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“The Pride of the Pirates”

BEGINNING BAND HANDBOOK

2019-2020

W.C. PRYOR MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND DEPARTMENT

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Dear Pirate Band Parents/Guardians and Students: 2019-2020 School Term

As a member of the Pryor Middle School Pirate Band Family, you are entitled to certain

privileges. You also have certain responsibilities. In order to become fully aware of these

responsibilities, students and parents alike are asked to read and keep the attached band

handbook. After reading the handbook, please sign and return the acknowledgement / signature

page.

The purpose of this handbook is to help you understand the operation of the band program and

provide a reference manual for policies. This document is the result of several years of input and

suggestions from students, parents and administrators. If you have any questions, comments or

suggestions for improving this handbook, please let me know.

The Band program at Pryor Middle School has three objectives. First for each student, we strive

to develop pride, self- discipline, and responsibility. Second, we teach the fundamentals of

playing a musical instrument and basic musicianship. Third, as members of a performing group,

we proudly represent our school and community.

We believe that the band programs in Okaloosa County rank as some of the best in the state of

Florida. The program at Pryor is definitely no exception. “The Pride of the Pirates” has a long

tradition of excellence built by the hard work of many students, parents and volunteers over the

years. Any student who wishes to be in the band must be willing to work hard and sometimes

make sacrifices to maintain the high standards of our band.

The band program consists of classes grouped by ability levels to meet each students needs. Any

student enrolled in these classes is a full member of the band.

I am looking forward to an awesome year! It is my goal to develop our potential to its fullest.

Please contact me if I can be of any assistance to you throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Hank Phillips

Band Director

Brooke Barron

Principal

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CLASS REQUIREMENTS:

1. All students will need a 3 ring binder to be used solely for band. Students will need

note book paper, clear page protectors for special handouts like scale sheets and sheet

music, a pencil, a highlighter, a “Tradition of Excellence” Method Book I by Bruce

Pearson and Ryan Nowlin. This book is available through the local music stores.

2. Percussion students will each need their own pair of sticks and mallets as well as two

additional books. “A Fresh Approach to the Snare Drum” and “A Fresh Approach to the

Mallets”, by Wessels.

3. All students will need their instruments.

4. All clarinet and saxophone players need at least 4 working reeds, a reed guard and cork

grease. Oboe and Bassoon players will need at least three working reeds and a reed wallet.

5. All brass players need their own valve oil (or rotor oil or slide oil).

6. All students in beginning band should be practicing outside of class to prepare for the

assigned pass-offs, scale and play tests. The amount of practice time varies from student to

student. The days and times of practice work best if they are consistent and in a quiet

location with a proper music stand and chair. Please support and encourage your student to

develop good study and practice habits.

INSTRUMENTS:

1. If you are using a school instrument, the yearly fee is $100. This is payable upon

receipt of the instrument and may be paid in full. A payment plan for monthly payments

may be set up if needed. In this case, the balance would need to be paid in full by the end

of the semester of which the student started band. This usage fee is used for the upkeep

and maintenance of school owned instruments. The school has a limited amount of

instruments.

2. All students assigned a school owned instrument must assume responsibility for

the care and maintenance once it has been assigned to them. A completed instrument use

agreement contract must be on file for each school owned instrument that has been

assigned to a student.

3. All repairs are the responsibility of the student unless otherwise specified.

4. NOTICE: Every instrument is a private possession and should not be loaned to

other students. There is no excuse for entering another person’s instrument case or

band locker.

5. Percussion head and clinician fee this year is $50.00 for all percussion students.

BAND LOGO SHIRT / CONCERT ATTIRE:

1. Band logo shirts are $15.00 apiece and may be purchased from the uniform closet either

through Mr. Phillips or a band parent volunteer. Sizes are small, medium, large and X

large.

2. Shirts may be worn to school on uniform days.

3. Shirts are worn for fundraisers, and fieldtrips as well.

4. For our Holiday and Spring Concerts held in December and April this year, each student

is to wear a solid black outfit with solid black shoes, socks, stockings for the ladies if they

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like, and a belt. The belt can have a gold or silver belt. The outfit must comply with the

Okaloosa County School Board Dress Policy.

5. If a student participates in the annual “Solo and Ensemble” festival this year, the attire is

the solid black concert attire.

OUTSIDE CLASS REQUIREMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES?

1. Beginning band students have the option to come before school or stay after school on

designated days to get extra help, or to complete pass offs from the method book for Mr.

Phillips.

2. There are two required concert performances that students will receive test grades for.

Information about these concert performances will be posted on Mr. Phillips’ webpage as

well as on the Charms calendar. Students will also receive hard copy information about

each of these.

3. The “Winter / Holiday Concert” is in December in the Choctaw auditorium.

4. The “Spring Concert” is in April and is in the Pryor gymnasium or the Choctaw

auditorium.

5. Attire for students is listed above in the concert attire section.

6. Solo and Ensemble is held in April and all beginning band students have the option to

participate. The student prepares a state approved solo well in advance and prepares it to

perform for a qualified adjudicator (judge) who will in turn give the student constructive

feedback. If the student earns a rating of superior…he/she will receive a medal and

twenty points toward the “Master Musicianship Award”. Just like with the

concerts…information will be posted as well as sent home with each student about this

event. Attire is mentioned above.

7. Beginning band parents are encouraged to complete the Okaloosa county on line

volunteer affidavit so they may qualify to chaperone events for the band or help out in the

concession stand for the home games.

8. Beginning Band students do not perform at the home games, however, they may help out

in a volunteer capacity.

AWARDS AND INCENTIVES:

1. From time to time, students will earn donut or pizza parties for accomplishing specified

goals on a fundraiser or for any other specified project.

2. Medals are awarded from the district for those students who earn a rating of superior on a

solo at the annual Solo and Ensemble festival held in April.

3. The Master Musicianship Award is a cumulative point trophy which is earned when a

student accumulates a minimum of five-hundred points. Point breakdown sheets are

available in the band room.

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Music Department Policies Performance and Participation Discipline

1. Performance and participation is a required part of all music classes.

2. All music activities are considered to be school functions and students will adhere to the

school and department rules.

3. A performance is considered to be from reporting time until the group is dismissed.

Excused Absences

1. An excused absence is defined the same as specified by school policy;

personal sickness, a death in the family, or written excuse presented prior to the absence

and excused by the director and/or principal.

2. If a student is in school and checks out during the day because of sickness, he/she must

notify the director if an after-school rehearsal or performance is scheduled.

3. If a student is in school and must miss a performance, the director must be notified (in

advance if possible). The Band Room telephone number is 850-833-3608.

Conflicts

Students should be able to participate in a variety of school-sponsored activities. Conflicts in

scheduling school-sponsored activities are sometimes inevitable. The following guidelines will

be used to resolve these conflicts:

1. Conflicts should be avoided through advanced, cooperative planning by school personnel.

2. Notify the director and other teacher / coach of the conflict as soon as possible.

3. The director and teachers / coaches involved will work out the conflict with the help of

the principal and notify the student of the modified schedule.

4. A performance or game should take precedence over a practice or rehearsal.

5. School-related activities will take precedence over non-school related activities. (These

conflicts will be handled on an individual basis.)

Instrument Storage

Students may bring their instruments into the Band Room in the mornings before school as early

as 7:30 a.m. All instruments should be placed in assigned lockers. (Use provided combination

locks at all times.) Bus riders may pick their instruments up early if their sixth pd. teacher

doesn’t mind them leaving a few minutes early.

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CLASSROOM RULES AND CONSEQUENCES

1. Students should enter and exit the band room or rehearsal area in a quiet and professional

manner. When entering the band room, get instrument, band binder, pencil and music,

have a seat and begin the bell ringer posted on the marker board. Our daily class routine

objectives will also be posted on the board. Hold all questions unless there is an

emergency.

2. Students WILL play only their instrument without permission. No playing before or after

the class. DO NOT PLAY INSTRUMENTS UNTIL GIVEN PERMISSION TO DO SO.

3. Students WILL use their own class materials and instrument.

4. Students WILL talk only with permission.

5. Students WILL leave their assigned seat only with permission.

6. Students WILL obey and be respectful to the teacher at all times.

7. All school rules apply.

8. When students are going to a practice / performance area in a different part of the school

like the gym, there’s no playing without permission.

9. No food or drinks in the band room unless otherwise specified by the Band Director with

the exception of water in an approved container.

10. NO HORSEPLAY EVER.

Consequences

1. Warning

2. Time out from the group.

3. Written assignment and / or after school detention, and parental contact.

4. Office referral

Remember “Attitude is everything”

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Band Grading Policies – Performing Groups

All instrumental groups at Pryor are considered performing groups. Grading will be based on the

following factors.

1. Knowledge of musical concepts.

2. Demonstration of skills in playing and participation.

3. Participation based on attendance and effort.

Performance Eligibility

“All middle school students who participate in extra-curricular activities must maintain a

minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent and pass five (5)

subjects for the grading period immediately preceding the grading pd.; student’s eligibility

for the first grading period of each new school year shall be based on passing five (5)

subjects and maintaining the required grade point average from the previous school year”.

Clarification of Academic Eligibility Policy

No minimum grade point average is required to participate in Music Classes.

1. This rule effects only participation in Festivals or Evaluations. It does not effect

rehearsals or other performances. For these activities the student must have a minimum

2.0 GPA.

2. Maintaining Academic Eligibility is the responsibility of the student.

3. However, student’s grades will be checked each nine weeks. Efforts will be made to

improve the performance of students with academic problems.

4. Students who are ineligible due to grades will be placed on alternate status. This will be

done previous to the Festival / Evaluation so that other students may adequately prepare.

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Fundraising policies:

The purpose of fund raising is to provide necessary funds for music, instrument maintenance,

equipment purchases, educational festivals and trips, clinics, clinicians and general operating

expenses. This is done with a variety of fund-raisers which can include the students. When we

have a student fund-raiser, the profits from that fund raiser go into the band general fund which

is kept through the school internal financial accounts. A yearly budget is presented and approved

by the board and the general body of the band parent association. Expenditures from this fund

are approved by the principal, band director and the school book keeper based on the approved

budget. Copies of the band budget are available upon request.

With limited financial support, the Pryor Band Parents Association has worked hard to insure

that our program has enough funding to provide our students with the best musical and

educational opportunities possible. We need your support to keep the Pryor Band program one

of the top programs in the Southeast.

1. All fund raisers are strictly voluntary. They are designed to benefit the entire band department.

2. For the safety of your child, we ask that you not allow your child to solicit patronage door-to-door without

being accompanied by an adult or another student. (Older brothers and sisters can help.)

3. Any questions regarding a given fund raiser can be directed to Mr. Phillips.

4. On fund raisers requiring an order form, it is imperative that the form be turned in on the date(s) specified

by Mr. Phillips.

5. When the orders have been received, you will be notified when orders will be dispersed. We ask that

parents are available when possible to ensure that the items received match the items ordered on the sale

sheet. Parents are financially responsible for any items taken home from the band room (excluding

returns).

6. Money owed for a fund raiser is due on or before the dates specified by the fund raiser Coordinator or the

Director.

7. We prefer that money be turned in by check or money order, not cash, if possible. If parents could place

one check or money order for the total amount owed in either the envelope included with the order or a

letter envelope with the child’s name, fund raiser name, and amount enclosed printed clearly on the front, it

would help reduce the time necessary for counting money and help in keeping an accurate account of the

orders and funds collected. Remember, this bookkeeping is all being done by parents volunteering their

time.

8. Fund raising can be very educational as well as fun.

9. All money should be placed in a sealed envelope with the student’s name, amount, what the money is for,

and with any returns written on the envelope.

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BAND PARENT ASSOCIATION

The primary purpose of the Pryor Band Parent Association is to render moral, physical and

financial assistance in developing and maintaining the W.C. Pryor Middle School Band Program.

All parents, sponsors and guardians of Pryor Band students are members of the band parent

association. The band director and principal and their assistants are also members of this

organization. This includes beginning band students!

Band parent meetings are held at 6:00 P.M. the 3rd Tuesday of each month in the Pryor Band

Room (Unless otherwise stated). All band parents are invited to these meetings.

Volunteers are needed for chaperoning, and concessions. Volunteer affidavits are required to be

completed to do either of these activities and they are located on the Okaloosa County School

District Webpage.

*Please check the Pryor Middle School webpage, Mr. Phillips’

webpage and “Charms” regularly / weekly. You will find

helpful information about the school and the instrumental music

department.

The Band Parent Association runs the concession stand during all home

games. Volunteers are needed to make this fundraiser a success. Parents are

encouraged to work at least one game during the football season if at all

possible. Parents must have a volunteer affidavit on file with Pryor Middle

School. This year, parent concession workers will earn a $10.00 credit toward

their child’s band fees. Once band fees are settled, it may go toward trips.

This is also opened to parents of beginning band students.

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Hank Phillips: Pryor Middle School Band Director

Communication Information

Pryor Webpage

http://www.okaloosaschools.com/pryor/staff.cfm

Click on Faculty and Staff, find Mr. Phillips’ picture,

click on it and you will find it to be very helpful. This

page is updated pretty regularly throughout the year.

Hank Phillips email address

Phillipsh@okaloosaschools.com

PRYOR MIDDLE SCHOOL

BAND ROOM NUMBER

850-833-3608

PRYOR MIDDLE SCHOOL NUMBER 850-833-3613

PRYOR MIDDLE SCHOOL FAX 850-833-4276

Remind Text Service

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Football Band To: 81010 Message: @dbe72

Symphonic Band To: 81010 Message: @f00e1ab

Concert Band To: 81010 Message: @f00e1ab6

Jazz Band To: 81010 Message: @f00e1a

Beginning Band To: 81010 Message: @f00e1

Pryor Band Parent Facebook and Pryor Band Facebook.

PARENTS VOLUNTEER INFORMATION SHEET

(Please Print Clearly)

Name: ________________________________ Phone: _________________________

Address: _______________________________ Email: _________________________

Student’s Name: _______________________________________ Grade___________

I AM WILLING TO WORK IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS (Check all that apply!)

_____ (Circle One or More: ,

Hospitality, Ways and Means / Fundraising, Communications or Community Sponsors)

_____ Concessions (counter work, cooks, set up, bake good sales)

_____ Chaperone (In town_________ / Out of town________)

_____ Equipment (repair, set-up, tear-down or transport)

_____ Communication Committee (Phone Tree or Email Network)

_____ Uniforms (assist in fittings, sewing, collection or distribution)

_____ Help with Hospitality (Fundraiser, Celebrations, Band

Parent Meetings etc.)

_____ Multi-Media (Take pictures and/or video)

_____ Haul band equipment trailer. (V8 engine and towing package is necessary)

_____ Notary (medial forms)

_____ Sale Items at Games (fundraiser items)

_____ Other / Wildcard (I’m willing to do almost anything)

_____ Office work in band office

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PRYOR MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND DEPTARTMENT

PARENT / BAND MEMBER SIGNATURE SHEET

___________________________ _______________________ _____________

Last Name First Name Period

I have read all the pages of the Band Policies Handbook and will abide by its

contents.

___________________________________ ___________

Student Signature Date

____________________________________ ____________

Parent / Guardian Signature Date

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