BAND HANDBOOK

WEST LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL

6th 7th and 8th Grade Bands

Band Director(s):

Mr. David Parsons

Email: dparsons@lincoln.k12.nc.us
Phone: 704-276-1760
Fax: 704-276-2293

Mr. Taylor Brown

Email: tbrown4@lincoln.k12.nc.us
 Why Band?
Why should my child take band? This is a question every band student and parent should
consider. We live in an age in which we want to ensure that our time, energy and money are
spent wisely. So, why band?

Band is more than a class in the school day. A positive band experience will have an
impact that will influence students the rest of their life. Middle and High school students are
looking for something they can identify with. Band offers a place for them to invest their time
and energy in a positive manner. Through hours of rehearsals and performances at games and
contests band students form healthy relationships that will be remembered for the rest of their
lives. Band also helps students transition to high school. A rising 9th grader in band will
already have supportive relationships established with 10th 11th, and 12th grade students and staff
before their first day of high school.

Students in the band program learn responsibility and accountability. Every student is
responsible for his/her part in the ensemble. Everyone is an important and a valued part of the
whole. They experience first hand that the band is only as good as its weakest player, so
everyone must do all that is possible to help their fellow students reach for the standard of
excellence.

Students also learn valuable leadership skills. Students are assigned roles of leadership
within the band. Student leaders direct the band and help in sectional rehearsals. Young people
learn first hand what makes a respected leader and have opportunities to exercise leadership
skills.

Finally, band helps prepare students for college. The US Department of Education list
the arts as subjects that college-bound middle and junior high school students should take,
stating Many colleges view participation in the arts and music as a valuable experience that
broadens students understanding and appreciation of the world around them. (Getting Ready
for College Early: A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle and Junior High School
Years, US Department of Education, 1997). Also consider that students with
coursework/experience in music performance scored higher on the SAT than students with no
arts participation. (College-Bound Seniors National Report: Profile of SAT Program Test
Takers. Princeton, NJ: The College Entrance Examination Board, 2001).

So why band? Healthy relationships, ease transition to high school, responsibility,

accountability, leadership skills, and preparation for college are only a few of the benefits
offered by a band experience. I urge you to consider this as an investment in your childs
future.
 GRADING AND EVALUATION
WEST LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6th 7th 8th Grade Band

Your students Band Method Book is a sequential map of the Skills and
Techniques they will be covering each semester.

60% PLAYING TESTS

To perform well in this area, students must practice daily. Students will be responsible for daily
assignments.
There will be several playing evaluations throughout each 9 week period. These will be selected
from the band book or concert music.

PLAYING TESTS WILL BE GRADED ON but NOT LIMITED TO

*Rhythm
*Tone
*Posture
*Fingering/Technique
*Embouchure (the students approach to holding the instrument, winds only)
*Articulation
*Phrasing
*Improvement in the above areas

10% WRITTEN ASSESSMEMTS:

Students will have written assessments on topics such as musical terms, composition,
and musical analysis (form/structure) throughout the semester.

10% PREPAREDNESS:
Students are expected to arrive in class on time and bring their
instrument, music, pencil, and any other necessary materials to ALL REHEARSALS.

20% PERFORMANCE ATTENDANCE:

Students are expected to ATTEND ALL PERFORMANCES with
a positive attitude and ready to work. Performances are a vital part of these students music
education.

ABSENCE REQUEST forms must be completed and returned at least 2 weeks before a planned
absence. These forms are located on the Class Web Page http://www.lcsnc.org/Domain/1378
or from Mr. Parsons.

GRADING SCALE:
A 90-100
B 80-89
C 70-79
D 60-69
F 59-Below
 SCHEDULE/CONCERT ATTIRE/FEES
WEST LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6th 7th 8th Grade Band

SCHELDULE:
Band classes meet every other day during regular school hours. Each ensemble will
perform at least 4 concerts during the year. Bands will also participate in MPA (District Band
Festival). Please See the Performance Calendar included in this handbook.

In order for this to be a successful experience each student is expected to practice on a

daily basis at home. It is imperative that students practice daily to build up muscle control and
reinforce the material from the lesson. This is the key to having a rewarding and
successful musical experience.

CONCERT/CONTEST ATTIRE:
MALES: Black dress pants and band shirt.
FEMALES: Black dress pants or BELOW THE KNEE skirt and band shirt.

Orders for band shirts will be taken in September. Cost will be approximately $20.00.
This will be the attire for ALL performances (6th, 7th and 8th grade Bands)
MUSIC:
Music that is passed out in class is property of the school. This music will be collected and
used for future band performances. Please take care of all music.

INSTRUMENT RENTAL FEES :

These fees are charged to cover the yearly maintenance of instruments that are loaned
to students from West Lincoln Middle School.

Clarinet, Trumpet,
Trombone, French horn $25.00semester / $50.00 school year
Baritone,Tuba $40.00 semester / $80.00 school year

Payment: Fees can be paid by semester or in monthly installments.

Please make payment to: West Lincoln Middle School

Monthly Rental:
Clarinet, Trumpet, Trombone: $5.00 month /10 months
French Horn: $5.00 month /10 months
Baritone/Tuba $8.00 month/10 months

1st payment: August 2015

Last payment: May 2016
 BOOKS and SUPPLIES
WEST LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6th 7th 8th Grade Band

BOOKS/SUPPLIES:
6th Grade BAND
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS 2000 from Hal Leonard Pub.
Book One
7th and 8th Grade BAND
ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS 2000 from Hal Leonard Pub.
Book Two

Flute Cleaning rod

Clean cloth for polishing
Thin handkerchief for swabbing out instrument

Clarinet HITE PREMIER or Vandoren B45 mouthpiece this is NOT included with the instrument.
Order Separate Mouthpiece
10 (ten) REEDS: RICO ROYAL, La Voz, or Vandoren
6th and 7th GRADE: #2
8th GRADE: #3
REED CASE-hard plastic case that holds 4 reeds
CLEANING SWAB
CORK GREASE

Alto Saxophone 10 (ten) REEDS: RICO ROYAL, La Voz, or Vandoren

6th and 7th GRADE: #2
8th GRADE: #3
REED CASE-hard plastic case that holds 4 reeds
CLEANING SWAB
CORK GREASE

Trumpet BACH 7C (or equivalent) mouthpiece

Polishing cloth
Valve oil
Slide grease
STRAIGHT MUTE for 8th gr students) Metal is recommended

Horn Blessing 11 (or equivalent) mouthpiece

Valve oil
Slide Grease

Trombone/Baritone Bach 6 A (or equivalent) mouthpiece. THIS is NOT INCLUDED with the instrument.
Order Separate Mouthpiece
Polishing cloth
Slide Oil
Slide Grease

Tuba Bach 24AW (or equivalent) mouthpiece

Valve oil
Slide grease

PERCUSSION BELL/SNARE PAD KIT-Percussionists DO NOT need a SNARE DRUM

Order MALLET KIT
This should include: Bells, Practice Pad, and Stand
MALLETS: Vic-Firth EP-2 Mallet Kit (includes: drum sticks, timpani, yarn, and rubber mallets
 BAND CONTRACT
WEST LINCOLN MIDDLE SCHOOL
6th 7th 8th Grade Band

PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN TO Mr. Parsons by Tuesday, Sept 2, 2015

RULES/REGULATIONS

PRACTICING:
Students are expected to prepare all assignments prior to the next class.
Band is a performance class. Most of the students grade is based on their
performance of the music in the class. If a student practices 20-30 mins a day they will
be successful.

IN THE BAND ROOM and PERFORMANCES

*Have all materials (instrument, music, reed sticks, pencil, etc.) and be in proper seat
promptly upon entering the room.
*Arrive at the report time for all performances.
*Respect the director and fellow students by not talking when the director is talking.
*Listen and follow instructions.
*TOUCH ONLY YOUR INSTRUMENT!
*ONLY PERCUSSIONISTS may TOUCH/PLAY percussion equipment.
*Food, drinks, gum, candy are not allowed in the band room.
*Possession of drugs, alcohol, or weapons will NOT BE TOLERATED.
*Profanity will not be tolerated.
*All band members are responsible for the care of equipment and the band room.
*Vandalism of any sort will not be tolerated.
*ABSENCE REQUEST forms must be submitted at least 2 weeks BEFORE a planned
absence.

I _________________________________________ and
PARENT (Please PRINT first and last names)

__________________________________________
STUDENT (Please PRINT first and last names)

Have read and understand the West Lincoln Middle School Band Hand Book,
Performance Calendar, and the above Rules and Regulations. We understand that
failure to follow these policies may result in the removal from the band program.

____________________________ __________
PARENTS SIGNATURE DATE

____________________________ __________
STUDENTS SIGNATURE DATE