5. Grading Policy, Instrument Care, School Owned Instruments

GRADING

The grading system used is designed to allow the student to earn a grade that is indicative of his/her effort. Daily participation, performing alone and in a group while having the appropriate materials will make up your grades.  Sectionals are also required for Honor Band and Drumline.  Any make-up work for failing or missing grades will mainly consist of performing material for the director either before or after school.

Grades are made up of:

Ø Content Mastery (Group performances/ individual playing test)

Ø Content Understanding (Individual/section skill checks)

Ø Content Engagement (Daily Activities)

Content Engagement:

Ø Daily activities: Participation during lessons on new concepts, listening to excerpts or performance pieces, rhythmic and melodic dictation.

Content Understanding:

Ø  Playing Tests: There will be individual playing tests over the course of the year.  All will be for a grade and will also determine chair placement. Rhythmic and Melodic dictation quizzes

Content Mastery:

Ø  Performances (includes all Winter Concert, Spring Concert, Pre-UIL concert and all contests)

INSTRUMENT CARE AND GUIDELINES

All band students must take their instruments home every day. No one is allowed to leave their instrument at school.  The care of your instrument (yours or the school’s) is one of your biggest responsibilities.  Write down the serial number and leave it in a safe place.  Keep it clean and well maintained.  Always have your name on your case in plain view.  Many cases look alike and have often been taken home by the wrong person.  Check to make sure you have your instrument before you leave school. 

If your instrument has to go to the repair shop, you must bring the claim tag from the music store which is repairing the instrument. Any work missed while your instrument is being repaired must be completed by the end of the six weeks. Any work not completed by the end of the grading period automatically becomes a zero.

USE OF SCHOOL OWNED INSTRUMENTS

The band program is limited in the instruments that we can provide.  The instruments that the school only provides are as follows: Oboe, French Horn, Euphonium/Baritone,Tuba, Bari Sax, Tenor Sax, Bassoon and Bass Clarinet.  All supplies needed for your particular instrument is the responsibility of the student and parent.  Supplies for school and personal instruments may be purchased from any of the suggested music stores in the El Paso area.

The following instruments are not provided by the school: Alto Sax and Beginning Band Percussion. Parents are responsible for the rental or purchase of these instruments, including the supplies needed.

If a student uses a school instrument there is an annual usage fee of $45. Checks and Money Orders are preferred. Make checks out to Richardson Middle School.  Please include a phone number as well as Driver's License number. Please be aware that this is a fee for the use of the instrument and does not cover any accessories and repair/damage that may be needed. If repair is needed for a school instrument, please do not take it for repair. Mr. Sanchez will take it to the district repair shop.

A checkout form before issuance of an instrument will be sent home for parent/guardian evaluation and signature. The form and payment must be turned returned in order for the student to be issued an instrument. 

It is the responsibility of the student/parent to check over the instrument at that time and understand that the instrument must be returned in the same condition at the end of the year in which it was issued at the beginning. If repairs are necessary during the year it is the responsibility of the student and parent to inform Mr. Sanchez.  

If in the opinion of the director, a school-owned instrument is not being properly maintained or cared for at any time it is the director's prerogative to remove the instrument from the student's care.  This also includes if a student continuously leaves the instrument at school overnight.

If your instrument is not working properly, let a director know immediately.  Sometimes minor repairs can be taken care of at school and can save you time and money.  If the instrument does need repair it is the students’ and parents’ responsibility to take it to the music store if necessary.  If this occurs, a written and signed note by a parent or the receipt from the music store is required. INSTRUMENTS LEFT AT SCHOOL OVERNIGHT MAY RESULT IN A LOWERED GRADE.

It is necessary and important for us to have an OUTSTANDING BAND and that each student has a quality instrument.  This includes accessories: mouthpieces, ligatures, reeds, etc.   It is often difficult to have a characteristic tone as well as tune instruments and accessories that are not of good quality.  Each student’s instrument and accessories will be checked periodically.