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Currituck County Middle School 2016-2017 Band HandbookStudent Name:Table of ContentsWelcome Letter…………………………………………………..………………pg. 3CCMS Band Class Descriptions………………..…………………………...….….pg. 4CCMS Band Program Standards; Rules; Consequences……………………..….... pg. 5Materials for Band & Instruments…………………...……………..………….… pg. 6Grading Policies………………………………………...…………………pgs. 7 and 82016-2017 Ensembles and Events ………… …………….......………… pgs. 9 and 102016-2017 Calendar of Events………….…….…………………………...……..pg. 11August 24, 2016Dear Students and Parents:Welcome to the Raider band family at CCMS. My name is Patrick Koppenhaver and this is my fourth year teaching band in Currituck County. The philosophy of the Raider band program is to inspire students to strive for knowledge, bar by bar. This means that through the study and performance of good music, students will be enriched with skills and concepts that can be applied to many areas of life. Music provides students a means to expression common to art, but uncommon to core subjects. Studies show that music aids in the development of reasoning, the ability to take tests, and improves the overall quality of life for those who are lucky enough to be humbly impacted by it. Through an open mind and hard work, this program will become one that you can be proud to be a part of. I have a strong commitment for community involvement. I believe that in order for us to be as successful as possible, we need full support from our community. These are our students and the future rests in their hands; therefore, we must be willing to support them. I look forward to showcasing the hard work of your students to the members of our community and showing them that there are positive avenues for children in today’s world.This handbook is designed to answer any questions you might have concerning the program. This handbook is also on my Teacher Web Page, which is located on the Teachers tab on the school’s homepage. I would ask that you please read all of the information in this document. Once both student and parent have done so, please sign and date the 2016-2017 CCMS Band Contract. I am honored to be your band director and am looking forward to a fun and rewarding year!!Sincerely, Patrick Koppenhaver, Band Directorpkoppenhaver@currituck.k12.nc.us(252) 453-2171 ext. 4022“Like” the Currituck County Middle School Band Facebook page!!!CCMS Band Class Description6th Grade Band: All students in the sixth grade beginning band will learn to play an instrument, perform in a large ensemble, and learn the basics of music notation and theory. The students will develop an understanding of musical concepts and will achieve mastery in several musical skill areas. Students will learn the importance of working together as a group and performing as an ensemble as well as an individual. The sixth grade band students will also take one field trip to a live music performance in order to gain perspective on live performances!7th Grade Band: Students in the seventh grade intermediate band will continue to learn about their instrument and perform to a greater degree. They will also deepen their comprehension of musical notation and theory. Students will be encouraged to audition for the North Carolina Eastern District Honors Band. The ensemble will also be working to prepare for concerts throughout the school year as well as individual performances. Students will continue to learn the importance of performing as an individual as well as an ensemble. The seventh grade band students will have two community performances during the year to spread the joy of music to our three feeder elementary schools!8th Grade Band: Students in the eighth grade advanced band will learn more extensively about their instrument and the fundamentals of music as they prepare for high school. Students are encouraged to audition for the North Carolina Eastern District Honors Band. The ensemble will be working to prepare for performances that will take place throughout the school year as well as individual performances and performances with other ensembles (CCHS, other Currituck County Schools). Students will continue to learn the importance of performing as an individual as well as an ensemble. The 8th grade will also take one major field trip to King’s Dominion in the spring!!!CCMS Band Program StandardsCurrituck Middle School is committed to a high standard of excellence. In order to have productive rehearsals, band students must have mature and positive attitudes at all times while in the band room or auditorium during rehearsals. This ensures that valuable class time is not lost, instructions are heard by all, and that we create an inviting and friendly environment. Students should be striving for musical growth through our band motto “Better Every Day” and this cannot be done unless we are unified and focused. Playing with an ensemble is just like playing on a team: we must build ourselves and each other if we wish to be the best band possible. RulesBE RESPECTFULKeep all hands and feet to yourselfRaise your hand if you wish to be recognizedDo not talk if others are talkingTake care of band room and instrumentsEnter and exit the band room in an orderly fashionBE RESPONSIBLECome to class on timeDo not bring food, drink, or gum in the band room Do not lose your music or bindersBE PREPAREDHave instrument and all required materials ready at chair Practice at home before classConsequences(Parallel to CCMS policies)1st Offense: Verbal Warning- Expectations and rules will be restated2nd Offense: Student must pack up their instruments, a misconduct writing assignment is given, and a loss of daily participation points (writing assignment must be signed by parent), complete tracking form3rd Offense: Complete tracking form, call parent/guardian, recommend check in/check out4th Offense: Written referral to office, administration determines course of action* MAJOR INCIDENT CLAUSE (as defined in the Student Planner): If the Director feels that if at any time a student has committed a major offense, the offender will be immediately sent to the office with a written referral. Administration will determine the best course of action. Materials Needed for BandOne 1inch 3 ring binder10-15 sheet protectors to protect musicEssential Elements 2000 (method book)6th grade- Book 17th grade- Book 1 8th grade- Book 23 pencilsA musical instrument (rented through a recommended vendor or CCMS).Materials Needed for Each InstrumentEach instrument is required to have necessary materials in order to properly perform/maintain. The following is required for each instrument:Flute: Cleaning rod (most flutes come with one)Soft Cleaning Cloth (can be pieces of an old t-shirt)Clarinet and Saxophone): Cleaning swab (most clarinets come with one when rented)Cork grease3 (or more) good reeds at all time (reed requirements are listed below): 6th grade: Size 2.5 Rico 7th/8th grade: Size 2.5, 3, or 3.5 VandorenBrass Instruments: Valve oil, slide greasePercussion: SD1 Snare sticks (Vic Firth), practice padLocal Music StoresThere are four local music stores that rent and sell instruments, books and accessories. Music & Arts and Top Hat do instrument repairs; the other two stores send instruments out of state to be fixed. I would recommend using Music & Arts or Top Hat. You may also order materials online. Music & Arts1412 Greenbrier Parkway #126Chesapeake, VA757-366-0666Albemarle Music Center1205 W. Ehringhaus St.Elizabeth City, NC252-333-1004Chauncey’s Pawn404 South Hughes Blvd.Elizabeth City, NC252-337-7296Top Hat Music Company1009 Scenic PkwyChesapeake, VA 23323(757) 485- 3934Grading PolicyAll of the band classes at Currituck Middle School are performing groups. Music is a performing art. For these reasons, a large part of the band grade will be based on daily performance. To receive a perfect daily performance grade, students should bring their instruments, music books and binders, a PENCIL, and supplies for their individual instruments, like reeds, mouthpieces, etc. as well as completing any in class written assignments. Deductions from the daily performance grade will be as follows: Not having an instrument, not having their music, not having a pencil, not being on task, failure to complete in class assignments, lack of participation. Points will also be lost if disciplinary action is required at any point. Students must participate as directed by the band director, must be on time, must follow classroom rules, must be prepared for class, and must perform to the best of their abilities at all times. All of these are weighed into the students’ participation grade.Grading Percentages (per Nine Weeks):Concert Performances- 35%Participation - 30%Assessments- 25%Practice Journals- 10%Late Work PolicyOne day late = 10 points offTwo days late = 30 points offThree days late) = 50 points offFour or more days late = receives grade of zeroConcert Performances and Attendance- 35%Concert performances are considered major exams in band; therefor attendance is mandatory for all students. Since music is a performing art we need to display our work in public for others to experience it. The grade itself will be a simple Pass (100%) or Fail (0%). If for some reason attendance is not possible or you miss the concert due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact the director as soon as possible. All situations will be heard on a case by case basis. Unexcused absences will result in an automatic zero.Dress Code: (See Concert Attire on page 8) Currituck County Schools enforces a strict dress code. The same will apply to concert attire. Students may dress nicely, but it must be school appropriate. Our audiences consist or families, other teachers, administrations, Central Office staff, and other students. If I, another teacher, or an administrator deems a student’s concert attire in violation of the dress code, the student WILL NOT perform and will receive a Zero for the performance. NO EXCEPTIONS. Participation Breakdown-30%Each student shall receive a weekly participation grade since participation in a performing ensemble is essential to the student and ensemble’s success. Each day will be worth 20 points adding up to 100 points per week. 20 points= student had instrument (small instrument, mouthpiece, drum sticks), pencils, ALL music (Essential Elements book, handouts, and copies of pieces), and a pencil (no pen)Deductions:-20 for no instrument, mouthpiece, or sticks. Also, See Discipline Policy below. -10 for no music-5 for no pencil or writing in penDiscipline Policy:If a student is dismissed from class for disruptive behavior, the student will lose all points for that day and be given a Music Refocus form to complete and get signed by a parent or Guardian. Assessments- 25%Assessment is a vital part of the educational process and will be used often in the band room to gauge student progress. Every Nine Weeks marking period, there will be three roughly (3) announced assessments. The assessments can be either writing or performance based. Mr. Koppenhaver will inform the students as to what will be on the assessments. Practice Journals- 10%Students will receive a blank practice journal sheet with four journals. This keeps track of what the student is practicing at home and how much time they are spending practicing. Students are asked to practice 100 minutes each week. Each student will write a goal for the week to focus on while practicing at home. On Thursday night before turning them in, each student will write if and how they accomplished their goal AND get a parent or guardian to sign the journal. Mr. Koppenhaver will not accept the practice journal without a parent or guardian’s signature. Upon submission on Friday, Mr. Koppenhaver will stamp the journal and mark that it was completed. Grading Scale100-90 A: Outstanding89-80 B: Good Work79-70 C: Average Work69-60 D: Passing Work59 and below F: Unacceptable workExtra CreditOpportunities will arise throughout the 2016-2017 school year for students to earn extra credit. Most extra credit will applied to practice journals. Extra credit opportunities will be announced in due time by Mr. Koppenhaver. Concert AttireAll students are expected to wear specific clothing to concerts. This gives the ensemble a unified appearance and prevents distractions on stage for the audience. Concert dress for all band members is as the following:Boys:-Black pants/slacks: NO DENIM -White button up dress shirt (short or long)-Black socks-All black dress shoes: No rubber soled shoes or loafers-No excessive jewelry Girls:-Black skirt (MUST FALL BELOW KNEES WHEN SITTING), dress pants, or capris: NO DENIM-White blouse (preferably with a collar but not required)-Black or skin color dress stockings (optional)-All black dress shoes-No excessive jewelry *** Note: Attire may be different for smaller performances at the discretion of the Director. ***Please Note: Band and AthleticsCurrituck is fortunate to have many athletic and talented students. I support all of my students in their personal endeavors. I work closely with the Athletic Director to avoid conflicts between performances and athletic events. Please remember, you are STUDENT ATHLETES, with the student coming first. Band performances and graded and count for 25% of your over Nine Weeks Grades. You will not be excused from any of the following things that may conflict with the few band performances we have, NO EXCEPTIONS:Games, Matches, Scrimmages, Competitions, Clubs, Community Events, Non-Religious Holidays, Religious Events, Family Vacations, Prior Obligations, Travel, Parental work commitments, other Recitals, Field Trips, etc.YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN DATES IN AUGUST. PLAN AHEAD. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE COMMUNICATE THEM WITH MR. K BEFOREHAND. ILLNESS WILL BE GIVEN AN ALTERNATIVE RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT AND BE HANDLED CASE BY CASE2016-2017 Ensembles and EventsMPA FESTIVALEvery March, the North Carolina Music Educators Association hosts the Music Performance Adjudication (MPA) festival. Ensembles from NC’s Eastern District perform for qualified musical judges who are typically esteemed local university professors. The NCMEA grades the musical pieces the bands prepare ahead of the performance in order to evenly judge all ensembles. The scoring process ranks the performance from worst (Poor/5/V) to best (Superior/1/I). There is also a judged ensemble sight reading portion that occurs directly after the on-stage performance. Feel free to peruse the NCMEA website for information at This year eighth grade students will participate in MPA. This is both a rewarding and challenging experience for the whole program. Typically, preparing for MPA begins immediately after returning from Winter Break with reading of new music for the performance. We will have a mock MPA concert on Wednesday March 8, 2017 in the CCMS Auditorium beginning at 6:30PM. All-District Band AuditionsStudents who are excelling at their individual instruments in the 7th and 8th grade are highly encouraged to audition for the North Carolina Eastern District Honors Band. This group is full of equally talented, auditioned musicians who come together for a great weekend of fantastic music playing with other musicians from the area. If you audition and do not make it, know that auditioning for judges is a highly valuable experience as a musician that can never truly be replicated in a classroom. Music for the auditions will be passed out early on in the school year and students interested in auditioning will have to pass off a certain amount of the required material before permission will be given to audition. Scales must be memorized.Potential fees will be announced closer to the date of the audition, which is January 7th, 2017 at EB Aycock Middle School in Greenville, NC. If awarded a chair in either the top or bottom ensemble, the clinic will be February 3th and 4th, 2017 on the campus of East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. Friday and most of Saturday morning consist of rehearsal and the ensembles perform a concert in Wright Auditorium Saturday evening.Raider Pep Band- 7th and 8th gradeAfter much success last year, we will continue the Raider Pep Band! This group of musicians will perform at all home basketball games. Basketball season begins in the middle of November and concludes in January. The pep band will begin rehearsing in the middle of October. This will be a volunteer group open to 7th and 8th grades. On game days you will stay afterschool until the beginning of the games. Attire will be your band shirt and jeans. Auditions: We may also have one bass guitar player who must audition for Mr. Koppenhaver on all parts, usually the tuba part. We will have a maximum of three drum set players who must be able to play in multiple styles while aiding in the leading of the Pep Band with Mr. K. More details will be revealed as the season approaches.Holiday Tour- 7th gradeIn the middle of December the 7th grade band will tour the three elementary schools that feed into Currituck Middle. This will be a fun field trip to recruit for next year’s band as well as spread some holiday cheer. Parents are more than welcome to come and watch their children perform. Schedule TBA. Spring into the Arts- 6th and 7th gradeOn April 1, 2017 Currituck County holds a cultural festival Called Spring into the Arts. The 6th and 7th grade bands will perform separately at this event and this will count as a graded performance. This event is on a Saturday and is at Currituck County High School. The CCMS performances will begin at 12:00PM and Mr. K will provide further information to students and their families as the event approaches. Attire will be band shirts and jeans.Central Elementary Talent Show- 7th GradeEach spring Central Elementary School hosts a talent show to benefit Relay for Life, something very near and dear to my heart. For the past two years our band has been invited to perform. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to perform at one of the three elementary schools that feed into Currituck Middle. The seventh grade has been the group to perform for the last two years and I plan on having them represent the band program again. Dates and itineraries will be provided in due time. Albemarle Band Clinic (ABC) - 7th and 8th gradeOn March 24th and 25th, 2017 the counties surrounding the Albemarle Sound will send select 7th and 8th grade band students to the campus of ECSU in Elizabeth City for an honors bad clinic. Friday the 24th will consist of rehearsal and Saturday the 25th will consist or a morning rehearsal and a concert for the public in the afternoon. Each band receives a select number of seats to fill based on size of the band and participating students are selected by directors. This is a volunteer ensemble. Currituck Middle has sent its best band students in previous years and the tradition will continue this year! The clinic is an excellent opportunity for band students to develop their musicianship and create new friendships with band students from around our area. Festival of Music at King’s Dominion- 8th gradeThe 8th grade Band will be traveling to compete at the Festival of Music at King’s Dominion in the spring. This is a reward for your hard work through the years. There will be discipline policies in place that may exclude you from the trip if you receive RIS or OSS. There will be one mandatory afterschool rehearsal closer to the performance to combine the band and rehearse our music. Details about the cost of the field trip and specific dates will be announced as more information becomes available. In order to make this trip more affordable, 5% of your total fruit sale profits will be applied to the cost of your ticket. Other Field TripsAs a musician you should listen to and experience as much music as possible. One way we can do this is by taking field trips to see live performances. In the past we have traveled to the Sandler Center in Virginia Beach, but other locations, like the Ferguson Center, Chrysler Hall, and the Norfolk Scope also offer live performances. Although none are scheduled at this time, every effort will be made to take the students on at least one field trip to experience a live concert. More information will be provided in due time. 2016-2017 Calendar of EventsDates are subject to change. Sufficient prior notice will be given.TBA= To Be AnnouncedAugust 29- Return to school, begin acquiring instruments and required materialsSeptember30- 8th Grade Night at CCHS (Mandatory)October3- Fruit Sale Begins TBA- Pep Band rehearsals and performances29- Halloween Spooktacular at Sandler Center (TBD)November2, 3 and 4- Fruit Sale Collections10- Veteran’s Day Concert during school that morning, time TBATBA- Pep Band performancesDecember1- All-District money and forms due2- Fruit Sale Delivery8 @ 6:30PM- Holiday Concert (plan to arrive in concert attire NO LATER THAN 6PM!)TBA- 7th grade Holiday Tour field tripTBA- Pep Band performancesJanuary 7 @ 9AM in Greenville, NC- All-District auditions TBA- Pep Band performancesFebruary3 & 4- All District Clinic and Concert in Greenville, NCMarch8- MPA Concert @6:30PM24 & 25- Albemarle Band Clinic at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth CityApril1- Spring into the Arts @ CCHS, arrive by 11:30AM and perform @ 12:00PMTBA- CES Talent ShowMay11- Spring Concert @6:30PM (plan to arrive in concert attire NO LATER THAN 6PM!!!)JuneLast week of school- Pep Band performs at Faculty vs. Student Basketball game, date TBA***King’s Dominion date has not been decided at this point*** ................
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