Procedures
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Instruments
All instruments are to have a durable nametag properly filled out and securely attached to the instrument. Any instrument found in the band room without a nametag will be locked away for safe keeping until someone can claim it.
During the day, Flutes, Clarinets, Trumpets, Alto Saxes should store their instruments in their own locker. All other large instruments should be brought into the band room in the morning before homeroom and stored neatly on the back shelf until the afternoon. Students are not permitted to stay in the band room to socialize in the morning. This time is meant for practice time reserved in advance.
As you will be expected to practice every night, all instruments should be picked up before you leave for the buses. We will try to make an announcement for all band, orchestra students to be dismissed in order to get instruments before boarding buses. You will be issued a pass for which you will be responsible. In addition, teachers should have a list of all band and orchestra members that they can check, but it always saves time to have that pass.
Repairs by Music & Arts
The band director can fix most instrument problems quickly. When a problem arises, please see Mr. Hugo at the beginning of class, at the end of class, or when there is a lull in instruction.
If Mr. Hugo cannot fix the instrument, then the instrument should be sent to the shop for repairs. There is a designated space where you should drop off your instrument in order to be repaired. Instruments in need of repair are picked up Friday morning, so all instruments needing repair should be brought in by Thursday. A repair form must be filled out and attached securely to the instrument.
Practice Records
Practice Records are filled out in their entirety and submitted into the box marked Practice Records at the start of each Monday class. If your band class does not fall on a Monday, then Tuesday will be accepted. Wednesday is considered late, and anything after that will not be accepted.
Supplies
While all students and parents are highly encouraged to visit their local music store to purchase necessities like reeds, valve oil, neck straps, mutes, etc. Mr. Hugo will sometimes have on hand, emergency reeds and other things. All students are expected to keep their instrument well stocked with all the necessities and to take good care of them. If you need to buy supplies, their is an order form to do it. <Download Supply Order Form here.>
Class Outline
* Bellwork: Enter quietly. Pencils sharpened, notebooks out. No stands or instruments yet. Do the work assigned.
* Assembly of Instruments: Getting the workspace in order: stands proper height
* Individual Warmup: while others still finishing bellwork. Time to finish will be signaled by director.
* Clarification of Bellwork Materials: Ask questions regarding the topic of the day.
* Group Warmup: listening to yourself and how you fit with the others
* Group Rehearsal: putting to use all that we’ve learned so far
* Question and Answer: Review and assignment for further learning
* Clean up process: Stands away, seats rearranged and neat, floor clean.
* Dismissal: line up and orderly procession out the door
Performances
Performances and after school rehearsals scheduled outside of normal school hours are considered “co-curriculur.” This means that they can be counted as part of their grade. Most likely performances will be counted as test grades. Failure to attend a performance results in an alternative assignment on the next regular school day, as well as lowering of their possible grade by two letter grades. For example: one who does not show up for a performance, but does the alternative assignment can only get as high as a C. One who does not show up to a performance, nor does the alternative assignment will get an F.
Dress for performances is black shoes, black socks, black pants or long skirt, and white dress shirt or blouse. Any deviation from this dress code will result in a lowering of the performance grade.
Quiz Procedures
While students are taking their playing tests, you should either be fingering through your parts as they play, or looking ahead in the book, or writing a summary of an article from one of the magazines that Mr. Hugo has.
Bathroom Policy
7th grade: No restrooms unless emergency. You should use it before class during homeroom or wait till after.
8th grade: I will allow students to use the restroom during lunch. I must be present to supervise this.
6th grade: We’ll meet at the stairs and use the restrooms at that time.
End of Day
After students come to the band room to pick up their instrument at the close of school, they must leave by the double doors adjacent to the bus ramp. They are not to linger unless prior approval by Mr. Hugo for rehearsals, etc. Students may go back through the D-Wing hallway if they are getting picked up by a guardian and must wait in the front lobby.
Auditions
Students will sit in their assigned seats. No one is to get up unless they need to speak with Mr. Hugo for an emergency. They will work quietly in their seats until called into the warm-up room. Work will be given to those who are waiting. When they are called to go to the warmup room, they will have a few minutes to warmup. They will then be called to the Audition room to complete their audition. Once you have been released from audition room, you are to get the next person to enter the warmup room. Results will be posted in Hugo’s window the following class day.