Mr. David McConnehey
Email: dmcconnehey@d59.k12.id.us
Phone: (208) 346-6815
Room: 1
Conference: By appointment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Band is a performance based class that focuses on allowing students to play woodwind, brass and percussion instruments. Each lesson and piece of music performed will help fulfill the Idaho State Standards for Music Education. This includes performing music from a variety of cultures and genres. Students participating in band will be required to participate in performances outside of the normal school day. Students will be required to purchase a band uniform, and in most cases provide their own instrument.
COMMUNICATION
The best way to contact me is by email. dmcconnehey@d59.k12.id.us.
Feel free to follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Firth-Music-1763379960371169/
CLASS MATERIALS
Students will be responsible for coming to class prepared. Students should come to class with the following items:
GRADING
Grades are earned not given. Students grades will be based on mastery of their respective instrument, ensemble citizenship, knowledge of music history, and music theory. Students grades with follow this scale.
100-90=A 89-80=B 79-70=C 69-60=D 59-0=F
CLASSWORK
Classwork in music classes is participation. Students will be awarded 2 points a day for participating in class. This includes, but is not limited to, singing/playing when asked, and being actively engaged in rehearsal.
Any written work submitted in class must be written in pencil. Any assignment written in ink or colored pencil will lose 10% of its grade. Red ink is for the director and will not be graded.
BELL ASSIGNMENTS
Students will be given a bell assignment each day in class. They will have the first 5 minutes of class to complete this assignment. Students will not be allowed to make up this assignment, nor will they receive extra time to complete this assignment if they are late to class. These assignments will be kept in a journal and checked for completion once a week.
LATE WORK
Any assignment that is not turn in on the due date is considered LATE. Assignments may be try submitted late as long as they are placed in the tray labeled “LATE”. This basket will be graded at the earliest convenience of the teacher.
Late assignments submitted the last two weeks of the grading period will may not be graded.
PRACTICING
Students will be expected to spend 10-30 minutes a day practicing their instruments at home. Students will need to keep track of their practicing in their method book and will it be checked in class weekly.
PLAYING TEST
Students will need to submit their playing tests through our Google Classroom. The procedure for this will be covered in class. If a student needs to use a school computer they may come to the music room any day before or after school.
INSTRUMENTS
Students participating in the Firth High School Band will be assigned an instrument after consulting with Mr. McConnehey. Students who don’t consult with Mr. McConnehey risk being removed from the band entirely.
Students will be allowed to play flute, clarinet, trumpet, or trombone. Students will be expected to provide their own instrument and bring it to class in working order. The school has a small inventory of instruments to help students in need. These instruments are lent on a first come, first serve basis. Students are expected to return the instrument in the same condition they received it, and will be responsible for any repairs beyond “normal wear and tear”.
MUSIC & FOLDERS
The Firth School District Bands will use the method book Sound Innovations By Robert Sheldon, Peter Boonshaft, Dave Black, and Bob Phillips. This book is a three book series. It is affordably priced and is available at our local music stores. Students are expected to provide their own method books. First year students should get Book 1. Second year students should get Book 1&2
Any sheet music or supplemental material used in band will be provided by the director. School sheet music is to be returned to the school by the date given by the director. Students may not keep copies of sheet music and other copyrighted material. Doing so will violate copyright laws.
BAND KARATE
This year all band students, new and old, will be participating in Band Karare. This fun and innovative concept allows students to work on their own to ultimately achieve the rank of Black Belt. Students will receive incentives and rewards as they progress on their own through the Sound Innovations book. For more information about Band Karate please visit our website.
BAND UNIFORM
Concerts are a time to display what we have accomplished over the course of the quarter. Students are not to draw unnecessary attention to themselves. For this reason our band uniform will be the following:
Boys: Plain white dress shirt (no logos), black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoes. Men may wear a suit coat if they choose.
Girls: Black blouse with black skirt or black dress slacks, or black dress, with black closed-toed shoes. If girls choose to wear nylons, or stockings, they should be flesh-toned or black. Hair should be out of your face and not blocking others view of the director, and make-up should be done conservatively.
NO ATHLETIC SHOES OR SANDALS.
ALL CLOTHES MUST MEET FMS DRESS CODE REQUIREMENTS!
If a student is not dressed in accordance with school dress code or band uniform requirements, they may not be allowed to perform and will lose those points.
Parents and students with concerns should contact the director immediately. All concerns will be addressed on an individual and confidential bases.
CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
Throughout the year band students will be expected to perform during and outside of school hours. These performances are not optional. They represent the conclusion of all the learning that has been accomplished during a period of time. Students will be held accountable for any and all missed performances. Students will be expected to stay for the entire duration of their concert. It is considered rude and poor manners to leave a concert of this type early. Please plan accordingly so that you, and your student, may spend the entire concert with us. Most concerts don’t last more than an hour.
MISSED CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
Parents are responsible for contacting the director or school if a student is going to miss a performance. When possible parents should contact the director two weeks before a performance by emailing Mr. McConnehey at dmcconnehey@d59.k12.id.us. If there is an unforeseen circumstance that occurs the night of a performance parents should contact the director via email as soon as possible. Students will only be excused from attending a concert for severe illness or unforeseen family emergency.
Any student who misses a performance will be required to take the semester final and perform for the class. Whatever grade they receive on the final will be the grade they receive for the class.
Students who miss multiple performances run the risk of being removed from the class and/or failing the class all together.
CONCERT & PERFORMANCE DATES
Parents and students are asked to save the following dates for school music performances.
October 27, 2018 - Harvest Festival - Firth High School - All Day
December 12, 2018 - Christmas Concert - Firth High School - 7:00 pm
January 31-February 2, 2019 - Idaho All-State Band - Rexburg - All Day
March 11, 2019 - District Solo/Ensemble - South Fremont High School - All Day
March 13, 2019 - Spring Band Concert - Firth High School - 7:00 pm
April 18, 2019 - District Honor Band - BYU - Idaho - All Day
May 1, 2019 - District Band Festival - Teton High School - All Day
May 16, 2019 - End of Year Concert - Firth High School - 7:00 pm
May 23, 2019 - FHS Graduation - Firth High School - TBD
All performances at Firth High School will begin at 7:00 pm unless otherwise noted. Students will need to arrive at school in their concert uniform no later than 6:30 pm on the night of concerts.
PEP BAND
All FHS Band students are expected to participate in the Cougar Pep Band. This band provides music for all home football games and Friday night basketball games. Students will be expected to attend all home football games and 75% of home basketball games. Students who fulfill this requirement will be allowed to travel with the teams to their respective playoff tournaments. Students will be given a schedule with the home games in class.
LETTERING
Students who enrolled at Firth High School, may earn their music letter. This is an honor given to freshman, sophomores, juniors and senior who complete the necessary requirements and show dedication to the music program. Students who wish to letter must submit their lettering application not later than May 2, 2019. All applications will be reviewed by the director. Students who earn this distinction will receive it during the final concert of the year.
STUDENT IMAGES
During the course of the semester students may have their image duplicated, by photo or video, by the director or one of his appointees and used to help promote the music program. These images may be posted to the school’s Facebook page, Donorschoose.org, and/or the school’s website.
MOVIES AND VIDEOS
Occasionally videos and movies will be shown in class to help augment the learning processes. The videos shown in class will be screened prior to showing the students by the teacher, and will meet the district guidelines for movies in class. Occasionally a segment of a PG-13 movie may be shown in class.
TRAVEL
Traveling with the band to festivals and other performances is a privilege and expected of every student participating in the band. In all instances of travel there are transportation and participation costs involved. Detailed itineraries will be emailed to parents before each event, and students conflicts should minimized.
There are occasions when students will be participating in events that require a payment based on how many individual students attend. If a student fails to fulfill their commitment to attend this performance, they will be required to reimburse the school for the cost of their registration.