MFL MarMac High School

Band Handbook
(2016-17 School Year)

Table of Contents
- Classroom Policies
o Classroom Rules and Procedures
o Absentee Policy
o Dress Code
- Grading System
- Mandatory Performance Schedule
- Summer Performances
- Letter Point System
- Marching Band Awards
- Contract

Classroom Guidelines
Please follow school wide policy
1. Be Safe
2. Be Respectful
3. Be Responsible
4. Be your Best
Here are a few guidelines for what this will look like during
band class.
1. Be on time.
2. Respect everyone in this ensemble.
3. Respect all of the equipment in this room.
4. Represent our school well.
5. Come to class prepared to learn
a. Bring your music
b. Bring your instrument
c. Bring a pencil
6. Do your part to make this ensemble successful
(PRACTICE!).
7. Gum, (non water) Drinks, and Food are not allowed in
the band room NO EXCEPTIONS.
8. Phones should not be seen OR heard.

Classroom Procedures
The 3 strike rule may be used through out the school year.
Strikes 1 and 2 are warnings. Strike 3 is a detention. Any
further offense will result in a trip to the principals office.
Strikes 1, 2, and 3 may be skipped at the instructors
discretion.

Absentee Policy
1) Rehearsal
Rehearsal attendance is a significant part of the learning
process. Your part is an essential one and we need to have it
whenever possible. That being said, I understand that you may
occasionally need to miss a rehearsal. When this occurs I ask
that you follow the procedure outlined below, as soon as you
know that you will be absent.
1) Attain an absentee slip from the table outside my office.
(If there is not one there, ASK!)
2) Fill out the slip, including your name, the dates when
you will be gone, and the reason for your absence.
3) Bring the slip to me. I will record the dates that you will
be gone and fill in the Assignment portion of the slip.
4) (Assignments will vary, based on teachers discretion,
but will usually include a practice log to make up for
missed playing time).
5) When the absentee slip is returned to you complete
your assignment to the best of your abilities.
6) Have a guardian sign the slip signifying that they are
aware of your absence as well as your completion of the
assignment.
2) Performances

DO NOT MISS PERFORMANCES!

Credit for missed performance attendance of any kind
(marching band, pep band, concert band, etc.) will only be
given under extreme circumstances (i.e. personal illness or
family emergency), and only if the teacher is notified PRIOR to
the absence.
3) Credit

Credit for absentee slips will be given at the teachers discretion

based on several factors including; reason for absence and
quality of work. Maximum credit for missed rehearsals may
range from 50% to 100% and credit for missed performances
may range from 25% to 100% depending on the circumstances
leading to the absence. The maximum credit available will be
indicated on the absentee slip.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ASSIGNMENTS THAT ARE NOT
ACCOMPANIED BY A SIGNED ABSENTEE SLIP WILL NOT BE

DRESS CODE
Marching Band
You need to provide your own black socks and 100%
black marching shoes. The school will provide the rest
of the uniform. Be sure wear shorts and a T-shirt
underneath of the uniform. No jewelry is to be worn and
hair must be pulled up under the shako.
Concert Band
Much the same as Marching Band, you will need to
provide your own black dress socks and shoes. The
school will provide the rest of the uniform. No large
jewelry is to be worn.
Pep Band
Wear any MFL MarMac shirt with your usual school
clothes.
Jazz Band
Concert Band uniform without coat.

Grading System
Performances 30%
Be there. Be on time. Do your best. Be positive and
constructive.
Performance grades are based on concert etiquette;
which includes but is not limited to, being on time,
being respectful, taking the stage appropriately, being
attentive, doing your best, staying quiet before, after,
and between songs, and being a good audience
member.
Assessments 20%
Assessments will include assignments, exams, and
playing tests.
Content of playing exams will include music from
private lessons, performance repertoire, scales,
technical studies, and sight-reading. Windows for
playing tests will be announced in advance and you will
be allowed to retake the tests until the testing window
closes.
Lessons 25%
Attending weekly lessons and demonstration of good
practice habits.
Rehearsal 25%
Be there. Be punctual. Be prepared (supplies and
practice). Do your best. Be positive. Participation points
will be lost if any of these criteria are not met.
Grading Scale
100% A+
92-90% A-

99 93% A

Mandatory Performance Schedule

***Performance Schedule is subject to change. The student is responsible for
attending all performances listed below as well as any rescheduled or added
performances***

Save the Date!

MFL MarMac Band 2015-2016
The events listed in BOLD are mandatory performances!
1st Semester
Friday August 26th - Parents' Night - Call Time 6:30pm
Saturday September 3rd - Labor Day Parade
Monona Bus - 8:30am
Meet in McGregor - 9:00am
Line Up - 10:00 - 10:30am
Step Off - 11:00am
Friday September 9th - Home Game - Call Time 6:00pm
Friday October 7th Homecoming
Parade + Pep Rally
Game - Call Time 6:30 pm
November 29th Pep Band Call Time TBA
December 3th High School NEIBA Honor Band TBA
December 15th Winter Concert 7:00 pm
December 20th Pep Band Call Time TBA
January 10th Pep Band Call Time TBA
2nd Semester
January 16th UIC High School Honor Band 9am 9pm Concert @7:30pm
January 17th Pep Band Call Time TBA
January 27th Pep Band Call Time TBA
February 3rd Pep Band Call Time TBA
February 26th - 27th Dorian High School Honor Band TBA
February 10th - Jazz Band and Concert Band - Pops Concert 7:00pm
March 28th - Solo and Ensemble Recital - 6:00 pm
April 1st Solo and Ensemble TBA
May 2nd Awards Concert 7:00 pm
May 6th State Large Group Contest TBA
May 21th Graduation 2:00pm
Summer 2017
May 29th Marching Band - Memorial Day Parade McGregor - TBA (IF THIS
EVENT FALLS WITH IN THE SCHOOL YEAR IT WILL BE COUNTED AS A
MANDATORY PERFORMANCE)

Summer Parades, Holiday Events, and Band Camp

I expect you to be at all of these events, however, in the
event that you are unable to attend please note the
following policy:
1. While events that occur outside of the school year are
not graded they are worth letter points.
2. Letter points will be DEDUCTED for each event that the
student misses without informing the instructor at least
1 week in advance.
3. Holiday Events that occur during the school year are
graded. If for some reason you are unable to attend a
make up assignment will be offered. However, it is
YOUR responsibility to fill out the absentee slip at least
one week PRIOR to the event, inform the instructor, and
complete the assignment. Make up assignments will be
due the school day after the event missed. 10% will be
deducted from the final grade for each day the
assignment is late.
4.

The same rules outlined for summer parades apply to

band camp. Letter points may be deducted for each day
of unexplained absence.

Marching Band Awards

Marching band awards will be given when the following criteria are met.
5 days of band campLetter
are attend
OR 5 hours
of practice are logged, signed
Point
System
by a guardian and turned in.
All lessons between the beginning of the year and the playing test due
Mandatory
Performances
date are
attended. (concert, jazz, pep, & marching band) 2 points each 36 points
possible.
All playing tests are passed 1 week prior to Homecoming.
Band
Camp/Practice
logwill
- .5be
points
day/hour
logged 2.5
points
Marching
band awards
wornper
on the
blue marching
band
coverpossible.
for the
remainder of the marching band season. At the end of the season they will be
Holiday
and
Summer
Performances
- 2 points
eachbe 6
points
stored for
the
next season
during which
they may
worn
for possible
the entire season.
All marching band awards may be taken home with students upon graduation.
Honor band participation 1 point each 3 points possible
Marching band awards will be given on a four year basis.
Solo
and
ensemble participation - .5 points for each event receiving a II or better.
Year 1
is bronze
2
points
possible
Year
2 is silver
Year 3 is gold
Attending morning or evening rehearsals (outside of school) - .5 points each - 4
points possible
Attending Other Concerts - .5 points each Must write a 1 page paper and turn it
in with a program from the concert 2 points possible.
Misc. - .25 points each 2 points possible.
Helping catalog music, clean band room, playing in church (music turn in
bulletin), etc. If in doubt, ask Ms. H.
Total Points Possible per year 57.5
Letter 45 points
Bronze Award 50 points
Silver Award 95 points
Gold Award 140 points
Senior Plaque 200 points

Contract
I, ____________________, (Student Name) understand that I have an important role in the
band and in the constructive learning environment with in this classroom.
I am responsible for my own behavior and I agree to meet the behavioral
expectations outline in this handbook.
Since I play an important role in the band I agree to be present for all rehearsals
and performances, and understand that I am responsible for notifying the
instructor of any anticipated absences as soon as possible. I also understand
that I am responsible for attaining and completing an absentee slip for every
absence.
Since I play an important role in my own learning as well as the learning of my
classmates I agree to work hard to learn my parts and complete my
assignments. I also understand that absentee assignments are highly important,
as I am responsible for making up missed content.

I, ______________________ (parent name), understand that my student plays an important

role in the band, as well as in their own leaning and the learning of the
classmates.
I agree that my student needs to be present for all performances and rehearsals
and have marked all performance on my calendar. I will also make any additional
performances, or changes to the given schedule, on my calendar as they are
announced.
Since my student is responsible for making up any missed content I will verify
that their assignments are completed and that I am aware of the absence by
signing an absentee slip for each absence.
Since I also play an important role in my students learning I agree to contact the
teacher (Miss Harbaugh) with any questions or concerns I may have, and to
notify her of any performances that my student will not be able to attend in my
student is unable to do so themselves.
Would like to receive 7/8 band reminders via remind to the email address(es)
and or phone number(s) listed below?
___ Yes I would like to sign up for Remind
use Remind.
Signed ____________________________________

___ No thank you, Id rather not

(student signature)