Academic Year 2010 – 2011
Dr. Corbino - Director
Mr. Karaca and Mr. Madama – Assistant Directors
The Concert Band class is made up of students from the Concert Band and the Junior Band. This class is a
skill development and performance course for students who play wind instruments. The band is a fixture at
the Christmas and Spring Concerts at the Prep. To prepare for these performances, students will be
introduced to several works of band literature, develop rehearsal and performance techniques, discipline,
and sight-reading skills. Appropriate class participation is expected of all students and is crucial to
computing your grade.
St. Francis Preparatory School – Concert Band and Junior Band
(MUSIC 2050)
How To Succeed In Band
The students who receive the highest grades in this course are those who: come to rehearsals and
performances on time and prepared. These students also demonstrate a very high level of maturity and have
a sense of discipline. Most importantly, these students practice their instrument on a daily basis,
A) Attendance
Attendance at all band activities is required. Students who are late or cut will lose points off their quarterly
average and/or receive detention. A student is late if he/she is not seated and ready to play at the
conductor’s first downbeat. Students must be in their seats and fully ready to perform by 7:48AM. A
student is cutting if he or she misses an entire rehearsal but is not on the absent list. Students are
responsible for arranging for transportation to rehearsal. Failure to make/keep these arrangements is no
excuse for repeated absence or lateness. Students legitimately absent from school will not be penalized for
missing Band. Students will not be allowed to sit out a band activity without a Doctor’s Note explicitly
stating that the student is physically unable to play. ( if you’re really sick, stay home!) Students going on
school-sponsored retreats, field trips, etc., should notify Mr. Karaca or Mr. Madama at least three school
days in advance. Students will not serve detention if a lateness is excused by the Dean, however, points
will still be deducted regardless of the reason for the lateness. Students are never allowed to make up any
schoolwork (i.e., exams, labs, detention, tutoring) during a band class. Students are responsible for
arranging with their teachers for an appropriate time to perform out-of-class schoolwork.
B) Rehearsals and Performances
Morning rehearsals are held during H period every school day from 7:50 am to 8:30 am. Rehearsals during
H period will not take place on days when liturgies are scheduled. Students who arrive after class has
started but before 8 am will have 5 points deducted from their quarterly grade. Students who arrive after 8
am will have 8 points deducted. Students who cut the class will loose 10 points for the first cut, an
additional 11 points for the second cut, and 12 points for successive cuts. Students who are late must obtain
a late pass from the Dean's office. These late passes must be presented to Mr. Madama on the same day.
Late students are then directed to participate in the rehearsal. Late students who do not move quickly or
who present an attitude problem will loose 15 points.
In addition to morning rehearsals, students will also rehearse after school during the week of a school
concert. Please refer to the Band Calendar attached to this course outline. The first downbeat of each
afternoon rehearsal will occur at 3:00 pm. Students are responsible for making necessary arrangements
well in advance with all coaches, club moderators, teachers, etc.
Students who do not attend a Concert Week rehearsal (3 pm) will lose 15 points off their quarterly average.
Students who arrive late for these rehearsals will loose 10 points. Students who are late
and/or absent unexcused for two Concert Week rehearsals will not perform at the Concert and will receive
a 55 for the quarter.
C) Performances
Students are to be on time for all performances. Students who miss a call time will lose 10
points. Students who miss a performance for any reason not covered under the Missed
Concert Policy automatically receive a 55 for the quarter.
D) Preparation
Instruments
Students must be prepared for class at all times. All students must have their instrument in working order
for class. A student without his or her own instrument will be provided with one that is in good working
order in September. It is imperative that students treat their instruments with great care. Repairs to
instruments can be very expensive. Students found abusing their instruments will receive detention for
damaging school property.
ALL STUDENTS WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE, LOSS, OR THEFT TO
HIS OR HER INSTRUMENT.
Supplies
Supplies, such as boxes of reeds, cork grease, valve oil, mouthpiece, cleaning swabs, etc. Students
should buy their supplies well in advance. These can be purchased from the Music
Department or from a local music store.Woodwind players without their own box of reeds may
purchase one emergency reed from Mr. Karaca for $3 prior to a rehearsal.. Repeat offenders will pay $1
extra for each reed subsequently purchased through Mr. Karaca (Moral of the story? Buy a box of reeds
early so that rehearsal time is not wasted.) In addition, all students must have a music binder containing all
music, scale books, fingering charts, etc. Students may not share a binder with a stand partner. No student
may participate in the class without their own scale book. (Treasury of Scales by Leonard B. Smith.) Each
students needs to have a pencil stored in their music binder.
Please note:
Students who do not have any of the above items will be considered unprepared, this will result in a loss of
5 points per missing item per day. Anyone playing with broken reeds, damaged valves, etc., will be
considered unprepared. Any instrument needing repair must be reported to an instructor immediately.
Students who cannot play because their instrument is being repaired must still attend rehearsal and help
with post-rehearsal cleanup. Students who sit out the rehearsal and do not help with the after rehearsal
cleanup will loose 10 points per incident.
Any student whose instrument is repaired by someone other than the school’s repairman must show Mr.
Madama or Mr. Karaca a receipt for the repair. Students will be held responsible for any damage to the
instrument. Students must inspect their instrument when it is signed out. That is the time to report any
damage.
E) Discipline and Maturity
Students are expected to show discipline and maturity. Students are to be quiet during rehearsal and may
NEVER disrupt the rehearsal in any way or for any reason. Food and beverages are never permitted in the
band room or the auditorium. At the end of every rehearsal, all students will be expected to return their
chairs and stands to the back of the auditorium and stack them on the chair racks provided.. Anyone failing
to show discipline and maturity will lose points 5 points for each instance, receive detentions, and may not
be allowed to participate at band events. ALL CELL PHONES AND ELECTRONIC DEVICES ARE TO
BE KEPT OUT OF SIGHT AND TURNED OFF DURING CLASS AND PERFORMANCES!
STUDENTS USING THESE DEVICES OR FAILURE TO COMPLY WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF 10
POINTS PER INCIDENT.
When a teacher arrives at the conductors stand (podium) it is the responsibility of
the student to be aware of this and to focus and pay attention.
At this point the students must cease any and all talking. With the arrival of the instructor at the
podium the students are required to bring their instruments from the rest position to the attention
position Failure to acknowledge the arrival of the teacher at the podium will result in a loss of 5
points.
F) Music Room - Lockers and Instruments
Lockers are provided in the Band Room (W001) for storage during the school day. Students will be
assigned a locker space, usually grouped with other students. Mr. Karaca is in charge of the Music Lockers.
All music lockers must have school combination locks attached to them. Students will be responsible for
purchasing their own lock. Instruments must be taken home daily for individual practice. Students who
play larger instruments may be able to sign out a second instrument for home practice. See Dr. Corbino for
more information. Second instruments are assigned on an availability basis. Students are never to store
instruments in gym or cor lockers. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PUT A LOCK ON THEIR LOCKERS
WILL LOOSE 5 POINTS PER DAY.
The Music Department will not be responsible for loss or theft of an instrument.
Once an instrument is signed out it becomes the responsibility of the student in all
areas of security and maintenance.
It is the responsibility of the student to take the instrument home to practice each night. The Music Room
W001 may be used for other events and thus is not secure overnight. This does not apply to the larger
instruments which cannot be carried each day: tubas, baritone sax, and baritone horns. Students are never
to leave instruments in the band room out of their lockers. Non-band members are not allowed in W001
before or during a rehearsal. Any students who fail to follow these rules will lose points and/or be subject
to detention.
G) Music Lessons and Instrument Storage
Students who need their instruments during the school day (e.g., lessons, practice) should retrieve them
within 1 minute from the beginning of a period or at a teacher’s discretion. Please do not enter the
classroom area once a teacher has started to teach. Music Lesson students not adhering to this rule will
receive a cut for missing a lesson. Students may return their instruments to their music locker one minute
before the end of a class period, or at the teacher’s discretion. Personal items are not to be stored in W001
during rehearsal. Anyone who leaves these items does so at their own risk.
The Music Department will not be held responsible for any personal items, including musical
instruments. that may be lost or stolen.
H) Daily Practice
All students are expected to practice daily at home for at least one half-hour. Anyone not practicing is
unprepared, and will lose points. Students who cannot demonstrate knowledge of the music may be asked
by the Directors to sit out a performance. Such a student shall receive a 55 for that quarter.
Students are strongly urged to sign up for our Music Lesson Course – Music 2520 for ½ credit per year.
Private lesson study outside of school is highly encouraged. Please see Dr. Corbino or Mr. Karaca for a list
of private music instructors.
Private lesson study is crucial for those students who plan to study music in college.
Do not wait till your senior year to begin private study.
I) Exams
Quarterly Exams
Students may earn up to 10 extra credit points on their quarterly grade by taking a multiple choice
vocabulary exam. The date for the exam will be determined by the instructors, and is usually within the
final two weeks of a quarter. The vocabulary sheet is available from the Music Department website.
Final Exam
There will be a final exam administered in this course. All students will be expected to play any or all
major scales from memory. Students may also be asked questions regarding key signatures. There will be
no written final exam. Students may take the final exam beginning January 3, 2011 but before May 16,
2011. Since the students have more than 4 months to schedule an exam, there will be no makeup
exams beyond May 16th. Students who fail to take the final exam during this time will automatically
receive a zero on the final exam. Students may retake the final exam as necessary. However they may not
take the exam after the May 16th deadline has passed. The final exam counts as 20% of the final grade.
Students who do not take the final exam will not be allowed to take band in the future. SINCE WE WORK
ON THE MAJOR SCALES AT EVERY REHEARSAL, IT IS EXPECTED THAT THESE SCALES BE
MEMORIZED. STUDENTS WHO NEED TO READ THE MAJOR SCALES AT THE FINAL EXAM
WILL NOT RECEIVE A GRADE ABOVE 90.
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CONCERNING THE FINAL EXAM
PLEASE REFER TO THE END OF THIS OUTLINE
IN THE SECTION LABELED
FINAL EXAM
NOTICE AND SPECIFICATIONS
J) Future Participation in Band
Students who wish to continue in Band for the next year must receive approval from their Music Lesson
teacher. Students not taking lessons who wish to continue must secure approval from Dr. Corbino or Mr.
Karaca. A student who fails in any quarter will not be allowed to register for Band next year without first
auditioning before the directors. Such a student will also submit a written explanation (no longer than 2
typed pages and signed by the student and a parent/guardian) of why he/she deserves to be re-admitted into
the Band and what that student will do to become a positive addition to the band. The final decision on
whether to re-admit the student will be made by the directors. Any student who fails during the Spring
Semester (3rd or 4th quarters) should be aware that re-admission into the Band will also be subject to course
availability. Any student who fails two or more quarters will not be welcome to join the band for the next
year. ANY STUDENT WHO PRESENTS A MATURITY OR DISCIPLINE PROBLEM, AS
DETERMINED BY THE DIRECTORS, WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO RETURN TO BAND.
K) Band Dress Code
Dress Code for H Period
Students are to be in full dress code for all H period rehearsals. Failure to comply with the dress code will
result in detention.
Dress Code For Concert Performance
For concerts the students are required to wear a long sleeved white shirt that is buttoned and has a collar.
In addition the students need a Red bow tie, which can be purchased from the Music Department.
All band members wear black pants (ladies may substitute a black knee-length or longer skirt)
Finally the students wear black dress shoes and socks, polished and clean (NO SNEAKERS!)
Students inappropriately dressed at a concert will be sent home and receive a 55 for the quarter.
L) The Concerts
THE BAND CALANDER SCHOOL YEAR 2010 - 2011
The concert dates for the 2010 - 2011 season are as follows:
CHRISTMAS CONCERT II – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2010 (Concert Band and Junior Band)
SPRING CONCERT II – FRIDAY, MAY 13, 2011(Concert Band and Junior Band)
YOUNG MUSICIANS’ CONCERT – FRIDAY, JANUARY 28, 2011 (Junior Band)
Mandatory Concert Week Rehearsals for Christmas Concert II
For Performance on Saturday December 11, 2010
Monday December 6, 2010: Concert Rehearsal, 3 to 5:30 pm. Auditorium
Tuesday December 7, 2010, 3 to 5:30 pm. Auditorium
Thursday December 9, 2010, 3 to 5:30 pm. Auditorium
Friday, December 10, 2010, 3 to 5:30 pm. Auditorium Dress Rehearsal Run Through
Christmas Concert I (optional) Friday December 10, 2010 8pm. Come support your friends in other
groups!
Saturday, December 11, 2010: Christmas Concert II. 6pm call time, You must be on stage ready to
warm up and tune by 6:15pm
Mandatory Concert Week Rehearsals for Spring Concert II
For Performance on Friday May 13, 2011
Monday May 9, 2011 Concert Rehearsal 3 to 5:30 pm.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 Concert Rehearsal, 3 to 5:30 pm.
Wednesday May 11, 2011 Concert rehearsal 3 to 535 pm.
Thursday, May 12, 2011 DRESS REHEARSAL, 3 to 5:30 pm.
Friday, May 13, 2011 Spring Concert II. 6 pm call time, W001. You must be on stage ready to warm
up and tune by 6:15 pm.
Young Musicians’ Concert Performance (Junior Band)
For Performance on Friday January 28, 2011
Monday January 24, 2011, Concert Rehearsal 3 to 4:30 pm.
Tuesday January 25, 2011, Concert Rehearsal 3 to 4:30 pm,
Wednesday January 26, 2011, Concert Rehearsal 3 to 4:30 pm.
Thursday, January 27, 2011, Dress Rehearsal, 3-5:30 pm.
Friday January 28, 2011 Concert call time 6 pm W001. You must be on stage ready to warm up and
tune by 6:15 pm
ST. FRANCIS PREP CONCERT BAND & JUNIOR BAND
FINAL EXAM NOTICE AND SPECIFICATIONS
School Year 2010 - 2011
Dear Band Member:
Every musician practices the Major Scales. These scales are central to performing on
all instruments. As you are aware we perform the 15 Major Scales at each rehearsal.
The goal is that every student in the band program will know from memory each of
the 15 Major Scales and their associated Key Signatures. One reason as to why the
band is having such a strong year is because we practice these scales. The Final
Exam for Music 2050 is the 15 Major Scales and their Key Signatures. The Final
Exam is worth 20% of your final grade for this course. The Final Exam is a qualifying
exam.
WHO NEEDS TO TAKE THIS EXAM
All students in Concert Band & Junior Band (Music 2050)
WHEN CAN YOU TAKE THE FINAL EXAM.
You can take the Major Scale Test beginning Monday January 3, 2011, however, you
must complete this exam on or before Monday May 16, 2011. This gives you a
window of 4 months to take the exam.
WHO DO I TAKE THE EXAM WITH
If you are currently enrolled in Music Lessons Music 2520 you must take this exam
with your Music Lesson Teacher. Speak to your lesson teacher and set a date and
time for the exam. If you are not in Music Lessons you can take the exam with Dr.
Corbino, Mr. Karaca, or any Music Teacher who agrees to test you.
THE EXAM SPECIFICATIONS
You will be asked to perform any or all of the 15 Major Scales from MEMORY. Play
the scales in slow half notes but with good tone quality (up and down). Do not rush,
slow and perfect is better than fast and sloppy. Try not to break the pattern. Tone
quality counts. The instructor may also require you to state the KEY SIGNATURES
FOR EACH SCALE. The instructor may also ask you to recite the scale itself ascending
and descending. STUDENTS WHO CHOOSE TO READ FROM THE SCALE SHEET
CANNOT RECEIVE A GRADE ABOVE 90 PERCENT. SINCE WE REHEARSE THESE
SCALES AT EACH REHEARSAL IT IS EXPECTED THAT THEY BE PERFORMED FROM
MEMORY.
HOW MANY TIMES CAN I TAKE THIS EXAM
Since this is a qualifying exam you may retake the exam as many times as
necessary but you must take it before the deadline. We will use the highest score.
WERE DO I GET THE SCALE SHEET
The scale sheets were given to you in September. You can always print a copy from
the Concert Band section of the website.
Make sure that you download the correct scale sheet:
All Treble Clef Instruments
Bass Clef for Trombone and Baritone Horn
Bass Clef for Tuba.
SOME TIPS ON HOW TO DO WELL ON THIS EXAM
Know these 15 scales inside out.
Practice them every day.
Do not wait till the last minute to learn these scales, it can’t be done in that way.
Study the scales and also their key signatures.
Practice your instrument everyday.
Play slowly (half notes) but with good tone quality.
Perform with confidence.
Impress the instructor with your posture.
Do not learn fingering patterns. Learn the actual notes of
the scales.
Learn the scales so well that you can perform them under pressure.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T TAKE THIS EXAM
You will receive a zero.
You will not be allowed to continue in band.
WHY LEARN TO PLAY THESE SCALES
It is a course requirement.
It is worth 20% of your grade.
It will make you a better player on your instrument.
It will make the band better.
It will expand your knowledge base.
It will challenge you to achieve.
It will improve your tone quality.
It will permit you to read and perform in any major key.
It will demonstrate that you have the discipline to achieve this goal
REMEMBER - You get what you put into it. Practice and learn the scales!
Good Luck! RC, MK, GM.
Parental Signature Note
ALL STUDENTS MUST RETURN THIS PORTION OF THE
COURSE OUTLINE TO
Dr. Corbino on or before September 23, 2010
Dear Dr. Corbino, Mr. Karaca and Mr. Madama:
I have read the course description for Concert Band (Music 2050) with my child and understand the
requirements and policies for the class, including the dates and times of all performances and rehearsals.
Therefore, I understand that there are consequences for missing a performance. I also understand that my
child will be held accountable for all aspects of the St. Francis Preparatory School Honor Code as described
on page four of the school calendar.
If I have any questions, I am aware that I can reach you at the school at (718) 423-8810 x255, by e-mail at
rcorbino@sfponline.org or mkaraca@sfponline.org or gmadama@sfponline.org
I can also see you during parent/teacher conferences. I also understand that you are available at mutually
agreeable times to meet with my child if he or she have any questions or difficulties.
Students and parents should note that this course is a year-long commitment that involves diligent and
thorough study. Music offers many important tools to the student. Aside from the intrinsic value of playing
an instrument in an ensemble, students will be exposed to the arts, develop a strong work ethic, and a
concept of long and short term goal setting. Students will also develop problem identification and solving
skills and time management skills. Finally, students will develop socio-musical skills.
Parent/Guardian
Signature:________________________________________________________________
Student Name: (Print) and
Signature:________________________________________________________________
Date :_______________________________________