HS+Band+Handbook+&+Grading

 Viroqua High School Band 2017-2018 Band Handbook & Syllabus

__**Philosophy of the Viroqua Area Schools Band Department: **__ The goal of music education in the Viroqua Area Schools is to empower students to experience music as a source of personal enrichment, as a vehicle for the constructive expression of human emotions, and as a unique intellectual discipline. These goals will be attained through a structured, sequential program of study.
 * Students will develop an intellectual understanding of music through experiences in singing, moving, listening and playing instruments.
 * Students will learn to read and notate music, and to create compositions that transcribe their thoughts and emotions into concrete musical forms of human expression.
 * Students will exercise their critical thinking skills by investigating and analyzing all facets of the music discipline, employing both traditional modes of instruction and the latest technological advancements.

Through active involvement in music, students at the Viroqua Area Schools will build a foundation for a lifetime of participation in, and enjoyment of music.

__**Requirements for Participation and Attendance Policies: **__ All band members are expected to be in regular attendance at all scheduled classes. Students are expected to be in the classroom within the limits of the passing time allowed. If you anticipate being late to class, secure a pass from the teacher in charge, or the office. All students must be in the band room prior to the bell. Tardies will be addressed within te VHS Discipline Policy.  The very nature of band - a large group setting - makes truancies highly discouraged. Therefore, truancies (unexcused absences) will decrease the final term grade by 2% for each unexcused absence. (i.e. if you have 3 unexcused absences, you will have your final term grade lowered by 6%)  Students must attend all required performances. Students who miss a performance should have their absence approved IN ADVANCE by presenting Mr. Thew will a written excuse from the parent/guardian, at least five (5) school days prior to the performance. The ONLY excuses that will be accepted will for “ONCE IN A LIFETIME EVENTS” (weddings, confirmation, funeral, etc.). These “once in a lifetime” determinations will be made by Mr. Thew.  Students who are employed are asked to notify their employer of the VHS Band’s performance schedule. Please give one of the two calendar of events in this packet to your employer to avoid being scheduled on dates of required performances. If you have a problem with your employer, please let Mr. Thew know and allow him to speak to your employer. Plan ahead with work and school so conflicts will not arise.

__**VHS Band Grading Policy: **__ Students who participate in the VHS Band program earn points through participating in and completing a variety of assigned activities. Points earned in a grading period are placed in categories and divided by the total points in that category. These totals are added to arrive at a final term grade. Grades are posted weekly in Skyward and can be viewed by students and parents at any time.

Performances:100 points per performance30% Daily Work:5 points per day25% Lessons:25 points per lesson25% Test/Quiz/Assignment: 50 points each20%
 * Grading Categories, Points and Percentages **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">We will use VHS Grading Scale for all graded activities. Extra-credit points will raise a student’s grade no more than 1/3 of one letter grade, and will only apply if ALL regular classroom requirements have been meet.
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Grading Scale **

__**<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Lessons: **__ <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Students will receive regularly scheduled lessons with Mr. Thew. All students will be assigned a lesson time. This will involve being pulled from another class or resource. Please do not be alarmed. Studies have proven that students who are pulled from other courses for music lessons tend to perform better and receive higher grades than their non-music studying peers.

__**<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Communication: **__ <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Without clear communication lines Mr. Thew cannot keep everyone informed. The Band's web page is an excellent tool to check if you have a question. The Middle School and High School Band's web site is www.viroquabands.wikispaces.com. If you need to contact Mr. Thew, please remember email is the fastest way to reach him. You can also reach him by phone or by just stopping in before or after any school day.

__**<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Remind: **__ <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">To receive important updates in a timely manner, the Viroqua Bands will be using a texting app called “Remind”. If you are interested in signing up for these text reminders, please contact Mr. Thew for sign-up details.

__**<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Blackhawk Fine Arts Awards/Letters **__ <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Band members may earn points toward a VHS Fine Arts Letter through the system listed below. This list is only for Band and all VHS Fine Arts activities provide ways to earn points towards Fine Arts Letters.

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Pep Band:3 Points per performance Drum Major:30 Points Flag/Pom Captain:20 Points
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Classroom Options **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">State Honors Audition10 Points State Honors Alternate20 Points State Honors Member40 Points All other Honors Bands10 Points
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Honors Band Options **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">District Festival: Solo:Class A - *1= 5Ensemble: Class A - *1=4 1=4 1=3 2=3 2=2 Class B - 1=2 Class B 1=1 2=1 2=½ Class C - 1=1 Class C 1=½
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">WSMA Solo & Ensemble Options **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">State Festival:Solo = 5 pointsEnsemble = 4 points Exemplary Soloist: Nomination = 5 Points Selected = 10 Points Perform at State Music Convention = 20 Points <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Viroqua Community Band Member - 10 Points Attend a Concert (with Program and Concert Talk) - 5 Points ArtsFest Performer - Solo = 5 Points, Ensemble = 3 Points Medieval Feast - 5 to 10 points Large Group Festival - 3 First Division Ratings = 2 Points Large Group Festival - Perfect Score (7) from each Adjudicator = 10 Points VHS Music Pit Orchestra - 10 Points
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Other Options: **

<span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">1st Letter = 40 Points 2nd Letter = 75 Points (35 additional points) 3rd Letter = 105 Points (30 additional points) 4th Letter = 130 Points (25 additional points)
 * <span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,Times,serif; font-size: 70%;">Fine Arts Letter Requirements **