WELCOME!

Greetings! This handbook is intended to inform you of the practices, policies and goals of the Ludington Band program. We sincerely hope you find this handbook helpful and refer to it often.

Program Goals:

* Teachers will present curriculum to emphasize music literacy.
* Teachers will plan rehearsals efficiently so that student learning is facilitated.
* Students will work individually to advance their skills (practice)
* Performances will be musically and technically excellent.
* The program will be well represented in district, regional, and state events.
* Student leadership will be integral to program and curricular decisions.
SECTION LEADERS

Parent Support:

Here are some things to consider in helping your child’s musical growth:

* Consistent practice is critical to the success of all musicians.
* Provide a quiet place free of distractions for practice.
* Encourage when you hear improvement.
* Find ways to show your interest in your son/daughter's musical growth.
* Be aware of the band schedule. Although we would like for the students to be 100 percent responsible, the reality is that some teenagers need supervision when it comes to time management. (We publish a schedule at the beginning of the school year.)
* Communicate with the band directors. Good lines of communication ensure
that the program runs well and provides maximum benefit to the students. Comments and ideas from parents and students help us keep the program responsive to the needs of the students. Band office (231) 845-7303 ext. 2040

Student Effort, Teacher Competence and Parent Support=Success in Band!!!!

Overall Goals and Objectives

1) Students will be able to successfully play twelve major keys in order of the circle of fourths.

2) Students will focus on historical and theoretical aspects of music as well as successful performance outcomes.

3) Students will uphold the amount of practice time necessary to learn his/her designated part assignment and become literate musicians.

4) Students will continuously strive to better themselves as musicians and team members within the ensemble.

5) Students will be accountable for their attendance at functions, actions within the band and level of leadership.

Band Objectives: Grade 6

* Demonstrate correct physical playing position for the instrument

* Demonstrate appropriate care of the instrument, including preventative maintenance

* Develop skill in self-tuning, adjusting pitch, blending, and balancing in ensemble playing

* Produce a well-centered tone with extended breath support and embouchure facilities

* Perform attacks and releases with control

* Employ proper fingerings & technique, including basic alternate and trill fingerings

* Pursue frequent and efficient individual practice

* Punctual attendance at all rehearsals, concerts, and group activities

* Achieve sight-reading skills at the appropriate level

* Percussion will perform long roll, flam, flam tap, paradiddle, 5, 9, 17-stroke roll, ruff

* Time signatures 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, and 2/2

* Music Notation: staff, clef, bar line, double bar line, measure, time signature, breath mark, repeat signs, 1st and 2nd ending, key signature, fine, a tempo, ceasura, soli, tutti, D.S. al Fine, D.C. al Fine, DC and DS coda, accidentals, fermata, measure repeat, multiple-measure rests

* Tempo Markings: moderato, allegro, andante, largo, maestoso, ritardando, accelerando.

* Articulation: slurs, accents, staccato, legato, marcato.

* Dynamics: forte, piano, mezzo forte, mezzo piano, crescendo, decrescendo, forte piano.

Band Objectives: Grades 7-8

* Develop correct physical playing position for the instrument

* Exercise appropriate care of the instrument

* Develop a good concept of sound and starts to produce a well-centered tone

* Use proper breath control, embouchure, attack, and release

* Employ proper fingerings & technique, including advancing alternate and trill fingerings

* Extend range with good intonation

* Percussion - long roll, flam, flam tap, paradiddle, flamadiddle, 5-stroke roll, 9-stroke roll, ruff

* Time Signatures: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 2/2, 6/8 and 5/4 in changing meters

* Introduce Form: round, canon, variation, overture, march, suite,

* Percussion: rudimental notation

* Pursue frequent and efficient individual practice

* Demonstrate rhythmic independence

* Punctual attendance at all rehearsals, concerts, and group activities

* Achieves sight-reading skills at the appropriate level

* Rhythmic Notation: whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, dotted half, dotted quarter, syncopation

* Music Notation: staff, clef, bar line, double bar line, measure, time signature, breath mark, repeat signs, 1st and 2nd ending, key signature, fine, a tempo, ceasura, soli, tutti, D.S. al Fine, D.C. al Fine, divisi, alla breve, coda, enharmonic, grand pause, arpeggio, meno, molto, sforzando, trill, 8va, 8vb, grace note, tacet

* Tempo Markings: moderato, allegro, andante, vivo, largo, maestoso, allegretto, ritardando, vivace, adagio, presto, andantino, accelerando, allargando/rallentando, poco a poco, rubato, piu mosso, meno mosso.

* Stylistic Markings: cantabile, maestoso, dolce, expressivo, agitato, alla marcia, animato, con spirito, grandioso, grazioso, sostenuto

* Articulation: slurs, accents, staccato, legato, tenuto, marcato.

* Dynamics: forte, piano, mezzo forte, mezzo piano

* Symbols: accidentals fermata, measure repeat, crescendo, multiple-measure rests
diminuendo

Band Objectives: Grades 9-12

* Exercise appropriate care of the instrument

* Develop a good concept of sound and starts to produce a well-centered tone

* Use proper breath control, embouchure, attack, and release

* Employ proper fingerings & technique, including advanced, alternate, and trill fingerings

* Extend range with good intonation

* Perform twelve major and minor scales from memory, ascending and descending, two octaves, and chromatic
* Percussion - PAS rudiments memorized

* Time Signatures: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 2/2, 3/8 in 1, 6/8, 5/8 in 2+3 or 3+2, 12/8 in 4, 9/8 in 3, 7/8 changing meters, compound, asymmetric, symmetric, hemiola

* Rhythmic Notation: whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth dotted half, dotted quarter, dotted eighth, dotted sixteenth, thirty-second, advanced syncopation

* Musical Terminology: staff, clef, bar line, double bar line, measure, time signature, DC and DS al Coda, breath mark, repeat signs, 1st and 2nd ending, key signature, fine, a tempo, ceasura, soli, tutti, D.S. al Fine, D.C. al Fine, divisi, alla breve, coda, enharmonic, grand pause, arpeggio, meno, molto, piu, sforzando, trill, 8va, double sharp, double flat, grace note, tacet, glissando, subito, morendo, segue, ma non tropo, sans, quasi, attaca, a piacere, senza, mordent, turn, non-traditional notation systems used by some 20th century composers

* Tempo Markings: moderato, allegro, andante, vivo, largo, maestoso, allegretto, allegretto, ritardando, vivace, adagio, presto, andantino, accelerando, allargando/rallentando, poco a poco, rubato, piu mosso, larghetto, grave, vivo

* Stylistic Markings: cantabile, maestoso, dolce, expressivo, agitato, alla marcia, animato, con spirito, grandioso, grazioso, sostenuto, tenuto, appassionato, brillante, pesante, leggerio, tranquillo, furisoso, a piacere, scherzoando, semplice, giocoso, martellato, morendo

* Articulation: slurs, accents, staccato, tenuto, legato, staccato slur, marcato

* Dynamics: forte, piano, mezzo forte, mezzo piano, sforzando, fortissimo and piano

* Symbols: accidentals- sharps, flats and natural signs, fermata, measure repeat, crescendo, diminuendo, multiple-measure rests

* Form: round, variation, overture, march, canon, suite, rondo, fugue, concerto,
fantasia/rhapsody, sonata, toccata, chaconne

* Pursue frequent and efficient individual practice

* Exhibit punctual attendance at rehearsals, concerts, and group activities

* Achieve sight-reading skills at the appropriate level

Classroom Procedure (Work Ethic)

1) No gum in class.

2) Water is allowed in water bottles only. Absolutely no food or drink in the band room.

3) Students who forget their instruments will be marked as a work ethic deduction.

4) Students will not be permitted in Mr. Parker or Mr. Malt’s office without permission. No phone calls will be allowed during class time.

5) Classroom disruption will not be tolerated. See work ethic breakdown.

6) Come to class on time.
If you are going to be late, bring a pass. We expect everyone to be in the room when the bell rings. Three (3) minutes after the bell rings, you need to be seated and ready to begin. A tardy constitutes a -3 work ethic deduction each occurrence.

7) Always come to class prepared. Everyone needs a pencil and their music folder/music book, in addition to your instrument specific requirements.

8) The rehearsal order for the day will be posted. Please prepare by getting your music in order and getting the necessary equipment-mutes, percussion, etc.

9) When conductor is at podium addressing the class, there will be no talking or playing of instruments by students. (See school/classroom discipline policy).

10) Everyone learns at a different pace. Patience, courteousness and respect will be expected towards peers in class. (See school/classroom discipline policy).

11) Class will end before the bell so you can put things away properly. After you put everything away, please take a seat anywhere in the room.

12) Please leave the room in an orderly fashion so that the next group can have a good rehearsal environment.

CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE POLICY

If a student is disruptive (i.e. talking and/or playing at inappropriate times, etc.) in the classroom, forgets materials or does not follow classroom procedure the following will occur:

1) Mark in the grade book, 1 Ethic Points Deduction

2) Mark in the grade book, 3 Ethic Points Deduction

3) Mark In the grade book, 5 Ethic Points Deduction

If problem continues-Teacher Meeting/Parent/Principal

Please remember that the work ethic grade includes bringing material to class for example instruments, pencil, assigned work, and any other assigned materials. We will be checking to make sure that we follow through with bringing these items to class.

An unexcused absence from a required performance is unacceptable. A performance acts as a class project. Remember you are on a team that depends on each other. If an unexcused absence occurs, your performance grade (20% of total weight) will be dropped based on the number of performances, for example, 4 performances-1 unexcused=20% or 20 points off of 100. The student is now at a B- for their performance grade. Excused absences will be allowed to be made up with a student appointment at the director’s discretion.


Materials Needed


1) All percussion players will be required to purchase a stick bag containing a pair of SD-1 Vic Firth concert sticks, a pair of Balter 4B,13B, and 92B keyboard mallets.

2) All brass players will be required to have a cup mute and a straight mute. Again you may buy them through LHS. You will receive a discount.

3) All clarinet and saxophone players will be asked to purchase an upgrade in mouthpieces. (Recommended) We will see that you all be able to order these as soon as school starts.

4) All students will be asked to have their own music to class every day. If you need copies, do not suffer in silence. Not bringing your music will result in a work ethic deduction.

5) Students must bring pencils to class every day. (Work ethic)

6) You will need a notebook/folder. Note: This is not your band folder. This is a separate folder for handouts. You will need a band notebook. Please make sure that the notebook is separate from all other classes.

7) Once you are assigned an instrument do not switch, you will be responsible for the instrument that is checked out.

8) In addition:
Flutes-your own tuning rod
Reeds-at least two (preferably 4) working reeds to rotate on a daily basis.
Brass-your own bottle of valve oil

Ludington Concert Bands - Materials and Instruction

6th Grade Band
Belwin First Division Band Method Book 1
4 major scales (Bb, Eb, Ab, C)
Tuning, Chorale studies
Literature grade level .5 to 1.5
Instrument specific supplemental exercises
2 concerts a year

7th Grade Band

Belwin First Division Band Method Book 2

6 major scales (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, F, C) Major scale digital patterns, Introduce Minor Tuning, Chorale studies
Rhythm (eighths, sixteenths, cut-time, 6/8, syncopation to the 8th note)
Instrument specific supplemental exercises
Literature grade level 2.5
District solo and ensemble festival
2 concerts a year

8th Grade Band

Belwin First Division Band Method Book 3
7 major scales (Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, F, C,) Major and minor digital patterns, Chromatic scales.
Introduce Circle of Fourths with basic digital scale patterns
Tuning, Chorale studies
Rhythm, introduce mixed meter and syncopation to the 16th note
Instrument specific supplemental exercises
Literature grade level 2 to 2.5
District band festival
District solo and ensemble festival
District honors band

High School Band
Belwin First Division Band Method Book 4
All major and minor scales and arpeggios, Chromatic studies
Circle of Fourths memorized, Advanced digital scale patterns
Tuning, Chorale studies
Instrument specific supplemental exercises
Literature grade 3 to 5
District band festival
District solo and ensemble festival, State solo and ensemble festival various honors bands, 6 to 8 performances a year

GRADES

Grades will reflect your time spent in the classroom. Students will have written tests to demonstrate that they understand musical symbols, rhythmic skills, musical terms and performance practices. Students will also have assigned playing and marching tests multiple times per marking period.

Grades are weighted as follows:
Playing Evaluations/Performances-40%
Work Ethic- 40%
Final-20%


GRADING SCALE

Points Letter Grade Numeric Grade
95-100 A 4.0
90-94 A- 3.7
87-89 B+ 3.3
83-86 B 3.0
80-82 B- 2.7
77-79 C+ 2.3
73-76 C 2.0
70-72 C- 1.7
67-69 D+ 1.3
63-66 D 1.0
60-62 D- 0.3
<60 F 0.0