Excellence in everything we do. We do things one way in our program. The RIGHT way!

In band this year everyone will…

~show respect at all times to others in the group.

~play with good tone, balance, blend, and pitch.

~play musically.

~play with good individual technique, posture, hand position and embouchure.

~improve every time we play.

~keep the room, instruments and music clean and neat.

~be organized.

~work as a group to reach our goals.

Traughber Band Rule:  Do the right thing...even when you don't feel like it.

This will include:

~Come prepared with all supplies.

~Be respectful (listen-pay attention-one person speaks at a time).

~Do your best.

~Play only when asked to.

~Improve every time we play.

~Handle only the equipment that you use.

~No food, candy, mints, suckers or drinks in any music rooms.

Traughber Band Consequences:

Handled on an individual-as needed basis which will include the District-Wide Behavior Program

*********All school rules apply to all band rehearsals and events.*******

Band Enrollment:

Band is a year-long course of instruction. Students and parents should plan for the student to complete the entire school year of the course once they select it as an elective option.

Schedule Changes:

We reserve the option of a schedule change for students who have a very serious physical and/or mental health or emotional concern and need their entire schedule adapted to accommodate their medical needs. This decision will be made following a meeting between the teacher, parents, student, student services and any appropriate medical personnel. This process will be the final option once all other accommodations have been exhausted and found to be ineffective in meeting the needs of the student.

Band Schedule Change Checklist

• Does student have a serious medical issue?

• Does student have a serious mental health or emotional concern?

• Does student need to have their schedule adapted to accommodate their medical needs? 

• Does student have a serious academic issue in core classes?

• Does student have a serious academic issue in band?

• Does student have the ability to effectively contribute to the band class?

• Does student have an unusual personal situation which makes remaining in band a hardship?

• Have there been any meetings between the teacher, parents, student, student services and any appropriate medical personnel?

• Have all other accommodations have been exhausted and found to be ineffective in meeting the needs of the student?

Instrument Upgrades

Students should remain on the student-level rental until you are prepared to invest in a high quality instrument. These instruments will take students through High School and College.

Flute~ Gemeinhardt or Yamaha Intermediate Level or higher

Oboe~Selmer or Yamaha Intermediate Level or higher

Clarinet~Buffet R13 or Yamaha

Alto Sax~Yamaha Custom Z

Trumpet~Bach Stradivarius, Yamaha Xeno Series

Horn~Conn 8D

Trombone~Yamaha Xeno, Bach 42BO or Bach 42T

Baritone/Euphonium~Yamaha 4 Valve Intermediate Level or higher

Instrument Changes:

We currently do not have the resources or schedule to accommodate instrument changes after the initial Summer Band Beginner Class. It is best that students stay on the instrument they choose during instrument appointments.  Usually, the reason students want to switch is because they believe they have already learned how to play that instrument and now want to try a new one, or they think they are "bored" with the initial choice. Each instrument comes with its own set of unique challenges. Learning a musical instrument is a life-long process - and one never truly masters their instrument. There are times, however, when students are needed to switch instruments for the benefit of the band and have full instrumentation:  alto sax to tenor and baritone sax, baritone to tuba, oboe to bassoon, clarinet to bass clarinet, etc. On very rare occasions, students have been switched at a director's discretion due to medical conditions that warrant a change.  It is normal for students to be curious and interested in learning other instruments, but the road to improvement is a single-lane, one-way, highway.  Students should stay on the instrument they chose and be committed to mastering that instrument. 

We aim for each student to work toward mastery of the instrument they selected at Beginner Band Appointments. We are very careful and methodical in how we help students select an instrument before Beginner Band starts. Once the instrumentation of the band is determined, it is critical that we maintain that instrumentation for the benefit of the musical integrity of the entire ensemble. Correct and balanced instrumentation is one of the most important factors in the success of the ensemble. In the same way that each athletic team has players in specific positions with the correct ratio of players, a band must have the correct ratio of players on each instrument.

Students may change the instrument of study under one of the following scenarios-

1. The director advises the student to switch based upon a need for a particular instrument, or more advanced "color" instruments are needed to balance the ensemble.

2. The student re-enrolls with the Beginner Band the following school year to begin study on the new instrument.

3. The student continues in a band while taking private lessons with an approved private lesson teacher outside of school for the secondary instrument. If the student catches up to the level of their current group and passes a playing assessment for the directors, they may enroll in their grade level band on the new instrument the following year.