(A few pages are omitted in the material below, such as the calendar, list of private instructors, and permission forms as these are found other places on this website.)

Welcome to the Dickerson Middle School Band Program! Many of you are familiar with our program, either returning to band from last year, or through involvement with other students and siblings. However, each year there are always many families new to the Dickerson Band.

Band class can be an exciting course for the middle school student. It provides an outlet for creativity, as well as a “hands-on” hour of learning during the school day. More so than any other subject, music possesses the power to touch all aspects of a student’s personality: the intellectual, the physical, the emotional, the psychological, and the social. Instrumental music engages students in a group activity that explores appreciation of music as an art form, gives students a vehicle to use their free time constructively, and allows students to work together and give quality public performances. Band class helps to develop proper work habits through the academic self-discipline of its curriculum and by following a daily practice routine.

As shown in recent studies, music classes are also beneficial to the intellectual development of young students. The College Board reports that in 1999 students enrolled in music performance classes scored 61 points higher on the verbal portion and 42 points higher on the math portion of the SAT than their non-arts peers. A recent study by the American Psychological Association showed that just 15 minutes of private music instruction a week could dramatically improve the type of intelligence needed for high-level math and science, and the U.S. Department of Education lists the arts as subjects that college-bound middle school students should take. Many Fortune 500 business leaders note that students participating in music performance classes acquire the skills and qualities needed to succeed in the business world. Edward H. Rensi, the President and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation, U.S.A., states that “in addition to learning the valuable lesson that it takes hard work to achieve success, no matter what the arena, music education can provide students with a strong sense of determination, improved communication skills, and a host of other qualities essential for successful living.”

Most band students, however, enjoy band because it is fun! Students just starting to play an instrument can hear improvement every day, and older students learn to recognize progress in their own rehearsals and home practice sessions. In band, student achievement is measured not only through individual accomplishments, but also through the public performances given by the entire group throughout the year.

This handbook is for your information to enable you to become acquainted with the policies and procedures of the Dickerson Middle School band program. It is important that you and your child read this handbook in order to familiarize yourself with our policies, regulations, and procedures. After reading the handbook, we request that you and your child complete the information form in the back and return it to one of the band directors.

If you have any questions concerning the handbook or the band program, please feel free to email or call the school, (770) 578-2710 Ext. 237, for further information. All of the staff involved with the DMS bands look forward to working with you and your child this coming school year, and we hope to see you at our concerts.

Dickerson Band Syllabus

The mission of the Curriculum and Instruction Division of the Cobb County School District is to increase student learning through the development and implementation of a rigorous and relevant curriculum and identification of effective instructional resources and strategies that challenge all students to maximize their potential. The Dickerson Bands aim to improve the musical skills of all students in grades 6 – 8. Through individual, small ensemble, and large ensemble rehearsals and performances, we strive to assist each student in meeting the District-wide Power Standards:

Mastery Level Definitions:

Cobb County School District Band Power Standards:

More information on these standards can be found on the Picasso web portal: http://picasso.cobbk12.org – Click on the Middle School Link, then Fine Arts.
 

Classroom Procedures

With so many students trying to rehearse and learn in one class at the same time,
it is necessary that ALL students follow the same code of conduct.

The following behaviors are EXPECTED of each band student: Be respectful to others and their property.

• Enter the bandroom quietly and set up quickly to begin class on time.
• Only touch, handle, or play your instrument.
• Come to class prepared (with instrument, music, accessories, pencil, and music/book).
• Play your instrument only during appropriate instructional times.
• Study music quietly when the conductor is assisting other students. Quietly go through fingerings, in rhythm, for the exercise being addressed in class.
• Sit quietly, pay attention, and stay on task when not playing your instrument.

Conduct Explanations

Dickerson Middle School encourages self-discipline in each individual student. In order for learning to take place with the large numbers of students in each band class and the equipment used in class every day, band students must consistently meet all classroom expectations.

Learning takes place when a student has developed positive behavior patterns which are based on self-discipline and self-direction. In large classes such as band, poor behavior choices of one student can adversely affect the learning process of 80 other students.
 

DMS Band Grading Policy

A student’s grade in band class is determined through a points system. Students are awarded points for actively participating in class activities, being prepared for class, and completing assignments.

7th and 8th Grade Policy

6th Grade Policy

Band Required Materials

The following materials will be required of all band students during every rehearsal. Students should bring each of these items to class every day, unless instructed otherwise.

• Instrument
• Accessories
  • Mouthpiece
    • Hard rubber mouthpiece for clarinets and saxophones
    • 5C or 3C mouthpiece for trumpets
    • mdc mouthpiece for French horns
    • 6 ½ AL mouthpiece for baritones and trombones
  • minimum of 2 good reeds (clarinets, saxophones, and oboes only)
  • neckstrap (saxophones)
  • valve/slide oil (brass)
  • slide cream and small water “squirt” bottle (trombones)
  • metal straight mute (trumpets)
  • sticks/mallets and stick bag (percussion)
    • 1 pair general snare drum sticks (SD1 or equivalent)
    • 1 pair yarn marimba/vibe mallets
• Band Method Book (can be found at all local music stores)
  • Warner Brothers Band Expressions, Book 1 (6th Grade)
  • Foundations for Superior Performance (7th and 8th Grade)
• Theory Book
  • Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory (6th Grade Only)
  • 1” 3-Ring Notebook (6th Grade Only)
• Music Folder
  • provided by local music stores and distributed by band directors
  • all music must be kept in a student’s folder!
  • Students will be responsible for replacing lost sheet music
• Pencil
  • mechanical preferred (it is best to just keep one in your case)
  • no pens, please!
     

Recommended Materials for Home Practice

The following materials will make home practice much more enjoyable and productive!

• Metronome
• Electric Tuner
• Wire Music Stand (required for UGA Clinic, All-State and Honor Bands)
• All-State Sight-reading Book (order forms available from Band Directors)
• Tape Recorder (to record practice sessions)
   

Uniform

When the Dickerson Bands perform, either at Dickerson or elsewhere, band students are acting as representatives of our school, our community, and perhaps even our state. Therefore, it is important for all students in the group to look their best at concerts. Depending on the type of performance and the time of year, the uniform will either be CASUAL or FORMAL.

If CASUAL, students will wear the Dickerson Band T-Shirt, blue jeans (without holes!), and school-appropriate shoes. If we are performing outdoors, shorts may be substituted for jeans. The Sixth Grade Band will always perform in this uniform.

The FORMAL uniform is a black dress with black, closed toe shoes for the girls, and a tuxedo with black socks and black dress shoes for the boys. These will be ordered at the beginning of the school year. Information on the uniform will be sent home from the Parent Uniform Committee in August. In general, formal dress is designed to exhibit pride in yourself, your band, and your school. NO jeans, T-Shirts, or sneakers/tennis shoes will be allowed as part of the FORMAL uniform. All students must wear the proper uniform in order to perform with the band.
 

Travel

The Dickerson Band is fortunate to have many performance opportunities off campus which enable our students to showcase their talents and accomplishments. Trips are planned carefully to ensure that students not only depart and arrive on time, but do so safely. Any student participating in an off-campus performance is expected to adhere to the travel arrangements set forth by the band directors. Any deviation from the published travel arrangements must be cleared with a director in advance of a trip.

Homework

Although performance assignments evaluate concepts and skills covered in class, students will be expected to practice at home to reinforce and master these concepts and skills. A band student has homework almost EVERY DAY which consists of reviewing material introduced and rehearsed in class, and preparing technical passages for the next day’s rehearsal. Students who do not practice at home may not perform well in class or on playing tests! We know that students have busy schedules, and that many are involved in several after-school activities and sports, but home practice is essential in your child’s musical progress.

Equipment Storage

Students will have a locker to store their instruments at school during the day, and each locker will have a combination lock to secure the instrument inside. Students will be assigned a lock by the school; any personal locks will be removed.

Instruments may be dropped off in the morning before homeroom, and picked up after school on the way to the busses. Instruments are to be left in the students’ locker in the instrument storage room, and nowhere else in the school (P.E. locker room, homeroom, etc…). Because we have almost 500 instruments stored in one room, many with similar cases, we ask that ALL INSTRUMENT CASES BE CLEARLY LABELED WITH THE STUDENT’S NAME ON THE OUTSIDE
 

Equipment Repair

Instruments will need to be repaired from time to time. Sometimes the repair is minor and can be done by the director, but often the instrument needs to be taken to a repair shop. In this case, arrangements can often be made to get a “loaner” instrument for use during the repair period. If a loaner in not available, please send a dated note with your student so that we will know the instrument is in the shop. Everyday a student is without an instrument is a day skills and concepts are not learned or reinforced. Sometimes repair shops can get very busy, and daily calls can often speed up return times.

Schedule Changes

Occasionally the need arises for a student to request a schedule change to drop band. Due to other scheduling concerns, these changes can only take place twice during the school year, at the end of the first semester in December, and at the end of the second semester in May. All schedule changes require parents’ written permission, and should be turned in no later than one week before the end of the semester. Any other changes to students’ schedules can be made only with administrative approval. The Directors often request to speak with parents whose student requests to drop band; these conferences are simply to touch base with parents before any final decision is made. Students who drop band do not have the option of joining again in Middle School or High School.
 

Performance Opportunities

During the course of the school year, the DMS Bands will have several opportunities to perform for both the school and the community. Through these concerts, students can display the musical skills and talents they have been working on in band class and at home. These concerts are often the culmination of months of hard work and practice, and are the showcases for our students. As stated in the National Standards for the Arts, concert performances are an essential component of Arts Education, and thus are required from our program.

Since each of these concerts is an evaluation of classroom material, students are given a performance grade for each concert (See Grading Policy). It is standard concert procedure to arrive in uniform at least 30 minutes prior to the announced starting time of any concert. Please allow adequate time for traffic and parking (and school construction!) as DMS concerts are usually very well attended. In the event that more than one group is performing on the same concert, students are expected to attend the entire concert to support all members of the band program. Some of the concerts given each year by the DMS bands are:

Fall/Winter/Spring Concerts – The seventh and eighth grade bands perform three concerts each year for the parents and the community. The sixth grade band will perform two concerts (Winter and Spring). These concerts are given in the Dickerson Middle School Theater, and feature a variety of standard and seasonal band music.
State Performance Evaluation (Concert Festival) – In March the seventh and eighth grade bands participate in the Georgia Music Educators’ Association (GMEA) District 12 State Performance Evaluation. This event is our version of standardized testing. The groups’ performance of three prepared pieces is critiqued by a panel of judges and awarded a rating of Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, or Poor. Each group is also evaluated on their ability to sight-read music, or their ability to read a piece of music they have never seen before.
Festival Preview Concert – In the weeks preceding Concert Festival, the DMS Band program hosts a Festival Preview Concert, where the seventh and eighth grade groups present their programs for the parents and the community. This concert also allows each group a “dress rehearsal” for the Concert Festival, and allows parents who might not be able to make the Festival performance a chance to hear the band’s program.
Community Concerts – Throughout the year, Dickerson students may have the opportunity to perform in ensembles around the community. Any additional performances will be announced well in advance of the performance dates.
 

Individual Performance Opportunities

In addition to full band concerts, there are many occasions for students to showcase individual performance skills. The preparation for these events takes place outside of band class, and is a chance for students to work alone or in small groups. All of these events are optional, and while all students are encouraged to participate, only those willing to put in extra work at home will be successful.

Solo and Ensemble – Held in November, the Solo and Ensemble Festival gives students a chance to perform in small groups or individually; it is open to small chamber groups (up to 14 musicians) or solo performers. Students who elect to participate will select a piece to perform (with the help of the band director or private instructor) and work on that piece outside of class. Each group or soloist will be given a rating on the same scale as those awarded to the full band during Concert Festival. Before the actual Solo and Ensemble Festival, DMS will hold a mock festival where students will perform for the band directors and for each other.
District 12 Honor and Clinic Bands – The District 12 Honor and Clinic Bands are comprised of the top middle school band students in Cobb and Douglas counties. Students are selected for the bands through an audition process. The audition, held in April, consists of four scales and two sight-reading exercises. The top scoring students from the District are selected to participate in a three-day clinic, held later in April. Any student wishing to audition for the honor and clinic bands must pass-off the audition requirements for a director prior to the audition.
Georgia All-State Band – Students who have demonstrated superior technical and musical skills on their instrument may wish to audition for the Georgia All-State band in February. The All-State band consists of the top seventh and eighth grade players in the state, and is an extremely selective group. Students wishing to audition for this group should get the audition music from their private instructors early in the fall to begin their preparations.
UGA Mid-Fest – The University of Georgia sponsors a Middle School Band Festival each December for some of the top band students in the Southeastern United States. Students are chosen by director nominations (each school may nominate up to ten students), and are placed by ability level into six different bands. Each group will prepare a concert in three days, and perform the concert on the last day. The directors will use the following criteria in nominating students: ability level, classroom participation, preparation, and ensemble discipline.
 

Helping Your Child Succeed in Band

Parental involvement and guidance are critical to a child’s education, especially with beginning band. There are many things that parents can do to help ensure success with your band student.

How You Can Help Your Child Learn:

• Provide a quiet environment, music stand, and proper chair for your child to practice.
• Schedule a consistent daily time for practice.
• Remain nearby during practice times to encourage and support.
• Praise your child’s efforts and achievements regularly.
• Encourage your child to play for family and friends.
• Try to provide tutoring by an accomplished musician.
• Attend concerts and recitals with your child, encouraging them to experience a wide variety of music.
• Engage your child in conversations about music.
• Keep your child’s instrument in working condition.
• Encourage you child to play many types of music, not just study material.
• Help your child build a personal home library of recordings and sheet music.
• Encourage your child to make at least a two-year commitment to band.
• Show constant interest in your child’s progress and band activities.
• Show support by attending band functions and concerts.
• Talk with the band director on a regular basis about your child’s progress.

What To Do If Your Child Loses Interest:

Occasionally, students will become frustrated with progress on their instrument, especially when the “newness” ends. It is important to help your child through these situations.

• Discuss the situation with your child to determine why their interest is declining.
• Talk with your child’s band director to see what might be done to stimulate interest.
• Encourage your child to continue for a specified length of time.
• Offer increased enthusiasm and support.
• Find new sources of inspiration such as live musical theater performances, different artist’s recordings and concerts that feature your child’s instrument
• Attend band festivals, college band performances, community band and symphony orchestra concerts, allowing your child to project their possible future musical experiences.
• Seek advice from parents of other band members.
• Find an older student mentor for support and musical interaction.
• Host a band party!
• As a last resort, discuss the possibility of switching to another instrument or music class with your child’s director.
  
  
  Source: Gary Markham, Supervisor, Instrumental Music