LMS BAND HANDBOOK - 2019-2020 Becky Jones - Director Blake Vignery - Assistant Director/Percussion Instructor - USD 469
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LMS BAND
HANDBOOK
2019-2020
Becky Jones – Director
Blake Vignery – Assistant
Director/Percussion InstructorCOMMUNICATION
Mrs. Jones and Mr. Vignery will use many forms of communication to help keep everyone up to date on all
of the happenings around the LMS Band program. We will keep our paper communication to a minimum
unless it is specifically requested. Please help us save paper and money by keeping up with us on any of the
mediums listed below. You will also receive a weekly skyward message/email from Mrs. Jones giving you
a run-down of the week’s activities and reminders so please make sure your email address is up to date in
the skyward system!
Staff Emails:
§ Becky Jones – becky.jones@usd469.net
§ Blake Vignery – blake.vignery@usd469.net
Phone:
§ MS Band Office – 913-727-1197 Ext. 3129
Social Media**:
§ Twitter: @LansingMSBand
**Please be aware that we will not respond to direct Twitter messages. If you have questions that are
specific to your child please contact Mrs. Jones or Mr. Vignery directly through email.
Text Alerts
§ Please see Skyward or the Class website for detailed instructions on how to sign up for text alerts
Calendar of Events
§ Please see Google Calendar link posted on Skyward and Facebook
Class Website:
https://www.usd469.net/vnews/display.v/SEC/Lansing%20Middle%20School%20%28Grades%206-
8%29%7CActivities%3E%3ELansing%20Middle%20School%20Band
CLASSROOM EXPECTATION AND PROCEDURES
We have three main guidelines that govern our classroom:
§ Be Respectful
§ Be Prepared
§ Be On Time
It is important that students come to class knowing that respect toward adults and classmates alike is
expected at all times. Disrespect toward any person in our classroom will not be tolerated.
Preparedness in our classroom includes:
§ Having all materials for class (instrument, binder, music, pencil, assignments)
§ Having all assignments done and ready to turn in on the due date
§ Practicing outside of class
Being on time is imperative in our room. We start playing four minutes after the bell rings and students are
expected to be in their seats with their instruments and music ready when we start. It is a long trek to the
band room for some students so it is important for them to manage their hallway time effectively so as not
to be tardy
CLASSROOM PROCEDURES:
§ Drinks and restroom passes – we are fortunate to have a water fountain in our room that students
may use at any time during rehearsal as long as breaks do not become excessive. Students may use
the restroom on an emergency basis only. We ask that if students need to use the restroom they do
so during their passing period. There are restrooms located right outside the band room.
§ Students will have a locker assigned to them where they can store their instrument during the day.
Students are expected to take their instrument home at night. Individual lockers will not be locked.
The room is supervised or secured at all times.o Make sure your student’s instruments are labeled clearly with their name. Percussionists
should label all sticks and mallets with their name as well.
§ Food and Drink: The only drink allowed in the band room is water and food is not allowed unless
we are having a class food party. PROPEL WATER IS NOT ALLOWED IN THE BAND
ROOM! Gum is also not allowed in the band room.
GRADING
Grades consist of: Major Grades, 60% of total grade: Objective Sheets, Performances, Tests (playing and
written)
Minor Grades, 30% of total grade: Homework, quizzes, bell work
Daily Points, 10% of total grade: Class participation points
MAJOR GRADES
Objective Sheets:
§ Students will be responsible for completing all of the tasks on their objective sheet by the assigned
due date each quarter
§ Students will have limited time during class to complete these tasks or they may come in after
school with Mrs. Jones during her posted available times. They will be able to post videos of their
objectives on google classroom for assessment.
§ Objectives must be done well and it must be clear that the student has practiced the objective
before it is passed off
§ Students can try to pass off objectives multiple times
§ Objective Sheets must be turned in by the due date
§ Objective Sheets that are turned in late will receive a 5 point/day deduction
§ Each objective is worth 10 points
Tests:
§ Students will have periodic tests that could be either written or playing based
§ Tests will be done in class with Mrs. Jones or Mr. Vignery on Monday or Friday when possible
§ Students who are absent must make up their test within a week of their return to school
§ 25-50 points per test
Performances:
§ Students are responsible for attending required concerts
§ Please see description below for more information regarding concert attendance
§ 200 points per concert
§ 8th grade football performance and KVL band festival (7th and 8th Grade) are worth 100 points
MINOR GRADES
Bell Work:
§ Most days students will have a short exercise to complete at the beginning of class to help them
get ready for what we will be working on that day in class.
§ This exercise is not a test and is graded on completion, not correctness.
§ Students who absent from class are expected to do the bell work for completion and get any
information they missed that we went over regarding the bell work when they return to school.
Daily Participation:
§ All Students receive 5 points per day for being on time, having all equipment (instrument and
instrument accessories, method book, music, pencil), and participating appropriately.
§ Points will be deducted from daily participation if students do not meet the above standards.
§ Students who are absent can make up their daily points by staying after school to practice in the
band room or by submitting a short video on google classroom demonstrating what they practiced
at home. I will go over this in more detail with the students.
EXTRA CREDIT
Normally we do not offer students extra credit unless they are working on something that will enhance their
musical abilities. Those instances could include: attendance at a concert that is above their playing level
(high school, college, or professional groups), attendance at regular private lessons (with note from their
instructor), or participation in outside of school performance groups (church, clubs, etc.). Students can alsoearn extra credit for participation in before school jazz band or pep band. We do not give students extra
credit to make up for missed work.
CONCERTS: ATTENDANCE, ATTIRE AND ETTIQUETE
Required Concerts for this year:
• 9/20 8th Grade Perform with LHS Marching Band 8th Grade ONLY
• 10/24 7th and 8th grade band concert @LMS Auditorium 7th and 8th Grade ONLY
• 11/14 6th Grade band concert @ LMS Auditorium 6th Grade ONLY
• 12/17 LMS Band Concert @ LMS Auditorium ALL BANDS
• 3/5 KVL Band Festival Location: LMS 7th and 8th Grade ONLY
• 3/12 LMS Band Concert @ LMS Auditorium ALL BANDS
• 5/14 Fine Arts Fair @ LMS ALL BANDS
Concerts are a required part of the band grade. If your student is absent from a concert they will only be
allowed to make up the points if the absence was excused. Excused absences include but are not limited to:
§ Illness
§ Family emergency
§ Other unforeseen circumstances that are communicated ahead of time with Mrs. Jones.
Unexcused absences from concerts include but are not limited to:
§ Homework
§ Sports practices
§ Not wanting to come
Students are also expected to stay for the duration of the concert in order to receive full credit. Students
who leave early will lose 50 points of their overall concert grade as we cannot observe the concert behavior
described above and effectively assess their abilities with regards to this very important music state
standard. If you have an issue with this policy please speak to Mrs. Jones prior to the concert.
Kansas State Music Standard 2: Performing
Pr. 5.6.b: Demonstrate performance decorum (such as stage presence, attire, and behavior) and audience
etiquette appropriate for venue and purpose.
Pr. 5.7.b: Demonstrate performance decorum (such as stage presence, attire, and behavior) and audience
etiquette appropriate for venue, purpose, and context.
Pr. 5.8.b: Demonstrate performance decorum (such as stage presence, attire, and behavior) and audience
etiquette appropriate for venue, purpose, context, and style.
Lansing Middle School Band students are expected to demonstrate their knowledge and practice of this
standard through their attendance at our concerts. Their concert grade will reflect not only their attendance
and participation in playing but also their behavior as audience members.
Here are a few things to speak with your students about regarding proper concert etiquette:
1. Refrain from talking while the students are playing.
2. Refrain from unwrapping noisy wrappers, or making other unnecessary noises during the
performance.
3. Turn off or silence cell phones and refrain from using them while the concert is in progress.
4. Please only leave the auditorium between numbers and not during the middle of a song.
Concert attire for our band students is the following:
§ Black Dress pants (please no skirts or jeans)
§ Black Dress Shoes/socks (please no tennis shoes)
§ LMS Music Polo Shirt
We will place orders for new polo shirts early in the school year. These shirts are $15 each. Please let
us know if there is an issue with purchasing this shirt.INSTRUMENT CHANGES
Many times, especially during the first year of playing, we get asked about switching to a different
instrument. This is a very normal reaction to the difficulty of learning a new instrument. Our policy is that
students stick with their first choice instrument for at least one year and then we can discuss switching to
something else if they are really adamant about it. We don’t want students to feel trapped on an instrument
that they don’t like but we also don’t want to encourage giving up before they’ve really worked on it. If
your student is having difficulty please contact us and we will be happy to give you some tips on how to
help them at home. Most of the time a little extra practice at home will make all the difference.
At the end of the year we do discuss opportunities for students to branch out onto other, slightly more
difficult instruments if they are interested. These instruments include Oboe, Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, Tenor
Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, French Horn, Baritone and Tuba. We also give the 6th grade clarinets the
opportunity to switch to Alto Saxophone if they meet the criteria.
PEP BAND AND JAZZ BAND
Any student who has been playing in band for at least one year is eligible to participate in the pep band and
jazz band at LMS.
PEP BAND INFO:
§ Students sign up to participate each season: Football, girls basketball, and boys basketball.
§ If a student signs up they are expected to attend all practices and games during that season.
§ Each game is worth 10 points of extra credit provided the student stays for the allotted game time.
§ Dates and sign ups for these games will be posted prior to the season starting so students have the
opportunity to plan ahead for their attendance.
JAZZ BAND INFO:
9th Hour Jazz Band
§ Audition only group that will be a traditional jazz band set up.
§ This group will follow the instrumentation listed below and only those spots will be filled based
on auditions turned in by students who wish to audition:
o 2 Alto Saxophones
o 2 Tenor Saxophones
o 1 Baritone Saxophone
o 4-5 Trombones
o 4-5 Trumpets
o 1 Piano
o 2 Percussion
o 1 Guitar
o 1 Bass
§ Auditions for this group will be posted in google classroom and will be open to students who have
played in band for at least one year.
§ Auditions will be done in video form and uploaded to google classroom.
§ Auditions will be judged on the basis of proper playing, good technique, and clear evidence of
preparation.
§ Audition results will be posted NLT Aug. 23rd and will be final. Not everyone who tries out will
make it. Please help your student understand this fact of life.
§ This group will meet every day during 9th hour. Students who are involved in other enrichment
classes will need to speak to Mrs. Jones about conflicts so we can decide if they will have time to
do this group as well.
§ This group will be a class and we will have grades and assignments. We will work hard to dive
deeper into jazz studies and not just play music.
§ Grades will be a factor in their selection and participation for this group since they will be giving
up a study hall to participate. Students who do not keep their grades up during the semester may
not be asked to participate 2nd semester.Before School Jazz Band
§ Our Before School Jazz band begins in late October or early November and runs through 2nd
semester.
§ This group is open to any instrument, not just traditional jazz band instruments.
§ Students must have at least one year of band experience to participate.
§ Rehearsals will be held before school from 7:15-7:45 on Monday, Wednesday, and every other
Friday morning.
§ Students may try jazz band for 2 rehearsals before they make a decision about whether or not they
wish to participate. After the first week of rehearsals they must make a decision and stick with it.
§ Students who participate successfully will receive 50 points of extra credit each quarter.
**Students who are not doing well in their core classes may not be allowed to participate in pep band or
jazz band. In those cases I will conference with the student and let parents know before decisions are made.
It is important that students continue to do well in their other classes before they commit to something
outside of school.**
Pep band and jazz band are outside of school commitments that require the students to put in a little extra
effort. I know this won’t be something that every students wishes to do but I encourage all eligible students
to at least try these activities.
PRIVATE LESSONS
Students are not required to take private lessons outside of school. However, students who wish to
accelerate their progress are encouraged to find a local private instructor on their instrument with whom to
study. Please contact Mrs. Jones or Mr. Edwards for a list of private instructors in the area. Students who
take private lessons can receive extra credit points!You can also read
