Handbook

Expectations

• Come to class prepared

  • Instrument

  • Music

  • PENCIL

• Be Respectful of each other and materials in the classroom.

  • We all have bad days, please be kind to one another to help make everyone’s day a little easier.

  • Musical instruments are expensive and should be treated with care.  

  • Percussion instruments look fun to play, but if you don’t know how to properly play them, you can cause expensive damage!

• TRY/Effort 

  • Be open minded to learning and trying new things.

  • Put effort into doing your best or it’s a waste of everyone’s time.

  • We are all part of the team and need to put in our best effort to support and improve the team. 

Lessons

• Students are assigned a lesson group. 

• Lesson groups meet once a week, on the same day each week. 

• Lessons rotate through several periods of the day.

• Lessons allow us to focus on specific instrument skills as well as individual goals and learning objectives.  

• Students are expected to communicate with me if they will miss a lesson so we can schedule an agreed upon time before the next lesson. 

Grading 

• Grading is based on the following components:

  • Weekly small group lessons

    • 10 points possible

      • Up to 8 points for performance preparation (counting, tone, articulation, technique, effort, etc. 

      • Up to 2 points for attendance and bringing materials (instrument, music, pencil)

  • Daily Rehearsal Attendance and Participation

  • Written and Performance Evaluations

    • Flipgrids and theory will be assigned in lessons and will be based on what is worked on during the lesson.

Materials

• Instrument in working order

  • If your instrument is not working properly, please see me immediately.  I may be able to help or will advise you to take it to a music repair shop.  PLEASE DO NOT try to fix instruments yourself (this includes parents)

• Lesson Book

  • We will be working out of a lesson book and a supplemental packet this year.  You need to have both for your lessons - we WILL write in the lesson book, have it at every lesson

• Binder

  • You will be given a lot of loose music throughout the year that we will use for part or all of the year.  A binder will help keep it all together.  PLEASE bring your binder to every rehearsal.  

  • You may want to have dividers for “Warm-ups, Band Music, Lessons, and Other”

• PENCIL 

  • You MUST have a pencil for every rehearsal and lesson.  Put one in your instrument case and one in your binder so you are always prepared.  You are expected to write in your music.  Pens are not easily erasable.

Other Instrument Specific Materials: 

• • Flute - Cleaning Rod and Swab

  • Clarinet and Saxophone - At least three reeds (Vandoren or Mitchell Lurie), Cork grease, and Swab

  • Trumpet, Euphonium, Baritone, Tuba - Valve Oil, Slide grease, Cleaning brushes, and Snake

  • Trombone - Slide cream, Cleaning brushes, and Snake

  • Percussion - Snare sticks, Hard rubber mallets, Bell kit, and Practice pad 

It is important to purchase quality materials to ensure success. If there are any questions regarding the above materials or any financial constraints that make it difficult to purchase the above materials, please contact me ASAP. 

Calendar of Events

• Concert Dates - Our concert will be on one of these dates, the specific date will be shared ASAP!

  • November 30, 2022

  • December 1, 2022

  • December 5, 2022

  • December 12, 2022

    • Snow Date: December 19 and 21, 2022

  • SPRING CONCERT DATES WILL BE SHARED ASAP

• Junior High All County (for those who choose to participate)

  • January 27 and 28, 2023

    • Snow Date: February 3 and 4, 2023

• NYSSMA Weekend (for those who choose to participate)

  • April 28 and 29, 2023

Helpful Resources

• Apps that will help with practicing:

  • Soundcorset

  • Bandmate Chromatic Tuner

  • Smart Metronome & Tuner

• Websites for fun:

  • Sightreadingfactory.com

  • Chrome Music Lab

  • 4four.io

  • Youtube play along videos

    • Flutorials

    • Clarified

    • Saxplained

    • Brassified