On behalf of the entire band staff, welcome to the 2008-2009 edition of the Martinsburg High School Bulldog Band. You have chosen to become part of a large and wonderful organization with a long-standing tradition of excellence. Whether you are in marching band, concert band, jazz band, pep band, steel drum ensemble, or any combination of these groups, you will find that there is a high expectation of quality when we perform.
With a high expectation of quality comes a high level of responsibility for each student. You are part of a wonderful tradition and it is up to each individual to be an example of this culture of excellence. You will be expected to represent all of the things that make this program great: respect, discipline, positive leadership, good musicianship, maturity, class, and pride. Your hard work will pay off!
I am glad that you have decided to become a part of the 2008-2009 Martinsburg High School Bulldog Band. I sincerely hope that you find this to be a wonderful experience.
Sincerely,
James Southern
Director of Bands
Martinsburg High School
2008-2009 Band Staff
James Southern, Director
Jennifer Moss, Asst. Director
Jennifer Moss, Percussion
Rikki Martz, Guard
Jon Groen
Tana Thomas
Jerry Walker
Ryan Willingham
Uniforms
There is a specific dress code that is expected for each performing ensemble. For marching band, you will be issued a uniform at the beginning of the marching season. The fee for this rental is $30 per student. This fee serves to maintain and purchase new uniforms. Your uniform will consist of a coat, pants, a sash, and garment bag. Hats and plumes will be distributed at each performance, and you are responsible for supplying your own black marching shoes, black socks, and white gloves. No jewelry is to be worn. You are responsible for all parts of your uniform at all times, including cleaning (do NOT send the sash with the uniform for dry cleaning). If any part of the uniform does not meet performance standards (wrinkled, dirty, etc.), then you will be asked to remedy the situation immediately or you will not perform, resulting in an unexcused absence from a required performance (see grading policy). Each part of your uniform will have a number on it, and we will expect you to return that part with that number. You will not get credit for returning uniform parts that are not yours. Remember, your uniform is considered county property, and it must be treated accordingly.
The jazz band is expected to wear full tuxedos, including tux pants, black tux shoes, black socks, white tuxedo shirts with wing-tip collar, black tuxedo jacket with notch-lapel collar, black cummerbunds and black bow ties. No jewelry is to be worn. Each student is expected to purchase the required pieces of this uniform. You are in charge of the maintenance of this uniform. If you have questions about shoes or any other part of the uniform, ask Mr. Southern BEFORE you buy!
The concert band will dress in formal attire. Men should wear dress pants (no jeans), dark socks, appropriate dress shoes (not sneakers), and a button-up solid-colored shirt with a tie. Jackets are encouraged but not required. Ladies can wear pants, a dress or a skirt if the skirt covers the knees, a button-up solid-colored top with sleeves, and any dress shoe that covers the toes. Earring studs are acceptable, but no other jewelry should be worn, including watches.
All other ensembles will be instructed about the required dress code with as much notice as possible prior to any required performance.
If you are not properly dressed, you will not perform and your grade will reflect an unexcused absence from a required performance (see grading policy). Please note that you will not receive a uniform until you have paid for it. If you miss a performance because you have not paid your required fees to receive a uniform, then you will receive a zero for that performance. Remember, if you have any questions about appropriate dress, ask Mr. Southern before you buy!
Instruments
Each student is expected to have their own instrument. You may rent an instrument from the school if necessary for $25. This fee is used for maintenance during normal wear and tear of the instrument. If for some reason you do not pay the fee, then you are responsible for all repairs to the instrument while it is in your care. The instrument will be issued to you in good playing condition and is expected to come back in the same condition. You will only be responsible for repairs that are a result of misuse of the instrument. Misuse will be determined by the director and may result in losing the privilege to rent from the band. Failure to replace or repair any misused instrument in the amount of time determined by the director will result in dismissal from the program and your name will be posted on the schools “fees owed” list until all debts are paid.
During the course of the year, you may need reeds, valve oil, slide grease, sticks, and other instrument supplies. Some supplies, such as reeds, Mr. Southern will attempt to keep in stock. Ultimately you are responsible for purchasing your own supplies, but some will be kept in the band room for emergencies. Reeds will not be sold individually. All woodwind players should be playing on three different reeds that they are rotating on a daily basis. Just as woodwind players are expected to buy their own reeds, brass players are expected to provide their own valve oil and slide oil. Percussion students are expected to have snare sticks and keyboard mallets.
Any instrument repair will be handled through Music and Arts Center. If your instrument needs to go to the repair shop, it will be picked up on Tuesday and returned the following Tuesday. Payment will be made directly to Music and Arts Center, and each student is responsible for their own repair. Any additional supplies can also be ordered through Music and Arts Center.
All music that you need will be provided for you. You will be provided with a music folder to store your music, though marching band flip folders and lyres are purchased by each student. Each person is responsible for having their own music. If you share a folder make sure all parties have access to it in case someone is absent. You will be marked as unprepared for class if you do not have your music.
You may write on your music in pencil only, and you are not to fold, tear, or lose your music. You will be expected to replace any music you lose or deface. If you do not feel comfortable handling original copies, let Mr. Southern know and copies will be made for you. No copies should be made without the director’s permission.
Performance Guidelines
You are expected to be dressed and ready to warm-up at the arrival time given to you, so you will need to show up ten or fifteen minutes early. When you arrive, a tuner will be available for you to tune your instrument. There is to be no talking in this area to provide accurate tuning. Once warm-ups are complete, section leaders will again tune their section. All students are required to attend all performances and should maintain a high level of professionalism while in uniform. If you cannot attend a performance, the director needs to be told at least one week in advance or I reserve the right to count that absence unexcused. An unexcused absence from a required performance will result in the loss of two letter grades. Extracurricular activities are not excused absences.
Football Games: We will warm-up and then march down to the field and get into our pre-game formation. Once we have completed pre-game, we will head to the stands. Everyone will remain standing and in full uniform until told otherwise. Remain silent until you are seated. Everything that we do will be done together. You will not be permitted to wear additional coats or hats unless given permission. We all need to look exactly the same! Do not play unless directed by your field commanders. About six minutes before the half, we will head down to the field and prepare for the half-time show. Once half-time is over, we will march to the stands together. Once we are all in the stands together, you will be dismissed for your third quarter break. Suspenders should be up at all times, and you will be told when you do not need to wear your jacket, hat, and gloves. Once the game is over, we will head back to the bus (away games) or band room (home games) and then you will be dismissed to leave. Do not leave before you are dismissed!
Field Competitions: You will sign up for busses in advance. Once you have signed up, there will be no switching of seats. Seniors will board first, then juniors, etc. Unless otherwise instructed, you need to be in full uniform before you leave the bus at our arrival destination. Travel uniform will be the marching uniform except for jacket, hat, and gloves. You will be given additional instructions once we arrive at our destination. Once we perform, we will find a seat together in the stands. Again, you will file in the stands and remain standing until you are seated. There is to be no talking during this process. Because we have class, we will clap for every band that performs. No negative comments about any performing group will be tolerated. Ask your chaperone before you go anywhere, and always travel in a group of three or more. When we leave we will follow the same procedure as away football games.
Concerts: When you arrive, tune and start warming up softly. At the report time given to you, we will begin a warm-up routine and perhaps play through some of our selections. Section leaders will then tune their sections. You will be instructed how to enter the stage, but we will always remain standing and quiet until everyone is ready to be seated. Once the concert is over, you will be expected to help clean up. This will take fifteen minutes with everyone’s help. It will take two hours with just a few people. Once everything is cleaned up, you will be dismissed. Do not leave before being dismissed! If you leave without helping and without permission, your participation grade will be affected. That goes for all performances!
Self-discipline is the best type of discipline. However, if you are having trouble disciplining yourself, you can expect me to do it for you. For most small offenses such as talking or other minor disruptions, you will be given a verbal warning or you might be pulled aside for a private conference. You will be reminded of our expectations here and will be asked to correct the problem. For repeated minor offenses or major offenses such as cursing or other major disruptions, you will be referred to the office. Other things that may get you a referral include doing other homework in band class, talking back, throwing things in class, criticizing others, and talking during quizzes. Anytime a substitute writes down your name, you will be referred when I get back. Other offenses may be referred at the director’s discretion.
This band travels often, and in order to travel we have to have members that we can trust. This program has a zero tolerance policy for drugs and alcohol and any other contraband. If you are caught with any of these items in your possession, you will be dismissed from the program and subject to school, county, and state laws. Any action you commit that the director deems is detrimental to the band’s reputation may also result in dismissal. This could include cursing, stealing, fighting, throwing items out of bus windows, etc. If at any time you are suspended from school for any reason, the director reserves the right to prohibit you from traveling anywhere with the band. This includes spring trips!
Most expectations are included somewhere in this handbook, but there are general expectations not elsewhere that you need to be aware of. Be the best that you can. Call ahead if you can’t be here. You will have a better chance of being excused that way. You are expected to remain quiet during rehearsals. If another section is being rehearsed, this does not mean that you can talk or work on math homework. You are expected to be prepared for class, which means being organized and practicing your part. Yes, I said practice! If you need to leave your seat for any reason, raise your hand to get permission. If it is an emergency, get up and go. Do not enter the office area without permission. Clean up after yourself. Do not touch equipment that does not belong to you. Be in your seat ready to play when the bell rings or you are tardy. Do not pack up until you are told. The bell does not dismiss you; I do. Be respectful. I will never be disrespectful to you and I expect the same in return. Being disrespectful is a quick way to get a referral. You are expected to be accountable for your actions, and sometimes being a leader means being accountable for someone else’s actions as well. If you see a chair or a stand knocked over, pick it up. If you see a piece of trash on the floor, pick it up. Remember, this program is great because we have great people taking part in it!
Sign up for a bus in advance. Once you’ve signed up you can’t change. You may listen to stereos or iPods with headphones. Keep your body inside the bus at all times. Pick up after yourselves, and thank the chaperones and the bus driver when you get off. We must always leave a positive impression wherever we go, and every facility we visit must be cleaner when we leave than when we arrived.
Grading
Your band grade will be a combination of performance and participation. Performance will count as 75% of your grade, and participation will count as 25% of your grade.
Your performance grade includes playing quizzes and written quizzes. All required performances, scales, written work, and tests on your music are performance grades. These will all be out of 100 points. If you are late for any performance, then you will lose ten points. You will also lose an additional ten points for every ten minutes you are late. Factors that affect your grade for playing quizzes include pitch accuracy, tone, intonation, and rhythm. Grades for written work will vary but will be out of 100 points as well. Please understand that any unexcused absence will result in a zero for any grade that is given the day of your unexcused absence. All of these points will be added together and count as 75% of your nine weeks grade. Not all performance grades will be announced in advance.
Your participation grade includes attendance, preparation, and behavior. Your participation grade counts as 25% of your final grade and will be out of 100 points. A tardy will cost you five points. Each unexcused absence from class will drop you ten points from the original 100. An unexcused absence from an after-school rehearsal will drop you fifteen points from the original 100. An unexcused absence from a required performance will cost you 25 of the original 100 points. This is in addition to receiving a zero for your performance grade for that event. There will be a make-up written assignment for excused absences from required performances and after-school practices. The student is responsible for asking for the assignment and turning it in within one week of the missed performance or practice. After one week, points will be deducted from your grade. Not having your instrument or music for class means that you are unprepared. You will get one warning for the year, and each offense after will drop you twenty points. Being asked to put your instrument away will also count as unprepared regardless of when you are asked to put your instrument away. If you get a referral from me you will lose ten points out of 100. If you leave after a concert without permission and without helping, you will lose ten points. Misbehaving while the band is away or during a performance will also cost you AT LEAST 10 points. Your remaining points at the end of the grading period will count as 25% of your grade. Show up on time, be prepared, and behave yourself!
I require at least one week’s notice for any absence to be considered excused. You will be told if your absence is excused or unexcused in a timely fashion so that you may make arrangements accordingly. If an emergency situation arises and one week’s notice is not possible, the situation will be determined as excused or unexcused on an individual basis at the discretion of the director. Extracurricular activities are not excused absences!!!
Berkeley County’s grading scale is as follows:
93-100 A
85-92 B
74-84 C
65-73 D
0-64 F – this will result in your dismissal from the program
Contacts
It is impossible for one person to be in charge of everything. You will be informed as to who is in charge of what. There are lots of people here who want you to be successful and want to help you, so if you have a question just ask!
For minor problems, see your section leader first. If your section leader can’t help you, see the person in charge of whatever particular problem you’re having. For example, ask the person in charge of uniforms if you are having a uniform problem (tear in your uniform, buttons missing, etc.).
The website is updated very regularly, so you can find answers about report times and scheduled events here. Also be sure to check the blackboard for announcements. You can also call or e-mail me with questions or concerns that you have. E-mail is the best way to get in touch with me.
E-mail:
james-southern@hotmail.com
Band Office: 267-3538
Fax: 267-3536
Most of the information in this handbook is common sense. This handbook was created to help you in case you have questions or concerns and to give you an idea of our expectations and what you can expect in return for your hard work. Not every situation can be anticipated and many things will need to be dealt with on an individual basis. This handbook is to be used as a guide. All situations that may occur that are not in this handbook will be dealt with as fairly as possible to all parties concerned and will be dealt with at the discretion of the director and/or principal(s).