This handbook has been prepared for the
Norris Middle School Bands for you and your parents. It outlines the expectations, requirements,
and rules that you will need to know as a member of the band. Please read this information carefully and
keep it for future reference.
Procedures and rules help provide an environment in which
everyone can learn and succeed. Every
student in the band is an important part of the organization. Let’s work together to have a successful and
rewarding year.
The goal of this class is to continue to develop the musical knowledge and skills needed to perform effectively on a band instrument, and to develop personal skills of working together in a cooperative and respectful manner. Students will study a widely varied repertoire of band literature including music from different historical periods, styles, and cultures.
The student’s responsibilities are:
Ø To have their instrument, music, notebook, planner, and pencil at all rehearsals
Ø To be attentive during class, and to listen and follow directions
Ø To practice his/her instrument
Ø To be at all performances
Students are expected to fully participate at all rehearsals. Full participation includes having your instrument, music, and pencil, listening attentively, following directions, being supportive of others efforts, and playing to the best of your ability at all times.
Every member is an important part of the ensemble. If just one person is missing, the group is not the same. An individual’s success or failure is also the group’s success or failure. Be responsible! Take pride in your contribution to the band, and help to make the band the very best it can be.
Only appropriate behavior is acceptable!
If you are using an instrument owned by the school, the rental fee for the year is $50.00. Please pay this fee at the beginning of the year.
Students are expected to have their music, instruments, pencils, and notebooks at every class. Students must also supply an audio tape.
Students are responsible for the care of any music, instrument, or equipment that is assigned to them. Please handle school property with care. Students responsible for losing, damaging, or destroying any music, instrument, or equipment will be expected to pay the cost of repairing or replacing the item.
Lockers will be checked out to all students. Only band instruments may be stored in these lockers. Students must use the locks supplied by the school.
We are very fortunate to have excellent facilities at Norris. Let’s take pride in this excellence and do our part to maintain it. No candy, food, beverages, or gum is allowed in the music rooms or the auditorium.
The middle school band will participate in at least one public performance each semester. They will also participate in one contest or festival during the spring semester. Attendance at all scheduled performances is expected and required. A schedule of events will be handed out in class.
Students are asked to wear dress clothes. A dress or skirt is preferred for the girls, and ties are preferred for the boys. Shorts are not allowed.
Students’ grades will reflect their performance in class, their performance in related musical activities, and their ability to self-evaluate, analyze, describe, and utilize their musical skills and knowledge. Each student’s work will accumulate in a quarterly portfolio.
Grading Scale:
195 points or over A+
194-189 points A
188-183 points A-
182-177 points B+
176-171 points B
170-165 points B-
164-159 points C+
158-153 points C
152-147 points C-
146-141 points D+
140-135 points D
134-129 points D-
128 points or less F
Students earn 3 points each day for participating fully in class. Participating in performances is a very important of this class. An absence from a performance will result in the lost of 25 points. Talk to the instructor immediately if you miss a performance to discuss making up the lost points. Full participation in class and at performances is worth 157 points each quarter.
There will be other activities and assignments given in class. The number of points students can earn will vary depending on the assignment or activity.
Portfolios
Student’s assignments will accumulate in a portfolio. A due date for portfolios (approximately one week before the end of the quarter) will be announced in class.
All portfolio items must be written on a full sheet of paper, and they must be neat and legible. The items may be typed or written. If they are written, you must use a blue or black pen or pencil. Citing sources is required. Plagiarism is a crime and no credit will be given for these assignments.
Forms for some of these assignments will be available in the classroom or on the Norris web page. Assignments may be turned in by placing them in the basket located near the music folders or by e-mailing them as an attachment to Ms. Wilhelm (wilhelmb@norris160.org).
If a student’s grade drops below passing at any time during the quarter, the student’s name will be submitted to the office so that parents may be notified and the student may begin to correct the situation.
The following are suggestions for assignments that may be presented in portfolios. The possibilities are endless so try to select projects that interest YOU!
Practice Reports
Practice times need to be turned in each week, and are due on Monday. Each week students will receive 3 points for practicing 120 minutes or more, 2 points for practicing 60-120 minutes, and 1 point for practicing less than 60 minutes.
Students can receive up to 10 points per quarter for 8
weekly private lessons on their band instrument or up to 5 points per quarter
for weekly private piano or voice lessons.
Students can also receive fewer points for lessons taken less frequently
or lessons on another instrument.
Students must fill out the lesson information form to receive these
points. These forms are available in the
classroom or on the web page. Lesson
forms are due on the end of the quarter due date.
Students can earn 3 points by writing a journal about each
week’s rehearsals. Students should
include in their journals an evaluation of their work, goals they have made,
and ways they play to achieve these goals.
Forms for journals are available in the classroom or on the web
page. The journals are due on the Monday
following each rehearsal week. Late
journals will not be accepted.
Students can receive 3-5 points for a written evaluation of
their own performance or of concerts they have attended. Students will earn points based on the
quality of their reviews. Students must
fill out the performance review form to receive the points. These forms are available in the classroom or
on the web page. Performance reviews are
due one week after the event. Late work
will be worth half credit.
Students will have opportunities throughout the school year
to perform solos or with a small ensemble.
Students may earn 2-5 points depending on the degree of personal risk,
competitive or noncompetitive, and the completion of a solo and small ensemble
performance self-evaluation form. These
forms are available in the classroom or on the web page. The solo or small ensemble performance self-evaluation
is due one week after the event. Late
work is worth half credit.
Auditions and Honor
Group Participation
Students occasionally have the opportunity to audition or
participate in an honor band. Students
may receive 2-8 points for auditioning and/or participation in an honor
group. Students will need to journal about
their experiences in order to receive full credit for participating in these
events. Students should discuss the
audition process, their strengths and weaknesses, what they learned from this
experience, and plans for further improvement.
This is due one week after the event.
Late work is worth half credit.
Research or Essay Project
Students may do research or essay projects on topics from
class or other musical topics they are interested in. The instructor must approve topics. Students can earn 3-10 points depending on
the amount and quality of the work. These
projects need to be written in complete sentences in the student’s own words. Research projects are due on the end of the
quarter due date.
Possible Topics or Ideas:
Research a specific composer, piece of music, historical period, or instrument
Research a certain genre (type) of music
What does music mean to me?
What mood did a particular piece create?
What are your goals in music and how can you attain them?
Compare and contrast your role in a music group with your role on a sport’s team
What does it take to be a successful band?
Research a specific music career.
Interview a person with a career in music.
Students may do other projects that they design as long as the instructor approves the project first. Examples of student-designed projects are designing the program for a concert, writing program notes, composing your own music, and creating your own music video. The possibilities are endless so be creative!
Examples of student-designed projects:
Magazine or newspaper article review
Design the program for a concert
Write program notes
Compose or arrange your own musical composition
Create your own music video
Create a power point on a music subject and present it to the class
Perform a solo
Sight read for Ms. Wilhelm
Give a presentation to the class on a subject we are working on
Write your own advertising jingle