Handbook - Instrumental Detail

Symphonic Band

Open to all students (grades 9-12) without audition

Most 9th and 10th grade students will start in this group before advancing to Wind Ensemble

Band Only

• Schedule Symphonic Band (only); 1 credit

• No audition requirement

• Most students are required to participate in marching band; see below

• Requires family service and financial obligations to the music boosters (WASBA)

Band & Choir

• Schedule Symphonic Band/Concert Choir (combo); 1 credit

• No audition requirement

• Most students are required to participate in marching band; see below

• Requires family service and financial obligations to the music boosters (WASBA)

Wind Ensemble

Open to selected students (grades 9-12) based on audition

Many 11th and 12th grade students fit into this ensemble as a natural progression of their ability. This group can serve as a student's only curricular ensemble OR in addition to Symphonic Band (for an additional elective credit).

Band Only

• Schedule Wind Ensemble (only); 1 credit

• Requires a successful audition; consult Mr. Ritter 

• Most students are required to participate in marching band; see below 

• Requires family service and financial obligations to the music boosters (WASBA)

Band & Choir

• Schedule Wind Ensemble/Chamber Choir (combo); 1 credit

• Requires a successful Wind Ensemble audition and acceptance into Chamber Choir; consult Mr. Ritter and Mr. Vensel 

• Most students are required to participate in marching band; see below 

• Requires family service and financial obligations to the music boosters (WASBA)

To be updated; refer to printable handbook

Chamber Ensembles

Open to all students; as desired, small groups work on their own time and request coaching from the music faculty (dependent upon the availability of the chosen advisor). Performance opportunities are available at the Small Ensembles Concert, in conjunction with large ensemble concerts, and through community outreach events (ex. Destination Arts).

FFCMEA County Band

Participation requires invitation of the choir director. For more information, visit http://www.ffcmea.org/.

Indoor Color Guard

This competition organization is open to all students that perform in Outdoor Color Guard (marching band). Participation requires night and weekend availability throughout the academic year. See the color guard instructor(s) for more information.

Indoor Percussion Ensemble

This competition organization is open to all students. Participation requires night and weekend availability throughout the academic year. See the percussion instructor(s) for more information.

Jazz Band

Participation requires enrollment in either Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble except for guitar, bass, and piano players. This ensemble is entirely extracurricular and will rehearse prior to school or in the evenings (dependent upon the availability of the student members and the band director). Attendance at all jazz band rehearsals and performances is required. Failure to comply will affect membership and eligibility to perform in the ensemble.

Pit Orchestra

Participation requires invitation of the band director/musical director.

PMEA Honors Festival Bands

Participation requires recommendation of the band director and successful audition for District 7, Region V, and All-State bands. For more information, visit http://www.pmeadistrict7.org/.

• Black buttoned shirt, long-sleeved

• Black pants

• Black socks, long

• Black shoes

• Black top, high neckline/covered shoulders

• Black pants or skirt, knee length minimum

• Optional: Black dress, knee length minimum

• Black socks, if applicable

• Black shoes, closed toe

• Band t-shirt

• Athletic shorts in warm weather

• Thermal layer in cold weather

• White gloves (as needed)

• Black socks (long)

• Black band shoes

• Black dress pants (winds and percussion only, for inclement weather)

• Guard alternate uniform as identified by Guard Instructors (for inclement weather)

• Raincoat

• Long hair tied up under the hat

• All piercings must be simple studs (gauges permitted on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the director)

• Sweatshirts or warm jackets worn in the stands must be royal blue or hidden entirely under the official uniform

• Hats, winter gloves, earmuffs, etc. must be royal blue, gold, white, black, gray, or hidden entirely under the official uniform

These items are provided by the school and are assigned to individual students. The student assumes financial responsibility for any damage outside of normal wear and tear.

Winds and Percussion

• Uniform jacket

• Uniform pants

• Uniform hat and hat box

• Plume (distributed at the performance venue and collected immediately)

• Uniform hanger

• Uniform garment bag

Guard

• Uniform tunic

• Uniform cami unitard

• Uniform hanger

• Uniform garment bag

All Members - You provide

• Black socks (long)

• Black dress pants (winds and percussion)

• Guard alternate uniform pieces

• Athletic shorts in warm weather

• Thermal layer in cold weather

• Cold weather attire in appropriate colors

Winds and Percussion - Must be ordered at band camp

• Black marching shoes

• White gloves

  • • 2 pairs - winds/conductors

    • No gloves - percussion/guard

• Vinyl raincoat (one time purchase)

• Band t-shirt (free for new members)

Guard - Must be ordered at band camp

• Black guard shoes

• Vinyl raincoat (one time purchase)

• Band t-shirt (free for new members)

Black Socks

• The uniform manager has a limited number of socks available for purchase at $1.00/pair

Band T-shirt

• One may be available for loan, but must be returned

• Failure to return a borrowed shirt will result in a financial obligation or deduction from the WASBA Student Credit Account

Gloves

• Available for purchase at $3.00/pair 

Caring for your uniform properly saves a lot of work and extends the life of each item. Thank you for observing the guidelines below.

• Check pants for mud; If muddy, allow the mud to dry then get a brush from a uniform volunteer and brush off the mud

• Hang pants by the creases, with the seams together in the middle (like dress pants)

  • • To preserve the creases and prevent wrinkles

• Place jacket on hanger (as if it is being draped over your shoulders); Check pockets for belongings

• Hook neck of the jacket and fasten (at least) one button so that the uniform stays on the hanger and does not wrinkle

• Place garment bag over uniform

• Ask an adult volunteer to check your work

• Hang garment bag alphabetically in the proper closet/on the proper Z-rack with the name/number tag toward the front so it can be read easily

  • • No shoes or personal items are to be placed in the bag with your uniform

    • Keep garment bag off the floor (especially on the bus)

• Return shako/hat box to the same closet as your uniform with the box handle facing to the right (name legible)

• Shoes must be cleaned before each performance; If muddy, wipe off as much mud as possible, then use a spray cleaner (like Windex)

• Shoes and gloves are your responsibility between performances

When in uniform, the following can only be consumed if you have covered your uniform properly.  An appropriate cover is a royal blue sweatshirt, approved jacket, band raincoat, etc.

Acceptable if Covered

• Dark Soda 

• Chocolate

• French fries

• Gatorade

• Ketchup

• Nacho cheese

• Soup

• Slushies/snow cones

• Walking taco

Never Acceptable

• Mustard

• Pizza

• Meatball Sandwich

• Food or drink in the stands

Summative (Test) - 40%

Formative (Quiz) - 30%

Classwork - 20%

Homework - 10%

Each student in the music department may be asked to compile an online portfolio throughout the school year to demonstrate their musicianship, growth, and understanding. Completion of the portfolio will be assessed using a provided checklist and rubric. Portfolio items may include performance evaluations, goal journals, self-critiques, concert critiques, vocabulary assignments, repertoire assessments, composer reports, and other evidence of student progress/achievement. Students will have the opportunity to include free-choice items in demonstration of their musicianship. Students will use a combination of Schoology and Google Drive to complete the music portfolio tasks.

All students registered for the course are required to complete a minimum of two (2) service hours per marking period. Those hours can be achieved through volunteering in the concession stand or in smaller increments by completing tasks during the school day. Extra credit and banked hours are available for students that log more than two service hours.

As a member of the band you are expected to make adjustments in your schedule to participate in this organization. Because we are a band and not an assembly of soloists, we must rehearse and perform as a band. Everyone is important. Everyone is a member of the team. It is with this in mind that parents and students should view attendance at any band function as essential and mandatory. If the staff feels rehearsals are no longer needed, they will be canceled—we promise to not waste your time. Likewise, it is expected that you do what you can to avoid conflicts during rehearsals. Please attempt to schedule doctor’s appointments around our rehearsals.

All absences must be cleared with Mr. Ritter in writing prior to rehearsal. A written excuse is required for all doctor’s appointments that may cause you to miss a rehearsal. 

Students must sign the Attendance Log when tardy to marching band rehearsals; unexcused tardies are reflected in the daily rehearsal grade. Unexcused absences from marching band rehearsal are reflected as a "0" in the grade book. Students not registered for the course are tracked on a point system that is linked to may result in consequences concerning gameday/performance activities.

Failure to attend concert performances are reflected as a “0” in the grade book. 

All students are expected to practice a minimum of 30 minutes, four times a week. This time should be spent reviewing concepts that are taught in band and moving toward achieving personal goals. Effective practice is the key to building successful, independent musicians. Practice rooms are available for individual practice during school if students have extra time. You must have a signed pass to come to the music suite to practice.

Since band is a performance-based course, emphasis for grading will be placed upon evidence of each student’s performance abilities and improvements on his or her instrument. Students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their performance abilities in a variety of ways which may include recorded performance assessments, peer performance assessments, live performance assessments, and concert critiques. Students are required to complete at least one performance assessment every marking period that will be included in his or her portfolio.

Private lesson instruction is strongly encouraged. 

All Waynesboro Area Senior High School policies regarding ethics and honorable behavior apply to this course. Academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception and is an educational objective of this institution. All school policies regarding academic integrity apply to this course.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarizing, fabricating of information or citations, facilitating acts of academic dishonesty by others, having unauthorized possession of examinations, submitting work of another person or work previously used without informing the instructor, or tampering with the academic work of other students. For any material or ideas obtained from other sources, such as the text or things you see on the web, in the library, etc., a source reference must be given. Direct quotes from any source must be identified as such. All exam answers must be your own, and you must not provide any assistance to other students during exams.

Any instances of academic dishonesty will be pursued under the school regulations concerning academic integrity.