HANDBOOK
OF THE
PIKE COUNTY MIDDLE
SCHOOL
BAND PROGRAM
2015-16 SCHOOL YEAR
MR. STACY BROWN, DIRECTOR
DR. VICKIE SMITH, PRINCIPAL
PURPOSE
The purpose of the Pike County Middle School Band Program is to impart an appreciation
of music to all of its members through successful study and performance. In addition,
those students with the interest, talent, and dedication are given the opportunity to
develop skills and knowledge of music that will prepare the student for the progression
into the high school band program.
FOREWORD
This handbook is written as a guideline for students of the instrumental music department.
This handbook is an effort to explain to every band student and parent what is expected
of them in the band program and to outline many of the procedures and practices that
govern the operation of the band. These guidelines have evolved over a number of
successful years in some of the model middle school band programs in the country.
The band has a unique place in the school curriculum. While it is an academic class in the
sense that it has a definite curriculum and expected competencies, there are some aspects
of the band curriculum that require participation outside of the normal school day.
Responsibilities of the group cannot be divided up by the hours of the school day.
Students and parents should understand that the success of the band depends on each
band member being in place to perform his/her responsibility to the group and that
participation is required of each member.
There are a number of benefits that students can realize by participation in the band
program. The intense concentration and training required to perform in band is the same
method of training that produces success in every field. Playing in the band develops
coordination, organization, and mental discipline, and that explains why bands invariably
have such a high percentage of the school’s highest-ranking academic students in the
organization. Scholarship and musicianship go hand in hand!
Through the cooperation of every student, parent, and teacher, we can have many
enjoyable musical experiences affording musical growth, accomplishment, appreciation, and
recreation. Students will experience many hours of work and play as a member of the
band, and hopefully each member will share in the spirit of doing a Quality Job!
BAND CLASSES
The Band program at Pike County middle school are organized along grade levels. The sixth
grade is the starting point countywide for the study of instrumental music. There will be
one 6th grade band class that will meet every day. This is where we will learn and develop
the fundamentals and basic skills needed to read music and rhythms as well as to play an
instrument. The sixth grade band will perform a Debut Concert in February as well as a
Spring Concert in May.
In the seventh and eighth grades, the classes will also be divided by grade levels. In these
classes the focus will be on further developing fundamental playing skills such as proper
tone production, music and rhythm reading skills, and learning/memorizing seven major
scales. We will then be able to translate these skills into learning concert music. All 7th
and 8th grade students will perform a combined Christmas Concert as well as a Spring
Concert. Students will be held accountable for being able to properly play their music
before being allowed to perform at these concerts.
In addition to these classes, the more advanced 7th and 8th grade students will also get the
opportunity for more intense study and rehearsal of more advanced music. These students
will perform together at our District Performance Evaluations. These students may also
have a few additional rehearsals in the morning or after school as needed.
CLASS REQUIREMENTS
6th GRADE STUDENTS: For the first several weeks of band class, the students will need
paper and pencil as well as a folder with pockets to keep up with paper and handouts given
out in class. They will spend time learning the fundamentals of music reading, rhythm
reading and comprehension, musical notation as well as going through the process of
instrument selection. In the instrument selection process, students will select a few
instruments in which they are interested and then I will meet briefly with each student to
try and match him or her up with an instrument that is best suited for them while also
making sure I start the right number of students on each instrument to keep a balanced
instrumentation and not be overloaded on any specific instrument. There are many factors
that are taken into account when determining instrument selection including their level of
success when trying out a particular instrument as well as physical characteristics such as
hand and finger size, lip and teeth structure, and the physical size of the student. I will
also take other classroom factors into account such as behavior and quiz or test grades
from band. I do try to give the students and parents a voice in this process, however, the
final decision on instrument selection is ultimately that of the band director.
6th GRADE INSTRUMENT RENTALS
Once the instrument testing process is complete, students will bring home a sheet listing
the instrument which they have been selected to play as well as some information
concerning exactly what supplies they will need to go along with their instrument. We will
have our instrument rental kick-off night on September 17 in the Pike County Middle
School commons area. Gadsden Music Company will be there to supply instruments for
rental or purchase. I would strongly encourage you to get your child’s instrument
through an actual musical instrument dealer (Gadsden or any other) that can supply a
warranty as well as offer repair services as opposed to a wholesale club, a super
store, a pawn shop, or on the internet. Please feel free to email me if you need any
suggestions!
The day immediately after the Kick-Off is when students will begin bringing their
instrument and supplies with them to school every day for use during class.
7th GRADE STUDENTS: Students will need their instrument, band music folder, and their
Standard of Excellence Enhanced book 1 which they used during 6th grade band. Upon
completion of Book 1, students will need to purchase Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 for
use during the remainder of the year. They will need to have Book 2 no later than
September 1. We will also be using additional textbooks during class that will be provided
by the school. I also recommend that students buy a metal folding music stand for use
with home practice if they have not already done so.
8th GRADE STUDENTS: Students will need their instrument, band music folder, and their
Standard of Excellence Enhanced Book 2 which they used during 7th grade band. We will
also be using additional textbooks during class that will be provided by the school. I also
recommend that students buy a metal folding music stand for use with home practice if
they have not already done so.
CONCERT ATTIRE
The concert uniform for all grades will consist of the official PCMS Band golf shirt (which
you purchase from the school) along with a pair of black slacks, black socks, and black
shoes. Pants may NOT be black jeans but must be a pair of casual-type slacks or dress
pants. Shoes and socks must be SOLID black. Girls may choose to wear black hose with
black shoes if they wish.
Any student not in proper uniform will either lose a portion of their concert grade points or
may not be allowed to perform which will then be counted as an unexcused absence from a
performance. This will be at the discretion of the director depending on the severity of the
uniform violation.
CLASS RULES AND EXPECTATIONS
It is a privilege to be a part of the band program. Due to the nature of the class, there
are certain rules and regulations that must be followed in order to maintain a successful
rehearsal environment. These are as follows:
1. Have respect for your director and classmates at all times!
2. Be in your seat (not in the storage room, at the water fountain, or standing around
socializing) with all equipment ready to play three minutes after the time class is
scheduled to start. Otherwise you will be counted as tardy. BEING IN THE BAND
ROOM ON TIME DOES NOT MAKE YOU ON TIME FOR BAND CLASS!
3. Do not play your instrument until the director begins the rehearsal.
4. Do not touch any instrument except your own.
5. Do not touch any piece of percussion equipment.
6. Raise your hand for permission before speaking or getting out of your seat for
any reason (including going to the water fountain).
7. You must have your agenda in order to go to the restroom or anywhere else.
8. No gum, candy, food, or drinks allowed. You will receive a step on the discipline plan!
9. Have permission before entering the band office or using the phone.
10. Do not touch anything on the director’s stand, podium, or cart at any time.
11. Follow all directions.
12. Keep the band room clean by picking up trash off the floor and straightening
chairs at the end of each period.
13. Remember the first word of Self-Control and Self-Discipline is Self! Nobody
can do it but YOU!
14. Think before you act!
15. If you have to question something, you probably should not do it!
Breaking any of these rules can result in a step on the discipline plan being issued
without a prior warning being issued.
CONSEQUENCES
STUDENTS COMING TO CLASS UNPREPARED: Students who come to class without
their instrument, equipment, or music will lose their participation points for the day and
may be given an alternate assignment to complete during class. They will not be allowed to
sit and do work for another class! This does NOT apply if a student’s instrument is in the
repair shop as long as I have a note to confirm that the instrument is indeed in the shop.
These students will be allowed to sit quietly in their normal seat and observe the rehearsal
while still receiving their full participation points.
STUDENT BEHAVIOR / DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS: Band class, like academic classes, uses
the four-step system for discipline. If a student has a first offense, they will be given a
first step which will serve as the first warning. If a student has a second offense, they
will be given a second step and a parent will be notified. If a student has a third offense,
they will be given a third step as well as an additional consequence such as, but not limited
to, silent lunch, before or after school detention, or sitting in isolation with additional
work during band class as well as another parent contact. If a student has a fourth
offense, they will be given a fourth step and will be referred to one of the Assistant
Principals for further disciplinary action. Any student receiving a discipline step will
also lose their participation points for the day. This process will start fresh at the
beginning of the second semester.
Severe infractions may result in an immediate office referral (or any other
consequence deemed necessary by the band director or administration).
ISS: Any student who is assigned ISS more than twice (from any class, not just from
band) will not be eligible to participate in any performances or field trips that happen
away from Pike County Middle School Middle School. These students will still participate
in concerts held at LGMS. ***Please note that this policy is cumulative for the entire year
and not just for one grading period.
STUDENT TARDINESS TO CLASS: Students are expected to be in their seat and ready
to begin class within three minutes after the official starting time for class. If they are
not, they will be counted as tardy to class. BEING IN THE BAND ROOM ON TIME DOES
NOT MAKE YOU ON TIME FOR BAND CLASS! Any student who is repeatedly tardy for
the start of class may be referred to an administrator for disciplinary action.
GRADING POLICY
PLEASE NOTE: the same grading formula will be used for grades 6, 7, and 8.
Numerical Grade: Since band is a year-long course, a student’s numerical grade for band
is cumulative over a period of one semester (18 weeks). All grades accumulated during this
period of time will be averaged together to determine the student’s final grade in band.
As per the teacher handbook, student’s grades will be based on three categories:
Practice (55%) – this will be determined by any type of daily work or activity which
is not considered a test as well as a daily participation grade (please see next
section below).
Assessment (35%) – this will include all playing tests, chair placement tests, as well
as concert attendance. Band is a performance-based activity which includes afterschool performances as part of its curriculum, and therefore these activities are
included as part of the student’s grade. This policy is also supported by the Pike
County School System. Performance grades will be worth 300 points.
Semester Exam (10%) – an exam will be given at the end of each semester and may
include written and/or playing elements.
Participation Grade: Students will earn a Participation grade totaling 100 points over the
course of a semester (approximately 1 pt. per day). Students will lose a participation point
on any given day for things such as not bringing their instrument, equipment, or music to
class, not paying attention in class or not playing when they should be during class.
Students will also lose their participation point for any day that they are issued a
discipline step. All students will start with a 100 Participation grade and points will be
deducted as needed over the course of the semester.
CONCERT MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENTS
The only excused absences from concerts are due to illness requiring a doctor visit or a
death in the family. Anything else will be considered as unexcused. Please send an email
or a note with the child on the next day they come to school explaining the absence so
that I can determine if it is excused or unexcused.
For excused absences from a performance, there will be a make-up assignment (created by
the band director) made available which the student will have one week to complete for
full credit. As it is impossible to recreate a performance environment, unexcused
absences from a performance cannot be made up and will simply result in a grade of
zero for that performance. In rare cases, a make-up assignment may be given for 70%
credit for an unexcused absence depending on the nature of the absence.
*Any student in the Advanced Band who has an unexcused absence from a concert will
also be removed from the Advanced Band Class.
COMMUNICATING WITH THE DIRECTOR
If you need to contact me for any reason, there are several ways to do that. The fastest
and easiest way is through e-mail. Emails are read several times throughout the day and
can usually be responded to no later than the following day. I can be reached at
browns@pike.k12.ga.us
Also, I will be using Pike County High School website as a major communication tool this
year. Unfortunately, many times correspondence sent home by teachers does not always
actually make it home, so I will be posting all correspondence that is sent home on this site
- http://pikecountypirateregiment.weebly.com/ . (Please note there is no “www” in the
address). Just click on the “Middle School Bands” link. It is important that you check
there often to make sure you haven’t missed anything that you should have received
concerning band.
TURNING IN MONEY TO THE DIRECTOR
Anytime you are turning in money for band, please make sure it is in an envelope with the
child’s name, the amount, and exactly what it is for, especially if you are paying for several
things at once. Checks should be made payable to LGMS BAND and should include your
child’s name on the memo line. Please also make sure your child knows to turn band forms
or money only to Mr. Biffle and not their homeroom teacher!
PRIVATE LESSONS
Without a doubt, one of the most important things that successful band programs
throughout the country have in common is a thriving private lesson program. Individual
private lessons are the best way for students to improve their individual playing skills,
which in turn makes our band program better. Private lessons are also the best way to
help students achieve individual honors and accomplishments such as Honor Bands, AllState, and Solo/Ensemble Festival. It is my desire to establish a strong private lesson
program here at Pike County Middle School and to see that continue to grow now and in the
future. I will provide a list of names and phone numbers of qualified private teachers in
our area soon after the beginning of school. Please give this some careful consideration
and feel free to contact me should you have any questions about private lessons.
DISTRICT HONOR BAND / ALL-STATE
One of the biggest individual honors that a band student can receive is to be selected to
perform with the District Honor Band or the Georgia All-State Band. These two
ensembles are chosen through competitive audition. The first audition will be a district
level audition held in December. On this audition, students will be expected to perform
four major scales, a chromatic scale, a prepared etude, and a sight-reading exercise. The
major scales and prepared etudes can be obtained from Mr. Brown or at www.gmea.org.
These are generally available around the beginning of September. If a student scores a
minimum passing score (which varies by instrument), he/she will advance to the state level
audition. The district level audition also serves as the audition for district honor band. A
student’s score on the first All-State audition will determine whether or not they are
selected for district honor band. A student does not have to make it to the state level
All-State audition in order to be selected for district honor band. Students selected to
the district honor band will meet for a two-day clinic in February at a local school where
they will rehearse for two days and present a concert on Saturday evening.
Students who advance to the state level audition will have a 2nd audition in January. On
this audition they will play a prepared etude and a sight-reading exercise. From this
audition, the Georgia All-State Band will be selected. Students selected to the All-State
band will travel to Athens in March for a three-day clinic, much like the district honor
band, where they will rehearse for three days and present a Saturday concert.
SOLO AND ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL
A vital part to improving the quality of a band program is to improve the individual playing
skills and musicianship of its members. In addition to private lessons, a very effective way
to improve these skills is through participation in Solo and Ensemble Festival. This event,
which occurs in April, is an opportunity for students to prepare a musical selection and
perform individually or in small groups in front of a judge who will critique their
performance and give the students a rating. Students wishing to perform a solo on their
instrument will need to work in conjunction with their private lesson teachers to select
appropriate music to perform for the event. Students wishing to form small ensembles will
work in conjunction with Mr. Brown to select music and set up rehearsal times.
Participating students will receive a certificate at the Spring Concert to recognize their
participation.
BAND DONATIONS
There are many items that are absolutely necessary to operate and maintain a successful
band program. Large instruments such as tubas, euphoniums, French horns, oboes,
bassoons, bass clarinets, as well as numerous percussion instruments, which the school is
responsible to provide, can cost up to several thousand dollars each. It also takes several
thousand dollars each year to build and maintain a current music library. There are also
expenses such as classroom supplies, transportation costs, end of the year awards, and
extensive repair and maintenance costs, which can arise during the year. We also give a
couple of partial scholarships in the spring for kids to attend the Encore summer band
camp. Since we are not allowed to charge a required “band participation fee” to cover
these expenses, I have to rely on a beginning of the year donation to help offset some of
these costs. I feel that a donation of $35 per student is a fair share; however, you may
choose to donate more if you are able and would like to.
Choosing not to make a donation will not take away any of your child’s band privileges
or have any adverse affect on your child’s band grade.
BAND FUNDRAISERS
During the early part of the year, we will have our Fall Cookie Dough fundraiser. This is a
fundraiser that has been done in this community for a number of years and it has become
something that many in our community look forward to. We will also do a second
fundraising program in the late winter or early spring. As school budgets continue to get
slashed everywhere, these fundraising programs along with donations are really our only
source of funding and are therefore extremely important!
INSTRUMENT STORAGE
Instrument storage is offered as a service to all students in the band. There will be three
separate storage rooms for the students to use depending on what instrument they play.
No one should ever be in those rooms except people who have instruments in those
rooms. Please be aware that although these rooms will be watched carefully, that I
cannot be held responsible for any personal items left in the storage rooms, including
your instrument. No student is ever allowed to climb on the storage units in the
storage rooms!
There are a couple of things that you can do to help insure the safety of your instruments.
First of all, I encourage everyone to make sure you carry insurance on all personally owned
instruments. The school is only insured for school-owned instruments and equipment. I
also require that the student’s name be on the instrument. This can be in the form of a
name/luggage tag or a piece of masking tape. There is no excuse for finding an instrument
without a name on it! Another thing you can do is to require your child take their
instrument home every day! This will prevent anything from happening to your instrument
after school hours and it will make the students a lot more likely to practice!!!
ENCORE BAND CAMPS
Encore! Band Camp is a week-long band camp in the summer designed specifically for
middle school students. The camp is held at Georgia College and State University in
Milledgeville and is open to students having finished grades 5-9. This camp involves daily
band instruction as well as individual attention with a specialist on every instrument.
There are also many recreational activities for the students as well. It is a very fun and
rewarding experience for all students involved. This camp is taught by some of the most
well respected middle school band directors and instrumental specialists in the southeast.
I am always involved with Encore every year as a staff member and part owner of the
camp. This is a fantastic opportunity, and I would like to see PCMS well represented again
this year. We will also offer several partial scholarships for the camp as well. There will
be more information later in the year. You can also check out the camp at
www.encorebandcamp.com.
MOUTHPIECES
One thing that you can do even with a beginner model instrument to help make the
students more successful is to make sure they are using a good quality mouthpiece and
good quality reeds. Below is a list of recommended mouthpieces and reeds. All of these
items should always be available at our local music dealers:
Flute – N/A
Oboe/Bassoon – medium-soft reeds (not plastic or fibercane)
Clarinet – Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds
Bass Clarinet – Bundy mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds
Contra Clarinet - Bundy mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds
Alto Saxophone – C* mouthpiece, Rovner ligature, Vandoren reeds
Tenor / Bari Sax – same as Alto Sax
Trumpet – 5C mouthpiece
French Horn – Holton Farkas MDC
Trombone / Baritone – 6 ½ AL mouthpiece or 51D mouthpiece
Tuba – Conn Helleberg mouthpiece
*** PLEASE NOTE: There are a few types/brands of equipment that will
not be allowed due to extremely poor quality. These include “flavored reeds”
for woodwind instruments and any red, green, blue, yellow or any
other irregularly colored instruments! PLEASE ask me first if you have any questions
about any of these type products!
RENTING / PURCHASING INSTRUMENTS
With beginning band students, I always recommend starting out by renting an instrument
from a local music dealership that deals with quality band instruments and provides a good
warranty and repair service. The nearest music stores to Pike County are located in Henry
County. For that reason, we bring in Gadsden Music Company to offer rentals. One big
plus to using Gadsden is that they service the instruments and most of the time they can
fix them while the technician is at the school during his weekly visit.
There are several reasons I recommend starting out with a rental instrument:
 To have a window of time to make sure the student is going to stick with it and
not quit after the first year
 In rare cases, students may be asked by the director to switch instruments
during the first year or at the end of the first year. Please note that
instrument changes can only be made by the director, not by students and
parents.
I urge you to avoid purchasing instruments from pawnshops, wholesale stores or clubs,
department stores or superstores, yard sales, the internet or catalogs as these are
most often not good quality instruments and usually will not carry a warranty or
repair agreement. Also, many instrument repairmen will not even work on these
instruments due to the poor quality of the instrument as well as not being able to get parts
for them which in effect makes these disposable items as opposed to a quality investment!
In some cases, these instruments may offer a repair service where you would have to ship
the instrument back to them for repair which would then leave your child in class without
an instrument for weeks or even months as opposed to just a few days with local service.
Also, most of our local dealers will offer you a loaner instrument in the event that your
child’s instrument is going to be out for more than a couple of days so that they can
continue to play in class every day.
STEP-UP INSTRUMENTS
Another reason that I encourage you to rent at the start is because many students will be
ready to step up to a more advanced model of their instrument during the 8th or 9th grade
year. Just as students mature physically and grow out of clothes, they also mature
musically and grow out of their beginner model instrument. Most music stores have a
program where you can step-up to a higher quality instrument and put the money you spent
on the beginner model rental towards the step-up model. Some parents will also look to
purchase the step-up instrument once they feel comfortable that the child is serious
about playing and is going to stick with it. Please feel free to check with me concerning
recommendations for step-up instruments before going out to purchase one.
AWARDS
Each year, as part of our Spring Concert, I will give a series of end of the year awards.
These will be annual awards and will be the same for all grade levels. There will be one
Most Outstanding Award given for each section (Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion), two
Most Improved Awards (regardless of section), and one Director’s Award, which is much
like a “Best All Around” type of award.