8th Grade Band Syllabus
Revised 8/07/12
Objective: To provide students with an understanding of the basic fundamentals of music theory and
music performance.
Goals: 1. Students will exhibit an understanding of basic music theory fundamentals through written,
oral and performance evaluation.
2. Students will exhibit proper instrument technique, hand position, posture, and embouchure.
3. Students will exhibit proper concert etiquette in concerts as well as in class.
4. Students will be exposed to many different musical opportunities and experiences.
5. Students will perform music of various styles and skill levels.
6. Students will obtain a sense of pride, self-respect, and self-confidence through membership in
the Peachtree Charter Middle School Band.
Materials: All Band Students need a pencil and a highlighter every day in class, and a Metronome to practice with at home. Flute players must have a cleaning swab and a tuner every day. Clarinet and Saxophone must have 3 GOOD reeds w/reed protector, cork grease, a cleaning swab, and a tuner every day. Brass Players (trumpet, horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba) must have a mouthpiece, valve or slide oil, a small towel or cloth, and a tuner every day. Percussionists must have a Practice Pad, Bell Kit (to practice at home), stand and case (also to be kept at home), a Percussionists Kit which includes 2 pair of Drum
sticks, 1 pair of Timpani mallets, 1 pair of Acrylic or hard Rubber mallets, and 1 pair of hard yarn mallets, and a stick bag every day.
Band Books: Fourteen Weeks to a Better Band, 101 Rhythmic Rest Patterns, Foundations for Superior Performance, Symphonic Band Techniques, Musicianship for Band book 1 & 2, Essential Elements book 1 & 2 (Books will be provided for class use).
Percussion Books - Alfred’s Drum Method Book 1 & 2(Books will be provided for class use).
Band Dues: Band dues are $85.00 per band student and are necessary for students to participate in any band related extra-curricular activity. When you pay your band dues you will receive a Band Book, a Band T-shirt, and a Band binder. Band dues help cover expenses for such things as:
$10 – T-Shirt
$3 – Band binder
$10 – Band Books for class
$7 – Music
$5 – Minor Instrument Repairs
$20 – Guest Clinicians & Instructors
$20 – New Equipment/materials/purchases
$5 – Awards
$5 - Miscellaneous
Please make checks or money orders payable to Peachtree Band Boosters or PCMS Band Boosters. Included on the check should be the students name, grade level, band class period, and instrument.
Uniforms: There are two Peachtree Band Uniforms: Formal- Young ladies must have a white tuxedo
shirt, solid black dress pants with black, brown, or flesh tone stockings and black dress shoes. Young men must have a white tuxedo shirt, black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoes. The band boosters will furnish cummerbunds and bow ties. Informal - Band T-shirt. It should be worn every Thursday (except dress down days) as well as on days of band events.
Wish List: Donations of the following items would be greatly appreciated: Facial tissue; Paper towels; Hand sanitizer.
Instrument Storage: Individual instrument lockers are available. Students must provide their own COMBINATION LOCK. As a security precaution, students will receive 3 labels during the first week of school: one is for their instrument case; one is for their band locker; and the other is for their band notebook. Lockers will be assigned Tuesday August 9 so bring your combination locks on that day to receive a locker.
Instrument Pick-up: Instruments may be picked up from the band room upon dismissal at the end of each school day. The band room will be locked immediately after announcements and dismissal to allow Mr. Shores and Mr. Hickman to go to bus duty. This gives students approximately 5 minutes to retrieve their instruments from the band room each day.
School Instruments: Some school instruments, such as French horns, baritones, tubas, tenor saxophones, and bass clarinets may be rented for the school year if the student and parent sign a Contractual Agreement and pay a non-refundable deposit.
Agenda Planners should be brought to class every day by every band student. Students will be asked on many occasions to write down information concerning upcoming events or assignments. Agenda planners will also be used as hall passes. If a student does not have their agenda planner, they will not be permitted out of the class room for water or bathroom breaks.
Contact Information for Mr. Shores and Mr. Hickman is located at the top of the syllabus. It is very important that Mr. Shores has contact information for every band parent which includes a daytime phone number and a current email address.
Braces are an unfortunate part of middle school life for some students. Braces make it difficult to play any brass or woodwind instrument. Please keep this in mind when scheduling your child’s appointments for adjustments, but more especially for new braces. It takes at least a month for a student who has never had braces to adjust to playing their instrument with braces and it is usually difficult for about a week for a child to play their instrument after an adjustment. Please try to schedule orthodontic appointments around concerts, at least a week before a concert for adjustments and at least a month before a concert for new braces. Another option is to
wait until after the concert or performance for the appointment.
Homework will be assigned every night and will be checked in class the next day. Each student will be expected to practice their homework however long it takes each night to be prepared to perform it the next day up to expectation.
Assessments: Students will have a performance assessment at least once a week throughout the year in the form of challenges (pop quiz), pass offs (end of lesson test), or pre-performance exams. Students may also be expected to pass a Pre-performance exam with a 90 or above in order to perform in concerts.
Sectionals are simply extra rehearsals for sections that may need a little extra attention. Most instruments will receive at least one sectional a month during their regular class period.
Private Lessons are encouraged and highly recommended for every student in band. A list of private instructors is included in this syllabus and can also be found, along with a brief bio, on Mr. Shores’ website
Guest Clinicians (professional musicians, professional/university conductors) may be invited at
different times throughout the year to come in and work with the bands, specific sections, and/or individuals. Please try to be flexible concerning the future scheduling of these clinics.
Fundraisers are unfortunately a necessary evil when building a high quality band program. DCSD and PCMS do not provide the funds needed to keep this band program growing and progressing. The annual cookie dough fundraiser will kick off Thursday October 4 and will run for 2 weeks. Ordered cookie dough will be delivered by Thursday November 15 and will be ready for pick-up at the winter concert. Although students cannot be required to participate, support at some level is expected (whether it’s through donations or participation). Each student’s fair share will be equivalent to $50.00. Those not wishing to participate in the fundraisers but who wish to donate may do so at
the time of the fundraiser, the beginning of the school year, or anytime throughout the school year that is convenient.
Jazz Band membership is based on auditions and ability to attend regular scheduled rehearsals. Auditions will be announced during the first 2 weeks of school. 7th and 8th grade band students who play alto sax, tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet, trombone, electric bass, electric guitar, piano, or drums are eligible to audition. Rehearsals will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays each week from 7:45 am to 8:40 am in the band room.
Pep Rallies take place during the school day 2 times a year, once in the fall for football (Friday October 5), and once in the winter for basket ball (Friday February 1). The 8th grade band will perform at both pep rallies and the performances will count as an exam grade. Attendance is expected at all band events and performances. If a student must arrive late, leave early, or miss an event or performance, the band director must receive a reason in writing from the parent at least 2 weeks before the event. Any 8th grade Band student who does not participate in the Pep Rallies will be required
to complete an alternate assignment due before the performance as a make up for the test grade. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event. 8th grade football players, cheerleaders, and basketball players will be the only students that will be excused from this performance.
Middle School Night at DHS football game (Friday September 7) is an opportunity for 8th grade band students to get a taste of life in a high school marching band. Students will be able to play in the stands with the DHS Marching Band at one of their regular season football games. This is not a mandatory event, but its BIG FUN. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event.
GMEA Fall Solo & Ensemble Performance Evaluation is an annual opportunity for students to perform solos, duets, trios, etc… before an adjudicator for a rating and a medal. This years Solo & Ensemble performance evaluation will be held on Saturday October 27, 2012 at Peachtree Charter Middle School. The fees are $7 for a solo and $4 per person for duets, trios, etc… These fees are due to Mr. Shores or Mr. Hickman by Thursday August 30, 2012. Students are encouraged and welcome to voluntarily participate in this event and will receive extra credit toward their grade in band. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school the day
before the event.
The Winter Concert (Thursday, November 15) will count as a second 9 week final exam grade for all band classes. All band students are expected to report to their seats at 6:00 pm in the gym dressed in their formal band uniform. The concert will start at 7:00 pm and should be over by 8:00 pm. All students are expected to stay after the concert long enough to clear the gym of chairs and equipment, and return the band room to its normal state. Attendance is expected at all band events and performances. If a student must arrive late, leave early, or miss an event or performance, the band director must receive a reason in writing from the parent at least 2 weeks
before the event. Any 8th grade Band student who does not participate in the Winter Concert will be required to complete an alternate assignment due before the concert as a make up for the test grade. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event.
District & All-state Honor Bands are bands that are made up of the best middle school musicians in the district (District honor band) or in the state of Georgia (Georgia All-state Honor Band). Students are selected through an audition process. The district level audition is scheduled for Saturday December 1, 2012. Students are scored based on their performance of scales, sight-reading and a prepared piece. The top scoring students from each section are then combined to make the 100 piece District IV Honor Band that rehearses and performs over the weekend of February 8 & 9, 2013. All students who score a certain amount of points (it differs
between instruments) are then eligible to audition for the Georgia All-state Honor Band on Saturday January 12, 2013.
The top scores in each section from this audition are then combined to make the 100 piece Georgia All-state honor band which rehearses and performs in Savannah Ga. the weekend of February 28 – March 2, 2013. The cost to audition is $18.00 (if you are interested) and is due to Mr. Shores by September 6, 2012. The PCMS band has had one of the highest percentages of participation since 2000. Students are encouraged and welcome to voluntarily participate in this event and will receive extra credit toward their grade in band.
UGA Honor Band (Thursday, December 6 – Saturday December 8) is an honor band festival for select 8th grade students. These students will spend the weekend rehearsing, performing and hearing other performances all on the campus of the University of Georgia. The price per student is usually around $120 for registration and hotel cost and $40-$60 for food over the weekend.
The Pre-Festival Concert (Thursday, March 7) will count as a second semester first 9 week final exam grade for the 7th and 8th grade Band classes only. This concert is preparation for the upcoming GMEA District IV Middle School Band Performance Evaluation. Students are expected to report to their seats at 6:00 pm in the cafeteria dressed in their formal band uniform. The concert will start at 7:00 pm and should be over by 8:00 pm. All students are expected to stay after the concert long enough to clear the Cafeteria of chairs and equipment, and return the band room to its
normal state. Attendance is expected at all band events and performances. If a student must arrive late, leave early, or miss an event or performance, the band director must receive a reason in writing from the parent at least 2 weeks before the event. Any 8th grade Band student who does not participate in the Pre-Festival Concert will be required to complete an alternate assignment due before the concert as a make up for the test grade. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event.
GMEA Band Performance Evaluation (Saturday March 30), or Festival, is an annual event where bands from district IV perform for comments and scores from some of the best directors in the nation. It’s also an opportunity to hear other bands from our area as well as from other counties. Attendance is expected at all band events and performances. If a student must arrive late, leave early, or miss an event or performance, the band director must receive a reason in writing from the parent at least 2 weeks before the event. Any 8th grade Band student who does not participate in the GMEA Band Performance Evaluation will be required
to complete an alternate assignment due before the concert as a make up for the test grade. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event.
GMEA Spring Solo & Ensemble Performance Evaluation is an annual opportunity for students to perform solos, duets, trios, etc… before an adjudicator for a rating and a medal. This years Solo & Ensemble performance evaluation will be held on Saturday April 20, 2013 at Edwards Middle School in Conyers Ga. The fees are $7 for a solo and $4 per person for duets, trios, etc… These fees are due to Mr. Shores or Mr. Hickman by Thursday January 24, 2013. Students are encouraged and welcome to voluntarily participate in this event and will receive extra credit toward their grade in band. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school
the day before this event.
8th grade Spring Trip (Wed. March 20 – Sun. March 24) has become an annual tradition. The past 8th grade bands have traveled to Orlando Fla. to perform at the Hard Rock Live Theater in Universal Studios, to Disney World to compete at Festival Disney and participate in a recording session, and to New York City to perform at Carnegie Hall. This year the band will be traveling back to Orlando Fla. to perform at Disney World.
The Spring Concert (Tuesday, May 14) will count as a second semester 2nd 9 week exam grade for all band classes. All band students are expected to report to their seats at 6:00 pm dressed in their band t-shirt. The concert will start at 7:00 pm and should be over by 8:00 pm. All students are expected to stay after the concert long enough to clear the
performance area of chairs and equipment, and return the band room to its normal state. Attendance is expected at all band events and performances. If a student must arrive late, leave early, or miss an event or performance, the band director must receive a reason in writing from the parent at least 2 weeks before the event. Any 8th grade Band student who does not participate in the Spring Concert will be required to complete an alternate assignment due before the concert as a make up for the test grade. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event.
8th Grade Band Banquet (Monday May 6) is an annual event for the 8th grade PCMS band students and their parents to honor the hard work and accomplishments of all the students who stuck it out for three years of band and who went above and beyond the call of duty. Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt to school on the day of this event.
Expectations: Consequences:
1. Be on time (in the room when bell rings). 1st offense-Verbal Warning.
2. Be prepared (w/instrument, music, pencil 2nd offense-Time out / Mark against conduct
and rehearsed). grade / Teacher-student conference.
3. Follow directions the first time given 3rd offense- Parent phone call and Mark against
(including conducted directions). Conduct grade
4. No gum, food, or beverages in class. 4th offense- Parent/teacher conference and
5. Respect others (keep hands, feet and objects Mark against conduct grade
to yourself, no name calling, teasing, talking, 5th offense- Administrative referral.
outbursts or playing out of turn. Severe clause- Administrative referral.
Grading Procedure: Conduct:
5% - Etiquette S = 0-2 Offenses
50% - Daily Class Participation N = 3-5 Offenses
25% - Concerts/Performances U = 6 or More Offenses
10% - Homework checks
10% - Tests (pass-offs, skills test, written test)
Click below to print a copy.
8th_gr_Band_Syllabus0.doc
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