Beginning Band Information

Guidelines
    1.  First year band students will receive one lesson per week in a small group.  These lessons are held in the RMS Band Room on a rotating schedule.  The lessons will begin at the beginning of October and continue until the second to last week of the school year.  Small group lessons are not offered to students not participating in band.

    2.  Full band rehearsals will be held during homeroom on Tuesdays & Thursdays.

    3.  Students in the first year of study perform in two concerts.  One to be held in December and the other to be held in May.

    4.  Students in the first year of study are required to practice at home a minimum of 10-15 minutes per day.

    5.  First year students usually rent instruments from the music store for a three month trial period. Then continue to rent or purchase instruments for the remainder of theyear.

    6.  Written evaluations of students progress are sent home in December and May.  Students also receive an S or U on their band report cards.

    7.  Written notification needs to be sent by a parent or guardian to the director if a student will bedropping out of band.

Grading Policy
Students will earn points by turning in practice time,playing at lessons, attending rehearsals and performing in concerts. Extra credit can be earned by attending an outside of school concert or musical, and by performing in public.

Lessons = 20 points
Subjective amount according to how well the assignment was performed
Practice Time=12 points (2 points for every 10 minutes)
60 minutes per week is the expected amount
Rehearsals= 30 points
10 points for attendance, 10 points for preparedness, 10 points for good behavior
Concerts =100 points

Students will receive an S or U on their band report card based the the scale below:

    S+ = 90% or higher

    S = 70% - 89%

    U = 69% or lower

2008-2009 Calendar

May                 Fourth grade students are given a listening survey during music class.

September       Instrument try outs. All interested students will be given the opportunity to make sounds on the instruments.

                        Rental night with the music stores present in the RMS old gym.

October           Small group lessons begin at school during the day.

November        Full band rehearsals begin during the Homeroom period.

December        Premier concert in the RMS old gym.  Other school bands also perform.

                        Detailed progress reports go home the week before vacation begins.

May, 2008       SpringConcert in the RMS old gym.  Other school bands also perform.

                         Final progress reports go home with report cards.