20% = "Rehearsal Etiquette:" Materials, assignments, participation, cooperation, and effort for class.
15% = Completing home practice records and journals to prepare for class.
45% = Playing or written quizzes/tests.
20% = Performances each semester during school year.
Click here to download a copy of a Practice Sheet
Click here to download a copy of the 2025-26 syllabus
Rehearsal Etiquette (20%)
Students are expected to bring a working instrument, method book, pencil and any sheet music in a black notebook with sheet protectors to receive participation points each day. 7th & 8th graders are expected to bring tuners to class (except percussionists). Students are expected to give their best effort in rehearsal and to treat each other, the instructor and the facility with respect.
Home Practice (15%)
All students are expected to practice on a regular schedule at home and complete monthly practice records provided by the instructor. Parents are asked to monitor the completion and validity of the practice record each month by signing the form as indicated. Students are expected to play or practice an average of 15 minutes per day to receive full credit towards their grade.
This is the ONLY homework assignment you are required to turn in. Please fill out the form COMPLETELY. This includes your name, the month, the total number of minutes you practiced that month, the name of the piece you practiced each day, the amount of daily practice, parent initials, and a running total (adding the minutes you practiced as you go).
Practice Journals are due on the FIRST MONDAY of each month.
LATE POLICY: Students can turn in missing journals for credit without penalty before the end of the trimester.
If practice journals are missing any information, points will be removed. If parent signature/initials are missing, you will get a zero.
New journals will be passed out each month. If you need another copy, ask Mr. Dungey, or download and print out a copy from the band website.
Assessments (45%)
Students will be asked to prepare assigned lines from the PCMS Warm-Up Sheet, method books and excerpts from sheet music for testing in class. Playing tests are done in class.
Concerts/Performances (20%)
All students are expected to participate in performances scheduled each trimester in order to receive full credit for class. These are critical to the development of the musician as a performer of an instrument.
Extra Credit
Extra practicing always equals extra credit! If you practice 800 minutes in a month and 400 is the standard, then you get 200% for that grade. Also, attending concerts where your instrument is represented qualifies as additional practice minutes!