Sixth Grade Band (separated by instrument)
Seventh Grade Band
Eighth Grade Band
Portage Middle School Jazz/Rock Ensemble (after-school)
All ensembles have the opportunity to perform during the school year in events such as school concerts and band festival. Seventh and eighth graders can also perform at the Solo and Ensemble festival in the spring. I addition, our students have performed in Chicago, Mackinac Island and at our State Capitol in Lansing. Locally, the students have performed at the Air Zoo, Barnes & Noble and Story Point.
Band Olympians! Students can earn medals by achieving at a high level on playing performances throughout the school year. These playing performances will either be performed in class, or, recorded at home using Flipgrid! In order to earn points toward becoming a Band Olympian, students must submit the Playing Performance one time! *Students who score an 85% or higher on a playing assessment earn either a Gold, Silver or Bronze medal. *Students earn medals by performing a playing assessment with a beautiful tone (sound), as well as correct notes, rhythms, dynamics & articulations. * Gold Medal (95-100%) = 3 pts; Silver (90-94%) = 2 pts; Bronze (85-89%) = 1 pt *6th & 7th Grade-Students who average 1.5 or more points at the end of each quarter will be given a party during XTS. *8th Grade-Students who average 1.75 or more points at the end of each quarter will be given a party during XTS. 1st Quarter Party: Donuts and Cider 2nd Quarter Party: Popcorn & Movie 3rd Quarter Party: Ice Cream 4th Quarter party: Pizza * Any student who averages the minimum score or higher at the end of each quarter will have a special asterisk next to their name in the concert programs * END OF THE YEAR: At the end of the year, any student who averages the minimum score or higher earns an after school party and becomes a BAND OLYMPIAN! * End-of-year BAND OLYMPIANS will be recognized with a special Olympic–style medal at the final concert of the year! RETAKES: Students can earn Band Olympian points after completing a retake! Students can move up a maximum of one level. For example, student who earned a silver medal on the first attempt can move up to a gold! ***All students are allowed one retake per playing performance. All retakes are due two weeks after the original due date. The student must wait for feedback before submitting a retake! Chair (Part) Placements - 7th & 8th Grade Only · Students will be assigned a part at the beginning of the year based on a playing audition, held during class. · Band music is often divided into parts. For example, there is often a 1st, 2nd & 3rd trumpet part. Each part is different, with the higher parts having higher notes on the instrument. · Once the initial part placement has been assigned, the students will stay on the same part until the next audition (see below). · Students will have the opportunity to earn a new part assignment three times: Þ Early September Þ December, just prior to holiday vacation Þ March, after band festival Part assignments will be based on the following musical criteria: Þ Tone Þ Correct notes/Partials Þ Rhythms Þ Articulations Þ Dynamics
Band Officers (7th & 8th Grade Only) Band Officers will be selected by their peers. Elections will take place in early September. 5-6 students will be selected per band hour to assist with the following duties. President: elected position/student with the highest vote total) · Responsible directly to the band director, will conduct the band as needed · Assists substitute teacher when the director is absent · Assists with duties described below
Officers: elected position · Plans band parties · Act as a liaison between the students and director · Takes daily attendance · Takes attendance at concerts · Collects and logs supply money at the beginning of the hour · Organizes band library · Distributes and collects sheet music
Grading Assessments/Playing Performances - 40% Classroom Engagement - 30% Classwork - 30% PLAYING PERFORMANCES-All band students will take two-three playing performances per marking period. The students will be assessed on scales, exercises from our band books, and, concert music. All of the musical exercises found on the assessments are performed daily in band class. The students will be evaluated based on their overall musical performance. All playing assignments will be recorded & submitted using Flipgrid! PLAYING PERFORMANCE RETAKES-All band students can retake the playing performance one time. However, only those students who submitted a Playing Performance on time can do a retake! All retakes will now take place from home! Students will record & submit retakes using Flipgrid!LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Late assignments can be submitted up to two week after the original due date. ***SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO SKIP (be exempt) FROM A PLAYING PERFORMANCE: Students who go above and beyond outside of daily class can be exempt from taking Playing Performances throughout the year. The student will not earn a letter grade in Skyward, but will be given full Band Olympian credit for the assignment (3 points - Gold Medal). Here is the complete list:
Classroom Engagement (playing and behavior) is 30% of each student’s total grade. All students may earn up to 3 classroom engagement points a day. Points are deducted for any behavior that hinders the progress of the individual student or the entire band: · Any disruptive behavior (talking, not being attentive, not ready to play, etc.) - students loses 1 point· Chewing Gum—loss of 1 point PERFORMANCES: Every performance is absolutely required. Every person in the band is important, and when even one student is absent from a performance, the whole band will struggle. If you know that you will be out-of-town for a performance, you must give the director a note no later than two weeks before the performance. Your child will make up the missed performance (see below). Please put all of the concert dates on your personal calendars! Students who miss a concert will have the opportunity to perform a make-up assignment. The student will perform their concert music live after school for Mr. Kozian. The student will be assessed on tone quality, rhythmic precision, dynamic contrasts, correct notes and intonation. The student will be able to earn up to 80% of the concert grade. ILLNESS: Students who miss a concert due to ILLNESS will have the opportunity to perform a make-up assignment. The student will perform their concert music live after school for Mr. Kozian. The student will be assessed on tone quality, rhythmic precision, dynamic contrasts, correct notes and intonation. The student will be able to earn full credit. Performances are the greatest reward any band member can receive. Please do not let your child miss out!
| Class Expectations Expectations 1. ALWAYS be prepared (music, instrument, supplies) 2. Pay Attention (make eye contact) 3. Respect others (self and personal property) 4. Be positive Expectation Violations: Þ Students will lose one classroom engagement point Þ Two or more violations during one class period: students will lose all classroom engagement points Þ Student develops a pattern of breaking classroom expectations: the student will be sent to the SSR (Student Support Room) and contact will be made with parent. No instrument in class: -First Incident: verbal warning, student loses three classroom engagement points -Continuous incidents: students will lose daily classroom engagement points & will be sent to the Student Support Room Touching another instrument: NEVER touch an instrument that is not yours (this includes placing cases, books, etc. on another instrument, such as the xylophone or timpani) CONSEQUENCE: · Students loses all classroom engagement points
Band Awards & Recognition
Concert Uniforms The 7th & 8th grade students will wear the following at all performances:
Polo Shirt orders will begin in late September. The shirts are approximately $12 and will be ordered directly through our vendor in Paw Paw. The 6th grade students will wear the following at all performances: Girls - a dress, nice skirt (knee length or longer) or dress pants, blouse or nice sweater, dress shoes. Boys - dress pants (NO jeans), nice shirt (a tie if you would like, dress shoes (NO athletic shoes). 6th grade students should dress as if they are attending a fancy wedding or restaurant.
Practicing A common complaint about practicing is that the students do not have enough time. Parents, you can help your child by setting aside a block of time in the evenings. The students can practice for 10 minutes when they get home, 10 minutes before dinner and 10 minutes before they go to sleep. The time adds up quickly.
Band Jam! Band Jam is open to any West Middle School band student. The purpose of Band Jam is for students to seek extra help from Mr. Kozian! No signup is neccassry! Just show up & practice! Instrument Repair Your child's instrument will break and need repair this year! Please have your child bring the instrument to me first. If I am unable to repair it, I will tell you or your child to then bring it to one of the following locations: Marshall Music & Meyer Music Rentals Instruments do need repair and maintenance from time to time. If your child’s instrument is in need of repair and you are renting an instrument from either Marshall or Meyer Music, it should be taken to one of those stores immediately. Marshall Music Hours: M-Fr 11:00a-6:00p, Saturday, 11am-3p. Meyer Music Hours: M-Tr, 10:00a-6:00p; Fr & Sat, 10-5:00p. I own my instrument! Where should I take it? Tim Richmond is a local expert on instrument repair. He is the former head of the repair department at Marshall Music and does great work. This is a great resource for families that OWN a musical instrument. His number is 679-4585. You will need to take your child’s instrument to his home in Schoolcraft.
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