Dear Middle School Band Parents,

We are very excited to have the opportunity to teach your children this year in band!  Please read through this important information and the grading policies, then electronically sign the agreement.

BVMS Band students will have several large group concerts this year along with middle school solo contest in the spring.  Our first performance opportunity is just around the corner; we will be playing at the football game against Sioux Falls Lincoln High School on September 21!  The full schedule is included with this letter, and we hope that by giving you these dates now you will be able to plan your schedule so that your child can attend all required concerts.

For the football game performance, seventh grade students will be required to purchase a uniform shirt.  It is a long-sleeved t-shirt that they will wear several times in 7^th and 8^th grade.  The cost for this shirt is $15, and will be fit and ordered after school starts.  A check made payable to Brandon Valley Middle School can be brought to school when the student picks up their shirt.  If your eighth grader doesn’t have a shirt or needs a new one for any reason, please let Ms. Baker or Ms. Lundin know ASAP.  Sixth grade students, plan to wear BV Spirit Wear.

In addition to group band, your son or daughter will also have small group lessons once per week.  This schedule will be posted once school has begun.  These lessons are a great way for your student to improve musically, so please help your child remember to bring their instrument back and forth to school on the days that it is needed.  If a lesson is missed, our expectation is that it be made up within three school days.  Students are expected to practice at home.  Please encourage your child to play for you- it is always more fun and rewarding to play when you have an audience!

As parents, you can help ensure your child’s success in band by making sure that they have all the required supplies.  Instruments should be in good working order and kept clean to maintain good tone and pitch.  Students should bring their music to each rehearsal, and should always have a pencil.  Woodwind instruments should have at least three good reeds with them at all times so that if one gets chipped they don’t have to miss out on any rehearsals or performances.  We suggest purchasing the small plastic reed guards along with your reeds for storage.  This will probably save you money in the long run as it will extend the life of your reeds!  Brass players should have valve or slide oil with them at all times to keep their instrument running smoothly.  Percussionists are expected to bring their own snare drum sticks to each rehearsal.  Required books will be discussed at students’ first lesson.

We are confident that we will have a great school year!  We will work hard, learn a lot, and have a ton of fun along the way.  We will keep our website updated throughout the year with our schedule, what we’re working on, and other things you may find helpful.  In an effort to go green, we will post all information you may need online rather than sending paper copies home once the school year begins.  Our website address is www.bvmsbands.blogspot.com.  You can “follow” the blog so that you will be automatically notified via e-mail whenever an update becomes available.  If you have any questions for us during the school year, please feel free to contact us at school anytime.  Our email addresses are Laura.C.Baker@k12.sd.us or Elanor.Lundin@k12.sd.us and the Middle School phone number is 582-3214.

Brandon Valley Middle School Band

Course Expectations

In order to reward students for the hard work that they are doing in band, students will earn a grade in middle school band.  This is to recognize the efforts that they put forth to become musicians.  The school grading scale will be followed, and the student’s grade will be broken into five categories. 

1.  Lessons- 30%

Lessons are a vital part of the band curriculum.  Students work in small groups according to their instrument and individual ability level to gain new skills.  The lesson times are assigned by the teacher to coordinate with the student’s schedule.  The lesson grade will be determined by the teacher and will include both lesson attendance and preparedness for the lesson.  If a student must miss a lesson for any reason, it must be made up within three school days.  Students can sign up for make-up lessons in the band office. 

2.  Daily Participation- 30%

Participation points for group band rehearsals will be awarded in this category.  Points can be earned by coming to band on time with all materials and ready to learn.  Good rehearsal etiquette will ensure maximum points are earned.

3.  Practice Records- 10%

Because everyone progresses at a slightly different pace, at-home practice is a very important factor in musical success.  The practice requirement is meant to allow students to work on individual needs at their own pace.  Practice time should be substantial enough to accomplish a goal while not being overwhelming.  It is best to break the practice requirement into 4 to 5 blocks of time throughout the week, rather than trying to complete it all in one sitting.  This year’s goal is 100 minutes per week.

4.  Concert Participation- 30%

We work very hard to put together outstanding performances for our friends, family, and community members, and students will be rewarded for those efforts as well!  All concert dates are considered mandatory, and the dates are provided below.  Please put those dates on your family calendars right away to avoid any conflicts.

We believe that these guidelines will help us to create a successful music learning environment while maintaining the current high standards of music performance.  If you have any questions regarding these policies, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Sincerely,        

Laura Baker and Ellie Lundin

Electronically Sign the form here!

2012-2013 BVMS Band Calendar

Please put these dates on your calendars today to avoid conflicts!

Monday & Tuesday, August 13-14- MS Marching Camp 

Friday, Spetember 21^{st -} Marching Performance – HS Football Game – 7:00 - All Grades 

Thursday, December 13^th - 6^th Grade Winter Band Concert – PAC – 7:30 

Tuesday, December 18^th - 7^th and 8^th Grade Winter Band Concert – PAC – 7:30 

Tuesday, March 5^th - Augustana Jazz Festival – All Day - Jazz Band Students Only 

Monday-Thursday, April 8-11 - Recital Week - All Grades 

Saturday, April 13^th - Turkey Supper – PAC – 5:00-8:00pm - 7^th, 8^th, and Jazz Only 

Saturday, April 20^th - Middle School Solo Contest – BVMS – All Day - All Grades 

Sunday, May 5^th - Brandon Loyalty Day Parade – 2:00pm - 7^th and 8^th Grades Only 

Tuesday, May 14th - 6^th Grade Spring Concert – PAC – 7:30 

Thursday, May 16th - 7^th and 8^th Grade Spring Concert – PAC – 7:30pm