POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
​CONCERTS 

Band is a Performance Based curriculum. We work for months at a time on perfecting music and enhancing our skills to give quality performances. All Concerts and Performances are an active part of North Garner Middle School Band and are graded. 

OUR PHILOSOPHY
Our goal is to achieve the highest level of musical excellence by providing each student with knowledge of music and enhance skills that will help them become mature musicians.

We will benefit the school and community through public performances of quality music while promoting and enhancing musical knowledge.

We will foster the development of character traits to include a strong work ethic, personal integrity, and respect for self and other while providing a positive emotional outlet for each student.

GRADES
Practice Checks – (Home Work) Practice Checks are used to check specific measures of music for specific instruments that have been assigned the day before. 

Daily Performance – Students should arrive on time, bring the necessary materials for class, participate actively, and conduct themselves according to all class rules and procedures. A student who cannot play his instrument because it is being repaired or because of an illness or injury must bring a signed note from a parent in order to be excused from playing during class. If a loaner is available at school, it is expected that the student will play. 

Every student will begin the week with a 100. Not having, music, instrument, pencil, will LOWER the weekly grade. NOT HAVING ALL MATERIALS WILL LOWER THE GRADE BY 10 POINTS FOR EACH DAY YOU DO NOT HAVE YOUR MATERIALS. 

Playing Tests – (Tests) Skill Based Test will be assigned weekly and will be based on the curriculum and material we are studying. If a student forgets his instrument on a test day they will receive an automatic 0 for their test. 

Concert Reflections – (Tests) These are written critiques of students concerts. 

Concerts & Community Performances – (Tests) These are written critiques of students concerts. 
 
Class Work – These assignments consist of rhythm sheets, note naming sheets, terminology quizzes, etc.

​​MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT
     MPA Music Performance Assessment (Band EOG) - MPA is an assessment in the 8th grade year. This is a very important performance as it gives the band a rating based on the performance of educationally based music.
     Students cannot participate in this event if any of these criteria occur
              1. Student Receives ISS or OSS during the Third Quarter
              2. Student fails a practice check and/or playing test
              3. Misses the after school MPA Rehearsal and Festival Concert without prior notice as per the attendance policy
     MPA is a group grade based on each individuals prepardness. Student who will not attend MPA due to the above criteria will complete and alternative assignment to  replace their MPA (Band EOG) grade. 

PRACTICING  
It is important that your child practices on a consistent basis at least 30 minutes a day.  However, it is equally important that your child spends their time in productive practice.  They should not simply play a list of songs one by one!  Here are some suggestions:      
1. Always begin with warm-up. Longtones, lip-slurs, percussion technique - you know, the 'boring' stuff!    
2. Scales! 
      6th graders have learned 1-4 scales per class.                  
      7th graders should know at least 6.                 
      8th graders should know 6 + the chromatic scale.    
3. Assigned book material/etudes.                  
    Harder material should receive more attention.                  
    Selections should be repeated multiple times.                  
    Difficult passages in the music should be isolated. Take it apart, fix it, put it back together.               
    Practice SLOWLY!     
4. Concert Music.  Musical details should be covered in small portions of the music. But it is also important to run straight through pieces to build endurance!    
5. Use TUNERS - 7th and 8th graders can learn a lot from keeping the tuner on in most musical situations.  
6. Use METRONOMES!   
7. Ask your child to play for you frequently.  They should be able to play anything on their practice log 
    straight through with steady rhythm.  If they can't..........   
8. Always focus on TONE.  Music isn't just about getting it 'right'.  It's about making it sound 'good' too! 

Attendance & Rehearsals 
     Band members are required to be present and prompt for all rehearsals and performances. 
     Policy on excused absences parallels that of the school and applies to performances as well as daily class meetings. 
     Absences shall be excused only in the following circumstances: 
        1. Illness or injury     2. Isolation ordered by the NC Board of Health     3. Death in the family     4. Medical or dental appointment*     5. Court appointment*  6. Religious observance*     7. Other pre-approved educational opportunities* 
     All notifications of absences must be given to the director PRIOR to the event being missed. The director may be notified in writing or via email. Please be sure to continue to refer to your rehearsal calendar should a conflict arise please contact the director as soon as possible. 
     Tardiness and Failure to be Picked On Time to and from rehearsals/performances will be reflected in the grade or the student will be removed from all future events. On occasions when tardiness or picking up a student late is inevitable, please communicate this to the director in advanced or immediately after. 
     Any conflicts, absences, tardiness or failures to pick up a child on time will result in a conference with the director; results of which can be a drop in grade, probation from future music events and or removal from the music program. 

Concert Attire                             
Community Performances        
       BOYS ATTIRE - Jeans, Band T-Shirt, Tennis Shoes
       LADY'S ATTIRE - Jeans, Band T-Shirt, Tennis Shoes

Concert & MPA Performances
      BOYS - Black Pants, Black Button Down Shirt, Black Dress Shoes (No Tennis Shoes)
      LADY'S- Black Pants, Black Top (School Appropriate), Black Dress Shoes (No Flip Flops)                           

Performance Probation 
     Any band member may be placed on performance probation as a result of, 
        A. Excessive Absences      B. Excessive behavior problems     C. Lack of student preparation   D. Grade of D or below 
     A student placed on performance probation will not be allowed to perform until the probation is lifted by the director. Alternate assignments will be given to replace the missed performance grade. 

INSTRUMENTS AND SUPPLIES 

Instruments 
 Each student is expected to furnish his own instrument by purchasing or renting from one of the area music stores. 
    A. We strongly recommend all instruments be place on rental insurance and homeowners insurance. 
    B. Please place and Identification tag on the instrument case. 
    C. Please keep the Brand Name and serial number on file at home. 
 Used instruments are better instruments. Most used instruments have already been played, had the kinks worked out, and generally are in better playing condition. Don’t be afraid of used instruments. 

School Owned Instruments 
 NGMS provides instruments and equipment for certain sections within the program. 
 These items have been purchased with county and band booster funds. 
 EVERY STUDENT HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THESE ITEMS ARE NOT ABUSED. 
    A. If student does not take proper care of an instrument 
    B. Damages by careless actions 
    C. Intentional destructive damage 
 Students will be financially responsible for the repair or replacement of the instrument. 
 
BANDS AND OPPORTUNITIES 

PRIVATE LESSONS - Private lessons, while not a requirement for all instruments, are strongly encouraged for students of all ability levels. As a student improves, a greater collection of literature becomes available to him and will enable him to excel, which in turn improves the band/orchestra. With the aid of private instruction, students also find greater opportunity through experiences like all-county, all-district, and all-state band. A list of local private instructors is available in the band room and on the band/orchestra website. 

BEGINNING BAND - This band is for any student who has not been in the band program previously. All students need to acquire an instrument and beginning band book for this class. 

CONCERT BAND - Mostly made of second year band students this is a skill level based group. Incoming sixth graders with previous band/orchestra experience must audition to move up into the concert band. 

SYMPHONIC BAND - Mostly made of third year band/orchestra students this is a skill level based group. Any seventh and eighth grader wishing to be in this group must audition for the director. 

ALL COUNTY, ALL DISTRICT, ALL STATE HONORS BANDS     
     Honor Bands are available to audition for all 7th and 8th grade students. 
     All Auditions and clinic are held after school and Saturdays. 
     Any student wishing to audition for any honor band must contact the director for all audition info. Every student auditioning will be pre - auditioned by the director. 
     Any student who makes the honor bands are expected to be at all rehearsals and the performance 
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