7th/8th Grade Syllabus

Mr. Richardson and Mr. Vogelman know that a lot information is in your syllabus. However, all of the need to know information is present here:

 Band Syllabus 2025/2026 

How to Contact Us/How We Communicate with You:

Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns at any time during the school year. Email is our primary source of communication and is the easiest and fastest way to contact a director with a question or concern. When emailing a director, please email us from your email address that is least likely to change and one that is checked on a regular basis.  This will ensure you receive our responses and that you receive emails that we send out as well.

cody.richardson@comalisd.org 

austin.vogelman@comalisd.org

Mr. Richardson’s teaching responsibilities include teaching beginning trumpet, trombone, low brass,  and percussion as well as conducting the Wind Ensemble.

Mr. Vogelman’s teaching responsibilities include teaching beginning flute, clarinet, double reeds, saxophone, french horn, and conducting the Symphonic Band and Symphonic Band Sectionals.

Conference Period: 7th period

Grading Policy and Expectations

Every 9-weeks, grades will be determined based on your performance, rehearsal, and practice. The following sections will clearly outline what we expect and how students will be graded in each of the following areas:

Your band grade will be earned in the same way any other class; your band grade will be earned, not given to you and based on the following:   

40% Major Grades (Performance Grade)

25% Daily/Homework Grade (Weekly Grade)

35% Quizzes

IMPORTANT NOTE: Students are always welcome to retake any PLAYING TEST as many times as needed during a 9-weeks grading period. It will just need to be retaken before or after school or in class if time allows. For practicing purposes, attempts may only be made once day. 

             I.Performance/Participation Grades include:

1.     Class assignments

1.     Objective Sheets and Assignment Sheets (playing and written)

1.     Chair tests

1.     Written tests-this includes marking music as per director’s instruction

1.     Performances (proper concert attire and punctuality required; these are part of your grade!)

II.    Weekly Grades/Daily/Homework/Quizzes include:

1.              Participation in daily rehearsals

1.              Materials checks – unless noted as a Test/Performance grade

1.              Pop playing tests

1.              Pencil checks

1.              Locker checks

A note on weekly grades. Weekly grades are worth 20 points per day on a 5-day week and 25 points per day on a 4-day week. EX. If a student forgets their instrument one day and the week is a 5-day week, they will lose 20 points and therefore their weekly grade would be an 80. 

Terminology

• Playing Tests are simply for a performance grade but do not affect chair order. 

• Recording Assignments are assignments, typically from home, where students will need to upload a recording of assigned material. This will be done through ScreenCastify.

• Chair Tests are performance grades that rank the sections in order.

• Pass-offs and Objectives are a pass/fail standard for a performance grade to encourage students to learn and perform every detail of their music. Students will have multiple opportunities to meet pass-offs standards prior to the end of each grading period. Students will perform objectives individually or with a member of their section for one of the band directors. Students who pass an objective will receive a 100; failing grades will be entered as a 0, 25, 50, or 75. Students are welcome to reattempt as many times as needed to get a 100 within a given timeframe.

NOTE: All Playing Tests will have a time limit based upon a given assignments’ tempo. Failure to complete the test within the given time frame will result in loss of points.

Objective Sheets aka Pass-offs

Since we emphasize mastery learning, each student have an Objective Sheet that contains a list of objectives that must be mastered. Each student will be given an opportunity to perform an objective in class. Students who pass will be given a grade of 100. Students who do not pass will be given a “try” which is worth 25 points. Once the objective is passed, the grade will be changed to a 100. Student are then encouraged to replay the objective before or after school 

until they receive a “pass.” Students are welcome to try as many times as needed until they pass a given objective. Objective sheets are the largest percentage of a student’s nine weeks grade.

B. Public Performances: As a band member you are a very important part of

a much larger team. When we perform, your participation is vital and when

members are absent, the entire band suffers. Attendance at all public

performances is required. Listening to and supporting all the bands at

Spring Branch is part of performing. Therefore, to receive full credit for the performance,

students must attend the listening portion of the performance as well.

Daily Classroom Expectations

We have 1 key word which encompasses our rules:

RESPECT

Respect the Rehearsal

Which looks like:

Come immediately to your assigned place and get your materials out. Backpacks belong in cubbies in the back of the room. No talking when you enter the band hall! You may be asked to exit and reenter if this is not done in a quiet and orderly fashion. All instrument cases need to be returned to their locker once the instrument has been removed and assembled for use in class. Clarinets, Flutes, and Oboes are the exception. 

 Since students need to get instruments out, they will have one minute after the tardy bell rings to be in their seats ready to play. Ready to play is defined as being in their assigned seats, having their instruments out, up, and ready for use. Materials, including a pencil, and all music should be ready and in front of students, without the need to flip through binders to find music. 

·                Don’t be late. You are disrupting if you are late.

·                As per school rules, absolutely no phone usage during rehearsals or performances. 

·                No gum, food, or drink.

·                No conversation or communication during the rehearsal

·                Play only when conducted by a director.

·                The only people allowed in our band hall are band students. 

When a large group of people work closely together on a daily

basis, it is important to have respect for each other and the director in and

out of rehearsal. RESPECT IS OUR BIGGEST RULE. RESPECT EACH OTHER AND YOUR DIRECTORS. Please be sensitive to the feelings of others in the group. Be polite and treat others as you would want to be treated. This is especially important during playing tests. Remember the Golden Rule!

All Band Students are expected to practice their instruments outside of class at least 4 times per week and preferably daily. Students are expected to do their job which, is perform their parts at a high level. The key to your child enjoying band is consistent practice outside of class. (10 minutes every day is better than 50 minutes one day.)

·   Students are expected to have all materials (instrument, binder with all music and exercises, and a pencil daily.)

·       Students are also expected to practice their instrument daily outside of class. (If you never hear your child playing their instrument at home, please expect at some point, for their grade to be less than satisfactory.)

·       

DISCIPLINE

   All discipline problems will be handled individually; we will use the school-wide flowchart:

1.     First offense = warning

2.     Second offense = student will be removed from rehearsal, and a parent will be called. Student could lose current chair placement.

3.     *Third offense = administrative referral

*We may skip directly to step 4 if warranted.

Please refer to the CISD Student and Parent Handbook and Student Code of Conduct for additional information. This handbook can be accessed at: www.comalisd.org.

Students and Parents: In general, we will handle all disciplinary issues individually. We do not anticipate many issues but we are prepared to handle them. It is imperative that you realize that continued discipline problems and classroom disruptions in band, and in other classes can result in a loss of band privileges, including but not limited to performances, trips, other band privileges, as well as removal from the band program.

Daily Materials

All band students will need to have:

 ·  All Students will need a black 1-inch binder with page protectors. This binder will be where all their music is kept and organized; it will also need to fit on a music stand. Additionally, this will be used during performances thus we request a black binder so that everyone is uniform.

· A pencil at your stand

· Metronome – this is for use at home but we will use them in class well.

·You are also expected to furnish your own instrument with the exception of the following: oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, Tenor Sax, Bari-saxophone, French horn, baritone, tuba and large percussion

·You are responsible for the care and maintenance of your instrument and are expected to keep it in excellent working condition regardless of whether it is owned by you/, rented, or school-owned. These are high-dollar items. Respect them and treat them well.

·Students using a school-owned instrument are responsible for any damages and repairs needed throughout the year.  A maintenance fee of $80.00 a year will be charged to all students using a school-owned instrument. Please pay this fee with a separate check (made out to SBMS Band) when you sign the instrument checkout agreement. Payment will take place during the first week of classes. You will have periodic inspections throughout the year checking the condition of your instrument and a grade will be given. 

Woodwinds: need at least four working reeds at all times. You will also need a reed guard, cleaning swab, mouthpiece brush, and cork grease. Your reed guard should be on your stand everyday at rehearsal.    

Brass: players need valve oil for valve instruments, rotor oil for French horns and slide cream and spray bottle for trombones. You will need straight mutes as well as a cleaning cloth.  These are available at any musical instrument store such as High School Music or Hillje Music. 

Percussion: need to furnish their own sticks and mallets. There will be no sharing of sticks and mallets; the band will not be furnishing any sticks/mallets.  Each percussionist will need a pair of timpani mallets, medium yarn mallets, plastic xylophone mallets, snare drum sticks, practice pad and a stick bag.  All school percussion equipment will need to be kept in good working condition.  Part of the percussionist’s responsibility is moving equipment and the maintenance and organization of the equipment.

Concert Attire/Uniforms

Formal Uniforms will be worn by the Band at most public performances.  These uniforms will be provided by the SBMS Band and will be issued during the school year. Uniform check out will occur at the end of September. These uniforms will be checked out and kept at home when not in use and students will return them in May. Once your child has been issued a uniform, you will need to have them hemmed to fit your child. Most cleaners in the area will do these alterations for you. When in public the complete uniform is to be worn.  There are a few items of clothing you will need to purchase:

Boys will be issued black dress slacks, white tux shirt, and tux vest. 

                        YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE OR HAVE:

                         solid black dress shoes (no tennis shoes)

                         black dress socks

Girls will be issued a black dress.

YOU WILL NEED TO PURCHASE OR HAVE:

                         Solid Black closed toe dress shoes (no tennis shoes)

                         Black dress socks/stockings

Please plan now to get the appropriate items. Students will need to have all of the above by October 15. Students who do not have the correct uniform will not perform at the concert and will receive a lowered performance grade.

Parade/Football Game/Pep Rallies/ Informal Concerts: For these events, we will wear our blue band shirt, denim jeans without holes, and tennis shoes. Shorts, capris, sandals will not be permitted. Failure to bring the appropriate dress for these events will possibly result in a lowered grade or even possibly not being allowed to perform at the given performance.

Explanation of Fees and Financial Obligations

To Anticipate

Below are some of the obligations that all band students can anticipate: Please let us know if there is a financial concern. We DO NOT want kids to be unable to participate due to financial constraints and we realize that some items are more expensive than in previous years due to cost increases and higher quality. You have our word that we will keep all matters private.

·Band T-Shirt - $15-Used for our spirit performances and travel when not performing

·Region Band Entry Fee - $10-Entry fee for All-Region Auditions

·Fair Share-$40-Used for Master Classes, Clinicians, supplies as needed, and       Uniform Cleaning. This is collected during the first week of classes.

·Solo/Ensemble Entry Fee-$8 Entry Fee for CISD Solo and Ensemble

·Instrument Usage Fee-$80 (school-owned instruments only) Used for repairs and maintenance.

Donations:

Throughout the year, we will need some donations for our events. Dates and times will be communicated in advance of activities where items are needed. If you are interested in assisting with any of our events or being a chaperone for a trip, please reach out to Mr. Richardson via email and he will be in contact with you as events approach. All parents who volunteer with the SBMS Band Program will need to fill out and submit a Comal ISD Background Check.    

Link: Comal ISD Background Check  

Below is a list of items needed: Water, Gatorade, Pizza, Cookies, Snacks, Tissues, Paper Towels.

Region Band:

Every year, there is a process called “Region Band Audition”. This is a process that 7th and 8th graders from every school in our region audition to participate in a “All Region Band” and perform a concert. Students in this class are NOT required to attend but are VERY encouraged to learn the music. Sections for each instrument will take place in the fall. Students are welcome to attend to learn the music. If a student makes the Region Band, they are automatically moved to the Varsity Band at the spring semester (student schedule permitting).