IMPORTANT! The last page of this handbook is the band contract.

You and your

parent/guardian MUST sign and return that form by September 15th.
It is your first assignment for this quarter!

Whittier Middle School Band Handbook

2017-2018
Mrs. Hakeman and Mr. Miller, Band Teachers
Email: anna.hakeman@k12.sd.us
Email: jesse.miller@k12.sd.us

WELCOME TO BAND! This handbook is an overview of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade band classes at WMS.
Please be familiar with all sections of the handbook. Students/Parents need to sign and return the
back page (graded!) to show your understanding of this information.

Band Schedule
Brass and Percussion students have band on Mondays, Wednesdays, and every other
Friday. Woodwind students have band on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and every other Friday.
(Watch the board to see if its your week to come on Friday!)

School Instruments
Some instruments are available for use through the school. Students who qualify for free
or reduced lunch will be able to use these instruments at no cost. All other students who
wish to use a school instrument will be charged a $70 maintenance fee. Students who do
not play a large/specialized instrument (such as oboe, bassoon, bari sax, baritone, or tuba)
and who do not qualify for free/reduced lunch will be required to rent or purchase an
instrument on their own. Repairs on school instruments will be paid for by the school IF
the repair is a normal wear-and tear issue. If an instrument is damaged while in the
students care (accidental or not), that student/students family will be responsible to pay
for the repairs.

Band Lockers
All Whittier students are assigned a band locker to keep their instrument in at the
beginning of the school year. The band storage room is next to the band room, and
students are able to put their instrument away before they go to Protime in the morning.
Band lockers do not come with locks. Students will need to provide their own padlock if
they wish to lock their instrument during the day. (Please noteif an instrument is not
locked, and it becomes damaged or stolen, the school is not responsible for replacement.
We did have a few problems with this last year, so please get a lock!) Students may keep
an extra key or a copy of their lock combination with Mrs. Hakeman and Mr. Miller if they
wish (this is recommended!). Do not share your locker, or your combination with other
students.

Grading
There are two LEARNING TOPICS for that will be evaluated in band:
 1. Performing Music
2. Understanding Music
There are three LEARNING BEHAVIORS that will be evaluated in band
1. Group Collaboration
2. Class Participation
3. Homework and Practice

LEARNING TOPIC: PERFORMING MUSIC

Demonstration of Mastery: (Concert Performance/Playing Assessments)
Attendance at concerts is REQUIRED for all students except in the case of student
illness, religious holiday, or family emergency. Concerts are worth 100 points each.
Students who miss a concert will be required to complete a CONCERT RECOVERY
assignment if they would like to make up the missed points.
6th and 7th graders have two concerts (December 18th and May 3rd).
8th graders have three concerts (November 16th, December 18th, and May 3rd).
Rehearsal Skills/Techniques & Skills Improvement Option:
Students will be evaluated daily (10 points per day) on posture, attitude, and overall
rehearsal performance. All students are required to complete one Skills
Improvement Option per quarter (worth 30 points each quarter).

How Can a Skills Improvement Option (SIO) be completed?:

Taking lessons with a private instructor on your band instrument. (You will need to
bring a note from your teacher each quarter you take lessons.)

Turning in a quarterly practice record with 350+ (at-home) practice minutes (this
must be signed by a parent or guardian). (Students who are unable to practice at
home can complete this option by practicing in one of our band practice-rooms after
school.) Practice records are available in the bandroom.

Taking ONE after-school lesson each quarter with either Mrs. Hakeman or Mr. Miller
(signup sheets are on the bandroom door).

Submitting an audition for SD Middle School All-State Band or Middle School All-
State Jazz Band (this option is available only for 2 nd quarter).

Preparing and performing a solo or ensemble for Middle School Solo/Ensemble

contest (this option is available only for 3rd quarter)

Participating in the Sioux Falls Middle School Honors Jazz Band (this option is
available to selected students only during the 3rd quarter; students are nominated by
Mrs. Hakeman).

Participating in the SD Middle School All-State Band (students are selected by state-
wide audition; this option is available only during the 3 rd quarter).

Participating in Whittier Winds, Jazz Band, or Percussion Ensemble with good

attendance.

LEARNING TOPIC: UNDERSTANDING MUSIC

Read, notate, and demonstrate musical symbols
 Analyze, listen to, and evaluate musical performances

LEARNING BEHAVIOR: GROUP COLLABORATION

Band students are a team. We work as a large group daily, and all players contribute to
the success of the overall ensemble. We will also work in pairs or small groups for some
written assignments and performing ensembles. All students will be evaluated daily on
your efforts to collaborate with our band team. Your performance affects everyone, so do
your best every day.

LEARNING BEHAVIOR: CLASS PARTICIPATION

Class participation will be evaluated daily. All students need to give 100% effort each day.
This means that you need to be prepared (have your instrument/music), and be ON TIME.
Students are expected to participate fully each day they attend class. (In regards to
illnesses such as colds, etc., our policy is that if a student is well enough to be at school,
he/she is well enough to play an instrument). DO NOT ASK to leave band to take a
quiz/finish an assignment for another class. You need to be here to participate in class. We
expect all band students to play to the best of his/her ability, sit with good posture, display a
positive attitude, and follow all class rules.

LEARNING BEHAVIOR: HOMEWORK AND PRACTICE

Practicing your instrument at home is band homework. All band students are expected to
practice at least WEEKLY (daily is better!). We will be monitoring instruments that never
leave the building. If you play a large instrument that is difficult to get home, please make
arrangements for someone to drive you home, or practice in one of our practice rooms after
school. Students who are in Whittier Winds and/or Jazz Band are expected to practice
frequently because there is so much more music to learn. It is rare that we assign written
homework assignments. Students who fail to use the allowed class time to complete
written assignments will be required to finish them at home.

Switching Instruments
Dont ask! Students are not allowed to switch instruments mid-year, or between grade
levels, unless Mrs. Hakeman or Mr. Miller requests them to do so. The instrument a
student chose in 5th grade will be the instrument they will play throughout their years at
Whittier. (In special circumstances, such as a student getting braces and being unable to
play their current instrument, we may make an exception to this rule.) Occasionally, we
request students change instruments (such as from alto to bari or tenor saxophone or from
trumpet to baritone) to create a more balanced band.

Supplies
All students are expected to supply their own instrument supplies.
Clarinet/Saxophone players should have 2-4 working reeds in their cases at all times
(strength #2). Reeds are usually available for purchase from Mrs. Hakeman or Mr.
Miller Prices vary according to instrument.
Oboe/Bassoon players should have 2 working reeds at all times (medium-soft or
medium strength)
Trumpet/Baritone/Tuba players should have valve oil.
Trombone players should have slide cream/grease.
Mid-Year Drop/Add Policy
Adding Band
If a student would like to add band to his/her schedule after the school year has started,
he/she must visit with their grade-level counselor. The counselor will give students add
cards, which must be signed by a parent and either Mrs. Hakeman or Mr. Miller before the
class can be added to the students schedule.

Dropping Band
If a student would like to drop band, the parent/legal guardian must make contact with
Mr. Miller or Mrs. Hakeman first. The student will be notified when the change in schedule
has taken place. STUDENTS ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO DROP BAND DURING THE FIRST
TWO WEEKS OF EACH SEMESTER because mid-semester drops disturb the overall
concert preparation of the group. Exception to the policy: Administrative discretion.

Jazz Band
Mrs. Hakeman directs the jazz band. Any 7th or 8th grade student who wishes to play in the
jazz band will need to audition at the beginning of the school year. Audition materials will
be available during the first or second week of school, and auditions will be done during
class time during the third or fourth week of school. Jazz band meets on Monday and
Thursday mornings at 7:45 a.m. Instruments included in jazz band are: alto sax, tenor
sax, bari sax, trumpet, trombone, drum set, bass guitar, electric guitar, vibraphone, and
piano.

Whittier Winds
Mr. Miller directs this group. It meets Wednesday mornings at 7:45, and occasionally will
have a few after-school sectional rehearsals (TBA).
Whittier Winds is our wind ensemblea smaller honor band where there are usually only
2-4 people on a part. They play challenging 7th and 8th grade level music, and any 7th or 8th
grade student who wishes to play is welcome to audition (percussion is included!).
6th grade students who have worked ahead in the band book, or who are taking private
lessons, (or who just want a challenge!) are welcome to audition. Several 6 th grade students
played last year and were quite successful. More information about joining Whittier Winds
will be available during the first few weeks of class. We will begin rehearsing near the end
of September.

Percussion Ensemble
Percussion ensemble is available to anyone who plays percussion, or who wants to learn to
double on percussion as a secondary instrument. We do not meet until 2nd semester. We
play both traditional percussion ensemble music, an drum-line style music on buckets and
trashcans, etc.

Band Beginners
All Sioux Falls students had the opportunity to begin playing a band instrument in the 5 th
grade. Any student who wishes to join band in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade as a beginner will be
required to take a minimum of 4 lessons with either Mrs. Hakeman or Mr. Miller after
school during the 1st quarter of school, or to take lessons with a private teacher from the
community, and to practice regularly at home in order to catch up with the other students.
Students may be assigned other at-home written assignments to complete in order to catch
up with their grade level peers. Failure to do these things will result in that student being
dropped from band class at the end of the 1st quarter.

Music/Folders
All band students are assigned a folder at the beginning of the year. Most students will
share a folder with another student. These folders are kept at school in the music cabinet,
but can be checked out at any time for use practicing at home. Band music will be
checked out to students. Music that is lost or is damaged (crumpled, ripped, etc.) will need
to be replaced. Replacement cost is $2.00-$3.00 per piece of music.

Concert Attire
All students are required to wear BLUE JEANS for concerts. Students will be provided with
a blue Whittier Music t-shirt to wear at concerts. (On concert nights, students will receive
these shirts from us, put them on over their regular shirts, then return them after the
concert.) Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, and Whittier Winds members will wear their
JB/WW shirts with blue jeans.

Parent Communication
This year we will again be using REMIND (a text messaging & email system) to keep in
contact with parents throughout the year. Concert times/reminders, schedule changes
(such as Full Band days), etc. will be communicated with you in this way. We are asking
for ALL families to join our Whittier Band group. Please see the last page for instructions.
 BAND HANDBOOK SIGNATURE FORM
(DUE DATE: Friday, September 15th)
.
BAND STUDENTS and PARENTS: Please read carefully through the band
handbook, then sign below and return this form to Mr. Miller or Mrs.
Hakeman

(Note: the return of this sheet is worth 10 points towards your 1 st quarter
grade!)

I have read carefully, and I understand the Whittier Middle School

2017-2018 Band Handbook and grading policies.

_________________________________________
Student Signature (make sure we can READ your first and last name!)

_________________________________________
Parent Signature

(check one) _____I have joined REMIND for Whittier Band announcements
(info on previous page of this packet)

_____I do not wish to join REMIND and understand that I may not
receive these announcements in another way

__________________
Date