Murray High School Band

Directors

Christopher Yoo

Beth E. Stribling

ATTITUDE

ARE YOU PART OF THE PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION?
TAKE PRIDE IN EVERYTHING YOU DO.
TOGETHER WE CAN BE SUPERIOR.
INDIVIDUAL EFFORT IS VITAL FOR SUCCESS.
TRY TO DO YOUR BEST, ALWAYS.
USE YOUR TALENTS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY.
DEPENDABILITY & DETERMINATION WILL BRING SUCCESS.
EFFORT MAKES IT HAPPEN.

REMEMBER: YOU, as a member of the Murray High School Band,
represent yourself, your family, your school, and your community.

"NEVER MISTAKE ACTIVITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT"

Policy Guide 2008-2009

I. Attendance at events that take place outside the school day

A. Band attendance policy, marching band
     Band is an elective class in which students work together for musical goals. We often hear that band teaches its members how to work in a group, and this may be true. Working as part of a group involves dependability—a band cannot function effectively if members do not attend rehearsals and performances. Any absence is harmful to the quality of the rehearsal or performance missed, but an intentional, unexcused absence also hurts the morale of the ensemble. Band students get frustrated and angry when they are let down by someone they are depending on. This does not happen when someone misses due to illness, because everyone understands that this cannot be helped.

     The competitive marching band does not rehearse every day. Mondays are clear, Thursdays after school are clear, and Friday afternoons are clear. These times are left open so that students have time every week to take care of other business. The band is better off this way—if we practiced after school every day it would be hard for students to schedule shopping, hair appointments, medical check-ups, and part-time jobs. Since our practice schedule is limited, however, everyone's cooperation is needed in attending the rehearsals. 

     One-hundred percent attendance is hoped for and, ideally, only illness would excuse a student from a rehearsal or performance. In reality, other excuses are acceptable: other school events such as athletic or academic team competitions are valid excuses, and critical family matters are also acceptable.

     Students who are unable to attend marching band rehearsals due to regular family responsibilities, jobs, or problems with transportation should not be in the competitive marching band. The band director will discuss with the student and/or the parents any unexcused absenses. Suspension or removal from the competitive marching band is an appropriate response to an unexcused absensefrom a rehearsal or a performance.

B. Post-season football
     Football is followed very closely by the community, and the reputation of the entire school system is enhanced when the team does well. In the event that the football team is involved in post-season playoffs the band members will, therefore, be required to attend in support of the team. Because competition marching season is over during these playoffs the band will perform as a pep
band in the stands, so all band members are asked to keep open these additional Friday nights in November. The team, the coaching staff, the cheerleaders, the parents, and the administration will all appreciate the effort.

C. Basketball band
     A schedule of selected MHS basketball games will be distributed by the band directors during the fall. Band members are expected to play at these games. A student who has a conflict with any of these performances should discuss the situation with the director.

D. Post-season basketball
     Tournament play is simply an extension of the regular basketball season committment, and the pep band will perform when possible. As in football, the eyes of the community are on us at this time. Members of the band are required to take part in this, and any conflicts should be brought to the attention of the director prior to the game in question.

E. Jazz Band
     When interest is shown, an extracurricular jazz band may be offered to band members as an extension of their band experience. Because there are only a few rehearsals before each performance it is required that members of the jazz band attend all rehearsals except when illness or critical family matters prevent this. Students who have conflicts should not sign up for jazz band. If conflicts arise the student must withdraw from the group.

     Students may drop out of or join jazz band after the Christmas concert. Common courtesy dictates that the student notify the director of either intention as early as possible, preferably before Christmas break, and certainly before the day of the first jazz band rehearsal in January.

F. Concerts and concert festival
     The attendance policy for concerts is the same as for marching band performances. There is, however, no option for band membership that regularly excuses a student from concerts. All band members are part of the concert band and are expected to perform at concerts.

G. Commencement
     The graduation ceremony is of great importance to the school, and especially those who have earned a diploma. The band will perform at this event and members should try to provide the best quality music for this occasion that they can. Each of them will want similar support when they graduate from Murray High. Band members are required to take part in this performance.

H. Parades and other community service performances
     Several times a year the band is asked to perform around the community. All band members are required to take part in these events unless excused by the director.

I. Supervised fund-raising activities
     There are, upon occasion, supervised activities that serve the purpose of making money for the band. These events are meant to be good, healthy, worthwhile projects and are necessary to help offset the many expenditures of operating a band program. Unless excused by the director, band members are required to participate in such projects. Activities in recent memory to which this would apply are car washes and the cheese and sausage canvass. Students would not be required to sell, but would at least help with the project.

J. Consequences
     The director will excuse students from band responsibilities when the student is (a) ill, (b) attending other school events such as athletic or academic team competitions, and (c) dealing with critical family matters. Students who are unable to meet these attendance requirements due to regular family responsibilities, jobs, or repeated problems with transportation will not meet the
following conditions and should not be in the band. Students with unexcused absences from required band events fail to meet the minimum standards of band membership. The director will attempt to deal with such situations in a manner that is consistent and fair. Parents and the school principal will be asked to intervene if the situation warrants. It is appropriate for band letters and service bars to be revoked under such circumstances. In extreme cases, a student will be removed from the band.
      Failure to be on time or to have all needed equipment and/or uniform parts may result in the assignment of extra duties as designated by a director.

II. Band members who do not march in competitions

     There are, sometimes, students in the band who choose not to be in competitive marching band. They will not attend band camp or attend marching band rehearsals outside the school day, but are required to play at the pregame of each home football game, help provide pep music through the course of the football game, and march in parades. Preparation for these activities is done during class time and these performances provide a service to the school and the community which support the band.
     Band members who do not march in the competition marching band will be held responsible to prepare a a variety of music material for a grade during the first nine weeks. Some memorization will be involved. This will substitute for the marching show music that others leam and memorize.

III. General guidelines for high school band

A. Behavior
     Consideration for others is the bottom line here. The band has developed an excellent reputation for good behavior, and this reflects favorably on them, their parents, the school, the community, and their directors. Students must agree to avoid inconsiderate behavior when with the band such as: crude comments, rude and selfish actions, excessive loudness, profanity, and public display of affection (even on the bus, i.e. no kissing or inappropriate physical contact—handholding is allowable out of uniform, but not in rehearsal).

B. Conflicts
     When facing a schedule conflict, the best policy for a band member to follow is to discuss the conflict privately with the director as soon as possible. Conflicts can be difficult to work around, and advance warning can often be the key to minimizing the problem. Students and parents alike should feel free to call the band director at home to discuss problems.

C. Sheet Music
     Printed music is expensive and, if cared for, reusable. The band folders are oversized to protect the music. Band members are encouraged to take their folder home each day and practice some of their music, but are not permitted to take school owned music out of the bandroom without the protection of the folder. Folders are to be stored in the folder cabinet and should not, under any
circumstances, be left on the instrument shelf or in a case.

D. Awards
• A band letter will be given to band students upon completion of their first year of full participation in the band program. To receive this award the student must attend all required band events unless excused by the director.
• A band letter insert will be given for each year of service to the band program. To receive this award the student must attend all required band events unless excused by the director.
• A service bar will be given to students who are in the competitive marching band and comply with all attendance policies relating to that group. To receive this award the student must attend all related band events unless excused by the director.
• A star will be awarded for a year of service as a marching band section leader.
• A special "Jazz" service bar will be given to students who serve as members of the jazz band from its inception at the end of marching season through the spring concert or other final performance. Any absences from rehearsals or performances must be excused by the director to qualify for this award.
• Band officers will receive a pin. Superior rated soloists and ensemble members will receive a medal.
• Outstanding and most improved members in each class will each be recognized with a plaque. There will also be a plaque given for leadership and one for spirit.

E. Band jacket (The following is not policy, but is provided for information)
     Band members have the option of purchasing a band jacket on which they may display awards. Typically, band members get a black wool jacket with gold wool sleeves, and have "Murray Tiger Band" monogrammed on the back. The suggested layout for such a jacket is as follows:
• Name and other personal information (class, instrument, marching section) monogrammed on the front upper right.
• Band letter sewn on the front upper left.
• Marching band and jazz band bars sewn on the left sleeve.
• All-District and state marching band patches sewn on the right sleeve and front lower right.

F. School instruments
     The band program maintains an inventory of instruments which are checked out to students for use with the band. A student who is assigned one of these instruments is held responsible for its care. He/she is expected to keep the instrument clean and properly lubricated and to pay for any damage that befalls the instrument during the time it is checked out. No one other than the official
assignee must use the instrument. Violation of this policy can lead to confusion and frustration and is not in the best interest of the band program.

G.Schedule
     Every effort will be made to provide students sufficient advance notice of all band events. Printed schedules will be issued before the end of the school year for the following fall, and before Christmas for the second semester. Schedules will be as complete as possible, but are subject to change. In the event of change, every effort will be made to allow sufficient notice for the students
to make preparations.

IV. Grading

     Grades will be based on the following criteria: playing tests, written tests, scales, performance participation and class participation. Playing and written tests will be graded on a percentage basis. Each scale will be graded on a pass/fail basis with opportunities given for retesting. Participation will be recorded as a weekly grade of 100 points for full participation. A student who does not participate on a given day due to having forgotten an instrument will be given no credit for that day (20 points off the weekly grade). Each performance activity will receive a grade total of 100 pts. Any student missing a performance due to an excused absence will not receive the 100 pts., but will not be penalized due to the absence. Any student missing a performance due to an
unexcused absence -will receive a grade of Opts. for missing that particular activity.
     The weekly grade will also be lowered as seems appropriate for behavior which slows down the rehearsal flow or interferes with efficient progress toward band goals. Such behaviors might be tardiness to seat, talking, distracting others, poor posture or hand position, reading or doing work from other classes, failure to have a pencil at rehearsal, or failure to put away instrument, equipment, or music. Band members should be responsible to have needed supplies at rehearsals—reeds, oils, mutes, pencils and music are all necessary for good rehearsals to occur. Care for percussion equipment is a shared responsibility of all members of the section. If any one percussionist is neglecting to do a fair share of the work, the directors should be notified so that corrective measures can be taken. Extra credit is available for attending concerts. (Turn in a program signed by a performer or a teacher to qualify for this.)

     Extra credit is also given for auditioning for all-district band, performing at solo and ensemble festival, or a performance in the community on one's instrument. A written report on an approved topic will also receive extra credit.

V. Trip Accounts

     The band typically engages in three fund-raisers each year. One half the profit from each student's sales will be earmarked as a discount for the major band trip which occurs every other year. This discount is not transferable to other students except within the same family. It cannot be used to pay for other band expenses such as band camp, ticket prices, souvenir clothing, or band yearbooks.
     The reasoning behind this somewhat restrictive policy is twofold. First is the matter of practicality. Keeping track of these accounts is very time consuming and would be made more so if money was being used for a variety of purposes. Secondly the existance of this earmarked money, with the single purpose of reducing the trip cost, promotes trip participation. If more people go on the trip, costs are lower for everyone.

Band Participation Expectations—A Summary

The director will excuse students from band responsibilities when the student is (a) ill, (b) attending other school events such as athletic or academic team competitions, and (c) dealing with critical family matters. Students who will be unable to meet these attendance requirements due to regular family responsibilities, jobs, or repeated problems with transportation will not meet the following conditions and should not be in the band.

I. The following is expected of all band members regardless of their participation in competitive marching band unless excused by the director.
   1. To give his/her best effort toward excellence in band rehearsals and performances.
   2. To be at all home football games, including any post-season play, and participate in pregame and pep band activities.
   3. To participate in all parades.
   4. To participate in basketball pep band.
   5. To participate in all concert band rehearsals and concerts.
   6. To give his/her best effort toward excellence in band rehearsals and performances.
   7. To behave acceptably as detailed in this manual.
   8. To give adequate advance notice about conflicts.
   9. To participate in supervised group fund-raising activities such as city-wide canvass projects and car-washes.

II. The following is expected of all band members who participate in competitive marching band unless excused by the director.
   1. To be at all marching band rehearsals.
   2. To be at all marching band performances and competitions.

III. The following is expected of all band members who do not participate in competitive marching band unless excused by the director.
   1. To prepare assigned music for a grade during the first nine weeks as a substitute for the marching band music. To prepare assigned developmental exercises.
   2. To be supportive of the competitive marching band effort in the following ways:
     a. To do nothing which gets in the way of the progress of the marching band, and to be careful not to waste rehearsal time.
     b. To behave in a positive way regarding the extra effort and committment that is being given by competitive marching band members.

2008-2009 Printable Policy Guide Acceptance Form (MS Word .doc)