Expectations
Practice
Time: Students are expected to practice
their instruments for AT LEAST 15 MINUTES PER DAY FOR 6 DAYS EACH WEEK.
It is much more important that each student plays her instrument every day than
to play ½ hour twice a week. It is this type of consistency that will lead to
excellence. This is a minimum requirement. Students will on most occasions need
to practice more in order to complete weekly assignments for lessons and band.
Students should keep practice charts for each week and have them signed weekly
by a parent. Practice logs will be collected and graded each week in the
student’s lesson.
Rehearsals: Students are expected to be prepared for all
rehearsals. This means that in addition to coming prepared to play music,
students must have their instrument, music valve oil, extra reeds and a PENCIL
at EVERY REHEARSAL. Good rehearsal habits are the basic foundation for
excellence.
Grading Policy:
Lessons: Lessons will make up 40% of each student’s
grade for the term. The grades for lessons will be broken down in the following
way.
20%
Attendance. If a student misses a lesson for any reason, that lesson must be
made up within one week if this is due
to an absence, the student will have one week from his or her return to make up
the lesson).
40%
Weekly Assignments: Normally weekly
assignments will be graded as quizzes. From time to time, assignments will be
counted as a test grade ( 2 quizzes). Students will always be told in advance
when an assignment will be counted as a test.
40%
Practice Charts: Students must bring
signed practice charts with them to each lesson. A student who practices the
minimum of 15 minutes per day can expect to earn a ‘B’ for that week. The grade
of an ‘A’ is reserved for those students who go above and beyond the minimum
requirements. Every student will receive a copy of the practice chart rubric so
they can determine their grade for each week.
Band:
Band Rehearsals will make up 30% of each student’s grade for the term.
The grades for band will be broken down in the following way:
25%
Preparation for rehearsals. Students are expected to have their instrument,
mouthpiece, reeds and a pencil at every rehearsal and lesson.
75%
Quizzes. Each student will be assigned a short section of music on the first
rehearsal day of each week. On the last rehearsal day of each week the director
reserves the right to either hear whole section performances or individual
performances. Student performances will be counted as quiz grades for that
week.
Concerts: The Concert Band and Symphony Band are
performance based ensembles. All of the work done each term culminates in a
large ensemble performance. These performances are very important and each band
member is an integral part of the ensemble. Performances account for 30% of
each student’s grade for the term. An unexcused absence from a performance can
result in a students grade being lowered by two letter grades for that term.
