Band Handbook

I. Welcome

Welcome to the Coldwater Band!

The Coldwater Band Program is ready for another exciting year. We have the privilege of representing our school and community at numerous events. Consider the number of people who will see members of the Coldwater Band Perform this year; it should give you a sense of the responsibility you have to perform to the best of your ability. EVERYONE is responsible for the success of the group. As a young band member, my director had a poster in our bandroom that said “Lead, follow, or get out of the way!” Everything you do as a band member or parent should have the group’s success in mind.

Each year we welcome a new class of excited fifth grade band students while watching the culmination of eight years of band participation with our senior class. The work ethic, dedication, leadership, and camaraderie established in band will stay with you the rest of your life. If you remember to put forth the best effort, come in with a good attitude, and remember to be better every day, we will have another successful year in the Coldwater Band Program.

To make sure that we start on a successful note, the following policies and guidelines have been established. These are not meant to be punitive, but to ensure that the band is successful. If you follow these guidelines your band experience will be rewarding and fun.

II. The Band Program

The Coldwater Band Program is designed to meet all the curricular standards established by the State of Ohio through a variety of classroom, performance, and assessment opportunities (see below).

5th Grade Band
WW/Brass/Perc. Sectionals/Full Band/ After School Lessons
Portfolio
Concerts

6th Grade Band
WW/Brass/Perc. Sectionals/Full Band/ After School Lessons
Portfolio
Concerts

7th Grade Band
WW/Brass/Perc. Sectionals/Full Band
OMEA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicated Event OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Event Portfolio
Concerts

8th Grade Band
WW/Brass/Perc. Sectionals/Full Band
Honors Bands (extra curricular)
OMEA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicated Event OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Event Portfolio
Concerts

High School
Symphonic & Concert Band
Marching Band
Cavalier Steel (Steel Drum Ensemble)Small Ensemble
OMEA Solo and Ensemble Adjudicated Event OMEA Large Group Adjudicated Event Honors Bands (extra curricular)
Pep Band (extra curricular)
Portfolio
Concerts

III. Band Expectations

IV. Classroom Policies and Procedures

The band facility is quite a busy place. Nearly 300 students use it daily. The cleanliness and organization of the band room affects our success. Keep it neat and orderly always. You are responsible for doing your share to pick up reeds, paper, and misplaced articles, returning them to their proper place. Have enough pride in your band to assist with the band facilities.

Students are to keep their instruments on the appropriate shelves in the band room. These will be labeled and students are encouraged to use the same shelf to avoid “lost” instruments. All cases are to be latched and must have be clearly labeled with the student’s first and last name on the outside of the case. Students are to store their instruments in approved storage areas only. Your personal belongings are not to be kept in the band room.

Daily Procedures

V. Materials

You are responsible for bringing your required materials every day. Failure to bring any of these items will result in a lowering of your participation grade. It is also your responsibility to keep these items in working condition. Instruments, books, and binders/folders must be marked with each student’s name.

The following is a list of materials that students will need for band. If you already have these, it is not necessary to purchase them again.

VI. Marching Band Student Conduct Guidelines

***During band events school rules are always in effect***

General Guidelines

Game Guidelines

Bus Guidelines

Band Trailer

Loading:

Unloading:

Band Uniform

VII. Use of School-owned Instruments

VIII. Care of Instruments

IX. Grading Policy

A student’s grade in band is determined through a point system. Students are awarded points for performances, playing or written tests and quizzes, and participation.

PERFORMANCE-20%
All performances are required. Please see attendance policy for complete description.

Concert Attire for 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th grade bands
Men: Dress pants, shirt and tie
Women: Dress pants or a long skirt, dress shirt No Shorts, Jeans, sweats, etc.

PARTICIPATION-60%
Classroom participation includes participation in classroom discussion and performance. This also includes the student bringing these to class (See Classroom Policies and Procedures):

PORTFOLIO/WRITTEN WORK-20%
Students will be graded on maintaining their handouts as well as (but not limited to) successful completion of music theory worksheets, music history worksheets, rhythm sheets, etc.

X. Attendance Policy

100% attendance is vital to the success of the Coldwater Band. Every person is important, and the entire band is affected when even one performer is missing.

All rehearsals, performances, and adjudicated events are mandatory unless otherwise stated on the calendar. These events are part of the required curriculum for CEVS. Every effort has been made by the band department to avoid scheduling conflicts with Coldwater school sanctioned events. Performances are evaluations of classroom material, and the “final exams” of concepts studied during the grading period. They are the culmination of weeks of work and give students the opportunity to display the music skills and talents that have been developed. Performances cannot be replicated in the rehearsal setting. For this reason, the calendar is given to the students with enough advanced notice to ensure that all parents and students make arrangements to limit or eliminate conflicts.

Excused absences from practice (outside of the school day)

Unexcused absence from practice (outside of the school day)

Excused absence from a performance

Unexcused absence from a performance

XI. Student Leadership

The success of the Coldwater Band is dependent on student leadership. The bigger the band, the more people are needed to take the lead and make sure things happen.

Band Officers/Representatives
Officers and representatives are the liaisons between the band and the directors. Many of the activities we do are organized by this group. This group is responsible for the planning, communication, goal setting and follow through of the entire organization.

Section Leaders
Section Leaders are chosen based on their musicianship, leadership, and communication skills. They are responsible for having their section’s music up to speed and having all music played off. This may include the scheduling of extra sectional time outside of scheduled band rehearsals.

Musicians
Every member has a leadership role in this regard. You are responsible for maintaining the pride, effort, and enthusiasm of the entire group. ALWAYS BE PREPARED!

Drum Major
Students selected as Drum Major are expected to be role models for the entire band at all times. Drum Majors are to set high standards for themselves and the band, and should work to maintain those standards. Respect is to be shown to the Drum Major at all times.

Squad Leaders
Squad Leaders assume responsibility for learning and cleaning drill. A squad leader should always have music and charts to assist in drill learning and cleaning.

XII. Parent Involvement

Your son or daughter is about to embark on an exciting journey! Performing with the Coldwater High School Band is fun, exciting and can lead to a lifelong involvement in music that will enrich their life. There are many advantages your child acquires when they play an instrument.

Why Music?
Did you know this journey could also make them smarter and more successful? Studies have shown a direct correlation in higher academic achievement and the study of music. In fact, CEOs from Fortune 500 companies prefer to hire employees with a background in the arts because those employees tend to be better problem solvers, show more concentration and the ability to stick with a job through to completion. That’s a great skill set to acquire!

Hints for Success
Provide enthusiastic support for your son/daughter’s participation in band
Attend demonstration concerts and full performances and whenever possible, take your child to performances of other musical groups.
Advocate for music in your schools. Current research proves that music participation will help your child in all disciplines and in life.
Make sure your child’s instrument is always in proper working order. If problems arise take the instrument to your child’s band director or to the local music shop for professional repairs. It is very frustrating to play on an instrument that is not functioning properly.

The Role of a Parent- As a parent, it is not important for you to have previous experience with musical study. If you have, you will understand the challenges, enjoyment and effort your student will experience through the study of a musical instrument. Your role as your child continues in instrumental music is simple – be supportive. You don’t need to know how to play an instrument to help your child learn. All students will face adversity at some point. Your support is crucial for their continued success. Show Resolve: When you hear frustration in such phrases as “I want to quit” or “I sound awful,” discuss why those feelings occur. Don’t take the path of least resistance.

Coldwater Band Boosters
The Coldwater band program has a booster organization that is made up of the parents of current band students, and it is an active volunteer group that assists the band program with needs that are not funded or supported by the school system such as chaperoning, fundraising, and working the concession stands plus many other activities. We consider all band families as part of the Boosters. Being active is a great way to be involved in your student’s band experience. We would like to invite you to become an active participant. Be on the lookout for the monthly meeting schedule and volunteer opportunities.

XIII. Cavalier Band Online

Band Website
Cavalierband.org

Facebook:
@cavalierbands

H.S. Band Twitter:
@CavBand1