Through engaging class activities and individual participation, students will develop a foundation of musicianship that will lead to a better understanding and greater enjoyment of music.

Practice Expectations

All 8th grade band students are required to practice 3 times per week for at least 15 minutes (45 minutes total). These practice times are outside of the school day and outside of sectional time.

Sectional time is devoted to technical and instrument specific techniques. Students are expected to work on materials handed out in sectionals in addition to the literature we are working on in band.

Parents and students will receive a weekly email called the Week Update that details what students need to practice outside of class. On Google Classroom, students have access to recordings of concert music and PDFs of warm-ups, technical studies, and other exercises to practice (look under the classwork tab).

Students should approach practicing with at least 1 achievable goal in mind:

MAINTENANCE: Warm-ups/Maintain what you can do well

IMPROVEMENT: Refine the details and expressive elements of music

EXPANSION: Move beyond what you know

Students playing larger instruments who find transportation inconvenient or impossible should make up home practice regularly at school. This includes percussion instruments only available at the school. Practice rooms are open daily before school starting at 7:20am. After school practice is available on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday until 4:00pm and Wednesday and Friday until 3:30pm

Classroom Expectations

All band members must be willing to collaborate with others and improve themselves through daily participation. Each student is the determining factor in the success of the band.

1. Respect: self, students, staff, equipment

2. Make a sincere effort to improve and contribute

3. Communicate you needs to your teachers

Daily Procedures

1. Check the board for order of the day and announcements

2. Assemble instrument before posted start time and be ready to play at the time on the board

3. Put warm-ups and music on stand in order on the board

4. Fill out agenda

5. At the end of class, fix chair, push stand down and into your chair, then put closed instrument case in locker. All percussion students help cover and put away all instruments.

Procedural Information

Bring instrument, folder, and pencil to class each day

Students will be notified in advance if they need to bring other materials to class (chromebook, headphones)

To avoid unnecessary interruptions, please see a teacher for repairs before the start time on the screen.
If you lose or misplace your music, email Mr Gore before 2nd period if you need a new copy of music or warm-ups.

All student music is available on Google Classroom. If a student does not have a folder or music for the day they are expected to bring their chromebook and load their music on the screen.

Start of Class: Students have 3 minutes for instrument assembly and to get to their seat with the required materials. Once the band teacher steps on the podium and claps 2x, class is starting and students stop talking/playing. Students are encouraged to talk and play during transition time between warm-ups and the other activities on the order of the day.
Order of the Day: Students need to check the board when entering class each day and have all materials ready on their music stand. Percussion students are expected to have all instruments set-up at the start of class.
Borrowing a pencil: if you need to borrow a pencil, leave a shoe in the shoebox by the teacher’s desk. Return the pencil and retrieve your shoe before leaving class.
Folder Slot: Each student has a folder slot located in front of the locker room. Your band folder goes in your folder slot. New music will be distributed directly to your folder slot.
Student Supply Desk: Next to the water fountain, the student supply desk has bandages, valve oil, slide cream, hand sanitizer, and tissues for student use. Students do not need to ask to go to the Supply Desk but should use good judgment on appropriate times to get up during class.
Hygiene Students should practice good hygiene to keep their instrument in proper working condition. Wash your hands after lunch and before playing your instrument. Rinse out your mouth before playing. Students are encouraged to use the sink and water fountain at the start of class.

Restroom: Try to use the restroom at the start of class during the three minutes of set-up. If you need to use the restroom during class, pick an appropriate time, sign-out on the door, and return without disruption.

Grading Procedures

Activity	Percentage (weight)
Participation	20%
Sectionals	10%
Classwork	10%
Project (one per quarter)	20%
Recordings	10%
Performances	20%
Instrument Cleaning	10%
Total	100%

Participation

Students earn a weekly participation grade for attending class and participating in class posts/discussions on Google Classroom. Other participation activities are as simple as watching a video or answering a question on Google Classroom.

Sectionals

Sectionals are an essential part of the middle school band curriculum that provide students with instrument specific instruction in a small group setting. Students will have one sectional per week during their PE Period. Sectionals will begin the first full week of school. A schedule will be provided for students and parents.

8th Grade Sectional Schedule 2024

	Mr Gore	Mrs Gore
Monday 11:22-12:07	Flutes	Bass Clarinets
Tuesday 11:22-12:07	Clarinets	Tuba
Wednesday 11:20-12:05	Alto Saxes	Low Reeds
Thursday 11:22-12:07	Low Brass	Percussion
Friday 11:22-12:07	Trumpets	Horns

Classwork

Students will complete assignments related to writing, creating, and understanding music. Any assignments not completed during class time will need to be completed after school and turned in through Google Classroom. Once returned, students have the option of redoing any classwork for full credit. Turn in your work on time. Always communicate with your teachers if you accidentally overlooked an assignment or if you need more time to complete your work.

Project

Students will complete one performance project per quarter. For 1st, 2nd, and 4th quarters, we will work on one scale each week and students will submit a recording at the end of the week.

1st Quarter- All flat key major scales from memory at 90 BPM*- F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb

2nd Quarter- All sharp key major scales from memory at 90 BPM- C, G, D, A, E, B

3rd Quarter- Solo Festival: Perform at festival with self
evaluation or perform for class and receive performance grade

4th Quarter- All parallel natural, harmonic, and melodic minors

*May skip F, Bb, Eb, Ab if passed from memory with 100% accuracy in 7th grade band at MMS

To attend the end of year reward trip, students need to have completed their 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarter projects. All scales must be completed at tempo with no pitch errors, and students must receive a passing grade (in class performance) or a minimum of III rating (Solo Festival Performance) on their solo performance.

Recordings

Recording assignments will be assigned and submitted through Google Classroom. All recording assignments will have a play along practice track or be submitted through Noteflight (integrated with Google Classroom). The purpose of recording assignments is for teachers to check for understanding and to provide students with feedback for improvement. Students have 2 recording assignments per quarter. Playing assignments can be passed off in person during sectionals.

We recognize that all students are at different levels in their playing. Students will be able to adjust tempo (playing speed) for recordings. Assignments can be modified if a student is struggling with certain mechanisms of the instrument. Turn in your recordings on time to keep yourself from getting too far behind. Always communicate with your teachers if you accidentally overlooked an assignment or if you need more time to complete your work.

Because recordings are counted as homework, we follow the school grading procedures for late homework.

Instrument Cleaning

Students are required to keep their instrument in good playing condition. 1st and 3rd quarters we will conduct routine checks on our instruments and do thorough mouthpiece cleaning. Students will ‘deep’ clean their instrument twice per school year- once 2nd quarter and once 4th quarter. Students will receive a handout on proper cleaning techniques and the band teacher will go over procedures in class. Instrument cleaning is for a grade and all instruments will be checked by the teacher.

Performances

Because band is a group activity, attendance from every member is key to our success. Excused absences will be given for prearranged school conflicts, illness, and death in the family. Individual needs will be addressed as they occur. Communication is key with attendance.

The following procedures must be followed for all absences:

The band teacher must be given as much advance notice as possible.
An excused absence form must be filled out and approved by the band teacher.
For illness, a doctor’s note must be submitted.
Student will submit a recording of their parts for the missed performance OR

Student and teacher will agree on an appropriate alternate assignment

School Instruments

Some instruments will be provided by the school. Students using a school instrument must complete and return the ‘School Instrument Rental’ agreement. Students are expected to handle these instruments with great care and return them in good condition. There is a yearly fee of $50 for any student using a school-owned instrument. This helps cover yearly maintenance and normal use repairs. Additional fees may be assessed for instruments returned with unreasonable wear or damages.

Supplies and Repairs

Students who need to order new supplies (neck straps, reeds, cleaning supplies, mouthpieces, etc.) should order from Music & Arts or Nottelmann music. Both stores have representatives that visit our school once per week to pick up/drop off repairs and to deliver supplies. Please make arrangements through Music & Arts or Nottelmann for repairs and supplies. The teacher is not responsible for placing supply orders for students. See next section below for equipment/supply recommendations.

Equipment Requirements and Recommendations

All students need a bag/luggage tag or other form of identification on their instrument case. Search Amazon for LUGGAGE TAG or INSTRUMENT CASE TAG

8th Grade Warm-up Book

8th grade students use Foundations for Superior Performance for warm-ups and technical exercises. Available on Amazon or from a local music store.

Woodwinds

All woodwind players need two extra reeds in their case at all times. All middle school woodwind players should begin the transition to 3 strength reeds. Please buy Vandoren or Rico Royal Reeds. Avoid Cecilio, Glory, Lazarro, and Kmise reeds. Yes, they are cheap…and they sound like it. If you have been using these reeds in the past, please destroy all trace of their existence.
Woodwind players also need a swab/cloth for daily cleaning inside their instrument and a mouthpiece cleaning brush.
Recommended (not required) mouthpiece and ligature for Clarinet

Clark Fobes Debut mouthpiece
Rovner ligature

Recommended (not required) mouthpiece and ligature for Bass Clarinet

Vandoren B44 mouthpiece
Rovner ligature

Recommended (not required) mouthpiece and ligature for Alto Sax:

Vandoren Optimum AL3 mouthpiece
Rovner Dark Ligature

Recommended (not required) mouthpiece and ligature for Tenor Sax:

Vandoren Optimum TL3
Rovner ligature

Recommended (not required) mouthpiece and ligature for Bari Sax:

Vandoren BL3
Rovner ligature

Brass

All brass players need valve oil/slide grease in their case. We recommend Yamaha light synthetic valve oil. Try to be consistent and use the same oil every time. All brass players also need a mouthpiece brush for their instrument, and a cleaning snake to clean out the inside of their instrument.
Mouthpiece cleaning brush and snake brush for cleaning inside tubing
Trumpet mouthpiece recommendation: Blessing 3C
Horn mouthpiece recommendation: Holton Farkas MC
Trombone and Baritone mouthpiece recommendation: Blessing 6 ½ AL
Tuba mouthpiece recommendation: Blessing 18

Percussion

Stick bag of their choosing that can hold at least 2 pairs of snare drum sticks and 3 pairs of mallets.
1 Pair Concert Snare Drum Stick Recommendation- Vic Firth SD 1
2 Pair Marimba Mallets Recommendation- Vic Firth M212 Medium Marimba Mallets
1 Pair Xylophone Mallet Recommendation- Yamaha Educational Series Medium Hard Rubber Xylophone Mallets
1 Pair Timpani Mallet Recommendation: Innovative Percussion GT-4 General Series Timpani Mallets (Hard, Staccato)

Concert Attire

Gentlemen- Black shoes, black socks, black pants, black button down shirt, purple tie
Ladies- black shoes and solid black dress with sleeves or black pants and solid black top

Calendar

A copy of the calendar will be shared in the first Week Update.

Lessons and Extra Help

Students are encouraged to take private lessons on their instrument. Please contact the band teacher if you need help finding an instructor in or near Mascoutah. Music and Arts in Fairview Heights, Accent Music Lessons in Swansea, and Miller Music in Swansea are recommended by the band teachers.

Mr Gore is also available to work with students one on one Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school, and Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday before school as early as 7:00am. Please send an email to set up a practice time.

1st YEAR BAND INFORMATION

First year band is an after school accelerated band program designed for students with no previous band instruction. Band instruction in the Mascoutah school district begins in 5th grade. 1st year band provides an opportunity for students to learn to play while being integrated into the regular band classroom.

In order to participate and be successful, all new band students starting their first year in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade band need to be enrolled in and attend after school 1st year band, or be enrolled in private lessons.

Expectations:

Students will attend the 1st small group lesson for their instrument
Students will attend 1st year band class after school every Tuesday during 1st quarter or enroll in and attend weekly private lessons throughout 1st quarter
Students will practice each day for a minimum of 20 minutes and complete a practice log
Students will complete alternate assignments for band class during the school day