7th & 8th grade band

INSTRUMENTS:

I recommend Buddy Rogers Music (order online at www.joinband.com or at a BR location). Other retail choices are available around the area, as well.

BAND METHOD BOOK:

In 7th grade, students begin to work out of the Essential Elements book 2

SWITCHING INSTRUMENT

Any student who desires to switch instruments MUST have Mr. Simmons' permission to do so. Students will essentially be starting over, depending on the instrument choice. Thus, private lessons may be necessary.

Additional instrument needs

IN ADDITION TO YOUR INSTRUMENT, MAKE SURE YOU MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES:

Flutes:

A cleaning rod and a rag that can be pulled through your instrument to remove excess moisture. (The rod should be included with your rental)

clarinets & saxes:

Reeds are your responsibility and can be purchased in boxes of 10. There are several brands to choose from, including Rico and La Voz.

Have a cleaning swab that can be pulled through your instrument to remove excess moisture. These clothes have a weighted string attached to them.

Brass instruments (trumpets, horns, trombones, baritones, tubas):

Trumpets & baritones = always have valve oil
Trombones = always have slide oil
All brass: have cork grease for your slides.
Keep an old rag on hand for polishing your instrument.

Percussionists:

Snare drummers have a good pair of drum sticks, size 2B. Good brands include: Vater, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Promark, & Regal Tip. Your kit will come with a generic pair of starter sticks.
Mallet Percussionists - set of mallets (comes with your kit)

Band procedures & policy

When do 7th & 8th graders have band?

HR classes meet once a week on Monday, Tuesday, or Friday (check your schedule)
FULL BAND meets on Tuesday afternoon from 2:05-dismissal
AFTER-SCHOOL BAND meets on Mondays from 3:00-4:30. This extra class starts on Monday, November 7th
- AS Band is part of the daytime graded band course. Attendance is required.
- please make every effort to schedule doctor's appointments on days other than Monday afternoon.

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:

Students are always working working on one or two pages from their book.

- Student's responsibility: Prepare current page(s) assigned from the last class at home.

7/8 grade students are always working on sheet music from the full band classes.

- Student's responsibility: learn sheet music at home and be prepared to rehearse during full band.

CAN'T PLAY DUE TO INJURY OR PROLONGED ILLNESS: Please have a doctor's note on file with the nurse's office

How are students graded?

CLASS PROGRESS AND HOME PRACTICE.

Students are EXPECTED to prepare at least the next 3 songs from the book after the last song played in the last class.
For example: if the last song played was number 41, students should practice and perfrect #42,43, &44 for the next class at home (unless unwise told by Mr. S)

7th/8th graders will be checked and graded on sheet music in the homeroom classes. With the exception of brand new charts, Students

are expected to know their parts and they will be graded as such, especially on charts that we've been playing for several weeks in full

band.

I recommend 20 minutes at least three times a week. Students are expected to stay current on their weekly assignments.

2. HAVING ALL REQUIRED MATERIALS AT EACH REHEARSAL.

required materials include:

Essential Elements band method book
your instrument (in working order)
band folder
pencil

3. PLAYING TESTS

4. PERFORMANCES

Mr. Simmons ALWAYS allows a student the opportunity to retake a test. Students must schedule a retake outside of regular class time

Grade Reminder:

Grades are earned, not awarded. A student's grade is a concrete indicator of continued progress towards maturing musicianship. For example, students receiving a 'C' grade demonstrate 'average' progress.

Practice Tips:

DIVIDE MUSIC INTO SMALL SECTIONS and rehearse those areas. After you are comfortable with each area, only then begin to 'put the pieces together,' always striving for smooth playing between every measure.

FIND THE HARDEST NOTES/SECTIONS and start there. Practice those sections often. If you tackle the most difficult areas of a song first, the rest will be a 'down-hill' process.

MAKE NOTES TO YOURSELF WITH A PENCIL. You can write yourself reminders so you don't continue to make mistakes on certain sections.

SLOW DOWN! The most common mistake any student makes is trying to play their music too fast. When you practice too fast, you practice mistakes!!

PRACTICE FOR ACCURACY!!! If you have to pause between measure or stop due to mistakes, then you need to slow things down and play at a more manageable speed.

ASK MR. SIMMONS for extra help. If you are repeatedly having trouble on a particular piece of music or musical phrase, ask for advice. Mr. Simmons will ALWAYS make time to give you extra help.

Try this practicing game:

Pick a section of music that needs work.
Pick a number of times (Five a good number to start with) that you will play it WITHOUT mistakes.
If you make a mistake, you start over at one. For example, you play the first two times without a mistake. On the third attempt, you mess up. You then start over at one. If you can make it 5 times through without a mistake, you've got it down.