JH+Band+Hand+Book

__**NOTE: Also available as a downloadable file on the "Welcome!" page!**__

**RUTH BETTS/McISAAC SCHOOL BAND HANDBOOK 2016/2017**

**DIRECTOR: ANNA HARRISON** **(204) 687-7578 or (204) 687-7538** __**ajardine@ffsd.mb.ca**__

Welcome to a new school year! Please take a moment to read the following and retain for future reference.

- My name is Anna Harrison and I have been living and teaching in Flin Flon for 6 years! Seems like just yesterday that I was driving up here with a U-Haul full of stuff and no idea what to expect! Now I am the proud owner of a lake house and am so happy to call Flin Flon my home! I have a deep investment in the musical education of the youth in this community and I am really looking forward to another year full of music and learning!
 * ALLOW ME TO INTRODUCE MYSELF!**

The band program at Ruth Betts Community School and Ecole McIsaac School encourages personal growth in students as both musicians and people in an ensemble setting. Students will learn to play their instrument to their highest ability in a safe environment that supports musicianship, creativity, exploration and discovery.
 * FFSD JUNIOR HIGH BAND PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT**

It is our mission to help students discover the skills they need to become life-long participants in music well after they are finished school. We hope to achieve this by providing a variety of musical opportunities that allow students to experience music in multiple ways including concert band, jazz band and small ensemble experiences. Students will also learn the skills needed to create and compose their own music! Personal exploration is an important part of the creative process and we strive to help each student learn to be their own authentic self through music.

It is also our mission to build a community within the band program, in the school and in the wider community of Flin Flon that supports and cherishes the effects of having music in our lives. Every musician is valued for his or her individual contribution to the ensemble and we strive to create a safe, supportive, challenging and fulfilling experience for every person involved including students, teachers, parents, grandparents and the wider community of Flin Flon/Creighton.


 * 2015/2016 IMPORTANT DATES **
 * **DATE** || **EVENT** ||
 * September 12 || FFCPME Annual General Meeting in Hapnot Theater @ 7:00 pm ||
 * September 17-18 || Grade 6/7 Band Camp @ Ecole McIsaac ||
 * Sept 30 - Oct 1 || Culture Days ||
 * October 28 - 30 || NorMan Jazz Festival in Thompson ||
 * November 10 || Remembrance Day Service ||
 * December 13 || Hapnot Winter Concert ||
 * January 25 || Flin Flon Junior High Winter Concert ||
 * March 9-11 || Parkland/Norman Regional Honour Band in Dauphin ||
 * TBA || Level One Band Festival (grade 7 only) in Brandon ||
 * May 24 || Hapnot Jazz Night ||
 * May 31 || Junior High Spring Concert ||
 * June 6 || Hapnot Spring Concert ||
 * May 31 || Junior High Spring Concert ||
 * June 6 || Hapnot Spring Concert ||

Mrs. Jones and I have created a website for the FFSD Band Program! All of our forms, upcoming events, important information, student resources and course outlines are now posted online! Please visit our page at __http://ffsdmusic.wikispaces.com__/ to stay current on our events! There are links to this page on the McIsaac, Ruth Betts and Creighton websites.
 * FFSD MUSIC WIKI**

All trip forms and itineraries will now be posted online. I will also keep some paper copies for students, but please try to use the wiki as much as possible. It is important for us to take advantage of the digital opportunities we have to help the environment and minimize our paper consumption. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter!

**FLIN FLON/CREIGHTON PARENTS FOR MUSIC EDUCATION** Who they are.............. Hapnot, MacIsaac and Ruth Betts schools are all represented by one parent council called the Flin Flon Creighton Parents for Music Education. Ideally this council has representatives from all three schools. Representatives are usually parents of students in the music program.

What they do..............The purpose of this committee is to provide support for our music program largely through fundraising efforts coordinated throughout the year. The FFCPME is in their 16th year of operation and always appreciates lots of parent and student volunteer hours. The executive for the association is comprised of a Two Co-Chairs, Vice Chair and Volunteer Hour Coordinator, Secretary, Treasurer, a Junior High Representative, a High School representative and many fundraising chairs. Why they are important to you....... The FFCPME organizes many fundraising opportunities to help lower the cost of trips taken throughout the year. Parents and students can work at these fundraising events and earn personal volunteer hours toward the cost of that individual's trip. This way your hours worked not only help the band, they also help you directly. Hours carry forward from year to year if a student remains in band throughout their high school years. FFCPME also helps support and run our very busy band program by volunteering at events such as NorMan Jazz Festival, Winter and Spring concerts. Without them, these events would not be able to happen.

How to get involved........ FFCPME appreciates help in all fundraising efforts. Parents can also attend the Annual General Meeting (date TBA soon!) to discuss upcoming events, ideas and concerns. We will also be taking nominations for new executive members! __Parent Volunteers__ There are many situations which require parental assistance in order for our band program's continued success. Please let the band instructor know if you are willing to help out. One of the parent executives or the band instructor will contact you when help is needed in a certain area. Following is a description of some of the areas volunteer help is required from time to time:

__Fundraising Coordinator__ - coordinates occasional special fundraising efforts. __Concert Helpers__ - will assist with tasks the night of a concert or performance by our bands. Jobs may include admissions, supervision, equipment crew, etc. __Chaperones__ - people who are willing to chaperone on field trips, and band tours. May be in town or involve out of town and overnight traveling.

**“Like”** the Flin Flon/Creighton Parents for Music Education on Facebook to receive updates and find out about fundraising opportunities!

Please contact Mrs. Harrison if you are interested in volunteering and I will connect you with the right people! After a very successful band camp last fall, I am please to announce that we will be running it again this year! However, we felt the scope was too broad last year and therefore, camp will only be for students in grade 6 and 7 band this year.
 * BAND CAMP - SEPTEMBER 17th-18th, 2016 @ ECOLE McISAAC SCHOOL**

This intensive weekend of playing and learning is designed to get students off to a great start! Expert clinicians will be coming up from Winnipeg to lead sectionals and give the students the fundamentals they need for a great year of making music! The students will have sectionals with the clinicians and full band sessions with me as well as time to bond with their band mates. Please stay tuned for more details as they unfold! WE WILL NEED VOLUNTEERS!

**GRADE 6 BAND** The grade 6 band program is now entering its 5th year! After much success last year, I will continue to run the grade 6 classes as regular ensemble classes. The students will not travel in grade 6 except for local events. (see band camp) Students will be assessed before the end of each reporting period. They will receive the criteria ahead of time and will have lots of time to practice and ask questions. First assessments will be in October. Parents should expect a contract to come home on the first day of classes. This contract is to ensure that the instrument assigned to each child is treated respectfully and handled responsibly. Please read it carefully, sign and return this form as soon as possible. Copies of this form are also available on the wiki.

__R equired Materials __ Grade 7 band class is held three times per cycle. Students will need the following items for each class:
 * GRADE 7 BAND**
 * Instrument (and appropriate supplies)
 * Music Binder (Black 1” binder)
 * Do It! Method Book (supplied by the school, to be returned like a textbook in good condition, at the end of June)
 * Pencil

__Band Fees__ Grade 7 band students will be loaned an instrument from the Flin Flon School Division to use for the year, unless they already own their own. Cleaning supplies and method book are included and thanks to generous support from our school board, all of this is free of charge for families. However, if the instrument is damaged or lost, parents may be responsible for repair and replacement fees. Please treat our instruments with care and respect.

__ Sectionals __ All grade 7 students have additional sectional rehearsals once per cycle for 20 minutes. Attendance for sectionals is mandatory, as these are the only times that students rehearse in like-instrument groups. The schedule for sectionals will be posted on the wiki and paper copies are available outside the band room. Sectionals will take place during other classes, so students are expected to stay caught up on what they missed during sectionals.

__Band Concerts & Concert Attire__ Grade 6-8 band students present winter and spring concerts on Wednesday, January 25th and Wednesday, May 31st at Ecole McIsaac School. A concert should be a true celebration of what we have learned and an opportunity to share a musical gift with our family and friends. For this to be possible, all members of the ensemble must be in attendance.

Because all the grade 7ʼs from Ruth Betts and McIsaac will be playing together at our performances, some extra full group rehearsals outside of the school time table are necessary to prepare. A schedule of after-school rehearsals will be sent home well in advance. Attendance at these rehearsals is mandatory, so please plan accordingly. Excused absences for unworkable situations must be approved by Mrs. Harrison in advance. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Students are required to wear an FFSD Music shirt (ordered from Pedʼs Threads), black dress pants, black socks and black shoes to every performance. Mrs. Harrison will have sample sizes for the students to try on and order forms are found on the wiki (coming soon!). I will also have some paper copies to give to students. Please fill out the order form and return it with a cheque and Mrs. Harrison will order the shirts for you. These shirts can be kept from year to year. They will only need replaced as your child outgrows them!


 * Grade 7 Band Course Break-down**
 * Playing Assessments || 80% ||
 * Class Assignments || 20% ||

__ Practicing & Playing Assessment (80%) __ Students will have playing assessments prior to the end of each reporting period. They will be given the content of the assessment well in advanced and are expected to prepare through regular practice at home. These assessments will take place during sectional time.

I don't require students to keep records of their practice time, but it is a useful habit to do so. I have templates available for students to record their practice and any questions that come up while they are working at home. For beginning players, 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week is an excellent place to start. Students are building muscle, creating muscle memory and learning a language, all of which takes time and deeply focused practice. Please create a space free of distractions at home where your child can practice meaningfully and efficiently. 10 minutes of deep, focused practice will pay more dividends than 2 hours of distracted practice. Distracted practice is also where bad habits are formed due to inattentiveness. Bad habits can also lead to repetitive use injuries, which we definitely want to avoid! Always quality over quantity.

__Class Assignments (20%)__ Class assignments includes anything I assign in class that is not a playing assessment.
 * research projects
 * listening journal entries
 * compositions
 * arrangements
 * self-assessments
 * theory assignments

__Rehearsal Skills (Self-assessment)__ Students will complete a self-assessment once every 2 months to track the development of their rehearsal skills. These skills are important to the success of the whole group and are the same procedures followed by professional ensembles.
 * The student is making his/her best effort to perform the music that has been assigned in class.
 * The student asks for extra help when needed.
 * The student is prepared for each class with all materials and a willing attitude, ready to work.
 * The student demonstrates proper procedures for entering and leaving the band room each day.
 * The student demonstrates proper safety procedures in the band room.
 * The student has his/her instrument and is in their correct chair within 4 minutes of having arrived in the band room.
 * The student is listening to instructions and carrying out the procedures quickly and willingly.
 * Attend and participate in all local concerts and extra rehearsals.

__Additional Opportunities for Grade 7 Band Students__ In addition to band camp, grade 7 band students have the opportunity to travel to the Level One Band Festival in April in Brandon, MB. This is a learning festival where students get to perform their prepared pieces and receive feed back from 4, world-renowned music educators and watch other bands perform. The cost for this trip is usually between $80-$100 per student, for which you are welcome to fund raise and pay for completely with volunteer hours.

__Required Materials__ Grade 8 band class is held three times per cycle. Students will need the following items for each class:
 * GRADE 8 BAND**
 * Instrument (and appropriate supplies)
 * Music Binder (Black 1” binder)
 * Repertoire (handed out by Mrs. Harrison)
 * Pencil

__Band Fees__ Grade 8 band students will be loaned an instrument from the Flin Flon School Division to use for the year, unless they already own their own. Cleaning supplies and method book are included and thanks to generous support from our school board, all of this is free of charge for families. However, if the instrument is damaged or lost, parents may be responsible for repair and replacement fees. Please treat our instruments with care and respect.

__ Sectionals __ All grade 8 students have additional sectional rehearsals once per cycle for 20 minutes. Attendance for sectionals is mandatory, as these are the only times that students rehearse in like-instrument groups. The schedule for sectionals will be posted on the wiki and paper copies are available outside the band room. Sectionals will take place during other classes, so students are expected to stay caught up on what they missed during sectionals.

__Band Concerts & Concert Attire__ Grade 6-8 band students present winter and spring concerts on Wednesday, January 25th and Wednesday, May 31st at Ecole McIsaac School. A concert should be a true celebration of what we have learned and an opportunity to share a musical gift with our family and friends. For this to be possible, all members of the ensemble must be in attendance.

Because all the grade 8ʼs from Ruth Betts and McIsaac will be playing together at our performances, some extra full group rehearsals outside of the school time table are necessary to prepare. A schedule of after-school rehearsals will be sent home well in advance. Attendance at these rehearsals is mandatory, so please plan accordingly. Excused absences for unworkable situations must be approved by Mrs. Harrison in advance. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Students are required to wear an FFSD Music shirt (ordered from Pedʼs Threads), black dress pants, black socks and black shoes to every performance. Mrs. Harrison will have sample sizes for the students to try on and order forms are found on the wiki (coming soon!). I will also have some paper copies to give to students. Please fill out the order form and return it with a cheque and Mrs. Harrison will order the shirts for you. If you have a band shirt from last year that still fits, you are welcome to continue to use it until your child outgrows it!


 * Grade 8 Band Course Break-down**
 * Playing Assessments || 80% ||
 * Class Assignments || 20% ||

__Practicing & Playing Assessment (80%)__ Students in grade 8 are developing the skills to plan for their own practice. Students will work with Mrs. Harrison to determine weekly practice goals, and are expected to put in the necessary practice time to achieve these goals. Goal sheets will be assessed on completeness and on the studentʼs ability to demonstrate goals achieve through their performance in class.

I don't require students to keep records of their practice time, but it is a useful habit to do so. I have templates available for students to record their practice and any questions that come up while they are working at home. For beginning players, 20 minutes per day, 5 days per week is an excellent place to start. Students are building muscle, creating muscle memory and learning a language, all of which takes time and deeply focused practice. Please create a space free of distractions at home where your child can practice meaningfully and efficiently. 10 minutes of deep, focused practice will pay more dividends than 2 hours of distracted practice. Distracted practice is also where bad habits are formed due to inattentiveness. Bad habits can also lead to repetitive use injuries, which we definitely want to avoid! Always quality over quantity.

Students will have playing assessments prior to the end of each reporting period. They will be given the content of the assessment well in advanced and are expected to prepare through regular practice at home. These assessments will take place during sectional time.

__Class Assignments (20%)__ Class assignments includes anything I assign in class that is not a playing assessment, such as:
 * research projects
 * listening journal entries
 * compositions
 * arrangements
 * self-assessments
 * theory assignments

__Rehearsal Skills__ Students will complete a self-assessment once every 2 months to track the development of their rehearsal skills. These skills are important to the success of the whole group and are the same procedures followed by professional ensembles.
 * The student is making his/her best effort to perform the music that has been assigned in class.
 * The student asks for extra help when needed.
 * The student is prepared for each class with all materials and a willing attitude, ready to work!
 * The student demonstrates proper procedures for entering and leaving the band room each day.
 * The student demonstrates proper safety procedures in the band room.
 * The student has his/her instrument and is in their correct chair within 4 minutes of having arrived in the band room.
 * The student is listening to instructions and carrying out the procedures quickly and willingly.
 * Attend and participate in all local concerts.

__ Additional Opportunities for Grade 8 Band Students __ All grade 8 band students are encouraged to try the Junior Jazz Band. This is an extracurricular ensemble that meets on Mondayʼs at lunch at McIsaac. It is an introduction to jazz year that will help prepare them for jazz studies at Hapnot. This band also participates in the NorMan Jazz Festival on October 28-30 in Thompson. This festival features world-renowned jazz musicians and educators and is an extremely valuable educational experience. The jazz band also performs at the winter and spring concerts as well as Hapnot Jazz Night. **The first rehearsal will be on Monday, September 19th. All students are welcome to come to the first one, but must commit to the ensemble by the following Monday.**

All grade 8 band students are also strongly encouraged to attend the Parkland/Norman Regional Honour Band in Dauphin, MB. This is an opportunity for students to meet other musicians their age from our region and work with a guest conductor. Students are also encourage to audition for Manitoba Junior Honour Band in Winnipeg, MB. Audition packages are available at www.mbband.org and auditions are usually due at the beginning of March. The event takes place in Winnipeg in early May.


 * HOW CAN PARENTS HELP THEIR CHILD PRACTICE?**

Whether you are a musical genius, or know little about music, your child will benefit from your help! Here are few things you can do, even if you greatest talent is playing the radio!

LISTEN - It is important that your child practices everyday to build confidence, coordination and endurance. Let them give you a concert and listen attentively!

ORGANIZE - Help you child choose a practice area that is free from distraction. If you child must practice in a room with a television or computer, make sure these items are turned off during practice time. Many students benefit from setting a routine of practicing at the same time each day in a designated practice area. The addition of a collapsible stand, metronome and tuner can make practicing easier and more enjoyable!

ENCOURAGE - A good word from you will go a long way! If your child is practicing, you will hear improvement. Let him or her know that you hear it!

CHANGE THE SITUATION - Your child should be working on a variety of skills from class. If you hear the same songs over and over each day, ask what he or she is working on in class. Chances are he or she may be playing only what is known, instead of working on things that are more challenging.

BRUSH OFF THE TARNISH - After the student gets over the newness of the instrument, sometimes it takes a little motivation to keep at it. See your child through the hills, valleys and dreaded plateaus (when they would rather clean their room than practice!) Let them clean their room, but insist that they put in a few minutes of practicing too!

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT - When your child is performing in a concert, no matter many people are in the audience, he or she is performing just for you. Please try your best to be there and make a big deal about their performance!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the band program. I am greatly looking forward to the year ahead!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Anna Harrison Junior High Instrumental Music Educator for the Flin Flon School Division (204) 687-7578/(204) 687-7538 ajardine@ffsd.mb.ca