Name: ______________________________
Band
Handbook
~A
Complete Digest of Band Policies and Regulations for
Nimitz
Middle School Band Members and Parents~
Nimitz Middle School
5426 Blanco Rd.
San Antonio, TX 78216
(210) 442-0450
North East I.S.D.
Ann Garcia, Michael Casas (Directors)
Thalia Chaney, Principal
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Table of
Contents
PREFACE
I. THE NIMITZ BAND
II. A STATEMENT OF BAND POLICY
III. THE BAND CALENDAR
A. Excused Absences
B. Sectional Rehearsals
IV. PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
A. Solo & Ensemble Contest
B. Region Honor Band
C. UIL Concert & Sight Reading Contest
D. Concerts and Public Performances
E. Concert Behavior and Etiquette
F. Student Code of Conduct
G. Behavior Expectation Character Development
H. Seahawk Standards
I. Seahawk Step Process
V. STUDENT ELIGIBILITY
VI. UNIFORMS
VII. BAND EQUIMPMENT
VIII. MUSIC & FOLDERS
XI. CARE OF EQUIPMENT
A. Individual Instruments
B. Woodwinds
C. Brass
D. Percussion
E. Instrument Insurance
X. PRACTICE
A. Taking Home Instruments
B. How to Practice Daily and at Home
XI.
PRIVATE LESSONS
XII. GRADING
A. Participation
B. Playing Tests
C. Performance Attendance
D. Daily Practice
XIII. HOW PARENTS CAN HELP
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 PREFACE
This band manual
has been written for the Nimitz Middle School Band members
and their parents with
the hope of giving information regarding the various phases
and activities of the
instrumental band program.
All band members
and parents are urged to read the entire manual carefully at the
beginning of each
school year to avoid conflicts with the policies and rules
herein
stated.
I. THE NIMITZ
MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND PROGRAM
The Nimitz
Middle School band program consists of 2 types of groups:
beginning band and concert groups.
Beginners are classified as those students who have not
previously played in band or have had limited band experience.
All students in performing groups have had the equivalent of at
least one year of beginning instruction. The advanced
performing bands are the Symphonic band, Concert Band, and Jazz
Band (8th grade only).
All band members can expect to
participate in many concerts, district contests, Solo & Ensemble
contests and District Honor Band auditions throughout the year.
II. A STATEMENT OF
BAND POLICY
In order to help band members and
their parents understand their areas of responsibility, a
statement of band policies is herein set forth. Becoming
familiar with these policies will help each band member make the
most of his fine opportunity to become a better person through
his associations with music.
We firmly believe that the student
should improve through daily progress. We are firmly convinced
that the happiest child is the one that is improving through
regular habits of practice and daily progress. It is important
that a child know right from wrong, but a child must also be
able to stand up for his principles. A child must develop a
high sense of purpose toward which he is willing to work.
We intend to conduct the
instrumental band program in a manner that will encourage all
students to achieve these goals.
The Band Member’s Responsibility to
the Instrumental Band Program
1.
Be regular in attendance and account for all absences.
2.
Make a real effort to learn and improve daily.
3.
Become responsible and expect to assume the consequences of your
actions.
4.
Be personally clean, neat, and dress appropriately.
5.
Have the proper respect for those in authority.
6.
Be honest and fair with others concerning equipment, music, and
school
life in general.
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7.
Cooperate with other fellow band members; share with them the
responsibilities and privileges that are a part of the band
program.
8.
Contribute positively to your education and that of others by
the best use
of your talents.
9.
Read and play music with insight and expression.
10. Improve
your knowledge and understanding of music theory, harmony,
and history as
well as develop good listening habits.
III. BAND CALENDAR
The band calendar is set in the fall
each year. A copy of the entire year’s appearances will be
given to all band students. A copy of each month’s sectionals
and appearances will be given to students and posted on the band
bulletin boards. Attendance is required at all rehearsals and
appearances unless a written excuse is submitted to the
directors. Students should correlate band with school and
outside activities! Most band appearances are listed on
the calendar, but occasionally special performances may be
necessary during the school year. Any band member can, by
careful planning, arrange his schedule and necessary outside
activities so as not to be affected in the least by band
participation. Few exceptions are made in the policy of
requiring members to make all sectionals and appearances.
A. Excused Absences:
Excused absences
from public appearances will be granted in cases of
genuine emergency only i.e. serious illness or death in the
family. Please call if such an emergency arises. Jobs,
family trips, etc. do not justify excused absences.
Any student who is late to a performance will not
be allowed to participate.
B. Sectional
Rehearsals:
The attendance of
students at sectional rehearsals is of the utmost importance.
During sectional rehearsals, students are able to work one on
one with the directors. This is extremely useful because we are
able to work on specific problems, as well as evaluate each
student musically. Sectionals will be held before and after
school. Each student will attend at least 1-2 per week
at various times through out the year. All efforts have
been made to work around scheduled conflicts such as athletics,
and other school functions. The directors are aware that there
will be some conflicts with athletic events that just cannot be
avoided. It is the student’s responsibility to inform the
director of any conflicts well in advance. If a
student misses a scheduled sectional on a test day, it is
the student’s responsibility to make up the test within ONE
day, or a ZERO will be given.
Excused absences from
sectionals will be granted only if a note from the parent is
received prior to the absence. In the case of an unforeseen
absence, a note must be presented to the director upon the
student’s return to class. Please try to make every effort to
avoid doctor’s appointments, etc. on sectional days.
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Beginning Band
Beginning band students will not
have sectionals at the beginning of the year. They will have
sectionals in the months of December, April, and May. A
schedule of times will be sent out. In addition they will have
2 full band rehearsals before each concert or performance. A
notice will be sent out 2-3 weeks before each concert.
IV. PUBLIC
PERFORMANCES
An unexcused absence from any public
performance is very serious and will be dealt with on an
individual basis. No person may remain in the performing band
unless they are faithful in attendance. The North East ISD
manual of instructions states: “While performance is not
the only consideration for a final grade, it is a
legitimate part of a
total grade. If a performance is the culminating activity
based on the Essential
Elements in lesson plans, a grade may be given for
participation or non-
participation as the case may be. Extenuating
circumstances should be considered for missed
performances.”
A. Solo & Ensemble
Contest
The North East
Independent School District sponsors a Middle School Solo &
Ensemble contest in the spring for advanced and beginning
students. The contest is open to all band students, 6th
- 8th grade. It is the hope of the Nimitz band
directors that all band students will take part in this
contest. This contest is one of the most important for out
students because it helps to build the musicianship, confidence,
and self-esteem of all who participate at a very early stage.
All students in the Beginning, Symphonic and Concert bands are
required to participate in at least 1 event. There is a small
entry fee of $6.00 for each event that they are participating
in.
B. Region Honor Band
North East ISD sponsors
a fantastic program to honor and recognize the most outstanding
middle school band students from throughout the district.
Members of the Honor Band are selected based on a playing
audition of scales, prepared music, and sight-reading. Those
students selected for this band will be involved in an
informative and exciting music clinic and concert. The Region
Honor Band is performed under the leadership of a well-known
conductor. The band is an extremely high honor for students,
parents, and directors. It is our hope that the band students
of Nimitz will set the making the band as one of their top goals
this year.
C. UIL Concert and
Sight Reading Contest
The UIL Concert and
Sight Reading Contest is one of the most important and
prestigious contests of the year. This is a contest in which
all bands perform a concert from a prescribed music list. This
concert is performed before a panel of talented music judges.
All eligible members in the Symphonic and Concert bands will be
expected to participate in the extra rehearsals needed for this
contest. Every member is an integral part of this
organization. 100% attendance at rehearsals is required in
order to perform this music at the level required.
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D. Concerts and Public
Performance
Concerts and public
performances are a major objective of any band program. There
will be several concerts and performances this year that will be
held on campus. Examples include: Holiday Concert, Spaghetti
Dinner & Fund raiser, Award Concert & Ceremony, 8th
Grade Celebration, etc. Please refer to your band calendar for
an exact list of dates for these scheduled events.
E. Concert Behavior
and Etiquette
There is a
standard type of behavior that must be observed when
seated in a live musical performance. It is our responsibility
as director to teach our children how they should behave
when at a performance or live venue. While in the audience, it
is important to remain seated upright until the end of
the performance. There should be no one walking around
the concert room. This is extremely distracting to the
performers and other members of the audience who are listening.
While a particular group is performing, There should be
absolutely NO TALKING at all! Please remember that there
are other people who are trying to enjoy the concert. If you
must talk, wait until the selection is over and exit the
performance. At the end of each musical selection, it is
customary to applaud (clap). DO NOT shout or whistle.
Our goal is to expose our
students to as many musical performing groups as
possible. We encourage all of our students to attend as many
symphony concerts as well as college concerts. Extra credit
will be given if a student attends an outside concert.
If there is a problem with a student
at a concert, the person in question will not perform at the
next concert. All students should do their best to remain for
the entire concert. It is our belief that every student
deserves an opportunity to be listened to.
F. Student Code of
Conduct 
“Any student who
elects to accept the privilege of participating in
extracurricular activities must recognize that he/she is a
representative of the school and district and will be held to a
higher standard of conduct than that applied to other students.
This applies to both school-related and non-school related
activities on or off the school campus.”
Mark Scheffler NEISD Associate
Superintendent
Any Middle school band
student in violation of any of the following violations listed
below will be dealt with in accordance to NEISD policy.
Furthermore, band class placement and/or participation in
extra-curricular activities, may be subject to review at the
discretion of the band director.
* Controlled substance use/possession,
tobacco use/possession, alcohol use/possession, stealing,
profanity, appearance and hazing.
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G. Behavior Expectation
Character Development
Mission Statement:
The North East Independent School District will challenge,
encourage and teach each student to become a manager of his or
her own behavior.
Goal: To educate
students with the pillars of character education and behavior
expectations in order to ensure the safety and well being of
every student.
We believe it is the
responsibility of everyone to teach, model and instill in each
student the following virtues:
Integrity
– firm adherence to a code or standard of values
Respect –
regard and concern for others
Dependability
– reliability or trustworthiness
Fairness –
just and impartial treatment
Caring –
concern or interest in others
Civil
Responsibility – accountability and contribution
to society
H. Seahawk Standards
1. Be on
time and prepared to learn
2.
Be respectful of yourself and others
3.
Always use your public voice.
4.
Follow the dress code policy.
5.
Take pride in your school, i.e. no gum, drinks, or food in
classrooms; keep your
learning area clean.
I. Seahawk Step
Process
Step 1 Teacher
Student conference
Step 2 Teacher
Parent conference
Step 3 Student
Counselor conference
Step 4
Administrative referral
Step 5 Students
who commit a serious offense will be sent directly to the
Assistant Principal’s office
V. STUDENT
ELIGIBILITY
This information is per House Bill
72, Section 1 subchapter Z, Chapter 21 of the Education Code.
This is information concerning student eligibility in Texas:
Sec.21.920 (b) “A Student
enrolled in a school district in this state, shall be suspended
from participation in any extracurricular sponsored or
sanctioned by the school district, during the reporting period
after a grade reporting period, in which the student received a
grade lower than the equivalent of 70, on a scale of 100, in any
academic class.”
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Extra-curricular activities as stated
above include UIL Contest, District & Region Honor Band, Solo &
Ensemble Contests, and certain special concerts. All
students are allowed to play in the concerts that are given
throughout the school year on campus! This includes any student
who is not passing a class.
VI. UNIFORMS 
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