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  2. Syllabus

Syllabus

Dear UMS Band Parent/Guardian,

 

Welcome to the UMS Advanced Band.  We look forward to working with you this year. In this packet, you will find an overview of our goals and expectations for the year as well as some supplies that your child will need.  

 

Goals and General Information

The United Middle School band program has a long history of excellence. By joining the advanced band you have committed yourself to continuing that pursuit of excellence in musical performance. The goals of the advanced band each year are to attain a high level of musical performance and understanding by its members.  To achieve these goals, advanced band members must be committed to working for excellence. The advanced band expects certain things from its members and offers much in return. To this end, certain basic requirements are expected of the band members. This syllabus will list these requirements. The advanced band will have various performances, contests, practices and field trips through the year, which are listed in the provided band calendar.  Please check the dates in the syllabus to help avoid any conflicts.

 

Again we look forward to working with you and your child and expect this year to be a fun and exciting one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hiram I. Gonzales                                           Jose Lopez

Band Director                                                 Band Director

hgonzales@uisd.net                                        josel@uisd.net

phone 473-7325                                              phone 473-7325

 

COURSE GOALS

  • Improve musical and technical skills through ensemble and sectional rehearsal
  • Develop individual creative and interpretive skills
  • Encourage and develop leadership skills through a collaborative effort
  • Become more proficient sight-readers

 

EXPECTATIONS & OBLIGATIONS

  • Take instrument home every day
  • Practice at home for a minimum of 15-20 minutes each day
  • Be an active participant in rehearsals and performances
  • Prepare for and participate in band competitions
  • Attend all after school sectionals
  • Bring necessary materials to band class every day (Instrument, music binder & pencil)

 

SUPPLY LIST (All Advanced 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.

  • 1 Pack of dividers
  • Binder Pencil Pouch
  • 5 Pencils, 2 Highlighters, (different colors), 2 Red pencils with erasers.

 (For percussion 3 Highlighters all 3 different colors)

  • Music flip folder with 10 to 12 pages
  • Band student WILL NOT be allowed to use PENS of any kind in band class

 

INSTRUMENT MAINTENANCE

  • Each student is responsible for keeping their instrument in good working order
  • Woodwinds will clean (swab out) their instrument every time they play it.
  • Brass players must have valves working before class starts
  • Trombone players must have main slide working before class starts 
  • Students must report any dents, damage or breakage to the director ASAP

 

 

SPRING CONTEST/TRIP

Each year the advanced band will take a spring trip. This year’s tip is tentatively scheduled for the first weekend in May, with a contest performance in the morning and Fiesta Texas in the afternoon. Each band student will have an equal opportunity to participate granted they follow the rules and meet the requirements. Below is a short list of some of the requirements for the trip:

  • Advance Band students must perform at UIL concert contest.
  • Advance Band students attend full Advance Band practice for trip music.
  • Participate in all (2) band fundraisers

 

Please note: the band director may add other requirements for spring trip participation.

 

Remember more information may be forth coming.

 

 

Band Fees and Required Items

Advanced 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

 

 

Blue Band Polo*

$16.00

$20.00 Δ

Smart-music subscription

$8.00

$10.00 Δ

 

Please note:

* If you already have this item you do not need to buy it again.

**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.

 

 

 

 

Flute                                                  

Tuning Rod & Cleaning Cloth

 

Clarinet         

Vandoren  M13 or 5RV lyre

 

Saxophone

Selmer C star alto saxophone mouthpiece

 

Trumpet

1 Bach or Blessing 5B trumpet mouthpiece

 

French Horn

Schilke 30 B French horn mouthpiece                  

Trombone/Baritone

Bach 6 ½ AL Trombone mouthpiece

 Small Shank  & Pouch

                                   

Tuba

Everything is supplied

 

Percussion

  • Vic Firth SD1 General Snare drum sticks
  • Other mallets will be added later
  •  

All band students will need to buy an Instrument case name tag at a music store or online.

(Percussion as well)

 
 
Stick Bag

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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),

TwistedWave Recorder (free)

 

 

Recommended Apps (not MANDATORY)

Tonal Energy or Bandmate Chromatic Tuner (pro) ,

SuperMetronome (pro)

 

FUNDRAISING

Each student will be required to participate in the Advance Band fundraisers to help pay for necessary Advance Band materials and equipment such as music, contest fees, dry-cleanings, etc. 

 

GRADING POLICY

The Advance 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 Advance Band is made up of the following:

 

  • Daily Average 50% (class participation, written assignments, attend after school practice)
  • Test Average 50% (Written exams, playing exams, Performances)

 

Please note: 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.

Pep Rallies

Students that participate in both Advance Band and sports are still required to perform with the Advance Band at pep rallies.  They will be allowed to run in and be presented with their respective athletic teams.  After this is done, they must report back to perform with the band.

 

Morning/After School practice attendance policy

  • All band students must attend all scheduled practices
  • For students who are in other after school originations may miss one band practice per week to participate with that origination if you have two are more band practices that week.
  • If a student misses a practice it must be made up, by coming to a make- up practice on the Friday of the same week(this practice will be with a director starting at 7:05 am – 7:45 am)
  • You can only make up one practice a week.

 

Morning/After School practice attendance grading policy

  • On time is ready to play on are before start time- 100
  • 1-5 minutes late/leave early- 90
  • 6-10 minutes late/leave early - 80
  • 11-15 minutes late/leave early - 70
  • 16 or more minutes late/leave early - 0

 

Football is NOT a class. THERE IS NO CONFLICT.

 

Band and Sports

All students (7th & 8th grade) that participate in both Advance Band and sports will not be required to perform with the band during any of their games the band may be performing at.  Please note that all Advance Band students are required to perform with the band during all pep rallies, as pep rallies are not games.

 

 

 

 

Non-school activities

Non-school activities, appointments and other conflicts must not interfere with a student’s commitment to band, to the other band members, and to the rehearsal and performance schedule that will be given to you at the beginning of each semester

 

 

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.

 

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.  

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/

PERFORMANCE CALENDAR 2019-2020

 

DATE

                        EVENT

Aug 19

Mandatory advanced band parent meeting UMS Band Hall 6:00 pm

Aug 21

After school practice will begins 3:45 – 4:30/ 4:30- 5:15 (Follow SCHEDULE A)

Aug 26

PERFORMANCE – United M.S. vs t.m.s. football game @ Krueger

Aug 28

Fundraiser #1

Sept 5

Middle school night mandatory rehearsal @ AHS marching field

Sept 6

PERFORMANCE – Middle School Night (Alexander Football game) @ SAC  (We will bus all students)

Sept. 23

PERFORMANCE – United M.S. vs w.m.s. football game @ Krueger

Sept 27

All payments due (instrument fee, Band polo & smart-music) online payment closes

Oct 14

PERFORMANCE – United M.S. vs u.s.ms. football game @ Krueger

Oct 21

PERFORMANCE – United M.S. vs l.b.v.m.s. football game @ Krueger

TBA

Goldbeck Panoramic Pictures – on campus - in full uniform

TBA

Goldbeck Pictures sold during lunch in the cafeteria– make check or money order to GOLDBECK CO

Oct 25

Fall Band Party 5:00 – 8:00 pm

Oct 19

Field Trip*- UIL Marching Competition – support Laredo high schools @ LISD Shirley field

Oct 22

After school Region practice begins (Follow SCHEDULE B)

Nov 2

COMPETITION – Solo & Ensemble @ Clark M. S.

Nov 6

Morning practice for Concert ensemble begins  (Follow SCHEDULE B)

Dec 17

PERFORMANCE Winter Concert  6:30 p.m. @ UISD SAC Auditorium

Jan 17

COMPETITION – Jr. High All- Region Audition @ Clark M.S.  UISD

Jan 18

COMPETITION – Jr. High All- Region Audition @ United High School UISD

Jan 27

Begin practice SCHEDULE C

Jan 24-25

Jr. High Region Band Clinic / Concert @ SAC

Feb 20

PEFORMANCE – WBCA Youth Parade (leave from band hall at 4:30 p.m.)

Feb 25

After school practice begins 3:45 – 4:30/ 4:30- 5:15 (Follow SCHEDULE D)

TBA

COMPETITION – U. I. S. D. Concert and Sight-reading UISD SAC Auditorium

TBA

COMPETITION – L. I. S. D. Band Concert Evaluation

April1-2

COMPETITION – U. I. L. Concert and Sight-reading UISD SAC Auditorium

April 25

COMPETITION – San Antonio Full Band

April 28

PERFORMANCE – Spring Concert 6:00 p.m. @ UISD SAC Auditorium

June 2-30

Summer Band - for all 2020-2021 7th and 8th  grade band students

June 10-11,

16-18

Drum Major Camp ( 3:00 – 3:45)

June 24

Drum Major Tryouts (3:15- ???)

 

 

This is a tentative schedule; events may be added or rescheduled at any time.We will follow eligibility laws for all competitions.