LHS Band Handbook

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2020– 2021 Lampasas Badger Band Handbook

 

Directors

Bonnie Oreka, Director of Bands/Illusion Color Guard Director

Eduardo Zambrano, High School Assistant Band Director/Percussion Director

Jeremy Flint, Middle School Band Director

Chloe Flint, Middle School Assistant Band Director

 

 

Introduction

This handbook is designed to inform band students and parents about the organization and policies of the Lampasas High School Band.  This is a working document, and any suggestions for improvements to its contents are welcome.

 

Philosophy

This band program is designed to be something special and extraordinary, and the students who fully participate in the program throughout their high school career should leave knowing that they have been part of something special.  Band students will work hard, play hard, learn skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives, and make life-long friends.

 

Mission Statement

The Lampasas High School Badger Band program exists to provide the Lampasas ISD students in grades six through twelve a supportive, caring learning environment in which to learn music, develop and expand personal musical technique, and to enhance desirable personal characteristics.  These characteristics include, but are not limited to, self-discipline, honesty, integrity, punctuality, the ability to function as a member of a team, and a strong personal work ethic.  Additionally, the band serves the school and community by instilling pride and esprit de corps.  The band strives to be the musical ambassadors of Lampasas ISD and the City of Lampasas, and our goal is to represent ourselves and the citizens of Lampasas in a first-class manner.

 

Organization

The Lampasas High School Band program consists of the Badger Marching Band, the Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, the Jazz Band, and the Illusion Color Guard.  Membership in these organizations is open to any Lampasas High School student, with the approval of the band directors.  Students seeking membership should be able to read music at a skill level appropriate to their grade level and be able to play a musical instrument that is consistent with the instrumentation of the ensemble in which they wish to participate.  Prospective band members must also have a demonstrated record of academic eligibility.  Students who wish to perform with the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band, or Illusion Color Guard are required to audition for Region Band and participate in UIL Solo/Ensemble. 

 

Grades

Band Grades will include a daily grade that will be determined by the student’s daily participation in class and after school rehearsals.  Low daily grades will result from excessive absences, lack of effort during class/after school rehearsal, failure to bring music, instruments, and supplies (including suitable marching shoes and attire during marching season) to class, and/or the inability to perform the assigned music at minimum acceptable levels.  A student whose instrument is in the shop for repair must bring a note from home to receive an excused daily grade.  Test/performance grades will be given for co-curricular performances.  Failure to attend a co-curricular performance for reasons other than a medical emergency will result in no credit given.  Other weekly tests may include playing off music by memory, scales, etudes, and other selections to be determined by the director.  Semester and final exams will also be given and may be written and/or performance oriented.  Students are always encouraged to retest to receive the highest grade possible.  Retests will normally not be conducted during regular class time.  Students should coordinate with the band directors for a retest time.

First Semester Grades will be determined by the following:

1st Nine Weeks- participation/attendance and playing off marching music.

2nd Nine Weeks-participation/attendance and playing off region music.

Second Semester-participation/attendance, playing off a solo or ensemble, and playing off UIL concert music.

 

Participation

All band members are expected to participate in every scheduled rehearsal, sectional, and performance of the band outside of the regular school day.  Students who are unable or unwilling to attend rehearsals and/or performances should strongly consider not enrolling in band.  If you have an unexcused absence from a rehearsal or performance, you will not be allowed to attend the next performance or football game.  Absences and tardiness will affect your spot in the marching show and your band placement. 

 

If you miss a graded after school rehearsal or performance, you will be excused only if you missed due to a medical situation or a conflict with another LHS function that we are told about in advance.  Missing events due to transportation problems or having to work are not excused.  Being excused means that you will be given the opportunity to make up the points by doing an alternate assignment.  You are responsible for providing documentation to prove that your absence was medical or school related, and it is your responsibility to coordinate with the band directors for an alternate assignment. 

 

Grades are awarded as follows:

Daily grade- 3 points

Performance grade (concerts/games)- 10 points

Music play-off grade- 30 points

 

Eligibility

Students that are habitually ineligible will not be approved for continued membership in the LHS band.

 

Band Officers

Band officers are appointed by the band directors.  Band officers, section leaders and drum majors are expected to lead by example.  They should arrive for rehearsals and performances early and stay late.  They are expected to maintain academic eligibility.  Service to the band as a band officer is an honor and a privilege; failure of an officer to meet stated or implied obligations  will result in removal from the position.  Band officers are required to attend all LHS Band sponsored leadership training.

 

TMEA All Region Band and UIL Solo and Ensemble Contest

Students will have the opportunity to audition for the Association of Texas Small School Bands (ATSSB) All Region Band in December.  Students who place highly in the Region will have further opportunities to audition for the Area and State bands.  The University Interscholastic League (UIL) Solo and Ensemble contest is held in February.  All students are strongly encouraged to participate.

 

Instruments and Equipment

It is the student’s responsibility to have a good quality, serviceable instrument always.  Students must maintain reeds, oil, cleaning supplies and other required accessories.  Instruments that need maintenance or repair work can be given to the band directors on Wednesdays to be taken to Music and Arts in Harker Heights.  Students who misuse or mistreat a school owned instrument will lose the privilege of using it.  At no time should any student handle or play and instrument that does not belong (or is not assigned) to them.

 

Lettering Criteria

Lettering in band is an honor reserved for those students who represent the Lampasas Badger Band in an exemplary manner and who exhibit the outstanding musicianship that we are striving to achieve.  The lettering criteria for the 2019-2020 school year is as follows:

 

  1. Enrollment in Marching Band in the fall semester and Concert Band in the spring.

 

  1. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances, including Summer Band.

 

  1. Participation in All-Region band try-outs.

 

  1. Participation in UIL Solo/Ensemble contest.

 

5a.  Earn a chair in the All-Region band through auditions

                                               

                                                OR

 

5b.  Earn a Division I or II on a solo, or a Division I on an ensemble at UIL Solo/Ensemble.

 

5c.  Students who participate in All-Region band try-outs and UIL Solo/Ensemble contest but are unable to make one of the bands or earn the minimum required ratings may satisfy this requirement by completing a band service project to be assigned by the band directors consisting of a minimum of 10 hours  of work, to be performed outside of normal school hours.

 

  1. Follow all the rules and guidelines of LHS and the Badger Band.

 

  1. Students who miss a required rehearsal or performance through no fault of their own (illness, medical emergencies, traffic accidents, etc.) may be offered the opportunity to make up the absence.

 

  1. Students who miss either the All-Region band try-outs or the UIL Solo/Ensemble contest through no fault of their own (illness, medical emergencies, traffic accidents, etc.) may make up the event by performing a band service project to be assigned by the band directors.  The project must be performed outside of normal school hours and will consist of a minimum of 20 hours of work.  Students who miss both events must complete two projects equaling a minimum of 40 hours of work.

 

  1. The band directors reserve the right to determine whether an absence is excusable and to require proof of the reason for the absence on a case by case basis.  Letters from parents explaining the absence will not be the sole determining factor of whether an absence is excused.  Oversleeping, transportation issues, (except for traffic accidents), etc. will not be excused. 

 

Rules

All actions of individual band members should create a positive representation of the Lampasas High School Band, Lampasas High School, and Lampasas.  The Lampasas High School Band is not measured in statistics.  It is reflected by attitude!

 

All Lampasas High School student policies (as outlined in the LHS Student Handbook) must be followed during all band activities, during school hours and outside school hours.

 

Each band member is to be punctual when meeting the organizations responsibilities (rehearsals, warm-ups, performances).

 

Band members are not allowed to wear jewelry while in uniform except for small, stud type earrings (girls only), small unobtrusive rings, and watches.  This includes necklaces. 

 

Band members in uniform are always expected to wear the uniform properly .  This includes:  keep coat buttoned, suspenders worn properly, and do not wear the hat backwards. 

 

Band members are to be in assigned place with instrument, music, pencil, and necessary supplies at the start of rehearsal.  During school hours, this is when the tardy bell rings. 

 

There is to be no discussion/conversation among band members while instructions are being given.

 

Follow instructions the first time they are given.

 

Food, drink, and gum are not allowed in the rehearsal or performance areas. 

 

Students who are not in band are not allowed in the Band Room.

 

Travel Guidelines

Each band member must ride on the transportation provided by LISD to all band activities.  A student may ride home with his/her parent/guardian provided a written, signed note is submitted prior to trip departure.  (This enables us to mark the bus lists, facilitating roll check for the return trip).

 

Follow all LISD bus rules posted at the front of each bus.

 

The back door of the bus is not to be used except in case of emergency, or as instructed by the director.

 

Upon arrival at destination, remain seated until the director has given instructions.

 

Directors, drivers, and chaperones have the authority to assign seating to any student in the event of disciplinary problems or failure to abide by bus rules by any individual. 

 

Leave all buses clean of trash and personal belongings upon return.

 

Ipods and electronic devices may be taken on the bus provided they are used with headphones.  The school, district, and band are not responsible in the event of loss or theft. 

 

Football Games

The Lampasas High School Band performs at all LHS football games, both at home and away, including play-off games.  The band not only performs its halftime show with pride and spirit, but also carries on the tradition of that pride and spirit in the stands.

HOME GAMES: Students should eat dinner before reporting for band on game days, since there will not be an opportunity to eat at the game.  Band members will fall in for a “run-through” of the halftime show at 5:45 on game days.  The run-through will be in black shoes, black socks, band pants, and band polo shirt.  After the run-through, the students will load the trailer.  All students must ride the buses to the stadium.  Before students get off the buses, they must be in full band uniform.  Upon return to the band hall after all games/performances, each student will change out of their uniform, hang the uniform properly, and check the uniform in before they can leave. 

 

AWAY GAMES: These are treated essentially the same as home games.  The only differences are the time at which the students are to report (due to the length of the trip to the game site), and the fact that we will feed the students for games that are a significant distance from Lampasas.

 

ALL GAMES: Parents, please be on time to pick up your band member.  We are seldom over 15 minutes later that the announced approximate time of arrival at the band hall.  Many times, we are even early.  We have no control over the length of the football game, traffic, etc.  Be sure that your student knows how to get in touch with you after games.  We must remain at the school until all students have been picked up.  Please help us by being there to get your son/daughter as soon as possible.  When picking up you student, please wait INFRONT of the school and follow the busses and trailer.  Buses will park diagonally blocking traffic to ensure students can unload safely.  If entering around the right side of the school, please make sure you are PARKED IN A MARKED PARKING SPOT.  Not parking in a parking spot will block the trailers and the buses from leaving.

 

STAND BEHAVIOR

All band members are to play their instruments while in the stands.  (Exception:  drum majors) This means EVERYONE must have his or her own instrument and music. 

 

Because we are the largest spirit body present at the games, each member is to demonstrate school spirit and pride by cheering with the cheerleaders and being prepared to play any music when called to by the director. 

 

Each band member is to stay in his/her seating location and not move about the band during the game. 

 

NO FOOD OR DRINKS are permitted in the stands except for your LHS band water jug.  Your parents, siblings, or friends may not bring food or drinks to you during the game.  No one will be allowed to go to the concession stands. 

 

Do not play your instrument at any time the band is not playing.  Percussionists are to play only with the full band, with cheers, or as a section in an organized cadence or feature.

 

No one except band personnel is allowed in the band section. (Special visitors are sometimes exceptions, but only by special permission from directors).

 

Do not make discourteous remarks to visitors. 

 

Illusion Color Guard

The Illusion Color Guard is an auxiliary section of the band.  Membership in the color guard is by separate audition and acceptance in the color guard is determined by the needs of the band.  Students wishing to try out for the color guard must be able to attend all rehearsals and performances and must have a proven past track record in band of following band rules and attendance at band functions.  During football season, membership is normally limited to woodwind players since many brass musicians are needed for the musical portion of the halftime show.  All members of the band are eligible to participate in Winter Guard, which starts at the end of football season provided they successfully auditioned the previous spring.  Color guard members are REQUIRED to audition for Region Band and participate in UIL Solo/Ensemble contest. Color guard members are required to maintain academic eligibility.  Specific color guard requirements are outlined in the LHS Color guard handbook.

 

Private Lessons

Individual private instruction is an invaluable aid to students, particularly to those who aspire to make Region, Area, and State Bands.  Music and Arts in Copperas Cove and Harker Heights offers private instruction on most band instruments.

 

Practice

Every band member must realize that the key to improvement is individual practice.  Each student is expected to practice a minimum of 30 minutes a day.  The band room is open both before school, after school, and during student’s academic period.  Students who do not practice are not only hurting their own chances for success, but also the chances of the rest of the band.  Practice!

 

Band Camp

Each summer, band camps are held throughout the state.  These camps offer comprehensive courses of instruction in all facets of instrumental performance.  Our directors will make information about band camps available to all band students around spring break.  All band members are urged to attend band camp.

 

Uniforms

Uniforms will be worn completely and with pride.  Students who do not have the proper accessories or who wear the uniform in a deliberately sloppy or haphazard manner will not be allowed to perform until the deficiency is corrected.  Students are required to provide some accessories for their uniform, including black shoes, black socks, and white tuxedo shirt with ¼ inch pleats.

 

Uniforms are checked out of the uniform room before each event and checked back in at the end of that event.  Students must return the various pieces of their uniforms to the satisfactory of the uniform managers.  If a uniform manager does not approve how a uniform was returned, it will be returned to that student until the problem in remedied.  Students who fail to satisfactorily turn their uniforms in are subject to disciplinary actions.

 

Spring Trips

Each Spring, the band will take a trip.  The purpose of these trips is to compete and to reward students for their hard work throughout the year.  All band students are expected to be excellent representatives of our school and our community while traveling with the band.  Students who do not fully participate in band or who have been referred to DAEP will not be allowed to participate in these trips.  To properly plan for our trip, students will be asked to commit to going on the trip (and raising funds) during the fall semester.  Once a student commits, the money he or she raises is not refundable, since the buses and rooms must be paid for whether the student attends or not.  It is therefore extremely important that each student stays academically eligible and carefully checks his or her schedule for the spring.

 

Fund-raising

Each year the band conducts fund-raisers to raise money for out of town trips and other expenses.  Fundraisers are strictly voluntary, and students who participated in them are liable for any money or product that they lose while in their possession.     Funds raised belong to the band and not to the individual that raised them.  Funds will be used to aid in band travel and/or to purchase equipment and supplies needed by the band.

 

Building the Band

We are going to build the Badger Band by:

Having great attitudes.

Having great student leadership.

Being proud of our band, our school, and our community.

Celebrating our successes and learning from our failures.

Encouraging one another.

Diligently practicing every day.

Trying out for All-Region Band.

Participating in Solo/Ensemble contest

Lettering in Band.

Trying our best to be our best.

Having Fun!

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