JohnH.

WoodMiddleSchool
WranglerBandHandbook
20162017

Introduction

Welcometothebeginningofanotherexcitingschoolyear!Inordertohelpyoubetterunderstand
yourinvolvementintheWoodBandprogram,wehavepreparedthishandbooktoacquaintyouwiththe
policiesassociatedwithmembershipinthisorganization.Thesepoliciesaredesignedtocreatea
structurededucationalenvironmentthatencouragesmusical,socialandindividualgrowth.Thisrequires
cooperationanddedicationfromstudents,parents,directorsandotherschoolpersonnel.Allband
membersandtheirparentsarerequestedtoreadthishandbookthoroughlyandmustsignthe
consentandagreementformstoindicateunderstandingoftheexpectationspresented.

Howtocontactus

Mr.Silviasemail:bsilvi@neisd.net
Mr.Chittasemail:achitt@neisd.net
BandHallPhone#:2103566235

BandPlacement

Studentswillearnaplaceinoneofthefollowinggroups:HonorsBand,SymphonicBand,
ConcertBand,orBeginningBand.Itisaprivilege,notaright,tobeintheWoodBandProgram,soin
ordertoparticipateinextracurricularactivities,ALLbandmembersmustmaintainpassinggradesin
ALLclasses.Nostudenthasbeenplacedinabandclassthatwedonotbelievecanfulfillallofthe
requiredexpectations,soitiseachstudentsresponsibilitytomaintainmembershipintheWoodBand.

Placementinoneoftheadvancedbands(Honors,Symphonic,orConcert)isdeterminedby
auditionswhichtakeplaceinMayfortheupcomingyear.Theauditionisdividedintothefollowing
areas:
Scales
Preparedmusic
Conduct

ThedifferentbandsatWoodMiddleSchoolare:
HonorsBand,SymphonicBand,ConcertBandandBeginningBand

Attitude/Conduct

BeingamemberofaWMSperformingensembleisaprivilege.Youarerepresentingyour
organization,yourschoolandyourcommunity.Therefore,yourconductisexpectedtobeexemplary.The
NorthEastISDStudentParentHandbookstates:Participationinextracurricularactivitiesrepresentsa
positionofrecognitionandoftenbestowsthepositionofrolemodeluponthestudentparticipants.For
thatreason,highstandardsofbehaviorareexpectedfromstudentsparticipatinginextracurricular
activities.

Properrehearsalandperformancebehaviorwillbeexpectedatalltimes.Yourattitudewill
affectyourperformanceaswellasthatoftheentiregroup.Allstudentsareexpectedtocometoclass
eachdaypreparedtolearnandtoallowotherstolearn.Allstudentsareexpectedtobeontaskatalltimes
inclassaswellasduringanybandsponsoredactivity.Anyinfractionwillbehandledonanindividual
basisandmayincludeparentcontactand/oradministrativereferral.Thedisciplineconsequencesareas
follows:

Step1Clarificationofexpectations

Step2Teacher/Studentconference

Step3Teacherassignedconsequence

Step4CounselorReferral

Step5OfficeReferral

Grades

Gradesareearnedbythefollowing:dailyparticipation,playingtestsinclassorsectionals,
sectionalattendance,concertattendance,andotherassignmentsatthedirectorsdiscretion.Aweekly
gradeisenteredforeachindividualbasedonattitude,havingaworkinginstrument,havingproper
materialsforclasssuchasreeds,mouthpiece,valveoilandmusic.Studentsmayretakeplayingtestsas
manytimesastheywishwithinthecurrent9weeksgradingperioduntiltheyreceivethegradethat
theydesire(Ifthetestisforchairplacements,aretestwillnotaffecttheirchair).Appointments
needtobescheduledforretestingandthosewilloccurbeforeorafterschoolatthedirectors
convenience.Gradesareweightedwiththefollowingpercentages:

Sectionals25%

Participation25%

Concerts25%
Tests25%

SectionRehearsals/ExtraRehearsals

Sectionalsand/orextrarehearsalsmaybescheduledthroughouttheschoolyearinthemorning
beforeschoolorafterschool.Theserehearsals,ifscheduled,aremandatoryandcountaspartofthe
studentsgrade.Wewillmakeeveryreasonableattempttoavoidconflictswithotherscheduledschool
activities.Ifastudenthastomissasectionalontheirassignedday,he/sheisexpectedtobringawritten
excusefromtheirparentandarrangeamakeuptimewiththedirectoronthematerialtheymissed.Any
studentwhodoesnotfollowthispolicywillreceiveazeroforthatgrade.Theonlyexcusesformissinga
sectionalareillnessoradoctorsappointment,butpleasetrytoscheduledoctorappointmentsonother
days.Asectionalschedulewillbeissuedseparatelyfromthishandbook.
PlayingandWrittenExams

Bothplayingandwrittenexamsareadministeredthroughoutthegradingperiod.Notificationof
examswillbemadetostudentsinadvancehowever,popquizzesmaybegivenatthediscretionofthe
banddirector.

Performances

InordertosharethegiftofmusicwithothersandtomeettheTexasEducationAgencysessential
elementrequirements,publicperformancesarescheduledthroughouttheyear.Apreliminarycalendarof
eventswhichincludessuchperformancesislocatedinthebackofthishandbook.Attendanceat
performancesismandatory.Anystudentnotfollowingthispolicywillreceiveazeroforthatgrade.

Attendance
BecausetheWoodBandfunctionsasateamandcountsoneachmember,eachmembersprompt
attendanceatallbandfunctionsiscrucialtothesuccessoftheband.Attendanceatschool,section
rehearsalsandperformancesareacriticalportionofeachstudentsbandgrade.Wewillnotaskstudents
toarriveatarehearsalorperformanceanyearlierthanisnecessary.Inlightofthis,pleasebeontime!
Tardinesswillbenegativelyreflectedinthestudentsgrade.Anabsencefromarehearsalorperformance
canbeexcusedinadvanceatthediscretionofthebanddirector.Excusedabsencesaredefinedas:
1. Personalillness
2. Deathinthefamily
3. Specialcircumstancesapprovedbythedirectorinadvance.
Anexcusedabsencerequiresthatawrittennotefromthestudentsparentorguardianbesubmittedin
advancestatingthereasonfortherequest.Ifanoteisnotreceivedinadvance,itwillnotbeexcused.

Intheeventofafamilyemergencyormedicalcrisis,notificationmustbegivenatthe
earliestpossibletimestatingthereasonforyouremergencyabsence.Thenumberforthebandhall
is3566235.Inaddition,anoteexplainingthecrisismustbegiventothedirectorswithintwodaysofthe
studentsreturntoschool.Nonschoolsponsoredactivities(intramuralsports,littleleague,community
meetings,shopping,transportationproblems,etc.)willnotbeconsideredanexcuseforanabsence.
Religiousconflictsmaybeexcusedaslongasnotificationismadeinadvance.Note:Theabsenceatany
timeofamemberofourperformingteamaffectsnotonlythatstudentsdevelopment,butalsothe
successoftheteamasawhole.Everymembermakesanimportantcontributiontowardthesuccess
ofthegroup.Pleasedonottakethiscommitmentlightly.

DailyRehearsalGuidelines
Thefollowingproceduresexisttoensurethateachrehearsalisasuccessfulventurefortheindividual
studentaswellasfortheperformingensemble.Abasicpremiseoftheserulesisthatthedirectorsrequire
onlyonethingofourmusicstudentsworktoyourpotentialeachandeveryday!Followingthese
guidelinescanhelpeachstudentachievehis/hermusicalpotential:

Beontimeforclass.Cometotherehearsalhall,prepareyourinstrumentandbeinyourseat
readytogowhenthetardybellrings.Youwillbeconsideredtardyifyouarenotintheclassroom
whenthetardybellrings,oryouarenotinyourseatwithmusic,instrumentandnecessary
equipmentwhenthe1:30minutetimergoesoffinthebandhall.
Absolutelynogum,foodordrinkswillbeallowedinthebandhall.
Duringclass,textbooks,casesandotherunnecessaryitemsmustbeleftinyourbandlocker.

Keepyourinstrumentinyourhandsorinthecase.DONOTleaveitonachairunattended,ona
stand,oronthefloorunlessinstructedtodoso.Respectthepropertyofothersbykeepingyour
handstoyourself.
Youmusthaveallofyourequipment,musicandapencileveryday.
Studentswillonlyplayontheirinstrumentswheninstructed.
StudentswillplayonlyonTHEIRowninstrument(thisincludespercussionequipment)
Raiseyourhandandwaitforpermissiontomoveabouttheroom,ortoask/answeraquestion.
Ifyourinstrumentisbeingrepaired,awrittennotefromaparentorguardianisrequiredstating
whereitisbeingrepairedandwhenitwillbereturned.
Attheendofclass,allmusicandequipmentistobereturnedtoitsproperstoragearea.Putmusic
backinfoldersandcloseandlockcasesinsidelockerstoensuretheinstrumentssafety.
Studentsshouldkeeptheirinstrumentlockerlockedatalltimes,evenwhenemptyandduring
class.
Respectallschoolproperty.Treatfurnitureandequipmentinarespectfulmanner.
Absolutelynorunningorthrowingofobjectsinthebandhall.
Yoursuccessonyourinstrumentincreaseswithpractice,somaketimetopracticeoutsideof
school.Youcantakeyourinstrumenthomeorpracticeinthebandhallbeforeorafterschool.
Musicstandsareformusic!Theyarenottobeleanedonorabusedinanyway.
Asageneralrule,useyourcommonsense,respectyourselfandothers,andmaintaina
positiveattitude.

BandEquipment

StudentInstruments
Yourinstrumentisextremelyvaluableandpropercaremustbetakentomaintainitsvalue.Ifyour
instrumentneedsanykindofrepair,takeittoyourdirectorfirst.Theymaybeabletotakecareofthe
problem.Ifnot,theywilldirectyoutotakeittoamusicstore.NEVERtrytorepairtheinstrument
yourself.Allinstrumentcasesmusthavealuggagetagwithyournameonit.Itisalsoagoodideatohave
yournamesomewhereinsidethecaseaswell.Percussionistsneedtomarkallpersonalsticksandmallets.
Insuranceisstronglyrecommended(seebelow).

SchoolOwnedInstruments
Theschoolprovidessomeofthelarger,moreexpensiveinstruments.Studentsareresponsibleforthecare
anddailymaintenanceoftheseinstrumentsandareexpectedtokeeptheminexcellentplayingcondition.
Schoolinstrumentsareissuedingoodworkingcondition.Oncethestudenthastheinstrument,itishis/her
responsibilitytokeepitandreturnitinthesameorbetterconditionattheendoftheschoolyear.This
includestheconditionofthecase.Studentsmustfilloutanagreementform,haveitsignedbyaparent
andreturnittoadirector.Besuretomakeawrittenrecordathomeofthemake,modelandserial
numberofyourinstrument.Thisinformationisnecessaryifsomethingshouldhappentoyour
instrument.

TherewillbeanNEISDmaintenancefeeof$30.00ayearforallstudentsusingaschool
instrument.PleasemakecheckspayabletoWoodMSBand(pleasemakethisaseparatecheckfrom
thebandfeecheck).Thisfeeisperstudent,notperinstrument.Thesefundswillbeplacedinthe
districtinstrumentrepairbudgetforWoodMSandbeusedtohelpoffsetrepairexpensesincurredby
normalwearandtear.Itisnotdesignedtocovercostsfromdamage(i.e.dents,broken

parts)orlossofinstrumentduetotheft/misplacements,etc.Thistypeofrepairis
theresponsibilityofthestudentwhoisusingtheinstrument.

Ifatallpossible,studentsplayinglargeinstrumentswillbeissuedoneinstrumentforhomeuse
andoneforschooluse.Insuranceisstronglyrecommended(seebelow).

Insurance
Youarestronglyencouragedtoinsurepersonalandschoolinstruments.Thedistrictdoesnotcarry
insuranceonschoolownedinstruments.Somehomeownerpoliciescoverbandinstrumentsevenifthey
areschoolowned.Itishighlyrecommendedthateachstudentpurchaseinsuranceforthe
instrument,personalorschoolowned.

InstrumentLockers
Eachstudentwillbeassignedalockeroraslotinwhichtokeeptheirinstrumentin.Acombinationlock
willbeprovidedforallthelockers.Thislockistobelockedatalltimes.Lockersmustbekeptcleanatall
times(notrash,food,etc.)Ifastudentlosesthelocka$5.00replacementfeewillbechargedtothat
student.Studentsnotassignedaslotwillkeeptheirinstrumentsinourlockedensembleroom.

Uniforms
Theuniformforeachperformingensemblewillbeasfollows:

BeginningBand
AllbeginningBandmembersarerequiredtopurchasea20162017WoodMusicDepartmentPolo.A
20162017WoodMusicDepartmentPoloandkhakipantswillserveasthebandsuniform.You
willlisttheshirtsizewhencompletingthebandhandbookforms.PleasemakecheckspayabletoWood
MSBandforanyextrashirtorders.

Honors&SymphonicBand
Boyswillwear:
Schoolprovides:

TieandVest
Studentprovides:
Blackdressslacks(NoJeans)
Whitelongsleevedressshirtwithcollar
SolidBlackShoes(NoTennisShoes)
BlackDressSocks
Girlswillwear:
Schoolprovides:
Blouse
Studentprovides:
Blackdressslacks
SolidBlackdressshoes

Allbandmembersarerequiredtopurchasea20162017WoodMusicDepartmentPolo.Thisalongwith
khakipantswillserveasthebandscasualuniform.Itwillbewornatelementaryschoolconcerts,
functionsheldinconjunctionwithMadisonHSandotherevents.

SoloandEnsemble
Thiscontestisopentoallbandstudentsingradessixthrougheight,Allbandmembersarerequiredto
performasoloandtheyhavetheoptiontoparticipateinanensembleaswell.HonorsandSymphonic
bandstudentsarerequiredtoparticipateinthecompetition.ConcertBandandBeginningbandstudents
willhavetheoptiontoparticipateinthecompetitionorperformduringclassfortheirgrade.

Eligibility
HouseBill72andSenateBill1statethatinorderforastudenttoparticipateinanextracurricularevent,
he/shemustpasseachandeveryclassattemptedintheprecedingnineweeksgradingperiodwithagrade
of70orhigher.CommonlyreferredtoastheNoPass,NoPlayrule,thismeansthatifastudentfails
evenoneclassinagradingperiod,thatstudentwillnotbeallowedtoparticipateinanyextracurricular
eventheldinthefollowingthreeweeks.Astudentcanregainhis/hereligibilitybypassingallclasses
attemptedattheendofthatthreeweekperiod.Thislegislationdoesnotaffectcocurricularactivities
however.Sincetherearemanyopportunitiesforstudentstoparticipateinbothextracurricularand
cocurricularevents,maintainingacademiceligibilityshouldbeahighpriorityforallmusicstudents.

BandFee
Thiswillcoverthecostsweneedtoprovideyourchildwithagreatbandexperience.Itwillallowusto
bringinclinicians,buymethodbooks/music,buyingsupplies,etc.Thisdoesnotincludethe$30.00
schoolinstrumentmaintenancefee(Pleasepayseparatelyasthisgoesintoaseparateaccount).The
feesareasfollows:

HonorsBand$53
Symphonic/Concert/BeginningBand$32

CHARMS
CHARMSisaninternetbasedofficeassistantprogramthatwewillbeusingasourprimarysourceof
communication.Thisallowsformassemails/textmessagestobesent.Eachofyouwillbeabletologinto
CHARMStoview/edityourchildsinformationandviewourcalendar.Itisveryimportantthatparents
logintoedit/inputstudentinformationasthisishowwewillcommunicate.

ParentNote

Therearemanywayswhichyoucangiveyourassistance.Asyoucanimaginethisisa
monumentaljobfortwopeople,andwecanalwaysuseyourhelp.Ifyouareinterested,filloutthe
volunteerpageandreturnitassoonaspossible.TheWoodBandParentOrganizationisasupportgroup
tohelpourstudentsinmanyways.Welovetoseeparentsexcitedaboutwhattheirchildisdoinginband.
Gettinginvolvedisagreatwaytomeetotherfamilies.Rememberthatyouwillfollowyourchildallthe
waythroughhighschool.

Lastly,wehopethatyouwillcomeandhearyourchildwhenweperform,whetheritisaconcert
oracommunityevent.Theyareproudofwhattheydoandtheywantyoutoshareintheirsuccess.
Whethertheytellyouornot,itisimportanttothemthatyouarethere.Forthoseofyouwhoarenew
toourorganization,wewouldliketowelcomeyouandforthosereturningwelcomeback.ITIS
GOINGTOBEAGREATYEAR!

PracticeGuidelinesforStudents

ItsHOWyoupracticethatcounts!
Incorrecthabitsaresometimesmoreeasilydevelopedthancorrecthabits,andahabitishardtochange,so
THINKwhenyoupractice.Avoidsimplygoingthroughthemotions!Remember,theplayingofyour
instrumentcomesthroughdevelopmentofcoordination,justlikeanyathlete.Patienceisavirtueforthe
ambitiousplayer.

1.Warmupcorrectly.Eachinstrumentshouldhaveaseparatewarmupforhomepracticethat
differsfromthebandwarmup.Useamirrorandconcentrateontonequalityandembouchureduring
thelongtonewarmups.

2.Setagoalforthepracticesession.Donttrytodotoomuchinonesitting.

3.Isolateaproblemorasectioninapieceofmusic.Itmaybearhythm,ameasure,oralineof
music.Repeatitoverandovermanytimescorrectlyjustlikeshootingbasketsinthebasketballgoal.
Practiceitslowlyatfirst,andthengraduallybuildupthespeedusingametronome.Beforeyoufinish
thepracticesession,playthedifficultmeasureswiththerestofthelineorexercise.

4.Correctrepetitionsreinforcemuscleandmentalmemory.

5.Indifficulttechnicalpassages,changetherhythmsandarticulationsinthepracticesession
todevelopeven,accurate,andfluidtechnique.

6.Practiceinvolveslearningandreinforcingareasthataredifficultforthestudent.Practice,
therefore,isnotalwaysfunbecauseyoumustplaymusicthatyouhavenotyetmastered.Trytoendeach
practicesessionwithsomethingthatisfuntoplayandthathasalreadybeenmastered!

7.Structureyourpracticesessiontogetthemostbenefitoutofyourtime.