The Oswego East High School Band Department consists of four concert groups, marching band, jazz band, two percussion ensembles, and pep band. These groups perform at various sporting events, concerts, community service opportunities, and festivals.
2008-2009 Oswego East High School Band Handbook
Welcome students and parents to the 2008-2009 OEHS Band Department. Over the years, the program has seen tremendous success and growth which we will continue to build upon. As a result, it is imperative that we establish proper routines, procedures, and rules to ensure that the equipment, facilities, and standards are maintained to the highest degree. This handbook should provide both students and parents with expectations, as well as the answers to some frequently asked questions. Philosophy The philosophy of the East Band Department is that the students will gain in the following three areas: The students will gain knowledge, understanding, and skills that will enable them to perform in a musical ensemble that strives for a constant state of improvement.
It is the goal of the East Band Department that students will feel satisfaction in learning to play a musical instrument, and will strive to constantly improve individual abilities so that the group may perform at a higher level throughout the school year. The students will gain knowledge, understanding, and skills that will enable them to appreciate music as an art form, and as a necessary part of human existence. It is the goal of the East Band Department that students will learn an appreciation for music through the study of high level musical literature. This will be achieved not only by personal performance, but also through listening sessions of recorded materials and by attending live performances. The students will gain knowledge, understanding, and skills that will enable them to succeed in other areas of their lives. It is the goal of the East Band Department that students will acquire many skills that will carry into their everyday lives. Some of these ideas include (but are not limited to) self-discipline to fulfill individual responsibilities that will benefit the whole, working in a social situation with other students of varying academic, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds to reach a common goal, respect for equipment and facilities that belong to others, persistence and perseverance, punctuality, and fulfilling duties and responsibilities in a timely manner. Classroom procedures
1. Before class: a) When entering the music area, students should enter through the instrument storage room door. b) Students should retrieve their instrument from their locker, along with a pencil, extra reeds, valve oil, etc. c) Students should then place the case back in the locker with personal belongings, close the locker door, and either lock their lock, or keep it with them. STUDENTS WILL BE CHARGED $5 FOR LOST LOCKS. d) Upon entering the band room, students should consult relevant announcement boards. e) Students should wait until after class to ask questions of the director unless the question is of importance to the start of class. f) Students are expected to be in their assigned seats when the bell rings for the beginning of the period. The tardy policy as outlined in the OEHS student handbook will be enforced. 2. During class: a) When entering the band room, students should prepare their immediate area (music stand is in place, chair is in place, music on stand, instrument ready to play). Students should also consult the board for the rehearsal’s agenda. b) When directors are on the podium, students are to remain silent. c) While playing instruments, students should sit (or stand) straight up with proper musical instrument posture. d) When given instruction, students should use their pencils to write in their music reminders of given instruction. e) Students are asked to respect the process of rehearsal through the observance of two instructions: LOOK and LISTEN f) The course of action for inappropriate behavior will be as follows: a. Verbal warning b. Loss of “Daily Grade” credit c. Parental Notification d. Detention e. Saturday Detention f. Removal From Band Department It is the responsibility of each individual to contribute in a positive manner towards the progress of the whole. Each person is important and in our environment, the actions of the individual affect every person in the room. g) Any student not able to play an instrument during class (i.e. broken hand, forgot the instrument at home, etc.) will be expected to remain in class and follow along in their music throughout the rehearsal. After Class: a) Students will be sure to collect all belongings from their area and bring them to the instrument storage room. b) Students will place their instruments in their cases, and then back in their assigned locker. c) Students will lock their locker. Grading
The grading procedures are as follows: Concerts: 200 Points Concerts are mandatory as the group cannot function without the individuals. Concerts are to be found on the calendar section of this handbook, and arrangements should be made now to fulfill those obligations. At this time, the director should be notified of any conflicts that already exist. After this point, the concerts will be considered the first commitment for those dates and the only excused absences will be those due to illness, death in the family, or other emergencies. Suspensions from school are not considered to be an excused absence, and therefore the points CANNOT be made up. If a conflict arises with a school sporting event, please notify Mr. Leeb or Miss Cooper ASAP so that we may work with the coaches on a compromise. Please remember though, Band is a curricular subject and while agreements are usually worked out with the athletic department, academics take precedence over extra-curricular. In addition, students are expected to remain in the audience for the duration of the concert, so please do not ask to remove them before the conclusion. Daily Grade: 5 Points per day (1 for promptness, 1 for your pencil, 1 for your instrument, 2 for participation) Patron of the Arts: 25 Points Each student will be asked to see a live “arts” performance once per term, and write a one page, double spaced review/reflection of the event. Patron of the Arts – Part II: 25 Points Each student will be asked to watch on TV, or listen to on radio, an “art music” event. Students should watch/listen to a symphony concert, opera, jazz concert, etc. that occurs on a public television and/or radio station. Please sign up for notification of events at: Wttw.com or wfmt.com Final Exam: 100 Points
Other: Other assignments may arise resulting in point values from 5 to 50
Instruments
Students are expected to maintain their instruments in proper working condition. Any students found to be using instruments that are not working will not be permitted to participate, and will then lose their daily participation grade. Quinlan and Fabish Music can be reached at: 630-906-6595. Students using school instruments will be expected to maintain those instruments and participate in a cleaning session at the conclusion of the school year. Any damage to a school instrument while checked-out to a student will result in repair costs to the student/parents. We are fortunate to have professional quality instruments in new condition and wish to keep them as such.
Facility and Supplies Care
We are very fortunate to have extremely high quality facilities and we wish to keep them in excellent condition. As a result, the following rules apply: No food or drink (including gum) in the rehearsal room, instrument storage room, or practice rooms.
Lockers should be only for “Band Related” belongings.
Music should be written on with pencil only so that it may be used again.
Music should be placed in the folders provided to avoid damage.
Rehearsal rooms, practice rooms, instrument storage rooms, and hallways should be kept clean. Please place trash in its proper receptacle.
Misc.
There are a few miscellaneous procedures: 1. When turning in money for fundraisers, trips, etc. please do so in check form only. 2. Please pick up students promptly after rehearsals or events. A teacher must supervise until all students have left the facility.
Band Boosters
As a family member of an East Band Student, you are automatically a Band Booster. The Band Boosters exist for the purpose of assisting the Band Department with non-musical needs: fund raising, distributing uniforms, chaperoning, etc. We encourage ALL parents and/or guardians to attend the monthly meetings held the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM.
Please be sure that you have read this handbook carefully. For the efficient functioning of the OEHS Band Department, students AND families must both be responsible for these policies. Be considerate of obligations and deadlines and help to AVOID conflicts. Help teach the students the importance of the word COMMITMENT.
Calendar Wednesday, November 5 Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble Concert Thursday, November 6 Concert Band/Wind Symphony Concert Tuesday, November 18 Wind Symphony Concert with North Central College Tuesday, December 9 Wind Symphony Performance at Oswego Civic Center Monday, December 15 Holiday Concert Rehearsal, 6pm-9pm Tuesday, December 16 Holiday Concert Tuesday, March 10 Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble Concert Wednesday, March 11 Concert Band/Wind Symphony Concert Tuesday, May 12 Symphonic Band/Wind Ensemble Concert Wednesday, May 13 Concert Band/Wind Symphony Concert Tuesday, May 26 Fine Arts Banquet Thursday, May 28 A Cappella/Wind Symphony Honors Concert Other dates may arise, and as much notice as possible will always be given.
In addition, extra-curricular ensembles (Marching Band, Pep Band, Jazz Band, etc.) will have separate calendars that will be distributed.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information and in doing your part to assist in the success of the OEHS Bands. A key component of our growth is the ability to communicate effectively. Your Band Directors promise to do their part to make all relevant information available to the students in a timely manner. We expect the students to do their part and be responsible for that information and to communicate with their families.
Please feel free to contact Miss Cooper with your questions: 630-636-2474 or In addition we hope to have our webpage updated frequently: http://sites.google.com/a/oswego308.org/oswego-east-high-school-band-department/
OSWEGO EAST BANDS AGREEMENT AND FIELD TRIP AND MEDICAL RELEASE
I have read and understand the Oswego East High School Band Handbook. I understand the procedures and guidelines that are expected of both student and parent
Date_________________________
Signature of Band Student___________________________________________________
Signature of Band Parent/Guardian___________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT IN BLOCK LETTERS ALL INFORMATION: STUDENT'S NAME_______________________________________________ PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME WORK PHONE HOME PHONE ___________________________ _______________ ________________ ___________________________ _______________ ________________ OTHER EMERGENCY CONTACT PERSON: RELATION PHONE ___________________________ _______________ ________________ ALLERGIES/MEDICAL INFORMATION ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ My child has my permission to accompany his/her band class on all school sponsored field trips and has my permission to receive emergency medical treatment in the event I cannot be reached.
(OVER)
STUDENT AND PARENT INFORMATION
STUDENT NAME_______________________________________________________
ADDRESS______________________________________________________________
CITY____________________________ST_____________ZIP___________________
HOME PHONE___________________________CELL_________________________
EMAIL___________________________BIRTHDATE: MO/DAY/YR____________
PARENT/Guardian NAME________________________________________________
WORK PHONE__________________________CELL__________________________
EMAIL_________________________________________________________________
PARENT/Guardian NAME________________________________________________
WORK PHONE__________________________CELL__________________________
EMAIL_________________________________________________________________
COMMENTS:
|
About Us |