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Handbook |
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Dear Band Parents,
Your child has chosen to be involved in an enjoyable and rewarding experience! It will be fun, challenging, and educational. As a member of the band, students are in a social peer group. Friendships and memories will be made that last for a lifetime. Your child will have experiences which might not be possible without the band.
The success your child enjoys in the band is largely due to your support as a parent! Encourage your child to practice. See to it that they arrive to rehearsals and performances on time. Help provide them with the best instrument you are able. If they are motivated to take private lessons, help make it happen. Most importantly, be there when they perform! YOU are their most important audience. YOU are the ones they look for in the crowd. It means more to them than they want you to know!
We have an excellent Band Booster organization. Your help in supporting this organization is very much appreciated. Involvement will also help you receive information, aid in decision making, and allow you to get to know some other quality people who like to have a hand in helping make their children’s experience more enriching. Get involved!
Dear Band Members,
You are a member of the Bellevue High School Band-a musical organization that has a long tradition of excellence. Just as the accomplishments of the present band are built upon the foundation laid by past band members, the future success and reputation of the band depends on YOU. Have pride in your organization and its ideals. You are part of a truly unique experience. BHS Band members must have dedication and pride in themselves, each other, and the organization. It is not always easy to be great, but it is easy to mediocre. Mediocrity (or worse!) is the path with the least resistance and takes no hard work or special skills. Commit with PRIDE!
Vince Caruso
BHS Director of Bands
Marching/Pep Band: will include all members of the concert band and wind ensemble classes. Its primary purpose is to perform entertaining music at home football games and school events. The annual homecoming parade is the only marching performance of the year. Emphasis will be placed on quality musical performance and the fundamentals of parade marching. Several mandatory evening rehearsals are scheduled so that we can all rehearse together. Attendance at all home football games is required, including playoff games.
Basketball Band: is a group that performs at home basketball games throughout the winter sports season, including playoff games. All band members are required to attend a minimum of 4 games. Points toward a band letter are earned by performing with this group.
Concert Band: is designed to continue the development of each individual’s level of technique and ensemble playing skill. This group will perform a wide variety of music, focusing on improved tone, balance/blend, intonation, style, and sight-reading. A music history unit and basic music theory will also be included. All 9th graders are placed in concert band, but students from any grade (9-12) may be placed (or choose to be) in this ensemble. Home practice is expected. Concert and festival performances are required.
Wind Ensemble: is designed to expose students to the “standards” of band literature. Each student is expected to strive for increased musical skill as an individual and ensemble member. Emphasis will be placed on improved tone, balance/blend, intonation, style, and sight-reading. A music history unit and some basic music theory will also be included. Placement in wind ensemble is by teacher permission and/or audition. Home practice is expected. Concert and festival performances are required.
Jazz Band I: will deal with the authentic performance of various jazz styles. Jazz bands are open to students by audition who play standard jazz instruments and who demonstrate a high level of musicianship and dedication. Class meets before school (0 period), five days per week. Students must also be enrolled in a “major ensemble” to be eligible for jazz band. Concert and festival performances are required. Jazz band members are required to work during the Bellevue Jazz Festival. Home practice is expected. A second jazz band will be added if enough students enroll in the course at registration time.
ALL CONCERT & FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES ARE REQUIRED
All band students are expected to.....
Daily attendance, punctuality, and participation are integral to the success of the band. Students will earn 3 points per day for participation, but much of this area is based on the “Expectations” outlined on the previous page. Deductions will be made for the following:
Unexcused absence -3
Unexcused tardy -2
No instrument, music, participation -3
Disruptive behavior director’s discretion
Attendance and participation at all scheduled performances is required. Except for extreme circumstances (serious illness, family emergency, religious), there will be no excused absences granted from performances. Non-school activities (job, Scouts, youth symphony) are not excusable conflicts. If a BHS/school-related conflict arises, you must notify Mr. Caruso as early as possible.* The performance calendar comes out early enough for everyone to plan ahead to avoid conflicts. An unexcused absence from any performance will result in a minimum of one letter grade reduction for the grading period. 100 points will be earned for each scheduled performance and evening rehearsal. Deductions will be made for the following:
Unexcused absence -100
Tardy - 25
Incorrect uniform - 20
I may assess your knowledge of material in written form or your ability to perform assigned musical selections. Playing tests are done in class, typically with the metronome.
* A student who has an excused absence from a performance can receive a “make-up” assignment. Because we cannot “make-up” a performance, the assignment is only worth 60% of the total points. Therefore, if you receive full credit on the make-up assignment, you would get 60/100 points. It is the student’s responsibility to see me about make-up assignments!
The Marching/Pep Band uniform will be the same for all band members for all football games, including Homecoming. Uniform parts are listed below. Appropriate and complete uniform contributes toward a refined, professional appearance and is part of your grade for each performance.
Band fleece – Purchased through the Band Boosters. Each band member will need to purchase a Bellevue Band fleece pullover. It will be yours to keep track of and care Approximate fleece cost is $30.
Band polo – Purchased through the Band Boosters. Each band member will need to purchase a polo shirt. It will be yours to keep track of and care for. The approximate polo cost is $20.
Black pants – Band members are required to purchase black pants. The pants must be of a classic style such as “Dockers” or classic “Khaki” or “
Black shoes – comfortable black shoes should be chosen. Black sneakers are acceptable. Remember, these will be used for marching.
Black Socks – BLACK.
Payments for the fleece and polo will be made to the
The uniform for concert and festival performances is outlined below. Although BHS does not provide a concert uniform, you are expected to follow the guidelines below for concert attire. Appropriate concert attire contributes toward a refined, professional stage presence and is part of your grade for each performance.
Concert Band Gentlemen: white, long-sleeved dress shirt with a collar; necktie; black dress pants; black belt; black socks; & black dress shoes. (NO tennis shoes, please!) Please wear a plain white t-shirt under the dress shirt!
Wind Ensemble Gentlemen: black, long-sleeved dress shirt with a collar; gold necktie; black slacks; black belt; black socks; black dress shoes. (NO tennis shoes, please!). Please use a belt!
Ladies: “Concert Black” Mid/floor length completely black dress (NO strapless, spaghetti straps, or mini-skirts please!) OR all black suit and black shoes. All black, please!
| Wind instrument maintenance fee | $50 for the school year (checks made out to BHS) $20 for the summer (checks made out to BHS) |
| Percussion maintenance fee: | $35 for the school year (checks made out to BHS) |
All band students must purchase an ASB card. This card should be purchased first thing in August/September from the BHS Activities Office. As per school policy, all students that participate in school athletics or activities (like band) must have an ASB card.
These costs will vary depending on the group’s size; trip’s destination and length; and activities involved. Fund-raising money is typically used for these expenses, though simply paying for it is acceptable as well. See attached calendar.
The Band Boosters have a Financial Aid Fund to assist with band expenses. “Request for Aid” forms are available from Mr. Caruso. Requests are handled confidentially. Typically, they are matching funds, but nobody will be excluded from required events due to financial concerns. Click here for the Financial Aid Guidelines & Request Form
Earn a varsity letter for music/band by meeting the following criteria.
Complete at least 100 points of the following activities.
Have NO unexcused absence from any required performance.
Students can lose points due to the following:
*When recording points for private lessons, you must provide the name of your private instructor.*
^When recording points for attendance at professional music performances, you must attach a concert ticket, program, or some form of parental confirmation.
**When recording points for tutoring, you must have confirmation from the Chinook band director.
Each year a number of band students are recognized for dedication, leadership, musical excellence, improvement, and service to the band program.
EVERYONE will need:
Reeds: Clarinet and saxophone players should have at least 4 reeds in good playing condition at all times. Remove reed from the mouthpiece after each use and keep them in a reed protector. Oboe and bassoon players should have at least 2 reeds in good playing condition at all times. Keep them in a reed case.
Brass: Trumpet, trombone, euphonium, horn and tuba players should have valve oil/slide cream and tuning slide grease.
Percussion: Each student should provide their own snare drum sticks and a chromatic pitch pipe. Keyboard and timpani mallets will be provided. Percussionists are encouraged to build their own collection of sticks and mallets and use a stick bag.