HERITAGE BANDS

2020-2021

Heritage Academy Mesa

Instrumental Music Department

Mr. Kerwin Blau, Director

kblau@heritageacademyaz.com

Dear Band Members and Parents:

Hello and welcome to Band!! We here at Heritage aim to provide students and parents with the optimal online experience, as well as the best in person musical education we can. I look forward to working with each and every one of you as we strive to build unified performance groups even though we are not beginning in a face to face setting. And at such a time that we are able to gather together, the items highlighted in this syllabus will be a helpful resource we can refer back to. I am grateful for the time and effort you are putting forward to help our performance groups excel.

With much gratitude,

Mr. Blau

BAND SYLLABUS/Handbook

Heritage Academy Mesa

2020-2021

Instruments & Supplies:

Each student is expected to provide their own instrument.

School Instruments -The school owns very few band instruments. These instruments will be available for check-out for a one time fee of $100. (August to May) Instruments are to be brought to and from school for every class as playing time at home is imperative.

• Pencil: always needed for every rehearsal. No pens.

• Music Folder with all pieces that we are practicing to perform as well as any scales and method books. (Method Books will be determined at a later time as this depends upon the playing level of the band).

• INSTRUMENT: in working order. ie. valves oiled, tonehole pads in good shape, trombone slides that slide and no missing pieces

• Every Instrument must have a permanent ID tag or visible label with student name on the OUTSIDE of the case.

• Instrument care kits; valve oil, slide cream, tuning slide grease, cork grease, cleaning rods, cleaning cloths with drawstrings, extra reeds and polishing cloths

• Metronome and Tuner: FREE apps are available

• Music Stand: Very helpful to have at home to hold music at appropriate angle/height

PERFORMANCE ATTIRE

Jazz Band: (audition only ensemble)

shoes= Converse style high tops/low tops different colors

pants= black slacks, nice and clean

shirt= button front with collar long sleeve solid color of your choice,

Symphonic Band: (audition only ensemble)

Men- White long sleeve dress or tuxedo shirt

Black: tie, belt, dress pants, socks, shoes

Ladies - Black uniform floor length dress, dress shoes,

Concert Band:

Men- White long sleeve dress shirt

Black: Bow tie, belt, dress pants, dress socks, dress shoes

Ladies – Black head to toe

Black long dress or long skirt or dress pants and blouse with sleeves. Black dress shoes,

ALL BANDS: a Band “Spirit Day” T-Shirt is available for purchase. These shirts may be worn to school on designated Spirit Days. T-Shirts are between $10-12. Please have your scholar bring home a BAND Spirit Day order form!

CONCERTS

All Concerts are FREE. Our Band concerts are held in the Auditorium on campus!

ONLINE CLASS PROCEDURES & GRADING

ONLINE REHEARSALS; Classroom assignments will be given on the Google Classroom homepage. Assignments will include work on musictheory.net, watching assigned music videos,composer studies, responding to short question/answer assignments, and submitting video recordings of playing tests/responses. These video recordings will be submitted through Flipgrid with links on the Google Classroom. The videos will not be shared with other students, only the teacher has access to them. It is also suggested to not watch your videos over and over and fret about how you look, or what your background looks like. The main focus and purpose of these is the music. Grades will be based on participation and completion of assignments.

RESOURCES FOR ONLINE LEARNING

Musictheory.net Flipgrid.com

Soundtrap.com Google Classroom

CLASS PROCEDURES & GRADING

REHEARSALS;

Students enter for rehearsal by being prepared, on task, and on time. Tardies will affect grades. Students are to be in the Band room by the bell. They should be seated with all their music and instrumental materials within one minute after the bell. Tardiness to either the bell or to ensemble readiness will result in possible loss of daily points. There is equipment to unpack, and it takes time! To be respectful to others, it is appreciated that you do this on time. All Heritage rules of conduct, behavior, and use of the school facilities will be expected to be followed.This means no food or drink (including gum) or “rough-housing” is permitted in the rehearsal room. Our rehearsal room is not the lunch room. Points will be subtracted from daily grade if this policy is violated. Regarding restroom: While it is most effective to have every musician present, restroom use will be permitted.

CELL PHONES

Cellphones are not to be out or used during class time. Students are to put their phones in their backpacks during rehearsal. Using a cell phone during rehearsal, performance, or in the audience for student use is not allowed. Should a student choose otherwise - result will be loss of daily participation points and or concert points. The phone will be taken and kept by the teacher and may be retrieved by the student at the end of class, or the parent at the end of the day.

GRADING

At the end of each grading period, points are totaled and put into percentage form:

Performances = 40% Daily Points/Participation/Citizenship =40%

Playing Tests/Written work & quizzes = 20% Total Possible = 100%

Grades are earned on the following basis:

Participation/Rehearsal Points:

Daily and Rehearsal points serve as motivation for us to have productive rehearsals, and make wise efficient use of time.

This grade is all encompassing. Daily points are given for overall citizenship which includes being present, on time, prepared with instruments for rehearsal and participating with No gum, No phone. Tardies will result in loss of 10 daily points. Misconduct or choosing to not follow appropriate rehearsal technique will result in lost points. Students are expected to have their instrument, music, and pencil at EVERY class. This is not optional. Grades will reflect a student's level of commitment. Participation & Rehearsal points are worth a large portion of your total grade.

Music checks/Playing Exams: specific points attached to each selection

Written assignments: Concert reflections, teacher surveys, & theory

Performances: Points are earned for the semester by arriving on time, having complete performance attire, appropriate audience etiquette, appropriate performance etiquette, observation of the entire concert.

MUSIC

Every student will receive a practice copy of the performance music we are working on in class. This copy may be taken home for individual practice. Original copies will be assigned to each stand for class rehearsal. Originals will also be used at the performances. Students are responsible for keeping music accounted for. Any lost original music will result in a $6.00 per page replacement fee.

INSTRUMENT STORAGE

Instrument storage is available in the Band practice room. This room is open before and after school so students may drop off instruments before the school day, and pick them up after school. Students may drop off instruments as early as 7:40am Mon. &Wed. & need to pick up instruments from the Band room by 3:45. Instrument storage rooms will be locked daily after 3:45pm.

PERFORMANCES

Purpose

This is a performance based class. Our purpose in meeting, is to prepare as an ensemble for performance, while maintaining a mindset of learning and discovery along the way. Every performance is an opportunity for the Band to share & demonstrate its present level of skill, musical maturity, mastery of techniques, interpretation, and musicianship. Through performing, we share with each-other and audience members the joy of music. It is crucial to our success as a team that each member of the Band prepare and perform at the best of one’s ability.

Grading & Performance

Performances are the equivalent of taking a major exam in an academic subject. Since a performance is a one-time occurrence, there are NO make ups for missed performances. Individual participation for every performance is crucial! We need every member present! Attendance at performances are imperative. Please mark your family calendar today with our concerts for the year!

Call Times for Performance

The “call time” is the time that students are expected to arrive for a performance. All students are to be present 30 minutes prior to a performance. Students will sign in prior to warm up. Tardies that occur with ‘call time’ will be reflected in the performance grade.

Performance Calendar

All of the Bands at Heritage Academy have their performance dates posted on the school calendar. Please refer to the school calendar often and use it to update your personal calendars as time grows closer to each performance.

Regionals & All State

For those students wanting to participate in Regionals/All-state a $25 audition fee is due with the student's name and ensemble to the front desk by Nov. 1st. Any other band students in grades 9-12 may also audition for regionals. These auditions take place in January at Desert Vista High School. Audition Etudes are available from Mr. Blau. Regional auditions require that musicians are prepared with the three selected etudes, and all major and melodic minor scales/ arpeggios up to four sharps and four flats. Sight reading will also be part of the audition assessment. Students who place in the Regional Band/Orchestra will have the opportunity to participate in Arizona All State. All State is at ASU this year.

Private Lessons

Acquiring a private teacher for your child certainly offers many benefits. It’s a one-on-one time to get instant feedback and further insight in learning to play an instrument. If you would like any help in finding a teacher for your musician, please let me know.

Tax Credit Form https://heritageacademyaz.com/tax-credit-contribution/

If you are interested in helping out the Heritage Academy Instrumental Music Program, you can now take advantage of the state tax credit which allows you to contribute any amount up to $400. This money is used to pay for new music, instruments, buses, repairs, festival registration fees, etc. Making an ECA donation is made easy through the Heritage Academy website (see above)! All TOUR fees may be paid with ECA funds.

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Best Practices and Expectations

for Online Learning

As a Distance Learning Scholar, it is anticipated that you will...

1. Check your assignments for the week in Google classroom by 8 a.m. Monday morning for A days and 8 a.m. Tuesday morning for B days.

2. Take attendance every day by 8:15 a.m. for 1st period classes and by 2 p.m. for all other classes. There is a Google Form that your teachers will share everyday in each Google Classroom. Teachers will enter attendance each day into PowerSchool by 3 p.m. If you have not submitted your attendance by 2 p.m. for each class, you will be marked absent in classes missing attendance. If you are sick for a day and won’t be working on your schoolwork, please have a parent call the front desk and let them know you are “absent” for the day.

3. Monitor your assignments and pay close attention to deadlines. You will have a more successful learning experience if you carefully manage your time. Our expectation is that you will be “in school” during school hours, Monday - Thursday. Evenings and weekends can be used to catch up or prepare for the next week. Set aside time every day to complete your school work.

4. Turn assignments in on time. Assignments are due based on class schedule. A-day assignments are due Monday and Wednesday by midnight. B-day assignments are due Tuesday and Thursday by midnight.

5. Be aware that late work will be penalized. Unlike the 4th quarter of last year, teachers will mark your work late and will deduct points according to their syllabus. Some teachers may not accept late work. We are not in an emergency online learning situation. We are in school and value both academic learning and behavioral character. Be responsible. If you have a computer issue or need extra time, communicate clearly and promptly to your teachers. They may or may not give extended time.

6. Advocate and problem solve for yourself. When you get stuck reread instructions, rewatch posted videos, ask a friend for help, work with your success coach or parent, email your teachers. We want you to be successful. We want you to learn. Use all your resources to get help. Your teachers will do their best to reply to your emails during school hours Monday through Thursday. If you email them in the evening, they may not get back to you until the next day. If you email them over the weekend, they will reply on Monday.

7. Help your parents or success coach help you. When you have questions, log into your Google Classrooms and show your parents or success coach your assignments. Your assignment due dates can also be viewed through the calendar on your teachers’ Google Sites.

8. ​Join your teachers each week during office hours for help. ​Each member of each department will be online in two, one hour blocks for office hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays of every week. Click the “meet link” on the homepage of a Google Classroom, and it will take you directly to the Google Meet.

Schedule: 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. math, 10:00 - 11:00 English & history, 11:00 - noon science and world languages, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. performing arts, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. athletics.

9. Maintain Heritage standards and character. When joining Google Meets, making videos, working out, submitting assignments, etc. Heritage standards in dress and speech should be maintained. Be respectful and use proper English usage. Even though we’re online, academic language should be used (not “social media or texting” language) when communicating with each other and your teachers.

10. Participate in community building. Your teachers will plan activities to develop classroom community while learning online. Be a full participant in your class not just academically but also socially. Get to know the other scholars in your classes so you can support each other.

11. Remember that we’re all in this together. We miss you and wish we could hold school in person. We are all Heritage Heroes! Together we can have a great school year.