The Official Hickory High

School 2013-2014

Band Handbook

Directors:

David Enloe and Crystal Cox

www.hhsbands.org

A. Hickory High School Band Classes

Students enjoying music and playing their instrument are invited to enroll in Band Class at Hickory High School. They are placed in one of four performance ensembles: Concert A day, Concert B Day, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble. All band classes are offered as yearlong classes which meet every other day on an alternating A/B schedule.

Bell 1 Bell 2 Bell 3 Bell 4 A Day Concert A Day

Band Wind Ensemble

Planning Beg. Guitar

B Day Concert B Day Band

Symphonic Band

Planning Beg. Guitar

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band Expectations.

• Honors students are required to audition for district band, however we encourage all students to audition.

• All Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band Students are required to attend the Assessment Band Camp in January

• All Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band Students are required to play in the graduation ceremony at the end of the academic year.

• All Percussionist need to own mallets. Chesapeake Public Schools along with HBPA have provided percussion instruments for students to use.

o Percussion students in Symphonic Band and Concert band will need to call LONE STAR PERCUSSION (214)340-0835 and purchase the EST-228004 or the Hickory HS pack. Approximately cost is $135

o Percussion students in Wind Ensemble should order the following: http://www.lonestarpercussion.com/Categories/Stick-and-Mallet-Bundles/Innovative-Percussion-FP3.html

B. Daily Class Procedures

1. Students may store their instruments in the band room (at their own risk) in the morning and pick it up in the afternoon after school (the room will be locked by 4:00 pm).

2. Report to class on time. Hickory High School strictly enforces the tardy policy. Be ready to begin class 2 minutes after the tardy bell rings.

3. Always come to class with ALL necessary class materials (instrument, pencil, reeds, mutes, music, folder, stick bag with approved sticks, keyboard mallets, timpani mallets, triangle beaters, and pitch pipe).

4. Every student in the Hickory High School Band is expected to practice their instrument at home. Students are expected to work both in and out of class to improve their playing ability. This will ensure your preparedness for rehearsal time, performances, and playing tests. Typical practice should average 30 minutes per session, 3 nights a week.

C. Other Classroom Policies

1. No gum, food, or drink in the band room. This includes all adjacent rooms to the band room.

2. All instruments are to be stored properly in the correct storage area. These areas are to be kept clean and free from clutter (ESPECIALLY PERCUSSION!!!).

3. During band class all personal items including book bags, coats, and other class materials are to be kept in either your band cubby or in the front of the room.

4. The instrument room is for the storing of instruments only. Do not keep personal items in the instrument room other than during class. Any personal items will be turned in to the main office's lost and found.

5. Unauthorized use of another student's instrument is strictly prohibited. Students found using another student's instrument without permission from both the student AND the band directors may face severe penalties including OSS, reimbursement of medical costs, and reimbursement of instrument cleaning and repair.

D. School Issued Instruments

1. For those students playing oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, tenor sax, baritone sax, horn, baritone, tuba, percussion, and specialized marching brass, the Hickory High School Band and Chesapeake Public Schools provide you an opportunity to "borrow" an instrument.

2. All students wishing to "borrow" an instrument MUST return a yellow card filled out and signed before taking possession of an instrument. Percussion students are not required to fill out a yellow card.

3. The student is responsible for keeping the instrument in working order throughout the school year. Brass players are expected to keep tuning slides greased and movable, valves oiled and in "non-sticking" order, and instruments and cases in clean working condition inside and out. Woodwinds are expected to replace worn or damaged pads when needed, keep joints greased, prevent moisture build-up in instrument, and keep instrument and case in clean working order.

4. It is required that all instruments be taken to shop for a check-up before the end of the school year.

5. Students using a school owned instrument are strongly encouraged to participate in fundraisers which help purchase instruments that they are using.

6. A student electing to use a school owned instrument is making a commitment not only to take care of the instrument provided to him/her free of charge, but also to practice and prepare their parts just as any other band student would.

E. Grading Policy The general breakdown for determining your nine weeks grade is as follows: 1. 30% Daily Participation 2. 30% Concert Participation -Winter Concert, Benefit Concert, Performance

Assessment Concert, Spring Concert and Graduation Ceremony (Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band are required to attend the Graduation Ceremony)

3. 30% Playing/ Written Tests (i.e. Smartmusic, chair test or major etude test) 4. 10% Instrument, Music, Band Notebook, and/or other class materials. F. Concert Attire The following attire is required to meet the performance standards of the Hickory High School Band Program. Failure to meet these standards will result in the lowering of your nine weeks grade.

1. Shirts- White long sleeved tuxedo shirt. (Purchased by student) 2. Pants- Black dress pants or black pressed skirt, calf length or longer. 3. Shoes- Black dress shoes with black socks. No sneakers, sandals or

slippers. 4. Tie and Cummerbund- Black tie and cummerbund (Purchased through

HBPA $30)

G. Attendance Policy In order to maintain a high standard in any music program attendance to All rehearsals and performances are essential. The Hickory High School Band strictly adheres to the Chesapeake Public Schools guidelines for concert and rehearsal attendance. Attached to this packet is a letter from Anita B. James, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Instruction. This letter describes the requirements for performance attendance. Please also review the section of the CPS High School Band Guidelines concerning rehearsal attendance. The policies regarding attendance include all after-school rehearsals. H. Class Placement

It is the directors’ philosophy to place each student in an environment in which their music development is maximized. Many factors are considered when placing a student including: year-long performance in band class, attendance, practice habits, and further development of musical skills (district auditions, private lessons, etc…). Because of the size of the band, not every student will be placed in the group of their choice. Just remember that there are many talented musicians in the band program, and you will be a part of a fantastic musical experience no matter what group you participate in.

There will be occasions when bands must hold some after

school sectionals to assist students who are having problems with certain parts in their music. (This is similar to if a student needed tutoring sessions in Chemistry!)

Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band will hold an Assessment

preparation camp (one Friday evening, and Saturday) in the Month of January.

I. Make up tests and retakes

Make ups

• It is the responsibility of the STUDENT to get information or materials missed while absent.

• Students who are absent for a test/concert MUST be responsible for the makeup assignment. The completion date will be three days after the student returns, per Chesapeake School Policy. Tests not made up will become a “0”.

• Students who do not have an excused absence will NOT be allowed to retake the test.

Retakes Students can arrange in advance to come before school, afterschool, or after class to make up or retake a test.

J. Band Letter

Band letters will be awarded at the end of the year to those students who acquire the required point total by May 1st from the following areas:

Marching Band (attendance to all required events) 160 District Band audition score: Possible 100 Making District Band: 50 All-state Auditions: Possible 100 Making All-State: 100

Approved private lessons 8 months of school year 100 Winter Percussion/Colorguard 50 Solo, ensemble, or recital (approved) 50 Approved participation in outside ensemble 30 Summer Music Camps 50

Other band camps approved by the directors 50 Jazz Band 30 Section Leader 30 Drum Major 50 Craft Show Help 10 SEVMG Help 10 Concert Crew 10 HBPA Fundraisers (Tervis Tumber, Fruit, and Raffle) 10 HBPA Fundraiser -40 items or beyond for one fundraiser 40 Students must earn a total of 200 points to earn a letter. Students who commit serious offenses are subject to the forfeiting of your letter points. K. Class Materials

a. Instrument i. All instruments must be in good playing condition. ii. Reed players must have more than one working reed. iii. All students must have materials necessary in maintaining

their instrument. iv. Percussionists must have the following: concert snare

sticks, yarn wrapped mallets, hard plastic mallets, medium-hard timpani mallets, triangle beater, and stick bag.

b. Notebook i. Students are required to have all their band materials in a

3 ringed binder with clear plastic sheets.

ii. This notebook should contain all concert music, all exercises, a scale sheet, a fingering chart for your instrument, and any other handouts or information the band directors deem necessary.

iii. Fingering charts and trill charts- http://daviehighbands.weebly.com/fingering-charts.html

iv. Scale Sheets- c. Pencil d. Smartmusic-

i. Smartmusic is an education tool used to help develop musical skills needed to be successful in high school band.

ii. Students are encouraged to utilize Smartmusic at home to help prepare for all tests and auditions.

iii. Students will be permitted to complete assignments at home and submit via smartmusic.

iv. For any questions about Smartmusic, visit smartmusic.com

v. Smartmusic requires a microphone and speakers to utilize all of it’s features.

vi. Smartmusic also has a built in metronome and tuner for the students to use!

L. HBPA & Fundraising

The Hickory High School Band Parent Association is a volunteer organization that helps raise necessary funds and provide volunteer support to run our band program. EVERY STUDENT involved in the Hickory High School Band Program benefits from the funds generated by HBPA. A frequent misconception is that HBPA only helps marching band students. The chart below illustrates just how much HBPA spends on different aspects of the band program.

Activity Amount spent by HBPA per student

Equivalent HBPA fundraising

Concert Band Only $100 5 Fall Fundraiser & 5 boxes fruit or combined

10 items Marching Band $350 15 Fall Fundraiser & 15

boxes fruit or combined 30 items

Fundraising is done 3 times a year. Fall fundraiser and fall fruit sale, spring sale. It is our hope that everyone participates in these fundraisers to help maintain the quality of this band program.

M. Charms Music Office Assistant

How to access parent/student information in

• Log on to www.charmsoffice.com, and click the “ENTER” link at upper right.

• Locate the “PARENT/STUDENT/MEMBERS LOGIN” section of the web page.

• Login to your child’s program account using the following School Code:

________HickoryHSBand______________________ • This will bring up the main parent page. This will allow you to look

at the “public” calendar for your organization, event list, handouts and other files.

• Clicking on an event on the calendar brings up the details for that event, such as times, attendance requirements and equipment/uniform necessities. Clicking on “event list” puts all of the calendar information in a list form for easy printing.

• When you enter your child’s ID NUMBER (Student School ID #) as a Student Area Password, another more detailed screen appears with even more options to view your student’s uniform assignments, music assignments, financial records, forms and inventory. Once you have first entered this ID number, you may create your own, unique password by clicking on the “keyhole” (Change Password) button.

• Two areas in which you can help the director maintain his/her records: o Update Personal Information – if the director has allowed it,

you may help make changes to your child’s student information page (such as updating phone numbers and email addresses if they change) to help the teacher communicate with you more effectively. Click the Personal Info button.

o (COMING SOON) If your program has setup online payments, you can make credit card payments for fees, trips

and deposits to your student’s account. If credit card payment is activated, you will see blue buttons in the four main areas of the financial statement indicating your ability to make online payments.

• You will also see links to enter Practice Logs, view Grades, and use the Recording Studio if the teacher has enabled these options.

• Most importantly, the parent page assists both you and the teacher to communicate with each other. Stay up to date on what’s going on with your student!!!

N. Private Lessons

Private lessons are not required; however the opportunity gives students a chance to work with a professional specifically on their instrument. Students who participate in private lessons can earn up to 100 points towards their letter in band

Private Lesson Instructors

Flute o Lucy Diener –(393-4252) o Ann McCracken –(689-3506) (Ann@AnnsFluteStudio.com)

Clarinet o Norm Schnobrick– (482-6523) o Patti Carlson –(277-9336)

Trumpet o Steve Carlson –(277-9336 (h) 270-4245 (c)) o George Wozniak – (383-2750) o Mike Sheldon –or Brass (777-5481) gmshel25@hotmail.com o Larry Clemmons o Robin Card –(539-6167)

Horn o Becky Peppard – (481-1501) o Marlene Ford – (340-6406)

Low Brass o Mike Hall – LB (683-4072) (jhall@odu.edu) o John Montgomery – LB (816-8724) o Martin Blount – LB (846-6840)

Percussion o Matt Phillips- (362-6899)

2013-2014 HHS Band Calendar of Events

Sept 14 Woodwind Pancake Breakfast and MB Fall Camp

SEPTEMBER

Sept 20 Home Football game (HHS vs. Deep Creek)

Sept 27 Away Football Game (HHS @ Grassfield)

Sept 28 Southeastern Virginia Music Games

OCTOBER

Oct 4 Home Football Game, (HHS vs. Great Bridge)

Oct 5 MB Competition at Grassfield HS

Oct 10 Senior Regional Orchestra- Wind Auditions, Oscar Smith HS

Oct 11 Home Football Game, Homecoming (HHS vs. Indian River)

Oct 12 MB Competition at Virginia Beach Sportsplex

Oct 25 Home Football Game (HHS vs. Nansemond River)

Oct 26 MB Competition at Towson University, BOA

Nov 2 HHS Band Craft Show

NOVEMBER

Nov 7-10: MB Competition in Indianapolis IN, BOA Lucas Oil Stadium

Nov 15 Sr. Regional Orchestra Event, Grassfield HS, Chesapeake, VA

Dec 7 Chesapeake City Christmas Parade

DECEMBER

Dec 14 All District Band Auditions, Grassfield High School

Dec 11 HHS Winter Concert (Concert Band and Wind Ensemble)

Dec 12 HHS Combined Concert (Symphonic Band)

Jan 3-4 Band Camp for Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band

JANUARY

Jan 4-5 Winter Guard Camp

Jan 31-Feb 1 District Band Event at Indian River HS

Feb 1 District Band at Indian River HS

FEBRUARY

Feb 22 All Virginia Band and Orchestra Auditions, JMU

Feb 27 Wind Ensemble Concert

Feb 27- March 1 Band Assessment in Virginia Beach (Location TBD)

March 1 Band Assessment in Virginia Beach (Location TBD)

MARCH

March 5-9 Wind Ensemble at Music For All

April 3-5 All Virginia Band in Blacksburg, VA

APRIL

May 2,3,9& 10 Musical

MAY

May 19 and 20 Spring Concerts (Groups to be announced)

June 3 Band Banquet

JUNE

June 12 Graduation @ 4:00 PM

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM AND INFORMATION HANDOUT TO THE BAND DIRECTORS

As a student and a member of this band, I have read this handbook and understand the membership requirements, particularly in regard to study, practice, rehearsals, and concert attendance.

As a member of this band, I will assume the obligations and responsibilities and do my utmost to accomplish the objectives and follow the principles, rules, and regulations.

______________________________ LEGIBLY print students name

_______________________________ __________ Student’s signature Date

As parents/guardians of this child, we understand the rules and regulations that our child is expected to follow.

________________________________ Legibly print parent/guardian’s name

_________________________________ __________ Parent/Guardian’s signature Date Students and Parents should BOTH mark their calendars to avoid conflicts that could affect the student’s grade!!!

Hickory High School Band Information Form

Student’s name as you would like it to appear in a program (Please Print) Parent or Guardian’s Full Name______________________________________________ Home Telephone Number __________________________________________________ Parent Contact Number (Father) Work_____________________________________ Other_____________________________________ (Mother) Work_____________________________________ Other_____________________________________ (Guardian) Work_____________________________________ Other_____________________________________ Instrument Information Type___________________________________________________________________ Brand Name_____________________________________________________________ Serial Number___________________________________________________________ Mouthpiece Size________________________ Reed Type & Strength___________ Do you take Private Lessons? ___________Yes ____________No IF Yes, Private Teacher’s Name_____________________________________________ Contact Number__________________________________________________________

CHECK OFF LIST Please make sure you have the following: _____Instrument _____Notebook with Sheet protectors _____Pencil (NOT PEN) _____SCALE SHEET _____FINGERING CHART _____TRILL CHART _____PERCUSSION MALLETS _____Information Form _____ Handbook Form ______UPDATED CHARMS ______Smartmusic!