Welcome to the 2019-20 Piedmont Band!!!!
            We hope you’ve had a restful summer and are refreshed for another great school year.  This handbook has information for parents and students.  Parents, please take the time to read the handbook with your child and understand all policies.  You will find information on the events we do throughout the year, field trips, performance opportunities, concert attire, required materials, and more.  Any questions or date conflicts should be discussed with the band instructors immediately.



Grading Policy
Tests/quizzes/concert 40%
Homework assignments (written work/practice records) 30%  *** Please take the time to review this as it has 
changed from previous years***
Daily Participation 30%

Tests
Tests and quizzes will be given on a regular basis and will be both playing and written.  We use the words interchangeably, but they count the same.  

Homework Assignments
This category on grading will vary from grade level to grade level as well as from grading period to grading period. We will sometimes have written assignments for the students to do. Examples of the types of assignments you may see: music theory worksheets, reflection assignments, research assignments. Please read on below for information on practice records.

Practice Records:
All students this year have access to Smartmusic. 6th grade students will have a modified expectation in SmartMusic the first 12 weeks of school. 6th students will receive a separate handout about this after students have received computers.
Students will be given assignments in Smartmusic each week however, these assignments will not be due until the end of the grading period. Students will receive no fewer than 15 assignments but no more than 25 in a 6 weeks grading period (average of 3-4 per week is the goal). Students will receive the grade that they earn in Smartmusic for their practice grade. HOWEVER, students will be able to receive extra credit on assignments they are struggling on if they come in to receive extra help. Students will have until the end of the grading period to complete assignments but are encouraged to work on the music as it is assigned- these assignments are things we are currently working on in class or will be working on in class. Grades will be updated weekly in Powerschool for parents to help keep track of student work.


    
Class Participation:
It is very easy to get a good grade in this section. Students simply need to come to class prepared to learn with their instrument and materials. Students get 30 points of participation each 6 weeks. Points are taken away if the student does not participate due to an instrument being left at home or if they do not have the materials needed to make their instrument work.

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

Please see individual instrument handouts for further required and suggested materials.

Concert Dress Code
Winter Concert (does NOT have to be black and white)
  • Gentlemen: Long-sleeve-button-up shirt, tie, dress pants, and dress shoes
  • Ladies: closed toe dress shoes, dress pants (no dresses/skirts), blouse (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)

7th and 8th grade MPA
  • Gentlemen: Black shoes, black socks, black dress pants, black belt, white long- sleeve-button-up shirt, necktie (does not have to be black)
  • Ladies: Black pants, BLACK blouse, black closed-toe shoes (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)

Spring Concert (does NOT have to be black and white)
  • Gentlemen: Long-sleeve-button-up shirt, tie, dress pants, and dress shoes
  • Ladies: closed toe dress shoes, dress pants (no dresses/skirts), blouse (all items must meet PDMS dress code policy)

Calendar
*** If any of the dates are changed due to unforeseen circumstances, the students and parents will be notified immediately. Please note that sometimes we must change the date for our events, we will not change the dates unless there is no other option.***
  • 8th Grade Band Night (8th grade) – Oct. 11
  • Cookie Dough Fundraiser (All grades) Oct. 17- Oct. 30
  • Winter Concert (7th and 8th grades ONLY) Dec. 19 @ 7:00pm, PHS Auditorium
  • All-District Auditions – Jan. 11 (Select students) @ Porter Ridge HS
  • All-District Clinic – Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 (select students) 
  • County Band – Feb. 14 and 15 Porter Ridge HS (select students)
  • MPA Preview Concert – February 20,  7:00pm @ Piedmont HS Auditorium (7th/8th grade)
  • 6th First band concert: Feb. 27, 7:00pm @ PHS Auditorium 
  • MPA (7th/8th grade) March 5-6@ Wingate University 
  • Spring Concert (6th and 7th grades)- May 21 @ 7pm, PHS Auditorium
  • Spring Concert (8th and HS)- May 19 @ 7pm, Lee Park Baptist Church

Band is a performance-based class, so all concerts are required for every student.  Not all dates apply to all students!  Please pay attention and read the descriptions of the events to find out what applies to you.  Please put ALL dates for your student/grade level on your calendar NOW as to avoid conflicts. *** In the event of inclement weather, we will make the decision to cancel a concert based on what is safest for the students. If we have to cancel a concert, we will do everything we can to reschedule the concert.

Event Description
  • 8th Grade Band Night – Optional Recruitment effort by the Piedmont HS Band program.  Students will observe a high school football game from the band’s point of view.  Students will sit with the band and play pep tunes during the game, watch half time, and in general be treated like a HS band member. 
  • Winter Concert – 7th, and 8th grades will perform in the Auditorium.  THIS IS REQUIRED OF 7th and 8th BAND STUDENTS.
  • All-District Audition – Competition against other students in the same grade levels in our 10 county area to win a spot in the All-District Band.  Must know scales, solo, and sight-reading.  7th and 8th graders only.
  • All-District Clinic – Two day intensive band clinic held for students who auditioned and made the all-district band.  Overnight trip to Hickory, NC.
  • County Band – All students interested in performing in the county honor band, must first audition for ALL-DISTRICT BAND.  Students will be chosen to participate in County band by the band directors.
  • 6th grade first concert- This is the first opportunity to hear the wonderful sounds coming from these young musicians! THIS IS REQUIRED!
  • 7th/8th/HS “Piedmont-only” MPA Preview Concert – Pre-Festival evening concert held at the Piedmont High School Auditorium to prepare us to go to Festival. REQUIRED for 7th, 8th  and HS only.
  • Music Performance Assessment (MPA) – MPA is a big performance of the year for us.  We will travel off campus and play for a group of judges to get a rating.  It’s not a competition against other schools, but it’s the time we should do our best. REQUIRED for 7th and 8th only.  Chaperones needed!!!!
  • Spring Concert – Evening concert, last concert of the year for Piedmont Middle Students. REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS.