Please see the handbook for questions about what students need for class, what to wear to concerts, etc.
Nearly all questions about the GMS instrumental music program can be answered by reading this document.
Contact me with questions: mfarrell@lps.k12.co.us
Goddard Middle School
Instrumental Music Handbook
Created for the music students & parents of
Goddard Middle School
Please take the time to read this!
Grading Procedures
Please read this, it is very important!
We are now using a 4 point, Standards-Based grading Scale -
4=Exceeds Standard
3=Meets Standard
2=Approaching Standard
1=Does not yet meet Standard
Categories
Work Habits
Demonstrate knowledge, assembly, and care of your instrument.
Demonstrate proper posture, embouchure, breathing, & playing position.
Participation includes being on-task and having all necessary materials
Weekly practice recorded on line and required. The grading procedure is as follows:
Per week: 2Hr=4, 1Hr=3.8, 45Mins=3, 30Mins=2, 20mins=1.0, -20mins=0/Missing
On-line practice records are turned in for a grade Every Week!
Content Knowledge
Demonstrate accurate note & rhythmic reading. Assessed on tests and quizzes
Demonstrate an accurate pulse & sense of good intonation while playing.
Demonstrate knowledge of common terms & notations.
Performances: All performances are required and viewed as tests over class content. 30% of the performance grade is the Combined Class Rehearsal before the concert. You must be at this rehearsal since it is the only time for the entire band to rehearse together (if you miss this rehearsal unexcused, the highest grade you can receive is a 2)
An unexcused absence from a performance is recorded as a zero or missing.
Absences are excused by the director only.
They include:
A: Previously scheduled date conflicts discussed w/director
IN ADVANCE (Not the night of the concert!)+
B: Illness
C: Emergencies
For excused absences to be allowed a make-up assignment due to illness or emergency there must be parent contact with the director as soon as possible.
Make up work will be assigned for excused absences ONLY.
+Failure to notify the director in advance will result in a lowered concert grade instead of a make up concert grade. Please refer to the Music Dept. Calendar
to avoid scheduling conflicts.
Disruptive Concert Behavior Consequences –
Behavior deemed disruptive during a concert will suffer the following circumstances:
Offense 1: Points will be deducted from concert grade.
Offense 2: Removal from concert and loss of ALL concert points
Concert Dress
All students are expected to be dressed appropriately for all performances. When we are performing we are making a presentation of our group and more importantly representing Goddard Middle School.
All students should wear a white top and dark bottom to all concerts unless otherwise notified. Nice dress pants, dress shirts, blouses, ties, dresses, and black shoes are all preferred. Black and white is considered concert dress and is worn by most musical ensembles. T-shirts and jeans are unacceptable!
Students not following these guidelines will receive a lowered concert grade, or be asked not to participate, which will mean a zero for the concert.
WEAR THIS DON’T WEAR THIS
Dark dress pants (black/navy) Jeans or shorts
Dark dress or skirt Any other color of the same
White shirt/top (collar, buttons) T-shirts, Sweatshirts
Knee-length skirts (at least) Skirts that are too short
It would be a good idea to assemble a "uniform" to be worn at all concerts before the day of the concert. Dark pants/skirt and shoes (no sneakers please) and a white shirt or blouse is ideal. Slight variations are acceptable but uniformity of the ensembles is desired. Please do not wait until the week of the concert to get your "uniform" together. "I didn't have time" will not be accepted as an excuse, you have approximately 12 weeks before the first concert, please take the time to prepare now so you'll be ready on the week of the concert! Savers, Goodwill & ARC are great places to buy inexpensive clothes.
These don’t come around often!
Each student may bring in 1 full-size box of tissues for 10 points, each quarter. Small boxes will earn 5 points. Only 10 points of extra credit may be applied per student. Please make sure to print your student’s name and music class code on the bottom of the box. For example: 6 Band
Rental Instruments and Daily Supplies
(You need this stuff)
Instruments such as: tenor saxophone, bassoon, bass clarinet, French horn, baritone horn, baritone saxophone and tuba can be rented through the school for a one-time yearly fee of $150.00. We also carry a limited supply of: flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, trumpet, trombone, violin, viola, cello & bass. If you need to rent an instrument from the school, this can be done at the beginning of the year. Instruments are rented on a by-need basis and we do not enough for every student.
The following is a list of supplies each student needs daily according to the instrument they are playing. They may be purchased at local music stores:
All STUDENTS: PENCIL, method book (see below) & Chromebook
Flute cleaning swab
Oboe cleaning swab, cork grease, med. soft oboe reeds
Clarinet cleaning swab, cork grease, clarinet reeds
Alto Sax neck strap, cleaning swab, cork grease, alto sax reeds
Tenor Sax neck strap, cleaning swab, cork grease, tenor sax reeds
Baritone Sax neck strap, cleaning swab, cork grease, bari. sax reeds
Bassoon cork grease, cleaning swab, Med. soft bassoon reeds
Bass Clarinet cork grease, cleaning swab, bass clarinet reeds
Trumpet valve oil
French horn rotor oil
Trombone slide cream
Baritone valve oil
Tuba valve oil
Violin rosin, shoulder rest if desired, soft cloth for cleaning instrument
Viola rosin, shoulder rest if desired, soft cloth for cleaning instrument
Cello/Bass rosin, soft cloth for cleaning instrument
Percussion* 6th percussion will require a bell kit with mallets & snare drum or practice pad. Some kits are available to rent from GMS for $100.
*7th & 8th grade percussion students are required to have a stick bag with one pair each: Vic Firth American Custom SD1 General snare drum sticks, timpani mallets, hard rubber bell/xylo mallets, med. yarn wrapped marimba/vibe mallets.
These may be purchased as a set from local music stores (see below).
**Also: There is a district fee of $25.00 for 7th & 8th grade percussion students to offset the cost of wear and tear on percussion instruments provided by the school for student use.
All students will have a method book which is included in students fees.
BAND students need to purchase the following: ORCHESTRA students need to purchase the following:
6th grade - Tradition of Excellence Book I 6th grade - Essential Elements 2000 for strings Book 1
7th grade - Tradition of Excellence Book II 7th grade - Essential Elements for strings Book 2
8th grade - Tradition of Excellence Book III 8th grade - Essential Technique for strings Book 3
*Flesher-Hinton Music:303-433-8891*Music & Arts Centers:303-788-0707
MUSIC ITEMS PRICE LIST
Prices subject to chaNCGE
CLARINET REED $3.00
BASS CLAR. REED $3.00
ALTO SAX REED $3.00
TENOR SAX REED $3.00
BARI SAX REED $4.00
OBOE REED $15.00
BASSOON REED $15.00
CLARINET SWAB $5.00
CLARINET LIGATURE $6.00
ALTO SAX SWAB $5.00
CORK GREASE $3.00
VALVE OIL $5.00
SLIDE CREAM trombone $5.00
SLIDE GREASE (all brass) $3.00
NECK STRAP special order $15.00 and up
SNARE DRUM STICKS $15.00 pair
Rosin $5.00
Violin strings $6.00 ea.
Violin set of strings (4) $25.00
Viola strings $6.00 ea.
Viola set of strings (4) $35.00
Voluntary Punch Card System
All of the above items are now available for purchase at school. Other items can be made available and any item may be ordered; see Mr. Farrell to special order an item. To participate in the punch card system, simply send either $10 or $20 cash, or a check made out to Goddard to purchase a “punch” card. Mr. Farrell will keep the cards so that they do not get lost or stolen.
Students are by no means required to purchase these items from Goddard; this is merely an attempt to make these purchases more convenient for parents.
Questions? Call 303-347-7878 or: mfarrell@lps.k12.co.us
2025-2026 Performance Calendar
All concerts begin at 7pm unless noted
First Semester
Nov 12: Band - all grades - no jazz
Dec 10: Orchestra - all grades
Third Quarter
Feb. 4: District Jazz Band Showcase @ NMS 6-8
Feb. 13: MHJF at King Center Auraria Campus TBA
Feb. 23: District 8th Only Band @ HHS
Feb. 25: 6th 7th & Jazz Band Concert (No 8th) @ GMS
Mar. 26: District 8th Only Orch. Concert @ HHS
Fourth Quarter
Apr. 24: Skyline Jazz Festival - Jazz Band Only – Longmont
May 13: Orchestra Concert
May 14: Band Concert (incl. Jazz)
May 21: Continuation - 8th Grade Band & Orch. only @ 1:00pm.
