Misc. Info

Concert Attire

Black dress shirt, black dress pants/skirts (must go below the knee while seated), black dress shoes, black socks, guys please wear a tie. Jeans, shorts, sandals, and tennis shoes are not considered appropriate concert apparel. Any time that the Prairie bands appear in performance, performers should be dressed appropriately. If you need assistance with purchasing a uniform, please let one of the band directors know.

Concert Behavior and Expectations

We believe that all of our performances begin the moment that students arrive at the site of the performance, whether at Prairie or another facility. Good performances begin with good preparation prior to the event as well as on the day of the event. Students will be expected to be on their best behavior at every performance activity. Consequences for inappropriate behavior range from lowering of grade to removal from the activity. School rules apply at all events.

Audience Etiquette

Students will frequently be members of an audience as part of our performances or at other events throughout the year. It is very important that respect is shown to performing students or visiting performers. It is not appropriate to talk during a performance. All cell phones should be turned off and left in the student’s instrument case or with his or her parent/guardian. Students should treat others’ performances with as much respect as they wish to have others treat theirs. Audience members should not stand, enter, or leave the performance area until a piece has ended and applause has begun.

School-Owned Instrument Policy and Fees

Students who use a school-owned instrument (baritone, tuba, bassoon, and percussion) for band must fill out the appropriate form and pay a yearly fee to Prairie Point. The completed form and fee should be turned in to your child’s director as soon as possible. If you have already completed a form, paid the fee for the year, and picked up an instrument, nothing more needs to be done for the school year.

It is a priority for the band directors at College Community that all students who wish to be in band are able to do so. Because of this, Prairie owns a small number of instruments available to students who qualify for free/reduced lunch. Only those who qualify will be able to rent a flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, or percussion kit from the school. Please contact your child’s director if you have any questions.

Instrument Name Tags

Most of our students have similar-looking instruments and cases. In order to avoid confusion, students must mark their instruments clearly with a name tag or label. Prairie and the directors will not be responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen instruments. Free instrument name tags are available from a director or any local music store.

Instrument Storage

Prairie provides storage space and lockers for most instruments. All students will have specific lockers or areas for them to use as storage. Students who do not put away instrument properly or who mistreat their locker will lose points and the privilege of keeping their instrument in a band locker. These rules are in place to avoid lost, damaged, or stolen instruments. Prairie and the directors will not be responsible for lost, damaged, or stolen instruments.

Drop Policy

The parent/guardian should contact the child’s director to discuss concerns and possible problem-solving solutions. If there is still a desire to drop the course, students have until the end of the first week of each grading period (quarter) to make schedule changes.

Instrumentation

Throughout the school year we will begin balancing the instrumentation of each concert band. Many times beginning students start on one of the smaller and more common instruments. As students progress, we begin to expand the instrumentation to fit the group’s needs and the future needs of the band program. In most cases switches are made from large sections, where students are one of many, into sections that are smaller and more unique. Examples include oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, baritone, and tuba. In almost every situation, the suggestion to make a switch results in a higher degree of success for the student and for the entire band. It is very important that parents do not allow their child to switch instruments without first communicating with his or her band director or lesson teacher to ensure that the switch would benefit the student.

The ideal number of percussionists in a “typical” 4A intermediate or middle school band is eight. For this reason, we are not able to add to the percussion section until the number of students who play percussion in the grade drops below eight. Students wishing to switch to percussion will be put on a waiting list and will continue playing their current instrument. They will need to take lessons for at least one semester to learn to play the many different percussion instruments before playing on percussion in band.

Step-Up Instruments

Middle school is the time at which many students begin to get more serious about their musical skills. Part of this development may involve playing on better equipment. Many fifth and sixth grade students play on beginner model instruments which are wonderful to start on but do not allow the students to develop their tone, intonation, and technical skills to their fullest as their playing matures. Students who are interested in playing their instruments throughout high school might consider investing in higher quality instruments. Contact a local music store or your child’s director for more information.

Supplies

Band supplies such as reeds, cork grease, and valve oil should be purchased from a local music store. We do have a few items on hand for sale here at school. Check with your band director for availability and prices.

Percussion Lesson Policy

Prairie’s 5th grade through 8th grade percussion lesson policy is below.

If… Then…

Student does not take private lessons outside of school ..... School lesson w/ band director

Private lessons on “drumset” only ..... School lessons w/ band director

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact your child’s band director for clarification.