LHS Band Handbook

Lomira High School Band Handbook

Dear Parents of LHS Band Members:

In an effort to keep you informed of the activities of the Lomira High School Band and the responsibilities of your son or daughter as a member of the LHS Band, I am sending you this Lomira High School Band Handbook. In it you will find a description of the band program at Lomira High School as well as the opportunities the band offers, the rules, guidelines, expectations, and a schedule of this year’s activities. Please post the schedule where it can easily be checked.

In order for the Lomira High School Band to sound its very best, attendance by all members at each of the band’s performances is expected and required. Students should make every effort to arrange work schedules so that they can perform with the band. If it is impossible to be at a pep band performance, students must sign the excused absence form on my bulletin board in advance of the performance. If a student must miss a concert because of personal illness or a family emergency please call me as soon as possible. Any unexcused absence results in decreased participation and instruction which will lower a student’s quarter grade.

By organizing and announcing the band’s schedule well in advance, students should be able to arrange their work and social schedules to accommodate their responsibilities to the band. It is also my hope that families can arrange their activities with sensitivity toward their student’s school schedule.

I hope that you find this information beneficial and thank you for the great support you continue to give your son or daughter and the LHS Band.

Sincerely,

Cassie Ruplinger, Band Director

Course Description

Band (2 semesters) – 1 credit

Prerequisite for Band is four semesters of Junior High Band and/or equivalent instruction.

Band 1 & 2 (Semesters 1 & 2)-1/2 credit per semester

The high school band program offers a variety of performance opportunities. The concert band is the main performance group. In fall, the emphasis is on marching, the homecoming half-time show, and parades. The 2nd quarter emphasizes music for the Christmas concert and during the 3rd quarter, solo and ensemble and large group contests are the focus. 4th quarter emphasizes music for the spring concert. A jazz ensemble made up of select students meets Thursday mornings before school.

**** This course requires attendance at many events outside the school day such as concerts, pep band for athletic events, and parades on weekends and during the summer.

Lomira High School Band Grading

Practice/Preparation

Each student has a weekly lesson in which he or she will meet with me individually or in small groups. There is an assignment due each week which must be prepared through regular practice. The assignment is related to an upcoming performance, or aimed at improving skills or knowledge of the student’s instrument. ll students are expected to practice the assignments on their own in order to be prepared for band lessons. Students should be practicing regularly either at home or during study hall. Practice will usually be counted as part of the lesson grade.

Quarter Grade

Lessons, assignments, music check offs, and attendance at pep band performances each receive equal weight. Quarter grades will be determined by the average of all grades earned. If a student has an excused absence from a performance, the absence is not averaged in. Lessons missed by the student must be made up before the next major performance (concert, etc.) or the last day of the quarter, which ever comes first. Lessons are made up at the convenience of the student and the director.

Attendance

Attendance at each of the band’s performances is expected and required. A schedule of the required performances is included with this handbook. Each band member is expected to perform at all of these. If you have a job, you are expected to make every effort to arrange your work schedule around your responsibilities to the band. If it is impossible to be at a pep performance, you must sign your name on the excuse list on Mrs. Ruplinger's bulletin board in order to be excused. All other absences will be unexcused. Excused absences for concerts will only be granted for personal illness or serious family emergency.

Transportation

Transportation for band activities is almost always provided by the school district. School transportation is always the preferred mode. For the safety and protection of the students, I highly recommend, and in some cases require, that all students use the transportation provided. If it becomes necessary for parents to provide the transportation, the student’s parent must do the driving and bring their child in person to Mrs. Ruplinger at the event.

Parents should also know that any student who has permission to ride home with a parent must be picked up before the rest of the band leaves for home or that student will be asked to ride home with the group. For the student’s own safety, I will not leave any student behind without an adult. In fairness to the rest of the band we also will not wait for that adult to arrive.

Jazz Ensemble

The jazz ensemble is a group comprised of members of the Lomira High School Band. Its members perform at many events in addition to those required of the regular band membership. Membership in the Lomira High School Jazz Ensemble is determined by the results of the fall auditions. The jazz ensemble rehearses from 7:00 – 8:00 A.M. on most Thursday mornings from October-May. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances is required in order to continue membership. Any member having more than one unexcused absence from the rehearsals between major performances will be removed from the group. Generally an absence will be considered excused if the student is not in their regular school class during first hour on the day of that rehearsal.

Drum Major

The Drum Major for the band is selected based on the following qualities: leadership, character, responsibility, respect by peers, self-discipline, and communication skills. In addition, an audition will be performed in front of the band by each candidate. During the audition each candidate will call the band to attention, call instruments to playing positions, whistle the tempo, and direct the group while marking time and directing in 4/4 and 2/4 time. Mr. Eggert and Mrs. Teschke will make a selection considering all of the above criteria.

Flag Squad

The Flag Squad is a group of 6-12 students selected from the members of the band to form a color guard for each of the band’s marching performances. The entire group is auditioned each year. Students must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible to audition:

1. Must be from the flute, clarinet, or double reed section.

2. Must have marched with the band for at least one year as a playing member.

3. Must be willing to attend a flag camp during the first summer on the squad.

4. Must be able and willing to attend any and all practices and performances scheduled for the squad.

5. Must be able to work efficiently with little supervision.

(These requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Director and Flag Squad Coach in order to fill the squad.)

The audition will consist of two practice sessions to learn the basics and a very short routine. The routine will then be performed and judged by the coach. The final selection will be based on this audition, attitude, responsibility, and commitment.

Uniforms

Uniforms for each of the band’s major performances are provided by the School district of Lomira. Each student is assigned a uniform for their use during the school year. The uniform provided consists of the following parts: coat, pants, shako (hat), plastic suit hanger, and garment bag. The individual student is responsible for its care during the time it is assigned to them.

Guidelines for use and care of the uniform:

1. Each part the uniform is numbered. Use only the number assigned to you. Check

frequently to see that you have the correct numbers. Using a uniform that is not assigned to you often leaves somebody else without

2. Do your best to keep your uniform neat and clean. Always keep it in the garment bag when not in use.

3. Hang up your uniform neatly after each use-pants hung on the crease, etc.

4. If the uniform becomes wet during its use do not dry it in a clothes dryer. Leave it hanging out of its garment bag so that it dries properly.

5. Generally the uniforms will be kept at school in the uniform storage room. If you need to take yours home for some reason (senior pictures, etc.,) please notify Mr. Eggert.

6. Never wash the uniforms. All uniforms will be dry cleaned by the school once or twice during the year. This generally is sufficient to keep them in good shape.

7. Each hat is also numbered and should be stored in the corresponding hat box.

In addition to the uniform provided by the school, each student must provide black shoes, black socks, and white gloves.

Each band member must purchase of a pair of high quality band shoes. The shoes are designed to provide comfort to the wearer and the uniform look that has become expected of our marching and concert band. The cost of the shoe is approximately $22.00. Sizes are available in half sizes for men from 3-13 , and for women from 5-13. Please see Mr. Eggert to order.

BAND: A PREPARATION FOR LIFE

WHY SHOULD A YOUNG PERSON CONSIDER JOINING THE BAND?

HOW LONG SHOULD THEY STAY IN BAND?

WHAT WILL IT MEAN IN THEIR LIFE?

CREATIVITY: Creativity is the source of all possibilities. We are constantly challenged to explore this area of the mind. Music appeals to the part of the mind which opens new horizons. The study of music supports wonderment, imagination, appreciation, and sensitivity. Music allows us to experience creativity as an inventive thinking style.

COMMUNICATION: Music is a language unto itself. Music can only be explained by music. If we do not expose the human to music, we are depriving the individual of an array of personal understandings that cannot be found in any other part of life.

CRITICAL ASSESSMENT: Intelligence is the ability to process facts and respond according to the given situation. Emotional stability stems from the capacity to deal with life’s many inconsistencies. To accomplish both, the individual must be able to access the cognitive (factual) and affective (emotional) sides of the mind. Music is one of the few academic disciplines which demands this ability and reinforces learning patterns to allow for greater critical assessment.

COMMITMENT: Success is not measured by what we start, but rather by what we complete. In music, every student will be required to play the entire composition from beginning to end. Although there may be errors in the performance, it is most unusual to see an individual simply stop and put the instrument away. The important qualities of tenacity and persistence establish habits for positive, productive living.

These attributes can be found in many subject areas; however, MUSIC does not make these optional, but a fundamental necessity from the first note ever played. Participation at the level of excellence is not a personal preference; it is a requirement. Success breeds success in every avenue of life. Therefore, a successful and well-trained musician does tackle life with a knowledge of “what it takes to get there,” and the wisdom of “what it brings to life.”