The Pride of Walker County
Dear band members and
parents,
I
hope that the holidays have found you rested, and at peace with the things of
the world. I am pretty excited
about some upcoming events that are happening in the band world at Dora.
We are in the process of preparing for district contest, all-state, honor
bands and making Dora’s Band the best ever.
It is going to be a pretty busy few months but we will make it through.
I need your help with making our band the best that it can be this year.
We made it through marching season, now it is time to sit on stage and
make real music.
I
am a huge fan of concert season, and I take it very seriously.
Concert band is where I found my love for music, and playing my
instrument. I learned about the
fundamentals or music, and how to make beautiful sounds.
I
have high expectations for this band, and I hope that you all have high
expectations for yourselves. We
have about 4 weeks to prepare ourselves for district contest (Feb. 13th),
but most importantly, we are preparing ourselves to sound good.
I am expecting everyone to be present at ALL rehearsals from here on out,
unless it is an emergency or you discuss the situation with me.
I think that it is only fair that I am aware of your whereabouts if you
are going to miss a rehearsal. Attendance was a problem for us this past
semester, and it is pretty impossible to teach to empty chairs.
We can not be successful when we have 5-7 band members missing all at
once. I understand that we have
doctor’s appointments, and other situations that may arise just please try to
inform me of these situations if possible.
We
will be working very hard, and I expect you all to jump in and do your best.
In each rehearsal, you will need to have a pencil or 2 on your stands to
take notes (no pens or markers). If you want to use a highlighter to mark
dynamics or definitions of words, that is fine.
It is a known fact that we forget many things that are said to us
throughout the day, so if we write it down we have a better chance of
remembering.
I
will expect everyone to put in at least 45 minutes to an hour of practice time a
day in at ***HOME***. You
should strive for more, but 45 minutes to an hour is not much.
I feel that band is just as important as a math or English class, so we
should treat it as such. I actually have to study what I do in order to teach you.
I have to prepare my music so that I am able to help you play it well, so
your extra practice will help you be more prepared for class.
I
will be hard and heavy on you all to learn scales, key signatures, time
signatures, and rhythms. We will be
asked to sight-read in competitions, honor bands, and all-state, so we need to
know these things. It is time for
us to stop dwelling on what we DID NOT learn in the past, and make it better
now. No one has ever become a good
musician by just getting by in music. We
should all be trying to become the best musicians that we can be.
Let’s stop “just getting by”, and do more.
I
will also assign you a solo each six weeks to perform in front of the band. This
will help us get over the fear of playing for each other and others. This will
be part of your grade each six weeks. Middle school students will be expected to
meet the same requirements. Your solos will be grade appropriate and you are
expected to perform before your peers. Although you do not receive a grade from me, you must meet
all requirements, or you will be asked to sit out and do “busy” work until
you meet requirements. You will not be criticized for what you do. I will offer
a critique and on what can be done to improve your performance. No one is here
to belittle you. We are all trying to grow as musicians.
Improvement
begins when we take simple steps like practicing at home, getting to class on
time, coming into the band room and being about business, not having random
conversations during rehearsal. We
only have 50 minutes a day, and it is unfortunate to waste any of that time by
goofing off, not having music, not knowing where your notebook is, and taking
your time to get to class.
Please
know that I am not trying to run anyone away or discourage you from being in
band. I believe that this band can achieve more than what we have set our sites
to do. We have to learn to be strong as a group as well as individuals. You are
capable of playing good music, and we will get there. Let’s make up our minds
that we are going to make some changes, and make Dora’s band be the band that
is should be.
Note
to parents:
I
need your help in enforcing these changes. Your child, our students deserve to
have the best, and I would like to try to give them that. I may not always have
the best answers, but I do know a little about being successful in music.
I have had some great teachers that have taught me many things, and I
want to share my knowledge with your child.
Please assist them in being at rehearsals, coming to class prepared and
meeting requirements in the class. I am not trying to run them away with the
solo assignments or other requirements. We are playing music that exposes
individuals, and I need them to have the courage to play the parts beautifully.
Please sign and return practice records. Please allow them a little time to
practice their music. I know it is not easy to hear them making so much racket, but
it will only make them better at what they do. Please read this with your child,
sign and return it by January 9th.
If I do not receive this form by this date, I will assume that you and
your student are not interested in the success of the band, and I will have to
ask your student to sit out and do busy work to get a grade.
My goal is to make small changes that will make the band better, and if I
do not have the support of the parents, it will be impossible.
This job is not the easiest thing to do, but I am willing to do what I
can to make this a great experience.
I have read and understand the expectations that have been
set forth by the Dora High School band program. I will do my best to meet these expectations.
I understand that if I am unable to perform to the best of my abilities I
may be ask to sit out of the program. I will not hinder the progress of the
program by not being prepared for class.
Student Signature
Parent
Signature
EXPECTATIONS
Here are a few
things that I expect from you as a band member:
1.
Come to class on time
2.
Come to class prepared (music, pencils, reeds, instrument, etc)
3.
When entering the band room, you get out your instrument, find your seat,
warm-up or wait quietly for class to start
4.
When I am working with another section, you are sitting quietly in your chair
looking over your part, or listening to figure out how your part fits in
5.
Percussion--- come in and get out the needed music for the class
6.
Percussion---know that marching season is over, and you should be focused on
learning rudiments and keyboard fundamentals
7.
Percussion—if you are not playing on a particular piece, know that it is not
time to talk or randomly beat on things. Take out a practice pad, and use your
time wisely.
8.
Read over calendars so that you are aware of rehearsals and performances.
9.
Be a little flexible with the schedule because things change
10. Learn to listen. We miss a lot of what is being said
because we don’t listen.
11. Respect your band room. Keep it clean.
12. PRACTICE! PRATICE! PRACTICE!
What you
can expect from me:
1. To be on time
2. To be there to help you
3. To be hard on you but as fair as possible
4. To not settle for less or mediocrity
5. To be the best band director I can be
6. I will do my best to be as flexible as possible but I
will not allow excuses to hinder success
Goals you should set
for yourself:
1. Practice until you
get it right
2. Don’t make
excuses but try
3. Make up in your
mind that you are going to be successful, and success comes from giving your all
in rehearsals, personal practice and performances
4. There is no better
pleasure than being proud of your self and your accomplishments.
Concert Band Camp
January 17, 2009
9am-5pm
This
year, we will be having a concert band camp. The purpose of this camp is not
only to prepare us for contest but to assist us with a better understanding of
the music that we will play. Each section will have an advanced musician sit in
with them during rehearsal. These musicians will spend time with you in
sectionals/master classes to help you gain a better understanding of your
instrument and music. I know that 9-5 seems like a long time, but in the long
run you will gain so much from it. Bands all over the world have full weekends
that are dedicated to the concert band camp; we are going to start with a day.
Please prepare yourself mentally and physically for this day. I will have food
and snacks prepared for you, so this will cost you nothing. Please come to camp
with pencils and paper to take notes. Dress comfortably, and bring bottled water
if you need to. I expect you to be respectful and on your best behavior. Our
guests will not only assist us in rehearsals, they will perform a short recital
for you on their instruments.
Concert
Band Camp Schedule
January
17, 2009
9:00
am – 5:00 pm
Personnel
Guest
Clinician
Sue Samuels, Director of Bands at UAB
Instrumentalist
Johnetta
Horton, flute
Benny
Tittle, clarinet/bass clarinet
Jess
Taylor, saxophones
Matt
McAdams, trumpets
Norrell
Robertson, horn
Nat
Maxwell, low brass
David
Verin, percussion
9 am -10:30 am – Introduction of guests, full band rehearsal
10:30-noon - Master classes/Sectionals
Flute-practice room
Clarinets- library
Saxophones-hallway
Trumpets-choir room
Horns-gym
Low Brass-stage
Percussion-band room
Noon-12:45 – Lunch
1:00-1:30 – Staff Recital
1:30-3 – Master classes/Sectionals
3-3:30 – Ice Cream Social
3:30-5 Full Band Rehearsal
5:00 – Dismissal! Enjoy your long weekend!