United

Dear UMS Band Parent/Guardian,

It is my pleasure to welcome you and your child to United Middle School Beginner Band. Although many see the Beginner Band as a class on learning to play an instrument, it is much more than that. It is the development of a family of friends that lasts a lifetime. It is also the establishment of some rather profound environmental influences which will determine much of your child’s success in all aspects of education, not just the Beginner Band. Simply stated music makes your child smarter (search the internet for research on music and higher grades). In this packet, you will find a general idea of our goals and expectations for the year as well as some supplies that your child will need.

Some important notes about beginner band

Does my child need to know anything about music before taking band? NO! Your child DOES NOT need to know anything about Band/Music to take the Band Class. We will teach them what they need to know to enjoy being in band.

Can students participate in band and in sports? YES! YES! YES! We have many students who are involved in both, so don’t let wanting to be in sports stop you from playing an instrument. (FYI - Middle school students may not participate in school sports until the seventh grade.) Once a student is in the seventh and eighth grade, they may participate in band and athletics. FOOTBALL IS NOT A CLASS. THERE IS NOT A CONFLICT OF CLASSES.

Is Beginner band an after-school activity? NO! Students take band during the regular school day. However, there will be no more than three required evening concerts.

For each concert the band will practice two times for one hour each. The total number of after school practices will be no more than six for the entire school year. This practice will be to combine all beginner class periods. This is important because the majority of the students have not performed in a public concert before. The dates and times of these rehearsals and concerts are found in this syllabus.

How about practicing? Yes, most definitely. In order to progress and succeed, students are expected to practice at home. How and what one practices is just as important as how long! The more your child is practicing the better they will be, the more fun they will have, and higher their grade will be.

We look forward to working with you and your child this year.

Respectfully Yours,

Hiram I. Gonzales Jose Lopez

Band Director Band Director

hgonzales@uisd.net josel@ uisd.net

phone 473-7325 phone 473-7325

COURSE GOALS

Choose the instrument that is best for the student
Develop basic musical and technical skills on your chosen instrument
Develop individual creative and interpretive skills
Encourage and develop leadership skills through a collaborative effort
Become proficient sight-readers

EXPECTATIONS & OBLIGATIONS

Take instrument home every day
Practice at home for a minimum of 15-20 minutes each day
Bring necessary materials to band class every day (Instrument, music binder & pencil)
Be an active participant in class
Prepare for and participate in the band concerts

SUPPLY LIST (All band Students)

1 Black 3-ring VIEW binder (1 ½ inch) THIS MUST BE A NEW BINDER

Front of the binder is made of see through plastic so you may put things in the cover.

Binder Pencil Pouch

5 Pencils, 2 Highlighters, (different colors), 2 Red pencils with erasers.

(For percussion 3 Highlighters all 3 different colors)

Band student WILL NOT be allowed to use PENS of any kind in band class

BEGINNER BAND CONCERTS

Beginner band students will have no more than 3 concerts this school year. Students will be required to attend no more than two rehearsals before each performance. These rehearsals are mandatory and necessary for every beginning student as they have never participated in this sort of concert and have never played in a full band before. The dates for these concerts will be forthcoming.

WHAT INSTRUMENT WILL MY CHILD PLAY?

The band directors will help your child select the most appropriate instrument for him/her. This will be based on the band director’s experience, expertise of band instruments, the evaluation of each child, and the student’s band class period.

FUNDRAISING

Each student will be required to participate in the band fundraisers to help pay for necessary band materials and equipment such as music, etc.

GRADING POLICY

The Beginner Band grade is given to give parents an idea of their child’s progress in the class. The grade that each student receives in The Beginner Band is made up of the following:

Daily Average 50% (class participation, written assignments, playing assignments, Concert Practice)
Test Average 50% (Written exams, playing exams, Performances)

Please note: With the exception of after school practices and performances students WILL have the opportunity to redo an assignment (playing/written) to help raise their grade, even if they have passed the assignment. This can be done as many times as there is time for, as long it is done within the same 6 weeks grading period.

Band Fees and Required Items

Beginner Band

	Online price*	Cash/Check
Instrument Maintenance Fee (Only for students that are borrowing Instruments from the school)	$25.00	$35.00 Δ
Required Items
Orange Band Shirt	$6.00	$6.00 Δ
Smart-music subscription	$8.00	$10.00 Δ

*The online payment system will be available starting:

Wednesday August 21, 2019

UISD online payment maybe made at: https://osp.osmsinc.com/unitedisd/

Δ A separate check will be needed for each item you are paying for.

The following items must be purchased at a music store or online:

The band directors will supply a list with specific mouthpieces, method book, and/or equipment depending on what instrument your child will play.

Flute (5^th period) French Horn (4^th period)

Tuning Rod & Cleaning Cloth Mouthpiece & Pouch

Clarinet (4^th period) Trombone (7^th period)

Mouth Piece & Ligature Mouthpiece & Pouch

Saxophone (7^th period) Baritone (7^th period)

Mouth Piece & Ligature Mouthpiece & Pouch

Trumpet (1^st period) Tuba (7^th period)

Mouthpiece & Pouch Everything is supplied

All band students will need to buy an Instrument case name tag at a music store or online. (Percussion as well)

Percussion -List to follow

Smart Music

Students who cannot access Smart Music at home are still required to complete the all Smart Music assignments. Computers are available in the band before and after school to complete these assignments.

Use of cell phone in Band Class

Cell phone will be use in accordance with the U.I.S.D. Student Code of Conduct and Technology Use Guidelines.

Device must be in airplane mode.
Device must use school Wi-Fi.
Any practice or performance before or after school will fall under this policy.
Device must turned off and put away at end of class.
Band field trips are an extension of the school day. Students are not allowed to use cell phones on the way to or from an event.

Required Apps

Smartmusic (free), SuperMetronome (free), Bandmate Chromatic Tuner (free),

Required Apps cont.

TwistedWave Recorder (free)

Recommended Apps (not MANDATORY) Tonal Energy

or Bandmate Chromatic Tuner (pro) ,

SuperMetronome (pro)

Remind

Every band parent and student is required to sign up for their band class remind. Information on how to sign up is on the following page.

Web sites

The UMS band will be using the following web sites throughout the year.

Smart music:

https://admin.smartmusic.com/login

Quia web:

https://www.quia.com/web

UISD Online School Payments (OSP) portal

https://osp.osmsinc.com/unitedisd/

UMS BEGINNER BAND CALENDAR OF EVENTS

2019-2020

DATE	EVENT	SITE	REPORT TIME	START TIME
Aug 21	Mandatory Beginner band parent meeting UMS Band Hall 6:00 pm	UMS		6:00 pm – 6:45 pm
Aug 28	Fundraiser 1	UMS
Sept. 27	All payments due (instrument fee, Band shirt & smart-music) online payment closes	https://osp.osmsinc.com/unitedisd/
TBA	Band Picture (band shirt, khaki pants)	UMS	8:45 a.m.	9:15 a.m.
TBA	Band Picture will be sold during lunch (make checks payable to: GOLDBECK CO)	UMS	During lunch
Dec. 6	Rehearsal	Band Hall	6:40 a.m.	6:45 a.m.- 7:45 a.m.
Dec. 11	Rehearsal	Band Hall	6:40 a.m.	6:45 a.m.- 7:45 a.m.
Dec. 13	Beginner Band Winter Concert (band shirt, khaki pants)	UMS GYM	5:45 pm	6:30 pm
April 22	Rehearsal	Band Hall	6:40 a.m.	6:45 a.m.- 7:45 a.m.
April 27	Rehearsal	Band Hall	6:40 a.m.	6:45 a.m.- 7:45 a.m.
April 28	SPRING CONCERT (band shirt, khaki pants)	UISD-SAC	6:00 p.m.	6:30 p.m.

This is a tentative schedule and is subject to change at any time.

All students work extremely hard for these wonderful performances, please schedule non-school activities, appointments and other conflicts to avoid interference with your child’s commitment to band, to other band members, to the rehearsal and performance schedule above.

ALL PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSALS ARE COUNTED AS TEST GRADES

Students may be allowed to make up work missed due to any EXCUSED absence. Students absent from a performance/ after school practice can make up the test grade with a written/playing exam within 5 school days. Make-up work/rehearsal/test/ performance for an UNEXCUSED absence shall receive a maximum grade of 80.

Late assignments will be penalized 10 points per day up to 3 instructional days. After the 3^rd day, the student will receive a zero. The grade for make-up work after a suspension shall not be penalized.

In the event of a student’s absence during a final exam, the student and/or parent must provide appropriate documentation explaining extenuating circumstances (major illness/catastrophic situations/death in the family, etc) – which must be verified by the campus principal before the student is permitted to take the final exam.

Syllabus