2011-2012
Todd Mahaffey and Barney Blough, directors
September 6, 2011
Dear Band Students and Parents,
I would like to welcome you to the 2011-2012 school year. I am excited to begin the year and am looking forward to an even better year than last year. If you are new to Chinook this year, welcome! And for those of you returning, welcome back!
This handbook is a resource for both parents and students to help with understanding the procedures and policies of the Chinook Middle School Band Program. Some of these policies may be different from past years, so please read this handbook carefully.
Included as the last page of this handbook is the parent information form. This is each student’s first assignment in band. It should be returned (either via email or as a hard copy) to Mr. Mahaffey no later than Friday, September 16. This first assignment is one way of letting me know that each family has received this information and read it.
I am looking forward to this exciting year and we know it will be both a fun and educational experience for all students. Please do not hesitate to contact me via email or phone. Also, check out the band Chinook Band Website which is located at:
www.chinookband.com
Sincerely,
Mr. Mahaffey Mr. Blough
(425) 456-6331
mahaffeyt@bsd405.org bloughb@bsd405.org
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Performance Ensembles
This group is primarily for 6th graders who have completed a year’s worth of band instruction in the 5th grade. Students will develop their individual technique on their instruments while learning to work together within a group. Emphasis is placed on tone quality, music reading skills and teamwork.
This group is made up of 7th and 8th graders who have successfully completed Concert Band. Students will continue to refine tone quality, music reading and teamwork while focusing on more challenging music and honing their performance skills.
This group is mostly 8th graders and is designed to be more of a challenge for the musicians in the group. While the basic concepts studied will be the same as Symphonic Band, the music performed will be more demanding of each individual. This group may also be asked to participate in a few more performances than the other two concert bands. There will also be more emphasis on sight-reading skills and individual performance techniques.
This group will deal with the performance of Jazz music in the Big Band ensemble setting. It is open for participation to students who play the instruments included in a swing band; trumpet, trombone, saxophones (alto, tenor and baritone), piano, bass and drums. Auditions will be held at the beginning of the school year (starting on Monday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 AM) and will be based on attitude, musicianship and attendance. Auditions will take at least a week, with students receiving music and working on it together in class.
There will be two Jazz Bands. Jazz Band 1 will be the auditioned group and will meet every day except Thursday. Jazz Band 2 will start meeting sometime in October or November, with specific dates and times to be announced. In general, students who plan to do Jazz 2 should be available Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:20 AM.
Since these groups are all PERFORMANCE ensembles, attending concerts is an absolutely fundamental part of participating in any of these groups. Please refer to the Concert Calendar in this Handbook to make sure there are no conflicts with the Concert dates.
Grading Policies/Guidelines
There are three categories in the grading system:
Each of these categories will count as 1/3 of a student’s grade. Grades are based on the percentage of points earned throughout the quarter/semester. Students and parents will be kept updated on a regular basis so that they will be able to monitor the student’s progress.
Assignments/Tests will include all written work, playing tests and any other assignments (such as the Parent Information Form at the back of this Handbook). Due dates for written work and assignments will be strictly adhered to – with students who fail to turn in work by the required date receiving partial or no credit. However, Playing Tests may be retaken as many times as a student wishes up until the end of the quarter or semester. Students will be encouraged to visit Mr. Mahaffey in tutorial in order to improve upon their Playing Test grades.
Classroom Participation/Citizenship will include student behavior and attendance. Students will be graded on whether they are meeting classroom expectations every day (see Classroom Expectations page in this Handbook). Basically, every student who shows up to class on time with a good attitude, their instrument, their music and a pencil will receive 100% in this category.
Performances will include attendance at all concerts and performances done by the ensemble that each individual student plays in. Showing up on time, behaving appropriately and having the proper uniform are all components of this grade. While concerts are absolutely mandatory, I do recognize that occasionally things occur that force a student to miss a concert. If these fall into the category of Illness or Family Emergency, then a student would receive an excused absence from a concert.
In addition to these grading categories, there will periodically be opportunities for students to receive Extra Credit. More information will be provided about this later.
Grading Scale
94% - 100% A
90% - 93.9% A-
87% - 89.9% B+
84% - 86.9% B
80% - 83.9 % B-
77% - 79.9% C+
74% - 76.9% C
70% - 73.9 % C-
67% - 69.9% D+
64% - 66.9% D
60% - 63.9 % D-
0% - 59.9% F
Classroom Expectations
Students are expected to:
Some Common Sense Things
These should be known to everyone, but as a reminder:
Practice Expectations
There is no substitute for consistent, careful practice. If you hope to improve, you must practice. Band students should think of practicing as doing their homework for Band class. If you schedule a regular practice time, you will be more likely to get into the habit of practicing every day.
The amount of practice needed for each student to succeed varies for each individual, but you should assume that you need to practice until you get it right several times! Try not to practice mistakes; only perfect practice makes perfect. Use a good chair and music stand, and try to practice in a quiet place where you can think without distractions. You should also try to use a metronome as a tool in your practicing (many of our playing tests will be done with the metronome as well!).
Private Music Instruction
Many Chinook students take private lessons on their instrument with a specialist. While this is not a requirement, lessons are a great opportunity for one-on-one attention from a professional musician. Lessons (along with consistent practice) can greatly improve a student’s rate of progress and is a nice way to supplement/reinforce what is learned in band class. If you are interested in taking private lessons, Mr. Mahaffey can provide you with a list of recommended teachers in the area.
School-Owned Equipment and Music
If you are fortunate enough to have been entrusted with a school-owned instrument, you are responsible for its day-to-day care. There is a district-wide maintenance fee of $50/year (additional $20 for summer) for school-owned wind instruments and $20/year for all percussionists. Please understand that instruments are very expensive to buy and repair. School-owned instruments also need to last for many years in order to be used by many students. Students who fail to properly care for their school-owned instrument will have the privilege of its use revoked. Please treat all instruments and music with respect and with the idea that we need to preserve what we have.
Band Uniforms
The Chinook Middle School Music Department (choir, band and orchestra) has an official uniform for concert performances. Students will be ordering a polo shirt from Chinook that will be worn at each of our concerts. In addition to the Chinook shirt, each student will need to wear black pants/long black skirt and black shoes. You will receive more information about ordering polo shirts in the near future.
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2011-2012 Schedule of Events
Please take note of these dates and plan accordingly. Concert attendance is mandatory for all band students.
Date Event Ensembles
Friday, Oct. 7 Band Night at B.H.S. – 6:15 PM SB, WE
Wednesday, Dec. 7 Band Concert at C.M.S. – 7:30 PM CB, SB, WE
Friday, Dec. 9 Perform for 5th Graders – during day WE
Monday, Jan. 30 University of Washington Band Fest – all day SB
Wednesday, Feb. 29 University of Victoria Band Fest. – all day WE
Thursday, Mar. 15 Band Concert at B.H.S. – 7:30 PM WE
Wednesday, Mar. 21 Band Concert at C.M.S. – 7:00 PM CB, SB
Friday, Mar. 30 District Band Festival – during day WE
Tuesday, May 8 Chamber Music Concert I at C.M.S. – 7:00 PM SB, some CB
Wednesday, May 9 Chamber Music Concert II at C.M.S. – 7:00 PM WE
Saturday, May 12 District Solo/Ensemble Festival – all day (optional)
Wednesday, June 6 Band Concert at C.M.S. – 7:30 PM CB, SB, WE
CB – Concert Band, SB – Symphonic Band, WE – Wind Ensemble
For the Solo/Ensemble Festival, students will receive more information when it becomes available.
Jazz Band members will receive their own calendar, although many of the concerts above will include Jazz Band. Jazz Band also performs at several festivals throughout the year, so there are more performances than the other groups.
Supplies
EVERYONE: Instrument in good working condition, pencil, folding music stand (strongly suggested for home practice), metronome (strongly suggested for home practice), lyre (suggested for 7th and 8th grade students for the B.H.S. marching band night)
FLUTE: cleaning rod and cloth
OBOE: swab, plenty of reeds, film canister for soaking reed before use
BASSOON: swab, plenty of reeds, seat strap, film canister for soaking reed before use
CLARINET: swab/pad saver, cork grease, plenty of reeds, reed guard, opt. neck strap
SAXOPHONE: swab/pad saver, plenty of reeds, reed guard, neck strap
TRUMPET: valve oil, tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brush, cleaning coil
FRENCH HORN: valve oil, tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brush
TROMBONE: tuning slide lubrication (either oil, grease, slide-o-mix), mouthpiece brush
BARITONE: valve oil, tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brush
TUBA: valve oil, tuning slide grease, mouthpiece brush
PERCUSSION: snare drum sticks, hard plastic mallets, yarn mallets, felt timpani mallets (7th/8th Graders), stick bag (optional, but very helpful)
All supplies and method books should be brought to class on a daily basis!
Method Books
CONCERT BAND: Standard of Excellence, Volume 1 (red book)
SYMPHONIC BAND: Standard of Excellence, Volume 2 (blue book)
WIND ENSEMBLE: Foundations for Superior Performance
Bach and Before for Band (don’t buy this yet, we may not need it)
Local music stores –
Kennelly Keys Music in Bellevue Square Mall (425) 455-8282
Mills Music on Bel-Red Road (425) 643-3100
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This year, in order to save paper, I would like to have students complete this first assignment via email. The email should have the student’s name in the subject line and include the following information:
Student Name (in subject line)
Parent Name(s)
Contact Phone Number
Email Address (or addresses) where you prefer to be contacted
Email your information to:
If that is not possible to do, then students can print out this page, fill out the information and turn it in.