FAQs

Always turn in late work and include an explanation for why it is late. Middle School students should also observe the guidelines for using "OOPS" passes.

You may not get credit for your late work, but turning it in is the right thing to do.

Every student should practice at home four days a week for about 15 minutes each day. 

In order to play four days a week, most students need to bring their instrument home multiple times each week.

5th and 6th graders should be in the habit of bringing their instrument home basically every day they have class.

7th and 8th graders may be a bit more selective about when they take their instruments home, but it is a very rare student who practices Friday night, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday before school.

It is exciting to hear a student make progress! It’s motivational to the student, to classmates, and to me.

If you practice, you get better.
If you get better, you play with better players.
If you play with better players, you play better music.
If you play better music, you have more fun.
If you have more fun, you want to practice more.
If you practice more, you get better...

--Doug Yeo

Students should come prepared to play the music and exercises assigned by your lesson teacher. At the end of each lesson, students copy the next assignment(s) to their personal lesson assignment sheet.

Students receive a grade for each lesson based on being Present, being Prepared, demonstrating Progress, and having correct Position (instrument and body). This is listed in Parent/StudentVUE as Lesson #1, Lesson #2, etc. Students may miss one lesson per quarter without a penalty. Missed lessons (e.g., due to illness, absence, a test in class) may be made up by following the instructions posted on Classroom. Lessons missed because of a teacher absence or a day off of school do not need to be made up.

Several times per quarter, students will demonstrate a specific skill during class. Some examples include articulation patterns, reading the counts of a rhythm, or playing a rudiment (percussion only). Individual feedback is given to the student, and students who aren't ready to demonstrate the skill will have a second opportunity the following week.

Students track their practicing by updating a sheet daily in class. Each week also includes a question for students to respond to. Some months, the back of the practice plan includes an assignment to complete at home during the month (e.g., in October, students review the maintenance of their instrument and check in with a parent to make sure they have all necessary supplies).

Each week, students receive a grade book entry for Rehearsal Contribution.

Students earn these points by coming prepared to rehearsal with materials as well as with prior individual practice. Positive Rehearsal Contribution includes the habit of correct playing position and demonstrating an understanding of sound and silence (e.g., playing and listening at the right times)

One other component of positive Rehearsal Contribution is completing the written work we do during class. This includes things like musical dictations, theory exercises, and responses to questions I pose during rehearsal.

The most frequent reasons for students losing Rehearsal Contribution points are: missing materials (instrument, music, pencil, etc.), disrupting the rehearsal (by talking or playing out of turn), or not turning in written work from class time.

When students are absent for an extended time, I typically mark Rehearsal Contribution assignments exempt in the grade book.

I try to balance providing timely, specific feedback in this area with the amount of time it takes to add grades and comments. I hope what I provide online and the information in this note helps understand both what I try to do and why.

Find the instructions for makeup lessons on Classroom. They are posted on the Classwork tab under Band Makeup Lessons. Genreally lessons must be made up within one week of missing the lesson.

Typically every week on Friday.

Grades in band should reflect the work that students produce, the skills that students honed, and the effort that students make. If a student or parent would like to discuss middle school band grades, please talk through the following steps together before emailing or calling Mr. DeCaro.

1. Is all of your work completed? Late work (from an absence, e.g.) often lags a bit before getting into the gradebook.

2. Have you reviewed the specific assignments listed in StudentVUE/ParentVUE, and do you understand what each of them is? Please do not ask about "missing assignments" without examining what they are--that information is available to you in StudentVUE/ParentVUE.

3. Students, how do you see yourself in the following areas? Do you need help in a specific area? Are there ways in which you can see the need for improvement?

   1. Practicing: Students are expected to practice at least 4 days a week for about an hour in total.

   2. Instruments and music need to be brought home regularly. 

   3. Students need to attend their weekly lesson (or make it up within a week of the absence if they miss more than one in a quarter).

   4. Do you contribute positive to class on a daily basis? Coming prepared with all materials, following directions right away, demonstrating exemplary playing position, and giving your best focus and attention are all ways to make positive contributions.

Band Worksheet assignments are completed in class over the course of 1–2 weeks. Each worksheet has five sections, and each section involves completing activities such as notating music, writing a musical dictation, or composition. As long as a majority of the worksheet (three or more sections) is completed according to the instructions, students will earn full credit.

Playing tests are (typically) individual which are played live in class or recorded via Sight Reading Factory.