Tenakill Instrumental Music Handbook
Class Objectives
 Competently perform a varied repertoire of music on individual instruments
 Improve and continually develop skills on individual instrument through group lessons
 Gain an understanding of the relationships between music and other arts, as well as history,
social events, and science
 Develop skills in personal and group responsibility, leadership and citizenship.
Rehearsal Schedule
Morning Rehearsals Morning rehearsals being promptly at 7:45 am. Students should arrive
no later then 7:40 am to have enough time to set up their instrument
and begin warming up. The beginning of rehearsal is where students
learn effective breathing techniques, line phrasing, and prepare
students to play for rehearsal that day. Attendance is taken at every
rehearsal and late attendance will count against a student’s grade.
Delayed Openings: In the event of a delayed opening, morning
rehearsal is cancelled.
Rotating Lessons
All students (except 7/8 orchestra members) will receive 1 pull-out
rehearsal a week during the school day. The rehearsal schedule rotates,
so students should only miss the same class once every 6 weeks. All
classroom teachers understand the lesson pull-out system, and will
work with students to make sure they receive any missed work. It is
then the students’ responsibility to complete that missed work in a
timely manner. Please use this as an opportunity to practice
responsibility and time-management skills.
Attendance Policy
Since rehearsal time is limited, students are expected to attend all
rehearsals. If a student cannot attend rehearsal, a note or email
explaining the absence (excused) is expected. Missed rehearsals will
have a negative impact on students’ grades.
Concert Information
Performance Dates
Please mark down the following dates on your calendar:
-NV Demarest Band Day
October 9th, 2015 (optional)
-Veteran’s Day
November TBD, 2015 (7/8 Band Only)
-Winter Concert
December 9th, 2015 (All)
-Lunar New Year
TBD (Orchestra Only)
-Spring Concert
March 23rd, 2016 (All)
-Pop Concert
May 18th, 2016 (All)
-Spring Fair
TBD (Jazz Band Only)
-Memorial Day Parade
May 30th, 2016 (5-8 Band Students Only)
Tenakill Instrumental Music Handbook
Concert Dress
Attendance
-Graduation
June TBD, 2016 (6/7 Band/Orchestra)
-Concert attire for all major performances, (during school and evening,
except for the Memorial Day Parade) is as follows:
o BLACK pants, shoes, and socks. I am requesting that girls who
choose to wear skirts to the concert wear black tights/leggings
underneath to their calf/ankle. This will help create a clean look
on stage from performer to performer.
o WHITE shirt. If the shirt has a small brand logo, that is perfectly
fine. Please avoid white shirts with large words or pictures.
Boys will be expected to tuck in button down shirts and polos.
-Concerts are the culmination of students hard work over the course of
a couple months, and attendance is expected. If a concert must be
missed, please alert Ms. Michalowski as soon as possible.
Student Responsibilities
Students will be held accountable for the following guidelines as members of the Tenakill
instrumental music program. Comments and/or lowered grades on the report card may result from
habitually neglecting these requirements. Repeated failure to follow these responsibilities will result
in detention or removal from the program.
 Attendance at all lessons and rehearsals unless the absence is excused by parent note
or speaking with Ms. Michalowski in advance.
 Bring instrument and music on the days it is required
 Have appropriate accessories for instrument: reeds, valve oil, rosin, etc.
 Be on time and ready to play at the beginning of all rehearsals and lessons
 Practice instrument at home and recording practicing on practice sheets
 Maintain a positive and supportive classroom environment
Behavior Expectations
Students involved instrumental music are expected to follow three TMS Music rules to help maintain
a positive classroom environment:
Respect each other, respect the equipment, and respect the music
If students do not follow the above three rules, the following consequences will be used:
1st offence: Verbal Warning
2nd offence: Verbal Warning and parent notification
3rd offence: Removal from class period/detention/parent notification
Additional Information
No instrument
In the event that students do not have their instrument (unprepared,
instrument in the shop, injury, etc), students should still plan on
attending lessons. While students may not be able to play, they can
Tenakill Instrumental Music Handbook
Names on Cases
Practice Sheets
still participate in class discussions and learn valuable information that
they can later use when they are able to play.
Due to the number of students in the instrumental music program, Ms.
Michalowski requires that all students have their name on their case.
Students unfortunately misplace or grab the wrong instrument far too
often, and the more identifying features a students case has, the better.
Students are expected to practice outside of Tenakill Middle School to
help them improve on their instrument, and will turn in a weekly
practice sheet to promote that habit. Students have the choice to fill
out their practice sheet electronically (preferred) or on paper.
Grading Information
Students enrolled in graded ensembles will be graded on the following criteria:
 Participation/Attendance
 Preparedness of weekly assignments and Practice Sheets
 Scale/Music Quizzes or Tests and Written Concert Analysis
 Concert Performance
Grade distribution is based on the standard Tenakill Middle School system.
Specific Ensemble Information
Ensembles:
5th Grade Band:
6th Grade Band:
This is for all woodwind, brass and percussion students in the 5th grade.
Regularly scheduled band rehearsals will meet twice a week:
Monday: 7:45 am
Tuesday: Recess
Students are also assigned lesson groups that occur during their regular class
time on either Wednesday or Thursday. Students will continue their study in
the Standard of Excellence, Book 1 lesson book from 4th grade.
This is for all woodwind, brass and percussion students in the 6th grade.
Regularly scheduled band rehearsals will meet twice a week:
Wednesday: 7:45 am
Friday: Recess
Students are also assigned lesson groups that occur during their regular class
time on either Monday or Tuesday. Students will use Essential Elements, 2000,
Book 2 during their lessons.
Tenakill Instrumental Music Handbook
7th/8th Grade Band:
This band includes all students that play woodwind, brass and percussion
instruments in the 7th and 8th grade. Regularly scheduled band rehearsals will
meet two times a week:
Monday: Recess
Thursday: 7:45 am
Students will also be assigned a lesson group that rotates on either Tuesday or
Wednesday based on instrumentation.
Orchestra:
This is for all violin, viola, cello and string bass students. Regularly scheduled
orchestra rehearsals will meet as follows:
Tuesday: 7:45 am
Friday: 7:45 am
th
Students in 5 and 6th grade will also be assigned a lesson group that will occur
during their regular class time on Friday.
Jazz Band:
Membership in the Jazz Band is by audition only. The instrumentation needed
for this group is: 2 alto saxophones, 2 tenor saxophones, 1 baritone saxophone,
4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 1 to 2 keyboard players, 1 bass, 1 to 2 guitarists, and
1 to 2 drum set players. Auditions will take place by the end of September and
are open to students in the 7th and 8th grade. Auditions for jazz band will be
held on Wednesday, September 16th during period 6.
Discontinuing Participation in Instrumental Music
Middle school is a wonderful time for students to explore new opportunities and experiences. It is
also a great time for students to learn what it means to be responsible for commitments they have
made. For students who wish to discontinue their participation in band or orchestra, they should
speak to Ms. Michalowski directly and have a note from their parent/guardian excusing them from
instrumental music. In most cases, students will be asked to wait until after the concert they have
been preparing for has been performed so they can complete their commitment they made to
themselves, Ms. Michalowski, and their peers in the ensemble.