“ABC’s and Do Re Mi’s”

Expectations, Grading Policies and General Information

North Cedar Middle School Band 2009-2010
Trina McPeake,Director

MISSION STATEMENT:
The purpose the NCMS band program is to instill a lifelong appreciation of music.
The NCMS band program encourages the enhancement of life skills by working as a
team to achieve a common goal, by promoting physical and emotional growth, by
participating in positive competition, and by strengthening leadership skills.

STUDENT EXPECTATIONS
Each member should be willing to cooperate with others and improve him/herself through
regular practice. He/she must have a sense of purpose toward a common goal and be
willing to work hard to accomplish that goal. We intend to conduct the band program in a
manner that will encourage all students to achieve individual and group goals. Each
student is the determining factor in the success of the organization. The band will be as
good as the effort YOU put into it.

1. Respect other people and their belongings

2. Be regular in attendance and account for all absences
3. Be responsible for your actions
4. Make a sincere effort to improve and contribute your best
5. Have a proper respect for those in authority
6. Follow band room and rehearsal procedures, school regulations and instructions
7. Have a cooperative attitude toward others in the band program and the subject
material
8. Respect the NCMS Music Department facility and equipment

PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS
A yearly band calendar is enclosed for your use in planning your family schedule for the
2009-2010 school year. Each band student is important to the success of our many
activities. We must be able to count on 100% attendance at these performances. If a family
emergency occurs unexpectedly, PARENTS, please call the Ms. McPeake at
tmcpeake@north-cedar.k12.ia.us or 563-452-3179. Occasionally there may be family
commitments (weddings, graduations, etc.); in which case, I will try to be flexible and work
with you on an individual basis. This must be discussed in detail well in advance. A “Yearly
Band Calendar” will be following this handbook, please mark these important dates on your
calendar and plan to join your musicians at their events!! The success of the group
depends on student attendance and dedication. Any unexcused absence will result in a
grade of "0" for a performance, and a reduction in the final grade. Performances are unique
and only happen once; therefore there can be no make-up work for a grade reduction.
Grading will be significantly affected if a performance of any kind is missed (refer to
Grading for specifics)

REHEARSAL EXPECTATIONS
In band rehearsals, we not only deal with a creative process, but also with a great deal more
students at one time than do other classroom teachers. Because of this, it is imperative that
band students be organized and prepared for every rehearsal. When an individual is not
able to play his musical instrument during a rehearsal, it hurts the GROUP as well as the
individual.
It is important that the student’s musical instrument is in good working condition, that (s)he
has a pencil to mark his music, and that (s)he has important accessories mutes, reeds, and
valve oil for EVERY rehearsal. Electronic devices are not allowed at rehearsal. You will
be warned once, then Ms. McPeake will confiscate it and turn into the office. Your conduct
grade will be lowered.
It is also obvious that the creative process that we are involved in cannot take place unless
there is a quiet, attentive atmosphere in the classroom. Students who do not live up to the
high rehearsal expectations of the North Cedar Band will be counseled, and, if necessary
removed from the band program completely.

CLASSROOM EXPECTATIONS
a. Follow directions the first time they are given.

b. Come to class with all materials. This includes mouthpiece, instrument, music, reeds, and
pencil.

c. Be on time to class. On time means in place, instrument out, and ready to play, 2
minutes after the late bell rings. Students may warm-up at this time.

d. When the teacher/conductor steps onto the podium, all practice will stop. Quiet.

e. When the teacher/conductor is off the podium, between musical selections, practice is
permitted, socializing is not.

f. Be courteous to fellow students and teacher. No yelling, physical contact, or horseplay

(hitting, pushing, etc). In other words, treat people as would like to be treated. If classroom
deters from rehearsal, the student will be removed from class, parents will be notified, and
a reduction in conduct will occur.

g. Use classroom equipment properly. Sit only on the seat of the chair. Do not touch a music
stand unless you are about to use it. Any damage to equipment will be charged to the
student.

h. If you don't play it, don't touch it. Any damage to instruments will be charged to the
student.

i. Raise your hand and be recognized before speaking.

SUPPLY LIST
All students need to have some essentials to keep their instrument in good working order.
Keeping an instrument clean and well-kept daily, will greatly reduce the amount of money
you may have to spend on upkeep in the long run. It’s like changing your oil in your car!!!
You do it, or you have engine failure…. The following is a list of what each instrument should
have on hand…

Flute-Cleaning Rod, Swab

All Saxes/Clarinet-Cleaning kit, two working reeds, reed holder
Oboe/Bassoon-Cleaning kit, one working reed
Percussion-Sticks, tuning key
Cornet/Trumpet/French Horn/Baritone/Tuba-Cleaning kit, including valve oil
Trombone-Cleaning kit, including slide oil or cream, spray bottle with water

Please keep this in mind… For instruments with reeds, we recommend VanDoren
2 1/2. They are a little more expensive, but student’s find them much more
durable and easy to play on. Other brands include Mitchell Lurie (Med) or La Voz
(Med). If you need to buy any other brand, please buy at least a strength of a 3. I
have reeds available for sale in my office. When they are green, shades of brown
or broken, new ones are needed!
GRADING POLICY
Band is a unique course at school. It has curricular requirements, just as any other
academic discipline, but it also has out-of-class requirements. The strength of the band
program is the consolidation of these requirements into one performance based, academic
course of study. The level of commitment from each individual student is the driving force
behind the organization and is reflected in the level of achievement reached by the
individual and the program.

Each student will receive a conduct grade, lesson grade and a performance grade, plus an
additional written work, playing tests or auditions.

CONDUCT GRADE- Each student receives a conduct grade each nine week grading period.
Conduct grades in band class are based on the following criteria:

E (Excellent): (50 Points) Always refrains from talking during rehearsals and when so
instructed; shows respect for directors, staff, student leaders, and fellow band members;
represents the school to highest level during performances or on trips; demonstrates a
positive attitude; refrains from rowdiness; takes proper care of all equipment, whether
school owned or privately owned; assists in the effective operation of productive rehearsals;
follows all rules stated in the Band Handbook; follows all North Cedar Schools rules and
those specified by the administration at North Cedar Middle School.

S (Satisfactory): (30 Points) Usually refrains from talking during rehearsals and when so
instructed; shows respect for directors, staff, student leaders, and fellow band members;
represents the school to highest level during performances or on trips; demonstrates a
positive attitude; refrains from rowdiness; takes proper care of all equipment, whether
school owned or privately owned; assists in the effective operation of productive rehearsals;
follows all rules stated in the Band Handbook; follows all North Cedar Community Schools
rules and those specified by the administration at North Cedar Middle School.

N (Not Satisfactory): (10 Points) Sometimes refrains from talking during rehearsals and
when so instructed; shows respect for directors, staff, student leaders, and fellow band
members; represents the school to highest level during performances or on trips;
demonstrates a positive attitude; refrains from rowdiness; takes proper care of all
equipment, whether school owned or privately owned; assists in the effective operation of
productive rehearsals; follows all rules stated in the Band Handbook; follows all North Cedar
Community Schools rules and those specified by the administration at North Cedar Middle
School.

U (Unsatisfactory): (0 Points) Almost Never or Never refrains from talking during

rehearsals and when so instructed; shows respect for directors, staff, student leaders, and
fellow band members; represents the school to highest level during performances or on
trips; demonstrates a positive attitude; refrains from rowdiness; takes proper care of all
equipment, whether school owned or privately owned; assists in the effective operation of
productive rehearsals; follows all rules stated in the Band Handbook; follows all North Cedar
Community Schools rules and those specified by the administration at North Cedar Middle
School.**Parents will be contacted by the director when a student's conduct grade is at the
N or the U level.

LESSONS-(25 points each) Each student will be required to attend six lessons in a nine
week period unless instructed differently by their teacher. If a student must miss a lesson
due to a class project, illness, etc, those lessons may be made up before the end of the
grading period. Make up lessons must be scheduled by the student. If Ms. McPeake is
unable to attend a lesson, a make-up time will try to be made in advance, or the lesson may
be excused at the discretion of the teacher. There are unavailable conflicts in everyone’s
day, and we will work together to try to be flexible, fair and not interfere with the learning
process.

PERFORMANCES (100 POINTS) are viewed as major tests: a performance is a learning

experience that cannot be duplicated in a rehearsal; the level of concentration required in a
public performance assists each student develop an insight into their own level of
performance; a performance is an important evaluation tool, allowing comparison of a
student’s performance in relation to classroom and rehearsal objectives. If there are any
questions, please contact your director immediately. We know that kids are involved in
many activities and conflicts will arise. Coaches, administration and directors will work to
the best of our ability to work these out; however we can’t solve a problem if we don’t know
about it well enough in advance.

EXTRA-CREDIT-Extra-credit can be earned by attending musical performances outside of

the student’s own performance. For example, a NCMS Band student can attend a NCHS
Band concert, have a program signed by the HS Director, and return the program to NCMS
the next day for extra credit. If the student performs outside school ie church, bring in a
program or a note from a parent stating what they performed and extra credit can also be
received.

CONCERT DRESS
Concert uniform is considered “Sunday-best”. Please see director for a detailed description.
Common sense is absolutely no jeans, no t-shirts, or grubby clothes. ”first way to sound
like a professional is to dress like one!”

ENSEMBLES

Concert Band-Each grade is separated into a concert band. They play traditional band
pieces. This ensemble meets for the majority of the year.

Chair placement in all some of the Concert Bands is on the basis of playing auditions.
Numerous chair placement auditions are held throughout the school year. Students are
placed in chair order only on the basis of “how they perform” the audition music. 6th
Graders will not be in chair placement until second semester.

Challenges are allowed in each section up to a cut-off day (determined by the director)
before public performances. A student may challenge the person directly above him in a
section, 24 hours before the challenge is to take place. The director will announce the music
to be challenged for each band. If the person being challenged plays a different part from
the person doing the challenging, the challenging person must play the higher person’s
part.

Jazz Ensemble-(7th/8TH only) Jazz Band will be an option for some NCMS students this year.
We will typically meet before school, or possibly during RAD. Rehearsals will start in
October and only students in Band will be eligible to be in Jazz Band.

IN CLOSING…

I know that this is quite a lot of information, but much of it is common sense. My hope is
that we can move “Onward and Upward” having fun and making wonderful musical
memories. I would like to know that parents and students have read over this handbook
and understand its contents. Please return the bottom portion of this sheet to the Band
office by September 5, 2008 complete with signatures and any comments or questions you
may have. This is an assignment, graded pass (if you turn it in completed), Fail (if
you don’t).

As always, thank you for your support of these musicians and their program. I look forward
to an outstanding year of music!

Trina McPeake, NCMS Bands

563-452-3179
tmcpeake@north-cedar.k12.ia.us

STOP!!!!!!!!!!! Have you read the following areas????

*Supply List
*Student Expectations
*Grading Policy
*Lesson Requirements

Please indicate that you have read these guidelines and policies and
understand its contents by your signature at the bottom of this page.
These are due in band office by 3:30 PM on September 5.

I will be starting a NCMS website, including a blog (students and

teacher), assignment downloads, calendar updates, and some
video/audio of rehearsals. If you would like to have the site emailed to
you when it is up and running, please indicate below! Any suggestions
as to content are also welcome!

Parent/Guardian Information:

Name: ____________________________________________

Mailing Address: ____________________________________

Daytime phone: ________________ Evening phone: ________________

Cell phone:____________________________ (appropriate time to use this
number)

Parent Email address_____________________________________________

Is email an acceptable communication tool for non-sensitive issues? ___

yes ___ no

Interested in viewing NCMS Band website when available? ____yes

____no

Student Signature Date

Parent(s)/Guardian Signature Date

Questions or Comments?