• Mouthpieces: Holton Farkas MDC or Giardinelli C8

• Music Stand: everyone should have a folding music stand for home practice and occasional concert use outside of school.
• Metronome: highly recommended for keeping time during home practice!
• Instrument Care Kit: Students need to have an Instrument Care Kit, which contains cleaning supplies specific to each instrument.

Beginning Band Percussion
Beginning students need a percussion kit with a practice pad and bells, bell mallets, 5B wood tip and 7A wood or nylon tip drum sticks, a pair of inexpensive medium timpani mallets and a stick bag. Please contact your band director for tips on how to pick out the proper equipment. Additional accessories may be suggested by your private teacher.

Concert and Symphonic Band Percussion
Students need a stick bag, 5B wood tip and 7A wood or nylon tip drum sticks, a pair of inexpensive bell mallets, a pair of medium timpani mallets and a stick bag. 

Band Uniforms

Concert

• JWB Bulldog Band polo shirt (tucked in) plus-
  • Ladies: Black skirt or black dressy pants and, if possible, black dress shoes. Please no jeans or athletic shoes.
  • Gentlemen: Black dress pants, black socks and, if possible, black dress shoes. Please no jeans or athletic shoes.

• Same as above except dark athletic shoes will be permitted.

Use of Band Facilities
The use of band facilities before, during, and after school is a privilege. Students, therefore, should treat the band room and everything in the band room with respect. Those students who abuse the facilities and its contents will be disciplined accordingly.

Rehearsal Room
The rehearsal room is not a lounge area. Students in the rehearsal room must keep the room neat and orderly. Also, any director or adult that enters the rehearsal room deserves the utmost respect.

Practice Room
These rooms are to be used for practice or private lessons only. All equipment must be returned to its original location after the use of the practice rooms. Finally, practice rooms are not lounges or places for private social conversations.

Instrument Storage
The storage cubbies and spaces are off limits to students except when getting out or returning an instrument to its proper place. Students belongings such as books and clothes are not to be stored in the band or practice rooms. These rooms are also not a place for social gatherings or conversations.

Band Office
This area is private and should not be entered without permission or unless the director is present. 

Telephone
The telephone is strictly for band business or phone calls to parents with the director's permission.

JWB Band Grading Policy 

Effort
In a performing ensemble the consistency of effort put forth by an individual student affects all other students in the class. Daily participation and home practice are essential to individual progress and the collective success of the group. Effort grades will be calculated along with lesson preparation, attendance, and deportment to arrive at both mid-term and report card period grades. 

Daily Participation 
To receive credit for daily participation a student must have all the following materials with them at the beginning of class. 

• Instrument in good playing condition everyday. 
• A pencil every day on the stand. 
• Music and or/ lesson materials 
• Agenda book everyday 

• An instrument in good playing condition 
• Method books
• Pencil-not pen-to mark music 
• Agenda
• On time to class
• Written excuse when unable to play in class
• Demonstrate proper rehearsal deportment
• Written notification of anticipated absence from a scheduled performance at least two weeks prior to the event.

Lessons
Lesson attendance is mandatory and necessary for both student and Band improvement. Make up lessons will be arranged based on teacher availability, and must be made up within the letter day cycle. If a student has a lesson on a "D" day and cannot attend, they must notify the band director as soon as possible (a note may be required) to arrange a make up time. The student will have until the next "D" day to make up the required work or a grade of F will be given for the unattended lesson. Should extenuating circumstances exist (to be determined by the band director) a written note must be presented and the work made up at a later time. 

A Few Words on Practicing
Because these are performance based classes, the lack of participation by one student affects all other students in the class. To be a learning, contributing member of this class you are required to practice. Practice may be defined as achieving the greatest amount of technical and musical Improvement. Difficult measures, lines or passages must be carefully analyzed. Play each passage slowly at first, drilling it until it is learned. Playing entire pieces through without practicing them carefully is a waste of time. You will play as well as you practice, the better you practice, the better our group will be and the more you will enjoy playing your instrument. Class time at school must be used to the benefit of the entire ensemble not individual practice. To be a learning, contributing member of this class you are required to practice outside of school. A minimum of 3 hours of home practice is required each week. We encourage parents to work with their son or daughter and set up a practice routine at home. Ideally, students should practice a minimum of 30 minutes every day. Our minimum practice goal would be at least 180 minutes a week spaced over a minimum of 4 days a week.

10 Weeks Playing Tests
Each student may be required to perform some type of playing test during each quarter. This test will include scales, etudes, exercises, or excerpts from class music. The students will receive at least 1 week notice before each 10 Weeks Playing Test.

Class Participation
Band is a unique class in that each member's contribution effects the overall performance of the ensemble. For example, if a third trumpet is absent one day, the balance and intonation that is worked on will be different the next day when that trumpet player is present. Therefore, class participation is critical to the success of every student, not just that one student. Students can lose points for not participating or disrupting the learning process during class. 
Students can lose points from their Class Participation grade for the Following reasons:

• Not prepared for class i.e. no instrument, no music, no mouthpiece, etc.
• Disruptive or off task behavior
• Tardy to class which includes not being ready for class to start 2 minutes after the bell due to socializing and not preparing for class.
• Chewing gum, eating candy etc.

Concert Participation Policy
If a student has 2 or more unexcused absences from rehearsals in preparation for a concert, that student may be prohibited from participating in the concert. Due to the fact that the director may be prohibiting the student from attending the concert, the student will not have points deducted for the concert computed in his or her grade. 

Rehearsal Absence 
Band members must submit a written note 2 weeks prior to a rehearsal in order to be excused. The note must have the student's and parent's signatures validating the reason for being absent from a rehearsal. The following is a list of acceptable excuses for being absent from a rehearsal:

• Family emergency.
• Student is too ill to come to school.
• School activity conflict that has been given every effort to resolve 
• including Mr. Abrams or Mrs. Fraleigh's attention.

Behavior Policy
All band students are expected to act with the highest level of integrity at all times. Each member represents our band program as well as our community. Each student must enter the room ready to learn. Disruption of the class will result in disciplinary action according to the J. Watson Bailey School Handbook.

Secrets to Success in Band

• Students and parents must set a routine for completing practicing. 
• Practicing is how the band improves and is our major homework assignment.
• STAY INFORMED!!! The band calendar is posted on our website (www.baileybulldogband.org). Please plan in advance so that there are no problems when rehearsals or concerts arrive. All conflicts can be resolved if there is advance planning.
• STAY INFORMED AGAIN!!! Students will receive information in class that they are to bring home. Please check your son or daughter's back-pack for band information. Also, we will try to post information on our website.
• Students need their instrument for every band class. If you are not sure if you need your instrument, BRING IT!!! At least you will be prepared.
• Become involved with your students band experience. These students are doing a great thing and it means a lot when their parents are there supporting them.

• Every band member will bring his or her instrument, music, and proper equipment to every class and rehearsal.
• The black board should be read when entering the band room for the daily agenda.
• Attendance and pencil checks will be taken two minutes after the tardy bell. You are tardy if you are not in your seat and prepared.
• There is no individual playing at anytime during rehearsal unless the director specifically deems it necessary. Instrument warm-up will be together under the direction of the director.
• If you need to use the restroom during class or rehearsal, get up quietly and go. Only one student should be out at any time.
• Everyone needs a pencil in every rehearsal along with mouthpieces, extra reeds, mutes, etc.
• There is no talking or disturbance during rehearsals. Subdued talking is permitted with the director's permission or when the director leaves the podium. Talking should cease when anyone stands on the podium.
• No food, drink, or candy in the band classroom!!! You may have a bottle of water with a closed top if needed.
• Posture is important to producing a good sound on your instrument. Do not lean back on your chair, and keep both feet flat on the floor.
• Music folders, instruments, and other equipment should be kept in their proper storage places when not in use. Do not leave music and folders on the music stands!
• All trash should be thrown in waste containers. Please keep the band room clean!
• Loud talking, shouting, or horseplay is not allowed in the band room.
• Any band business such as fees, instrument repair, purchase of reeds, etc., must be done before school, during first period, or any time other than rehearsal periods. 

Rules for Riding Band Buses
While traveling on buses to and from any band event, you are required to abide by the following rules:

• You will treat the driver and chaperones of your bus with courtesy, obedience, and respect. Chaperones have the same authority as a teacher and are the band director's delegated adult in charge. This rule will be strictly enforced and those who break this rule will be disciplined.
• You will sign up for a specific bus and buddy and you will ride that bus to and from the event. You must stay with your buddy and chaperone at all times! You may not change buses for any reason.
• Once you have selected a seat you must stay in that seat. You may change seats if you do it quickly and without commotion. YOU MUST BE IN A SEAT AT ALL TIMES!! Also, you may be asked to remain in your seats at which time for your safety, and the safety of others, you may not stand up.
• You are strictly prohibited from putting hands, arms, heads, or any other part of your body out a window. In addition, no one is to ever throw anything out a window for any reason what so ever.
• You are strictly prohibited from making any gestures or yelling at other cars or people outside of the bus. Remember you are representing the Bailey Middle School at all times.
• While on the bus you are expected to conduct conversations in a normal talking voice with the people immediately surrounding you. This does not include screaming to the other end of the bus. If your voice is loud enough to be heard above the conversations of others, then you are too loud!
• Cheering or singing on the bus may be done only with the permission of the bus driver and the chaperones in charge. If the cheering or singing gets too loud, the driver or chaperone will ask you to stop immediately.
• Sometimes for security purposes, it will be necessary to ask you to put up the windows. If you are told to put the windows up, please do so without disagreement.
• Food and drink are not allowed on buses unless specified prior to the trip.

• To assist in fundraising to help finance certain extras not regularly provided for in the school budget (instruments, music, bus trips etc.).
• To aid in chaperoning band trips and activities.
• To augment or encourage educational trips that are sanctioned by the School.

Band Members Responsibility
When a student decides to become part of the Bailey Band, he or she must remember that there are responsibilities that come along with membership. The students now represent JWB and the community. For the band to be successful, every student must have regular attendance and must account for any absences. Every member must work to improve every single day. Students must also cooperate and work within a team that includes fellow students and the director. If everyone follows these guidelines, the students will enjoy a successful experience in the band program.

Parents Responsibility
It is the responsibility of every parent and guardian to see that the policies outlined in this handbook are followed. Each parent is responsible for the attendance of their child at all band functions. Also, parents must see that their child practices regularly. In addition, parents must see that any instrument, rented or privately owned, is kept in good working condition. Finally, your children are involved in a positive activity that promotes confidence, responsibility, and self-esteem and they deserve your support. You can support your child by becoming involved in the band activities and attending the students concerts. If the director, students, and parents work together, the students will have an experience that they will remember for years to come.