Band
Handbook
Community Unit School District 200
2013-14
Table of Contents
Parent and Student Registration Information
Page 1
Payment Information
Page 2
Description of 5th Grade Band
Page 3
Program Goals
Page 3
Recruitment
Page 4
Overview of Program
Page 4
Participation Fee
Page 4
Private Lessons
Page 4
Parent Expectation
Page 4
Student Expectation
Page 5
Evaluation
Page 5
Concert Attire
Page 5
Performance Calendar
Page 5
Care of the Instrument
Page 5
Materials Needed
Page 6
Special Note
Page 6
Choosing an Instrument Rental Vendor
Page 7
District 200 Band Staff
Page 8
Parent and Student Registration Information
Please fill out completely and return to your child’s school by September 27th
Student Name: _______________________________________________________
Student ID Number: __________________________________________________
School: ______________________________________________________________
Band or Orchestra (Circle One):
Band
Orchestra
Instrument: ___________________________________________________________
Classroom Teacher: ____________________________________________________
Guardian 1: ____________________________________________________________
Guardian 2: ____________________________________________________________
Primary Email: _________________________________________________________
(Important information regarding concert times/dates, logistics, event reminders will be handled through email.
Please make sure that your listed email address is accurate and is checked regularly.)
Secondary Email: _______________________________________________________
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September 2013
Dear Parent,
Thank you VERY MUCH for giving your child the wonderful opportunity of learning music at the elementary
level! District 200 provides each child with a solid musical education which creates a great foundation for
learning other subjects each and every day during school.
As stated in previous pamphlets, there is a one-time music fee of $80.00 in addition to the instrument rental. If
a student qualifies for free or reduced lunch, this fee is reduced.
Please pay your $80.00 fee through the ParentVUE link on your school website by September 27th
Pay online using your credit card
 On the left column click on the Student Fees tab
 Click on the Pay Student Fees link
 Select your 5th grade student
 Scroll down to the section Yearbook / Drivers Ed / TCD
 Use the drop down and choose BAND FEE OR ORCHESTRA FEE
 Select ADD FEE
 Click UPDATE
 Follow payment procedure.
If you choose to pay by check or cash, please submit your payment to your school secretary
by September 27th
Thank You!
The District 200 Music Faculty
“Music is the Universal Language of Mankind.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
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Community Unit School District 200
Administration and School Service Center
130 West Park Avenue
Wheaton, Illinois 60189
Phone: (630) 682-2000
Fax: (630) 682-2442
DESCRIPTION OF THE DISTRICT #200 5TH GRADE BAND
The band program is designed to provide our students with the opportunity to further explore and pursue the
imaginative and affective aspects of music and their contributions to our cultural heritage. Through study of a
musical instrument, students will be given another vehicle for their creativity and development of their full
musical potential.
PROGRAM GOALS
The goal of the Community Unit School District 200 5th Grade Band Program is to allow each student to:
1. Select a musical instrument best suited for himself/ herself using the following criteria:
♫ Musical aptitude as determined by teacher evaluation
♫ Physical characteristics
♫ Balanced instrumentation
♫ Student interest
2. Learn to play a musical instrument using proper posture, hand position and tone quality.
3. Develop an awareness of major and minor tonalities, a means to decode rhythms and techniques
for good tone production.
4. Develop an understanding and respect for different musical styles and their links to various cultures
both past and present.
5. Develop the ability to set individual goals, maintain a good work ethic, and realize a sense of
achievement upon completion.
6. Develop the ability to work towards common goals in large groups.
7. Respect the talent and diversity of others while participating on a musical team.
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BAND INFORMATION
Recruitment
Prior to starting the band program, each student will be interviewed by the band director. All students will be
tested and have the opportunity to try instruments according to interest. Through observation, the instructors
will match students to instruments that are best suited for each individual.
Overview of Program
Each beginning band member will be excused from regular classes once a week to receive a small group
lesson. Most lessons are 30 minutes in length. Attendance at all group lessons is required. Students are
responsible for making up any missed classroom assignments. The band teacher makes every effort to work
with the classroom teacher in determining the best time for each student to miss class.
In addition to the weekly lesson, all band students will participate in a regularly scheduled full band rehearsal at
their respective schools. Scheduling of this rehearsal will vary according to the needs of the building facility
and teacher’s schedule. The full band rehearsal schedule for both semesters will be sent home at a later date.
Participation Fee
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District 200 charges an $80 participation fee for Elementary Orchestra. You may pay this fee on line by
September 27th. Please see page 2 for payment instructions. Students on Exempt or Reduced Waivers
have fees adjusted.
There is no fee for Middle School or High School Orchestra.
Private lessons
Private lessons are recommended, but not required. If you are interested, a list of recommended private
instructors will be sent home with your child.
Parent Expectations
Parents play a crucial role in helping their children succeed in the band program. The following guidelines will
help contribute to your child’s success.
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Sit down with your child and together make a daily practice schedule – six days per week. 5th
graders should practice 20 – 30 minutes per day.
Provide a quiet place to practice. Sign the weekly practice chart.
Equipment needed: Chair, music stand and pencil
Encourage our child to practice and have them play for you. Praise does wonders for their selfconfidence
Encourage them when the going gets tough. Some things are easy to learn; others require
intensive and repeated practice.
See that your child is present and on time for all rehearsals and concerts.
Attend all concerts and other performances.
Please feel free to call the director with any questions you may have or if you would like to observe
a lesson or band rehearsal.
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Student Expectations
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Establish daily practice habits (20-30 minutes per day.)
Always be on time to lessons, rehearsals and performances
Always be prepared by having your instrument, music, a pencil and other material as instructed by
your director
Be responsible for making up any missed classroom assignments
Promptly deliver all letters to your parents
Keep our instrument clean and in good playing condition
Participate in all scheduled concerts
Evaluation
Progress reports will be sent home at the end of each semester. These reports will recommend methods of
improvement. Please feel free to call your child’s band instructor at any time with concerns about progress or
any other questions.
Concert Attire
The required outfit for beginning band concerts is as follows:
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Black or dark blue pants or skirt
Solid white dress shirt (gentlemen will wear a tie)
Dark shoes
Performance Calendar
Your child will be in three or four performances his/her first year. Our first performance will be held in late
October or early November. This event will include ALL South side students performing at Hubble Middle
School and ALL North side band students performing at Monroe Middle School. More information will be
forthcoming. The All-District Music Calendar is also accessible from the District 200 webpage. Your child’s
director will notify you of individual school performances.
Performances are important evaluative tools for instrumental music and an integral part of each child’s
complete musical experience. For this reason, attendance at all performances is required. Every effort has
been made to avoid conflicts with other activities. Should an emergency arise, please contact your director as
soon as possible.
Care of the Instrument
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Never try to repair the instrument at home. If something breaks, leave a message for the director at
your child’s school, and he or she will take care of it.
Keep the instrument away from extreme heat or cold. Do not leave the instrument in a parked car
in extreme temperatures.
Only the student should be allowed to touch the instrument.
Keep the instrument in the case when it is not in use.
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Materials Needed
All Band students will need the following:
 Instrument in good playing condition
 Music stand
 Name label on instrument case (provided by most rental companies)
 Pencil to be stored in instrument case
 Measures of Success Book 1 for the appropriate instrument
 Standard of Excellence FIRST PERFORMANCE for the appropriate
Instrument
All woodwind students (oboe, clarinet, and saxophone) will need the following:
 A minimum of two reeds in good playing condition
 (strength 2 ½ for clarinets and saxophones)
 Reed guard that will accept two or more reeds
 Cork grease
 Cleaning swab appropriate to the instrument
All brass students (cornet, French horn, trombone, baritone, and tuba) will need the following:
 Valve oil appropriate for the instrument (except trombone)
 Water rag (wash cloth)
 Tuning slide grease
All percussion students will need the following:
 Measures of Success Book 1
 Standard of Excellence FIRST PERFORMANCE for Drums and Mallet
Percussion
 Percussion kit (including orchestra bells and practice pad – kit with snare drum and orchestra bells
is preferred)
 Bell mallets and Vic Firth “General” snare drum sticks
*All percussionists will be learning bells in combination with rhythm instruments
Special Note
The quality of the instrument can affect the quality of the learning experience for your child. If you obtain an
instrument on your own, we recommend the brand names listed below because of the reputation of these
companies for producing excellent instruments. If you are looking at a used instrument, bring it in for
evaluation at either Band Information Night, or to one of the Band Registration Nights before you purchase.
Flute
Clarinet
Trumpet/Cornet
Trombone
Euphonium/Baritone
Tuba
Percussion
Gemeinhardt,Yamaha
Buffet or Accent by Buffet, Yamaha
Selmer/Holton, Bach, Yamaha, Blessing
Holton, Yamaha
Jupiter, Yamaha, Blessing, Bach
Yamaha/Jupiter
Pearl, Vic Firth, Ludwig Percussion Kit
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Choosing an Instrument Rental Vendor
District 200 has selected Quinlan and Fabish as the district preferred instrument vendor. Through a formal
evaluation process, this endorsement was granted because Quinlan and Fabish has met the following criteria:
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An experienced staff in instrument music education
All rental instruments are delivered to each school
Instrument switches are easily done through the teacher and the representative- parents do not have to
drive to take care of repairs or exchanging instruments
A trained company representative visits each school weekly to provide personalized service
Loaner instruments (during repairs) are provided at no charge
The Maintenance and Replacement Program is included in the rental fee
A large, fully staffed repair facility provides professional quality service
NOTE: Parents are free to choose any musical instrument supplier they prefer.
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District 200 Band Staff and Contact Information
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Vic Scimeca
Victor.Scimeca@cusd200.org
Wheaton North High School
Jon Noworyta
Jon.Noworyta@cusd200.org
Edison Middle School and Lincoln Elementary
Jill Carr
Jill.Carr@cusd200.org
Franklin Middle School
Dan Dupree
Daniel.Dupree@cusd200.org
Hubble Middle School and Johnson Elementary
Blake Jancius
Blake.Jancius@cusd200.org
Monroe Middle School and Sandburg Elementary
Jeff Novak
Jeffrey.Novak@cusd200.org
Emerson, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Lowell, Pleasant Hill and Washington Elementary
Robert Blazek
Robert.Blazek@cusd200.org
Bower, Madison, Whittier and Wiesbrook Elementary
Kurt Makaryk
Kurt.Makaryk@cusd200.org
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