Bangor High School 2014-2015 Band Handbook
Dear Bangor High School Band Students and Parents, I am very excited to be starting out the 2014-2015 school year. It is going to be a great year to be a Bangor Cardinal Musician! I m looking forward to working with outstanding students and help increase their musical knowledge. I am also looking forward to my first year having high school band as an independent class from high school choir. This is going to give the high school band twice as much time to be together as a whole band as what we have had in the previous six years of my career at Bangor. I have a challenging and exciting slate of music ready for us to conquer! We will be attending the large group festival (which I believe is in Westby) this coming spring for adjudication and a rating. I have already had a great time with all of my high school musicians through marching band camp in August and our outstanding performances at Bangor Fun Daze and Burns Firefly Fest (jazz band) this summer. I can t wait to take some amazing musical journeys through our rehearsals and concerts and I hope you learn a lot along the way! Here s to another great year of band! Thanks for your continued support and efforts! Let s make this a great year to be in band! Elissa M. Kinstler Director of Bands Bangor Middle/High School 486-5225 ekinstler@bangorsd.net
HIGH SCHOOL BAND HANDBOOK Band Expectations Being in band requires a lot of self-control and discipline. Students are expected to: Always have a pencil Be willing to learn Always have appropriate materials (instrument, music, reeds, etc ) Apply musical knowledge PRACTICE EFFICIENTLY and OFTEN! Students are NOT allowed to: Talk during rehearsals WHINE Make excuses Eat or chew gum in the band room Objectives of the Band Program To teach comprehensive musicianship through performance. To teach music history and music theory. To develop basic musical and performance skills on various wind and percussion instruments. To provide musical needs of the school and community. To provide students a means of self-expression and enjoyment. To foster leadership skills in each student. To develop the feeling of being a responsible member of a group. To educate each student to meet the standards set forth for music education by the state and national levels. Did You Know? Children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all of their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school, and pursue further education. Schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2 percent graduation rate and 93.9 percent attendance rate compared to schools without music education who average 72.9 percent graduation and 84.9 percent attendance. Children who study music tend to have larger vocabularies and more advanced reading skills than their peers who do not participate in music lessons. Sources: Natural News, VH1 Save the Music, Music Ed, NAMM
Marching Band Bangor High School band students are required to be part of the marching band. Being a part of the marching band includes attending three parades and the UW-L Band Day (dates on calendar of events), marching band camp, and taking care of appropriate attire (marching uniform). Students and parents must sign a uniform agreement form that states that the uniform must be dry cleaned before returning the uniform after the last parade senior year or if the student decides to drop band. Students are required to provide black socks and black shoes to be worn with marching uniform. Pep Band Bangor High School band students are required to be a part of the pep band for sporting events. The pep band is a highly demanded entity and it is a fun experience. Dates are on the following calendar of events and students should plan on attending at least one game a week to perform in the pep band. The high school pep band plays for 4 football games, 3 volleyball games, 3 girls basketball games and 3 boys basketball games. Student athletes are still expected to play in the pep band unless they are a part of the varsity team. For example, if the student is on the junior varsity volleyball/basketball team, the student is required to play in the pep band when the student s game is over. Students who play in the varsity sport in which the pep band is playing for will be excused from pep band. Students must report to the band room by 6:00 pm for football games, and 6:45 pm for volleyball and basketball games. If for some reason your son or daughter cannot make it to a pep band performance, Mrs. Kinstler must be informed before the event for the student to be excused from the performance. Emergency situations will be excused. Concert Band Students are required to play in 7 performances during the school year. - Veterans Day Assembly, Tuesday, November 11, TBD - Harvestfest- Friday, November 14 th, 7:00 pm - Winter Concert- Monday, December 15 th, 7:00 pm - High School Pops Concert- Monday, February 9 th, 7:00 pm - Spring Band Concert- Tuesday, May 12 th, 7:30 pm - Graduation- Sunday, May 24 th, 1:30 pm (no seniors) - Memorial Day- Monday, May 25 th, 9:00 am (no seniors) Students must dress in concert attire for Harvestfest and the Holiday Concert. Black bottoms, black socks, black shoes and a white top are appropriate. Women may wear a black skirt if it covers the knees while sitting down. Students may dress in dressy school appropriate clothing for the Spring Concert, Graduation and the Memorial Day Program. Pops Concert Dress code is Pops Concert T-Shirt and nice jeans.
Excused Absences Students are expected to attend all marching band, pep band and concert obligations that is applicable to the student. If an excused absence occurs, the student will need to perform all of his/her concert music for Mrs. Kinstler at their next lesson to make up the missed points from the performance. Excused absences for pep band performances will be allowed without an extra assignment. Unexcused absences will result in zero points for the performance. If there is some sort of extenuating circumstances, please talk to Mrs. Kinstler, she is very flexible! TO BE EARLY IS ON TIME, TO BE ON TIME IS LATE! Lessons Students will have a 15 minute lesson once a week (small group or individual) six lessons a quarter are required and graded Graded on progress, attendance, timeliness, materials present and attitude If a student misses a lesson, the student needs to video record themselves playing their assigned lesson material and email it to Mrs. Kinstler within one week from their missed lesson date. This will be considered a make-up lesson. In the email, please indicate why the lesson was missed. Lessons missed without a valid excuse can receive a score of a 9 out of 10. Due to time constraints, make-up lessons with Mrs. Kinstler will not be scheduled. Mrs. Kinstler s email: ekinstler@bangorsd.net Financial Obligations As with any class that contains co-curricular aspects, there are a few financial obligations. Students must have the materials to be successful in band. Students will be supplied with: a band folder, handouts, music and books a pencil Students must supply their own: cleaning supplies (swaps for woodwinds) reeds and mouthpiece caps (at least 4 reeds that work at all times) valve/slide oil for brass players money for Pops Concert T-Shirt These supplies can be purchased at school for a small fee or at the music stores in La Crosse: Leithold s Music SSE Music 116 S Fourth St. 2609 George St. La Crosse, WI La Crosse, WI (608) 784-7555 or 1(800) 288-9743 (608) 781-2850 or 1(800) 795-2850 www.leitholdmusic.com www.ssemusic.com *Starting in 2014, Mrs. Kinstler will only have emergency reed supplies. Students need to purchase their own reeds and other accessories through the music stores. Can fill out order form and return to Mrs. Kinstler with payment.
Music Backers Every parent of a Bangor music student is automatically a member of the Bangor Music Backers. The Music Backer Mission Statement is as follows: We, as an organization of proud parents with students involved in any of the music programs at Bangor Middle and High Schools, are volunteers that actively support the band and choir by promoting the development of individual and groups talents, providing financial support through fundraising activities, and encouraging a positive social environment. The Bangor Music Backers fundraise by selling school calendars, hosting Harvestfest, selling desserts at the Musical and the High School talent show. The money raised goes towards scholarships, the senior Chanhassen trip, instrument replacement and repair, uniforms, lodging for honors band and choir trips, individual music enrichment programs and group enrichment. The Music Backers are in dire need for participation, so please think about attending a meeting and getting involved for the survival of the organization. It tight economic times this organization can provide your son or daughter things that may not be available elsewhere. Meetings will be posted on the online school calendar, emailed and sent home via handout. School Owned Instruments Bangor High School has a great variety of school owned instruments for students to use. To help offset costs of maintenance and repairs there will be a $10 a year fee for students who are using a school instrument as their primary instrument. Honors Band Students may be selected for area honors bands. These are outstanding opportunities to not only improve the students playing, but students will be able to collaborate with students from area schools and get to work with other directors and professional soloists. The Honors Bands that Bangor High School currently participates in are: Dorian Honors Band, Luther College Western Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Band, West Salem National Band Association Honors Band, Wisconsin Rapids **For 5 extra credit points, write Band rocks my world! on the bottom of the Band agreement form.** Disciplinary Actions If any occasion occurs where any disciplinary action needs to be taken, the director will follow the disciplinary guidelines provided by the school district.
Grading HIGH SCHOOL BAND GRADING POLICY Grading is as follows per quarter: 1. Lessons 30% - Each lesson is worth 10 points - 6 lessons a quarter graded - May include assigned lesson material, playing tests, solo/ensemble music, concert music, scales 2. Public Performances 40% - Parades: 20 points - Pep band: 10 points each - Concerts: 25 points each - Attendance is mandatory - Excused absences must be approved before the performance - Proper attire is expected for each performance 3. Ensemble Skills 20% - 10 points possible a week - Graded on preparedness, participation, attitude, behavior, having materials needed and timeliness 4. Assessments 10% - Various assignments as given throughout the quarter Semester 1 Final: The Semester 1 final consists of a written portion that is taken during the final exam period and a recorded portion that must be video recorded and emailed to Mrs. Kinstler before the final exam period. Each portion is worth 50% of the Semester Exam. Semester 2 Final: Memorial Day Performance If Memorials Day Performance is missed, a written final will be given during the final exam period. Semester Grades = Quarter 1 (45%) + Quarter 2 (45%) + Final Exam (10%) Grades will follow the school wide grade scale.
Academic Letter Bangor Band Academic Letter Points To receive an academic letter in band, students must have 700 points for two consecutive years from the following choices. Summer Lessons (each)....20 Summer School Class (each).5 Marching Band Rehearsals (each). 20 Parade....30 Pep Band...20 Concerts....50 Talent Show..50 Solo at District solo/ensemble...50 Solo at State solo/ensemble.100 Ensemble at District solo/ensemble...25 Ensemble at State solo/ensemble...50 All-State Band Audition....50 All-State Band Member...100 Accompanist for solo/ensemble (each)...20 Honors band participant.50 Extra concerts (Youth Sym, summer bands, etc) 50 Extra performance (church, art show, etc).varies Jazz band rehearsal (each) 5 Jazz band performance...25 Extra Work varies The third consecutive year will receive a two-year letter pin. The fourth consecutive year will receive a three-year letter pin. The points accumulate from June-May every year. **Updated August 25, 2014
Band Agreement Form Student portion: I have read, understand and will comply with all the rules and procedures laid out in the Band Handbook. I believe that I am an important part of the Bangor Band Program and I will do my part to help rehearsals run smoothly. Student Signature Date Student email (if wants duplicates of mass emails sent to parents) Parent portion: I have read, understand and will comply with all the rules and procedures laid out in the Band Handbook. I also believe that along with my child I am an important part of the Bangor Band Program and will support it all year long. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Phone Number Email address * please provide an email address if you have one, it makes for easy correspondence! *Please fill out the back permission slip for ALL BAND TRIPS FOR THE 2013-2014 SCHOOL YEAR* Please sign and return to director by Friday, September 5 th, 2014. This is an assignment worth 10 point.