Doerre Intermediate Band Handbook
Table of Contents
Doerre Band Directors and Contact Numbers .………2
Schedule of Classes ...... ….…..3
Sectional Schedule ...... …..…..3
Calendar of Events ...... …...…..4
Private Lessons ...... …..….…5
Daily Practice ...... …… 6
Sample Practice Record ...... ………….….6
Course Objectives and Grading Procedures ....……...7
Uniforms ...... ………………………………….....8
Contest or Concert Uniform ...... …...8
Informal Performance Uniform ...... …….8
Uniform Cleaning ...... …….8
Insurance…………………………………………..….….8
Charms – Student Information…………………………9
Volunteer Information……………………………………9
Doerre Band Parent Volunteer Form...... …....10 detachable
Private Lesson Return Form…………………………...10 detachable
Handbook Signature Form (REQUIRED) ...... ……..11 detachable
Doerre Band Directors
Mr. Matt Fehl is the Director of Bands for the Doerre Intermediate Band Program. The Associate Directors is Ms. Jennifer Prine. Mr. Norwood from Klein HS also assists with the program. Each director has specific band and beginner assignments as follows:
Mr. Fehl....……………...... Honor Band, assists with Symphonic Band, and splits Concert Band
Beginning Trumpet, Clarinet, Saxophone, and Oboe
Ms. Prine ...... Symphonic Band, assists with Honor Band, and splits Concert Band
Beginning Low Brass, Bassoon, Flute, and French Horn
Mr. Norwood……………………Beginning Percussion
How to Contact the Directors
With about 250 students in the band program, the band directors receive numerous phone calls and messages. Our goal is to respond to every message in a timely manner. You are encouraged to contact us in one of the following manners:
via email ...... Fehl: mfehl@kleinisd.net
Prine:
Norwood:
via written note ...... Please include a phone number where you may be reached and the best time(s) to call, or may also include an email address or fax number.
via telephone ...... Please call during our conference period (3:05 - 3:55). We are not always near a phone during this time, but it is the best time to call. We have an answering machine to take your message at any time. One of the band directors will return your call as soon as possible. Band hall hours are generally between 7:30 AM and 5:00 PM.
Doerre Band Office: (832) 249-5780
Fehl Main Line: (832) 249-5787
Prine Main Line: (832) 249-5783
via website …………………. Fehl:
USE THIS AS THE MAIN BAND SITEà http://classroom.kleinisd.net/webs/mfehl
Prine:
http://classrom.kleinisd.net/webs/jprine1
Schedule of Classes
Period Time Class
1 8:58 – 9:49 Beginning Low Brass, Percussion, Trumpet
2 9:54 – 10:43 Beginning Saxophone, Oboe, French Horn
3 10:53 – 11:42 Symphonic Band
4 11:47 – 12:46 Honor Band
5 1:18 – 2:07 Concert Band
6 2:07 – 2:56 Beginning Clarinet, Flute, Bassoon
7 3:06 – 3:55 Conference Period
Sectional Schedule
All Honor and Symphonic Band members are required to attend a weekly practice for one hour either before school (7:45 — 8:45 AM) or after school (4:10 — 5:10 PM). Each section has voted and approved this rehearsal schedule according to their personal schedule conflicts. It is during sectionals when playing tests are administered and individualized help on material covered in band is given. It is most important that students make every effort to participate in these sectionals. Failure to attend sectionals will affect chair placement and grade. Repeated unexcused absences may result in reassignment to another band.
All Concert Band members will be required to attend a weekly practice on Monday after school (4:10 – 5:10 PM) during the Spring semester. It is during sectionals when playing tests are administered and individualized help on material covered in band is given. It is most important that students make every effort to participate in these sectionals. Failure to attend sectionals will affect chair placement and grade.
Sectional rehearsals are probably the single most critical factor that has contributed to the success of the Doerre Band over the years, and attendance is very important. Please do not schedule appointments during sectional time. The Doerre coaches and other academic teachers work closely with the Band Department to help solve conflicts for student’s schedules. Communication is the key! Let the Band Director know about a problem and he/she will assist in finding a solution.
If for some reason a section rehearsal must be missed, please make every effort to contact your child’s band director BEFORE the day of the sectional. In most cases, there are make-up sectionals that your son/daughter may attend to make-up the grade. However, many of the section rehearsals also include chair tests. If your child misses a section rehearsal, and there is a chair test, they can attend the make-up sectional for a grade, but they may not necessarily be included in the chair test results. Comparing one performance to another is much easier when they are heard back-to-back.
Private Lessons
The value of private, or “one-on-one’ instruction has long been recognized as an important asset in the musical development of young students. It is the one time when a student receives the full attention of a professional musician/teacher to work on a special problem unique to the student or his/her instrument. Band members who are involved in the private lesson program tend to maintain a greater interest level, practice longer, and generally progress faster and reach a higher level of proficiency than other students.
Private lessons are available to all band students at Doerre, and are held each week before or after school. Days and times are arranged individually by the private instructor in order to avoid conflicts.
The Klein Independent School District is pleased to be able to provide qualified private teachers. Their instruction is coordinated to enhance and complement classroom instruction. Although students are under no obligation to take lessons and special consideration in placement will not be given to a student enrolling, we highly recommend this program and hope every serious student will take advantage of this opportunity. If you have any questions, or would like the name and phone number of a private teacher, please call us during school hours (see Page 2 for “Contacting Directors”).
Responsibility
Students should commit to study for the entire semester in which they enroll unless extenuating circumstances require them to withdraw.
Billing
Each month’s lessons should be paid for in advance, usually on or by the first lesson of each month. When an account becomes in arrears, lessons will be suspended until payments are brought current.
The financial agreement is between the teacher and the student and his/her parents. In order to guarantee that teachers will be available and that the continuity of lessons will occur, students will be expected to pay for any lessons they miss unless advance notification is made to the teacher. Make-up dates will be scheduled, if possible and at the discretion of the teacher.
Established Rates
Following are the established rates for teachers giving lessons in KISD facilities:
Teachers with a Masters Degree or teachers with a Bachelors Degree who taught for two full consecutive years at a Klein ISD secondary campus
$20.00 per ½ hour lesson
Degreed teachers or teachers with commensurate professional experience $17.50 per ½ hour lesson
Non-degreed teachers $15.00 per ½ hour lesson
Attendance
The student is responsible for notifying the private teacher at least 48 hours in advance of a lesson to be missed (do not ask the Band Directors to inform the instructor; this is your responsibility). Also, it is the student’s responsibility to reschedule any make-up lessons within a month of the cancelled lesson or forfeit the payment for that lesson.
Daily Practice
Following a consistent, daily practice schedule helps to ensure that a student will progress at an acceptable rate on his/her instrument. Parents, encourage your student to adopt a schedule of 30 minutes per day, six to seven days per week. Past experience has shown us that students who are practicing and making noticeable progress on their instruments are more likely to enjoy band than those who do not practice. Always check your Objective sheet for specific assignments and test dates.
Keep the following guidelines in mind when establishing a practice routine:
1. Practice for results, not just for the sake of “putting in time.”
2. Keep distractions to a minimum: no radio or television.
3. Set up a daily schedule and stick to it! Treat practice as a part of your homework.
4. Always use a metronome. This greatly enhances your sense of pulse.
5. Always use a music stand. This helps avoid the formation of bad habits.
6. Try to follow a daily routine:
– Warm up exercises used in class each day.
– Fundamentals (such as scales or exercises).
– Review material covered in class that day.
– Practice assigned material.
– Look ahead in your book or music to material not yet covered.
Thirty (30) minutes per day is a typical amount that the average player will set aside for home practice, but DAILY practice is necessary to continue to improve on your instrument. The better you perform the more fun you will have!
Sample Practice Card.
Mon. Aug. 22 / Daily Drill Parts 1, 2, 3. Bflat, Eflat, and Dflat scales. The Hey Song. First ½ of region etude / 30 mTue. Aug. 23 / Daily Drill Parts 1, 4, 6. Chorale. Eflat, Dflat, Gflat scales. Fight Song. Second half of region etude / 15 m
Wed. Aug. 24 / Daily Drill Part 1, 5, 4. Dflat, Gflat, F scales. All of region etude number one. First half of region etude number two / 18 m
Thu. Aug. 25 / Daily Drill Parts 1, 2, 3, 4. Glfat, F, Aflat scales. Dynamite. Second half of region etude number two. / 35 m
Fri. Aug. 26 / Daily Drill Parts 1, 3, 6. Lip slurs A, B, C. Chromatic scale. F, Aflat, and G scales. All of region etude #2. / 40 m
Sat. Aug. 27 / Daily Drill Parts 1, 2, 4. B flat technical exercise. Lip Slurs A. Aflat, G, and D scales. Chromatic scale. Dynamite. / 20 m
Sun. Aug. 28 / Daily Drill Parts 1, 2. G, D, A scales. Chromatic scale. Both all-region etudes. Dynamite, Hey Song, Fight Song. / 20 m
Parent Sig. / Mother Goose / 105
WARNING!
Daily practice may lead to the following:
A love of music
Improved self-esteem
Better grades in school
Improved organizational skills
More fun, fun, fun!
Course Objectives and Grading Procedures
Course Objectives
To develop ...
— self- and group-discipline through the preparation and practice of individual parts.
— leadership skills, responsibility, diligence and an ability to cooperate with others as a team member.
— strength, stamina, endurance and coordination.
— an ability to make musical value judgments through critical listening. The student shall be provided opportunities to recognize quality of sound, pitch, style, tempo, rhythm, blend, balance, phrasing, dynamics and articulation skills in using and understanding note values, rests, key signatures, scales, musical terms, signs and symbols.
— the ability to recognize and tune intervals, unisons, harmony and train the ear.
— proper instrumental technique, care for instrument, correct posture and playing position, embouchure, good tone, correct breathing, technical proficiency and rhythmic skill.
— music reading skills and hand-eye coordination.
— musical sensitivity through performance and listening. The student shall be provided opportunities to internalize generally accepted, authentic performance styles and techniques in music played and heard.
— creative self-expression in every performance experience.
To interpret ...
— sound, musical symbols and terms from the printed page.
To evaluate ...
— the quality of musical performance. The student shall be provided opportunities to evaluate progress toward self-established musical goals, evaluate solo and group rehearsals and performances, and recognize quality of sound, pitch, style, tempo, rhythm, blend, balance, phrasing, dynamics and articulation.
Grading Guidelines and Procedures
50% Tests — 50% of the six weeks’ grade will be based on major tests including playing tests, tape recorded assignments, and written exams. Playing tests will be given during sectionals and class time. Concert performances are considered major test grades and are required.
40% Daily Grades — 40% of the six weeks’ grade will be based on daily grades including homework assignments, daily quizzes, class work and participation. Participation and attitude in daily rehearsals, sectionals, extra rehearsals and performances are very important. Being in band is like being in a team sport: everyone must participate in order for the group to be successful. A student’s daily grade will be based on the following: all music neatly in band binder every day, pencil on music stand, all necessary supplies available, good posture, actively participating, and day-to-day improvement.
10% Practice Record — 10% of the six weeks’ grade will be based on keeping a record of student’s weekly practice. Practice records are written records of what a student practices on his/her instrument each week. The primary goal of the directors is to help instill consistent practice habits in band students. This in turn will help each student become more successful as a musician.
Attendance at ALL concerts AND section rehearsals are required and will comprise a portion of the student’s average for the grading period.
Uniform Requirements
Concert, Symphonic and Honor Band have a formal uniform. White tuxedo shirt, Black pants (no jeans), black dress shoes (no tennis shoes) and black socks (ladies may wear hosiery). Ladies may wear a black skirt, but they must be able to tuck in their tuxedo shirts and they must be at least mid-calf in length. Honor Band is also required to wear a black bow tie, and Symphonic Band will wear red bow ties. This can be purchased the same day as the tuxedo shirt in the Fall semester.
Concert and Symphonic Band will receive a red vest or cummerbund from the school. Students are to maintain them and they must be either: 1) dry cleaned before the last day of school, or 2) returned to the directors with a $2.00 cleaning fee before the last day of school.
Honor Band will receive a black vest from the school. Students are to maintain them and they must be either: 1) dry cleaned before the last day of school, or 2) returned to the directors with a $2.00 cleaning fee before the last day of school.
For Pep-Rallies, Concert, Symphonic, and Honor Band students will wear their 2011-2012Doerre Band Spirit Shirt and either jeans or shorts (depending on the weather).
Beginning Band students will be required to wear their 2011-2012 Doerre Band Spirit Shirt at the Winter Concert, Band Picture Day, and the May Festival. The spring concert is a semi-formal event, so tennis shoes, shorts, and jeans will not be allowed.