PATRIOT BAND

Guidelines
1.  Students in Patriot Band are required to attend two or three rehearsals (alternating) per week as a class during school. The rehearsals are scheduled during the student's Specials period. Rehearsal start the first week of school.

2.  Patriot Band students will receive one lesson every other week in a small group.  These lessons are held in the Band Room during school hours.  Lessons are on a rotating schedule so that students miss a given subject area class once, possibly twice, each quarter. Teachers may request a student remain in class, the student will be given an excused absence in the band grade book.  (Forgetting in NOT an excused absence). Students are required to make up all of the work that was assigned during their class period.  Students may not receive lessons if they are not enrolled in band.

3.  Patriot Band students perform in four to six concerts and two or three parades each year.  A schedule of the performance dates goes home the first day of band.  Please mark the dates on your home calendar.  Please send written notification to school if your child will miss a performance.  Illness and family emergencies are the only excused absences.

4.  Students in Patriot Band are eligible to participate in the Illinois Music Educatorrs Association District 8 Music Festivaland the Illinois Grade School Music Association District 5 Music Contest. The IMEA festival is held in November at Northern Illinois University. Students aare chosen to participate through an audition held in October. The IGSMA contest is held in March at different schools in the district. Individual students may particpate in the solo and ensemble portion ofthe contest.  The entire band usually competes in the organizationalportion of the contest.  Students wishing to participate in the solo/ensemble portion of the contest must sign up with the band director in December.

5.  Patriot Band students are required to practice at home an average of 90 minutes per week.  This is a weekly homework assignment that is graded according to the amount of time completed. Two points of credit will be earned for every 15 minutes of practice turned in (up to 16 points per week).  A parent's signature is required for the assignment to be accepted.  Practice time will be recorded on a weekly lesson assignment sheet on the front cover of the lesson book.

6.  At this level students have already secured aninstrument. A few students may be asked to use school horns to fill insome of the "color" instruments.  The only cost would be for reeds for the woodwind instruments.

7.  Written notification needs to be sent by aparent or guardian to the director if a student will be dropping out of band.  Due to the necessity of changing the student's schedulethis must be done during the first week of a new quarter.

Grading Policy
Rehearsal (attendance, preparation, behavior)                                     30 points
Lessons (variable points depending on performance)                           20 points
Practice Time (5 points per half hour/90 minutes expectedweekly)        12 points
Written or Playing Quizzes                                                           5-30 points
Performances (deductions can be made for tardiness/discipline)          100 points
           TOTAL POINTS divided by POSSIBLE POINTS = PERCENTAGE
                        100+ = A+***
                    99 - 94 = A***
                    93 - 87 = B
                    86 - 75 = C
                    74 - 68 = D
                    67 -   0 = F

***Students may not receive an A for a final grade if they have a zero average for any of the above categories.  The highest grade earned will be B+.  Minimum participation is required in EVERYcategory.

Extra credit projects are posted in the Band Room.

Calendar
   Performance calendars were handed out thefull day of band.  A copy of the calendar may be viewed on the firstpage of the web site.