements. Any student found to abuse these privileges would no longer be allowed to use these items. 6

7 TELEPHONE The band hall telephone is for school use only! Personal calls, calls home in the middle of the day, and calls made for medication are to be made from the school office. Phone calls for transportation and band needs are acceptable with permission. Cell phones are not allowed during the school day (7:55 AM 3:15 PM). Any student caught with a cell phone will have the phone confiscated and given a referral to the office, as per Orange Grove Independent School District Board Policy FNCE (LOCAL). AFTER SCHOOL REHEARSALS If a student is involved in an after school rehearsal of any kind, he/she must stay in the band hall or rehearsal space. The student may not be in the hallways or walk around the school for any reason. TRAVEL RULES Rules and regulations set by Orange Grove ISD must be observed at all times during trips. Students who violate the rules when traveling will be subject to disciplinary actions. Your behavior reflects on the band program, school, community and your parents. In addition to local and UIL performances, the ensembles make numerous other appearances each year. The Junior High School band and choir take an annual trip to Fiesta Texas in San Antonio. Every four years, if scheduling and finances permit, the High School band and choir travel to an out of state location for competition and educational benefits of travel in other parts of the U.S. Requirements for these performances are: 1. Students must meet all local and state eligibility requirements to participate in competition. 2. Students must be able to perform the material assigned for performances satisfactorily. 3. Students must have attended scheduled rehearsals necessary for preparations for the performance both during and after school hours. 4. Students must fulfill the financial obligations to the organization when a commercial carrier is contracted. Bus Etiquette 1. Remain seated in assigned seats facing forward. 2. Do not put anything out of the bus windows. 3. Place all trash in trash bag inside the bus. 4. No loudspeakers allowed on the bus. Headphones only! 5. No Shouting, yelling, screaming, or whistling. 6. No Flash photography. Any items taken on the bus during any trip are the sole responsibility of the student. The directors, sponsors, and/or chaperones on the bus will not be held responsible for any item lost or stolen. Medical Release Form Students must fill out a medical information sheet that will be kept on file with the band department. This sheet must be filled out and returned before any student is allowed to travel with the band. 7

8 LEAVING POLICY The band program is a very successful program. Part of this is due to the way we, the directors, build on the successes of the year before, and the other part is student commitment. We understand students want to try other school activities, and we strongly encourage students to do this to be a well-rounded student and human being. We do everything in our power to ensure student success in all areas, and we try our best never to make a student choose. However, sometimes a student will leave the program before trying to work out a positive solution to try other activities. As students get older in the band program, the students are continuing to develop facial muscles, tone and technique. Often, students will lose these concepts once he/she leaves; and, we find that the student then struggles to catch up to the other students in his/her grade level. We, the directors, feel that to continue the success of our band program, we cannot have a rotating door policy. Once a student leaves our program, he/she will not be allowed to rejoin the band at a later time in Junior High or High School. REMOVAL POLICY Either the Director or the Principals of either campus may also remove a student from the Band or Choir programs. Students may be removed for disruptive behavior in class, not participating in class, or not showing up to and participating in performances. Removal is not limited to the previous reasons. Directors and/or principals will call the student s parent(s)/guardian(s) if and when a student is to be removed. A student removed from either program will not be allowed to join the program again in Junior High or High School. There are times, however, that a student is removed from band or choir for extenuating circumstances. An example of this may be an unavoidable scheduling conflict. In this case, the student may be allowed to rejoin the program at the Director s discretion. STATE SOLO AND ENSEMBLE RECITAL CONCERT Over the past few years, the number of students participating in Solo and Ensemble competition and advancing to State has significantly increased. We, the directors, have noticed that some of our students have not been as prepared for the State contest as they should have been. Competing at the State level requires much more effort than what was put forth before. A Superior rating at the region level is a Good rating at State. Because of this, students who advance to the State Solo and Ensemble Contest will be required to perform in a Recital Concert in mid- to Late April. This performance will be open to the public, parents, and other Orange Grove ISD students. During the performance, the Directors will make a decision on whether or not the student is ready and able to compete at the State level. This will be the only audition the student will have to show that he/she is prepared for the state contest. Director decisions in this process are final. 8

9 FORMAL CONCERT ETIQUETTE (AUDIENCE) 1. Please walk in quietly and be aware of what is happening on stage. When the conductor walks onto the stage, you may applaud. 2. Please no talking or moving around during a performance. If you need to move or leave the concert area, please do so in between songs. 3. Please turn off all cell phones or electronic devices. 4. If very young children are in the audience that become restless and disruptive, please take them away from the concert area because we are recording every performance. 5. It is appropriate to applaud when the Conductor lowers his/her hands and turns around to face the audience. Any screaming or whistling during a song is inappropriate. FORMAL CONCERT ETIQUETTE (PERFORMERS) 1. Walk on stage in a quiet, poised manner. Be ready to perform. Sit or stand according to the Director s instruction. 2. Never talk or whisper on stage. All performers should be focused on the music and performance. Wait for the Director s instruction. 3. Communication with the audience members should be limited to a smile. Waving, winking, and other gestures are distracting and take away from the performance. 4. Always watch the Director on stage. 9

10 High School Band Policies BAND HALL BEHAVIOR Band students are welcome in the band hall before and after school, providing a band director is present. However, if there is a class or sectional in progress, please show every courtesy to the director and students involved. The following rules will make our band hall a more pleasant facility in which to work. 1. No food or drink shall be taken in the band hall. 2. Practice rooms shall be used for music practice only. 3. All instruments shall remain in cases with latches closed when the instrument is not in use. 4. Disorderly behavior and abusive language will not be tolerated. 5. No running in the band hall. 6. No gum is allowed at any time. 7. All trash will be put in trashcans. Do not leave trash on the floor!!! 8. All concert folders should be placed in the appropriate folio cabinet, not left out in the band hall. 9. Uniforms are to be hung properly on the hanger in the assigned band member s locker. A lock will be provided to keep your equipment safe. Directors are not responsible for lost or stolen items in the locker rooms. LOCK YOUR LOCKER AT ALL TIMES!!! 10. Only percussion students are allowed to play on the percussion equipment. Unless there is Director Permission, everyone else HANDS OFF!!! 11. Please be considerate of a director s request for assistance and/or performance of tasks around the band hall. 12. Any equipment, books, school owned instruments, metronomes, etc. are not to be removed without director s approval and/or signed out on the appropriate clipboard in the office. 13. Willful destruction of band property and facilities will create a financial responsibility for students and parents. Legal action may be taken against offenders if destruction warrants. 14. Defacing, writing, and/or drawing upon walls, doors, music stands, chairs, etc. will be grounds for disciplinary action. 15. Only band and choir students are allowed in the band hall. REHEARSAL SCHEDULE INFORMATION During the school year, band students will rehearse 4 th period. During Marching season Late August thru Mid-November there will be rehearsal for all band students each Monday from 5:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Extra rehearsals may be scheduled if the contest show falls behind schedule due to weather or other unforeseen conditions. We use a minimum amount of time with the entire band together as a unit each week compared to most high school bands in our area. Absences from these rehearsals directly affect the quality of the band. An Unexcused absence from Monday night marching practice may result in a loss of Friday s half-time performance participation and a 25- point grade deduction. Make up routines may be assigned, and the student may lose his/her spot in the Marching show. Each student may be required to attend a one-hour section rehearsal for his/her instrument group once each week from September to November then again in the spring as 10

11 scheduled by the director. These will be arranged to create the fewest possible conflicts for students, employers, parents, churches, and other school activities. The evening rehearsals are discontinued in Mid-November to February. The six-weeks before concert contests may require some evening rehearsals usually once a week for one and a half hours. Rehearsal schedules will be decided after consulting with students and other music staff members. All rehearsals scheduled will be announced at least one week in advance so that students can effectively plan his/her next week s schedule. However, there may be unforeseen changes beyond our control. MARCHING BAND SEASON Music/Routine Pass-Offs We, the directors, expect our band to be prepared when going to Marching competitions. We hold every student accountable for every aspect of the show. The band will only be as strong and successful as the students make it. Because of this, every band student is required to pass off his/her music and/or routine to the marching band show. All pass-off dates are announced well in advance of the due date, and due dates are posted on the band hall white board and announced every day of rehearsal. The pass-off charts are posted on the wall next to the band hall throughout the marching season. The students are given a grade for each song/routine of the show. The student may choose to pass off the music all at once, or may choose to pass it off in sections. Grading for Music/Routine Pass-Off Grade Before the Due Date +2 Points for every day before the music/routine due date On the Due Date 100 After the Due Date -2 Points for every day the music/routine is not passed off after the due date Not Passed off Receive a Failing Grade and/or Removal from the Show Uniforms, Supplies and Expenses All Marching Uniforms are provided by the organization. We make every effort to ensure that the students, boys and girls alike, look the same in the Marching uniform. The director has the final say in which uniform is checked out to the band member. Long Black socks and a band shirt are to be worn underneath the Marching Uniform. The school pays to have the uniforms professionally cleaned three times a year. Uniforms are to remain at the school throughout the week. In some rare cases, alterations may need to be done. In this case, the student will need to see either Mrs. Garza or Mr. E. Perez. If a uniform needs to be replaced, please refer to the following list prices: 1. Plume $ Hat $ Hat Box $ Trousers $ Coat $ Gauntlets $25.00 a pair 7. Baldric $ Hanger $ Poncho $ Socks $5.00 a pair 11

12 Auxiliary uniforms vary from the above prices and are available from the director. Reeds, valve oil, and other instrument supplies are the responsibility of each student. The Orange Grove Band Department stocks several of these items for convenience. Students may obtain these items before or after class at no charge. Excessive use of supplies will not be permitted. Drum Majors Membership is open to band members with a minimum of one-year marching experience. Members must audition in the spring before a panel of judges. Academic and attendance records will be used in the evaluation process. Once chosen for Drum Major: 1. The student must pass all of his/her classes. He/she may be dismissed from all Drum Major responsibilities if he/she fails a class. 2. Any discipline action that involves a Drum Major may result in removal from the position. 3. Drum majors are required to attend all rehearsals involving band students including, but not limited to, sectionals, practices, etc. 4. Drum Majors will assist the Directors with organizational duties. These duties include, but are not limited to, travel checklists, pre-rehearsal set ups, music copies, etc. 5. Behavior outside of school is a direct reflection of the leadership and image of the band program. Any illegal or inappropriate activities that involve a drum major will result in disciplinary action that could lead to suspension or dismissal from the position. Section Leaders Section leaders are those students in band that the Directors feel have strong leadership qualities, strong moral values, and a strong commitment to the band. The Directors choose the students in these positions during the spring semester. The section leaders are held to the same requirements and expectations as a Drum Major. If we, the directors, feel at any time that a Section Leaders is abusing his/her authority in that role, he/she will be removed as section leader. Color Guard The color guard is an auxiliary unit of the band. The purpose of the color guard is to add a visual depiction of the music being played by the band in the marching environment. To audition for Color Guard the student must currently be in band, be in good standing with the directors, be entering 9 th, 10 th, 11 th, or 12 th grade, not have discipline issues in band and/or other classes, and attend the Color Guard Audition camp prior to auditions. The students will audition for a panel of judges. The judges do not know the students and their decision is final and should not be questioned. A Color Guard Captain will be chosen by Mrs. Garza and announced at the first game. A Captain that cannot perform the duties asked of him/her will be replaced. While the Color Guard is an auxiliary of the band, a color guard member is first and foremost a musician and is expected to take steps to participate by playing his/her instrument whenever possible. Color guard members will play at football games any time the band plays in the stands, including the School Song, Fight Song, and the National Anthem. Color guard members are expected to be at attention when the rest of the band is at attention. Sitting down while the rest of the band is marching, even when the color guard does not move, will not be tolerated. The members of the Color Guard will be held to a higher standard than that of a normal band student. His/her actions must represent model band students both in band and outside of band. If a color guard member is found to be in 12

13 conflict of this policy, he/she will be removed from the color guard and will not be allowed to audition for color guard at any time in the future. There will be two extra rehearsals a week from 3:30 PM 5:00 PM, in addition to marching band practice. Band attendance policies are in affect. Students that miss practice for ANY reason are subject to dismissal from the color guard or any other consequence deemed appropriate by the Band Director. All color guard rehearsals are closed to the public. This includes, but is not limited to, band students, other Orange Grove ISD students, and outside visitors. The Color Guard is an organization that takes pride in performing at a level close to perfection. Color guard members will be held to the highest standards whether it is during a performance, practice, or any other time. Color guard members are expected to be ontime, work hard on routines and music, have a positive attitude, and be meticulous when following instructions. If at any time a member cannot perform the routine without stopping and without major flaws (a major flaw is defined as executing the wrong fundamental in place of the written fundamental or not executing the fundamental properly), he/she will not be allowed to perform on the field. If for any reason the student is not allowed to perform on the field, he/she will still perform the routine on the sideline. Each color guard member must be attired correctly for performances. Being attired correctly deals with hairstyle, uniform, jewelry, etc. Students will be informed of the specifics well in advance of the performance so that he/she will know what is expected of him/her. Students that are not attired correctly at call time will not receive credit for the performance. If this occurs with the same student twice, he/she may be removed from the color guard. Color Guard Equipment Color guard equipment costs the school well over $3000 per year. When equipment is purchased, it is purchased with the intent of using it more than one marching season. Because of this, color guard members are expected to maintain the equipment properly in order to keep it in the best possible condition. The following policies are in affect when dealing with school color guard equipment: 1. Any color guard equipment currently in the band hall and future equipment purchased by Orange Grove ISD is property of the Orange Grove Band. Any equipment not returned after use or borrowed without permission will be considered theft and will be handled in that manner. No equipment will be released as a souvenir. 2. No person other than color guard personnel is to touch the equipment. 3. Flags are not to be used as a seat covers. In other words, don t sit or allow someone else to sit on a flag. 4. Each color guard member is expected to inspect his/her equipment daily to make sure nothing is damaged. Special care should be taken when looking at the tips to make sure they are taped properly so that the weights don t fly off. Should a Color Guard member decide to quit the Color Guard before or during the season, he/she must pay the Orange Grove Band $250 to cover the cost of all Uniform Supplies and equipment that was purchased for their use. Game Day Procedures 1. Each person is responsible for his/her equipment at all times. 2. Color Guard will report to a designated area immediately following the pep rallies or after school. Members may not leave until hair and make-up is done. Food may be brought to the Color Guard member. 13

14 3. BE PROPERLY UNIFORMED AT ALL TIMES! This includes keeping the bibbers zipped all the way up with the shoulder straps on. 4. Snacks and drinks not provided from the Band Boosters are not allowed in the stands. NO GUM IS ALLOWED!!!! 5. Do not play your instrument at any time the band is not playing. The percussion section is to play only with the full band or with yells or as a section on an organized cadence or feature. 6. Third Quarter off is a privilege. Inappropriate behavior or not passing off make-up routines can result in loss of this privilege. 7. Cheer with the Cheerleaders. Group cheers are acceptable; however, off-color or unsportsmanlike cheers will not be allowed. 8. Do not make discourteous remarks to visiting bands. 9. Each person should have a lyre and/or flip folder for his/her instrument. 10. File orderly from the stands to the assembling point before the half-time show. Do not play instruments. Do not loiter around, out of formation, in the end zone or on the sidelines. 11. Drummers are to stand up when playing in the stands. Remain seated at all other times. 12. Two people at a time may be excused to use the restroom with a director s permission. CONCERT BAND SEASON This part of the band student s experience extends from Mid-November to late May with students performing in one of two bands. These bands are designated Honors and Symphonic. Students are assigned to one of these bands based on, but not limited to, ability, effort, schedule, attendance, and reliability as shown by his/her past record. Students may also be required to play a musical excerpt to determine chair and band placement with regard to previously mentioned criteria. A students academic progress will also be a factor in determining placement. CHALLENGES The Challenge is a process the band program uses for students to try to improve his/her placement in a band. Challenges will take place in early January. The Director will choose and provide the music to both the Challenger and the student being challenged at the same time to allow both parties equal time to prepare. Failure to accept a challenge will result in an automatic forfeiture of a student s current position. Results of a challenge are final. SECTIONALS Members of the Honors band are required to attend a one-hour sectional once a week from the beginning of concert season to the end of the UIL performance. Sectional rehearsals are defined as band tutorials and attendance is required. Grade points will be deducted for failure to attend. Coaches and other school sponsors will allow you to attend sectionals, providing prior arrangements have been made and the band director and coach have mutually agreed on times. UNIFORMS The concert band uniforms to be worn for the Concert band season are different than that of the Marching season. The girls are required to buy long black dresses and the boys are required to purchase full tuxedos. The band uses a specific company when ordering the dresses and tuxedos to 14

15 ensure that all the students look alike. The cost of a dress or tuxedo is $85. The student will be measured in the early part of the fall semester to ensure that the dress or tuxedo is here before the Christmas Concert and in time to have alterations made. A student may pay for this uniform all at once or may use money from his/her account. Also, students who have recently graduated may be selling his/her concert uniform. JAZZ BAND This group studies and performs a variety of literature, including swing, jazz, and rock. Each year, the group performs at concerts, adjudicated festivals, and various civic occasions. Special emphasis is placed on developing improvisation skills and ensemble playing. Membership requires a high degree of musical skill and personal discipline. MUSIC THEORY The AP Music Theory course is designed to develop a student s ability to aurally and visually analyze the basic concepts and processes of music. This is achieved by incorporating lesson, assignments and creative projects that cultivate the aural, sight-singing, compositional and analytical skills of students. Throughout the course, students will complete excerpts from sample exams found in the AP Music Theory Course Description Book. Students will complete the sample multiple choice questions, free-response and the sight-reading exercises. Through lectures, analyses, and sample exams students will compile a comprehensive lexicon of theory terms and concepts that will be used as a final review for the AP Music Theory Exam and/or the TSSEC Music Theory exam. LETTERING POLICY A letter jacket will be awarded to students that meet the criteria in any given year. To receive the jacket, the band student must comply with the following standards: 1. The band student must be in good standing with the program. 2. The band student must be a member of the Orange Grove High School Band for one full year. Transfer students will become eligible only after completing two consecutive semesters of band. Senior Transfer students will be considered on a case by case basis by the Band Directors. 3. The band student must be eligible for participation in ALL performances, games, and contests. 4. A band student must attend 90% of all required after school rehearsals. 5. A band student must attend and participate in ALL group performances throughout the year. Illness and other factors will be considered on a case by case basis by the Band Directors. 6. The band student whose participation is denied due to an injury sustained during the year may be granted a jacket if he/she continues to attend rehearsals, concerts, and other performances when medically possible after the injury. 7. A band member who completes a full year of band, but does not meet full requirements may be awarded a certificate upon the recommendation of the Head Band Director. 8. A band student completing four years of participation may be granted a jacket, regardless of the amount of participation, upon the recommendation of the Head Band Director. 15

16 Junior High School Band Policies BAND HALL BEHAVIOR Band students are welcome in the band hall before and after school, providing a band director is present. However, if there is a class or sectional in progress, please show every courtesy to the director and students involved. In the morning, the band students will be released to go to the band hall at 7:45 AM. The following rules will make our band hall a more pleasant facility in which to work. 1. Only band students are allowed in the band hall. A band student may not bring a non-band student friend or relative into the band hall. 2. No food or drink shall be taken in the band hall. 3. Practice rooms shall be used for music practice only. 4. All instruments shall remain in cases with latches closed when the instrument is not in use. 5. Disorderly behavior and abusive language will not be tolerated. 6. No running in the band hall. 7. No gum is allowed at any time. 8. All trash will be put in trashcans. Do not leave trash on the floor!!! 9. All concert folders should be placed in the appropriate folio cabinet, not left out in the band hall. 10. Only percussion students are allowed to play on the percussion equipment. Unless there is Director Permission, everyone else HANDS OFF!!! 11. Please be considerate of a director s request for assistance and/or performance of tasks around the band hall. 12. Any equipment, books, school owned instruments, metronomes, etc. are not to be removed without director s approval and/or signed out on the appropriate clipboard in the office. 13. Willful destruction of band property and facilities will create a financial responsibility for students and parents. Legal action may be taken against offenders if destruction warrants. 14. Defacing, writing, and/or drawing upon walls, doors, music stands, chairs, etc. will be grounds for disciplinary action. JUNIOR HIGH BANDS At the Junior High level, the 7 th and 8 th Grade students are divided into three concert bands. The bands are designated Honors, Symphonic, and Concert Band. Students are assigned to one of these three bands based on, but not limited to, ability, effort, schedule, attendance, and reliability as shown by his/her past record. Students may also be required to play a musical excerpt to determine chair and band placement with regard to previously mentioned criteria. A students academic progress will also be a factor in determining placement. CHALLENGES The Challenge is a process the band program uses for students to try to improve his/her placement in a band. Challenges will take place in early January. The Director will choose and provide the music to both the Challenger and the student being challenged at the same time to 16

17 allow both parties equal time to prepare. Failure to accept a challenge will result in an automatic forfeiture of a student s current position. Results of a challenge are final. SECTIONALS Members of the Honors band are required to attend a one-hour sectional once a week from the beginning of concert season to the end of the UIL performance. Sectional rehearsals are defined as band tutorials and attendance is required. Grade points will be deducted for failure to attend. Coaches and other school sponsors will allow you to attend sectionals, providing prior arrangements have been made and the band director and coach have mutually agreed on times. JUNIOR HIGH BAND UNIFORMS The Junior High band performs in several concerts locally and out-of-town throughout the year. The bands are required to wear a designated uniform for each performance. Failure to be in the designated uniform for any performance will result in points being deducted from his/her participation grade. PEP RALLIES The 7 th and 8 th Grade students in the Honors, Symphonic, and Concert bands participate in school pep rallies throughout the year. For these performances, the students must buy and wear his/her Band shirt that will be ordered within the first two weeks of the school year. The beginner band students may choose to also buy the pep rally shirt, but beginners are not required to wear these shirts on pep rally days. OTHER HONORS, SYMPHONIC, and CONCERT BAND PERFORMANCES Students in these three bands will be required to buy and wear a Black Polo Shirt that will be ordered within the first two weeks of school. These Polo shirts are special ordered with the Orange Grove Band Logo on them. The student will also need to wear black slacks (Please no denim material), a belt, black socks, and black shoes. We ask that the black shoes be nice black dress shoes. This means no sneakers, flip-flops, Crocs, Converse, White and Black, colored laces, etc. The students will wear this uniform for the Veterans Day, Christmas, Pre-UIL, UIL, and Spring Concert performances. BEGINNERS The beginner band students are not required to wear the same uniform as the older students. However, the beginner band students must follow the Orange Grove ISD dress code. For example, shirts must be tucked in, belts must be worn, and no spaghetti straps or tank tops. Beginner band students may choose to purchase either or both of the shirts the older students must purchase. COST OF BAND UNIFORM SHIRTS The Uniform shirts will be ordered at the beginning of the school year to ensure that they arrive as close to the first performance as possible. The cost of both shirts may cost between $20 and $40. A letter detailing the cost of the shirt and asking for the students shirt size will go out during the first week of school. 17

18 FAILING GRADES The students, in order to compete or perform for any UIL sanctioned event, must be eligible according to all local and State eligibility rules. Christmas and Spring concerts do not follow these same rules and all band students are required to perform at these concerts. The students in the Honors and Symphonic bands compete at the UIL Concert/Sight Reading event during the Spring semester. Should a student fail a class at report card time and not become eligible with the next progress report, the student may be removed from the ensemble. The failing student, should the director choose, may be given a daily written alternate assignment until the contest date has passed. The director may also choose to keep the student playing with the ensemble should he/she feel the need arises. SAN ANTONIO FIESTA TEXAS TRIP The Junior High band takes this trip every year in the early part of May. The students parent/guardian may choose to pay for the trip outright, or the student is given several fundraising opportunities throughout the year to raise money. There are several vendors we, the directors, must pay before the students go on the trip. Because of this, we set up a cut-off day for the students to let us know he/she will not be able to attend the trip. The final cut-off date is the Monday before or five school days before the trip. If the student or parent/guardian fails to notify the directors that a student will not be going on the trip before this date, he/she will not be reimbursed the personal money paid for the trip. Also, a student who fails to show up the morning of the trip will also not be reimbursed any money paid toward the trip. Along with ourselves, we ask several school employees and/or parents to accompany us on our trip to act as chaperones. The job of the chaperone is to supervise the students in the performance venue, supervise the students on the buses to and from the school and park, and to check students in - once in the park and right before we leave the park. Our chaperones, however, are not required to stay with the students in the park. We allow our students to be in the park with other students in groups of three or more at all times. We are trying to teach our students how to be responsible for their own time management. 18

19 Junior High and High School Choir Policies CLASS RULES 1. Be Polite and Respectful. 2. No talking. Talking is disruptive and should only be done as the Director allows. 3. Do not chew gum, eat or drink during class. 4. No pushing, hitting, or any other disruptive physical behavior. 5. Cell phones and any other electronic equipment will not be allowed. CONSEQUENCES If a student should break a rule once, he/she will receive a teacher warning. More than once will result in a call home. After that, if a student chooses to continue to break the rules, he/she will be sent to the office and possibly removed from the Choir. CLASS ROUTINE 1. Arrive on time; pick up your folder, and sit/stand in your assigned place. 2. Vocal Warm-ups and Technique 3. Sight Reading 4. Rehearse music CHOIR EXPECTATIONS 1. Be in attendance at all concerts, unless illness or family emergency should occur. The student must notify the director before the event to be excused. 2. Be on time to class, in the assigned seat and ready to sing. 3. Demonstrating a positive attitude and disciplined behavior is of prime importance for the Choir s excellence. 4. You are required to sing every day in choir class. It is understandable that sometimes a sore throat may make it more difficult to sing, but you do have to make your best effort anyway. I cannot excuse everyone who tells me they do not feel well. If you are feeling ill, and you tell me you cannot sing, I will send you to the nurse. If singing will in some way prevent you from recovering, the only thing that will excuse you from singing in my class is a note from your medical doctor. CHOIR UNIFORMS HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS Our concert uniform is a black formal dress that will be provided by the school. Each girl will borrow a dress in her size and wear it for each concert. Dresses borrowed for a concert should be returned after the concert is over. Girls that are in the also in the High School band are required to buy a dress through the band program. The dresses bought through the band program can also be worn for the choir concerts. 19

20 HIGH SCHOOL BOYS Each boy will be provided with a black tuxedo. These will also be borrowed and returned at the end of each concert. Just like the girls, the boys in choir that are also in band are required to buy a tuxedo through the band program. The tuxedos bought through the band program may also be worn for choir concerts. JUNIOR HIGH GIRLS AND BOYS The concert uniform will be a black polo shirt with black pants, a black belt, black socks, and black shoes. The students are responsible for providing the pants, a black belt, black socks and black shoes. SHOES All students must wear formal black shoes with the uniform. This means no sneakers, flip-flops, Crocs, Converse, White and Black, colored laces, etc. Black shoes will not be provided to the student by the school. ACCESSORIES Jewelry is fine to wear with the uniform as long as it is not too big or bright and follows the Orange Grove ISD dress code. CHOIR T-SHIRT A choir t-shirt will be available for purchase during the fall semester. Order forms will be sent home with the choir students and cost $10. CONTESTS There are several competitive contests that take place for the choir throughout the year. The students are not required to participate, but they are strongly encouraged to do so. DISTRICT AUDITIONS In this competition, the students will be given a certain number of songs to learn. On the day of the audition, the student will be given a section from each song to sing alone for a panel of judges. The judges will then score the students based on the performance given. The top 15 or 20 students from each vocal section will advance to the Region Audition. REGION AUDITIONS This competition is run just like the District auditions. Whoever places high enough at the Region auditions will then participate in the Region Choir Clinic/Concert. It is a great honor to be in this choir. This choir consists of students from all over our District who have worked hard to learn challenging and interesting music. The clinic starts early in the morning, and is led by an accomplished director. The day ends with a concert that is free and open to the public. 20

21 UIL SOLO AND ENSEMBLE For this contest, each student will learn one solo before the contest date. The student will then perform the solo for a judge and receive a rating for his/her performance. If he/she receives a Superior rating, he/she will be awarded a medal. Some solos are difficult enough to advance to the State Solo and Ensemble Competition. UIL CONCERT/SIGHT READING CONTEST This contest involves the High School Honors Choir and consists of the students preparing three pieces of music for a panel of judges. The judges will give the choir a rating based on the performance. Then, the choir will sing a piece of music that they have never seen before for a separate panel of judges. The judges will also give the choir a rating based on the performance. SAN ANTONIO FIESTA TEXAS TRIP The Junior High choir takes this trip with the Junior High Band every year in the early part of May. The students parent/guardian may choose to pay for the trip outright, or the student is given several fundraising opportunities throughout the year to raise money. There are several vendors we, the directors, must pay before the students go on the trip. Because of this, we set up a cut-off day for the students to let us know he/she will not be able to attend the trip. The final cut-off date is the Monday before or five school days before the trip. If the student or parent/guardian fails to notify the directors that a student will not be going on the trip before this date, he/she will not be reimbursed the personal money paid for the trip. Also, a student who fails to show up the morning of the trip will also not be reimbursed any money paid toward the trip. Along with ourselves, we ask several school employees and/or parents to accompany us on our trip to act as chaperones. The job of the chaperone is to supervise the students in the performance venue, supervise the students on the buses to and from the school and park, and to check students in - once in the park and right before we leave the park. Our chaperones, however, are not required to stay with the students in the park. We allow our students to be in the park with other students in groups of three or more at all times. We are trying to teach our students how to be responsible for their own time management. 21

22 I have read this handbook, as it pertains to my child, and I fully understand the Band/Choir rules and regulations. Print Parent/Guardian Name Parent/Guardian Signature Date I, the Band/Choir Student, have read the Band/Choir handbook as it pertains to me, and I agree to follow the Band/Choir Rules and Regulations. Print Student Name Student Signature Date Student Grade Period of Band/Choir Class Please sign and return this page to your Band/Choir Director by Friday, August 31,