North
Pulaski High School Band
General
Information
The success of the North Pulaski Band in the past years has been due to the hard work, dedication and pride of its' members. For this success to continue, it is necessary for that tradition to be carried on by all members.
Letters
Band letters are offered to all band members who meet lettering
requirements. Lettering
requirements are specified on the page headed LETTERING REQUIREMENTS.
The Band Booster Club will purchase the letters.
Grading
Band receives an academic credit and therefore the grade should be a
reflection of the students' ability and his/her participation in the
organization. Specific grading
procedures are listed on the page headed GRADING SYSTEM.
Uniforms
Uniforms, for each student except Color Guard, are provided by the Band
Booster Club and will be worn to each performance unless otherwise instructed by
the director. When in uniform, the
student represents the school and should wear the uniform with pride.
The student will be responsible for providing BLACK shoes, WHITE gloves
(shoes and gloves will be ordered in August and will cost around $27 for
shoes and $4.50 for gloves per pair) and BLACK socks to be worn with the
uniform. The student will also be
responsible for purchasing a Band T-Shirt (approx. $15) as it is sometimes used
as a uniform and must always be worn under the uniform jacket. Our
“Hot Weather” Uniform will be Khaki colored long pants (no cargos, jeans or
Capri’s), Band T-Shirt, Black Shoes and Black Socks. Pulaski County
Special School District requires each student to pay a $13.00 uniform fee per
year. This fee is payable during
the first semester of the year.
Instruments
and Music
The school will provide instruments that are necessary to the overall
balance of the band and cannot be provided by the student.
These instruments include Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax, Bass Clarinet, Alto
Clarinet, French Horn, Baritone, Tuba, Mellophone, Marching Baritone, Marching
and Concert percussion, Oboe, Bassoon and Piccolo.
These instruments are issued at the first of the school year in good
working order and it is the responsibility of the student to maintain the
instrument. The student is also
responsible for any damage to the instrument while it is in their care. The band will provide an instrument room where instruments
should be kept at all times. Students
using school-owned instruments must fill out an instrument checkout card when
the instrument is issued to them. Music
will be provided for marching, concert and symphonic bands, but the student must
pay the replacement cost of all lost music.
Marching
Band
Marching
Band is the primary function of the band during the first three months of the
school year and therefore is the primary source of the students' grades.
The marching band will perform at all home games and most away football
games. It will also perform in
Marching Contests and some parades. ALL
performances and rehearsals for Marching Band are required.
Students will be selected to perform in the drill portion of Marching
Band. Those students not selected
will be named as the Prop Crew and will be required to fulfill all obligations
of the band. Selection will be
based on individual execution of marching fundamentals and playing technique.
Jazz
Band
Jazz Band (or Stage Band) is open to students interested in performing
in the jazz idiom. The student must
be a member of Symphonic Band. The
Jazz Band gives many performances for civic groups and other organizations, as
well as concerts of its' own.
Symphonic
Band
Symphonic Band is the main function of the North Pulaski Band Program
after the first three months of the school year. The Symphonic Band gives three to four concerts each year,
participates in Region Concert Competition and attends a national competition
every four years. All Symphonic
Band rehearsals and performances are required.
If the band is too large for one concert band, it will be split into two
bands based on an audition.
Individual
Events
Events available for the individual student are All-Region Band,
All-State Band, Region Solo and Ensemble and State Solo and Ensemble.
The director will assist the students in finding or selecting music and
preparing for these events. They
will be scheduled on the events calendar at the beginning of the year.
All students are required to participate since the Band Booster Club will
pay fees, they will receive credit for the events and it will aid in gaining
college scholarships.
Band
Officers
Band offices consist of President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Historian, Junior Representative, Sophomore Representative, Drum Major and Color
Guard Captain. Aside from their
assigned duties, they are to be the core of pride and leadership in the band and
assist the director in any way possible. Any
member of the band is eligible to be a band officer.
Officer elections are held at the end of the year for all offices except
Sophomore Representative. That office is elected at the end of Summer Band.
Color
Guard
Color
Guard is open to all students in the Marching Band, although brass players are
encouraged to play their instrument, since this is where they are needed the
most. Color Guard members are
selected by tryouts held at the end of the school year.
Members will be expected to purchase their uniforms and some equipment
but fundraising activities will be scheduled to help with the cost.
All Color Guard members are required to attend the Color Guard camp
during Summer Band. The cost of the camp is paid by the Band Boosters
Drum
Major
Drum Major is an extremely important part of the Marching Band.
The leadership provided by this person is vital to an outstanding
marching band. This person should
exhibit leadership qualities at all time in their band career.
Anyone who has been in the Marching Band for one year is eligible to
tryout for Drum Major. Auditions
are held at the end of the school year. The
Drum Major is required to attend Drum Major Camp.
Summer
Band
Summer Band is held three weeks before school starts (usually beginning
on August 1st). This is a
requirement of the Pulaski County Special School District.
During Summer Band, the students learn marching fundamentals, marching
band music for the year, get a head start on the half-time show for that season
and have many fun activities to get to know each other.
These rehearsals are required in order to participate in the
North Pulaski Band and have the tradition continue as an outstanding
band.
Band
Boosters
The Band Booster Organization is very important to the existence of the
North Pulaski Band. They provide
over 90% of the funds necessary to operate the band and purchase uniform,
equipment, music, supplies, awards and college scholarships, to name a few.
Anyone can be a Band Booster by attending the scheduled meetings (see
calendar for dates). All parents and students are encouraged to attend.
Travel
Since the band travels to many events, transportation will be provided
by school bus. ALL students will
use this transportation except in cases of emergency. In case of such emergency, the parents of the student
involved will provide the director with permission, in writing, to travel by
private transportation. Students MUST
travel TO each event with the band, however the student may travel from
any event with their parents, BUT must provide the director ADVANCE NOTICE IN
WRITING (by time designated). School
board policy forbids radios, food or drinks on school busses at any time.
In order to help with the expense of the buses, students will be asked to
pay $2 each time they board the bus.
Tardies
Because of time needed to prepare for band, a person is tardy to the
marching field at 5 minutes past the tardy bell and to concert rehearsal at 2
minutes past the tardy bell or if not in the Band Room when the tardy bell
rings. “In place” means with
instrument and music, in your seat or in starting formation. Demerits will be
given for tardies.
Eligibility
Since band is governed by the Arkansas Activities Association, all band
students must meet the eligibility requirements for participation.
In short, a student must earn at least a 2.0 GPA during a semester to
participate the following semester.
Instrument
Insurance
Unfortunately,
PCSSD insurance does not cover personal instruments.
You are encouraged to place your personal instrument on your
homeowner’s insurance policy.
Student
Expectations
ALL NORTH PULASKI
BAND STUDENTS ARE EXPECTED TO FOLLOW THESE GUIDELINES:
1-----Be respectful of
others and their belongings
2-----Be on time
3-----Have accurate
attendance
4-----No talking during
rehearsals or performances
5-----No gum, food or
drink in the band room, stands (football or basketball) or on the bus
6-----No cursing
7-----No smoking,
drinking or partaking of drugs while in uniform or during band functions
8-----No playing on
instruments other than those assigned to you
9-----Keep uniform and
instrument clean
10----Respect all
equipment and uniforms owned by the band and district
11----Represent the
North Pulaski Band, North Pulaski High School and PCSSD as best as possible at
all times
12----Tryout for
All-Region Band and participate in All-Region Band (if applicable)
13----Tryout for and
participate in All-State Band (if applicable)
14----Participate in
Solo and Ensemble Festival
15----Attend all
performances and rehearsals
Grading
System
REQUIRED
EXTRA REHEARSALS
Each student will receive 50 points for each required extra rehearsal
attended and participated in properly. An
extra rehearsal is required when two week's notice is given.
The North Pulaski Band rehearses EVERY Tuesday after school unless
otherwise notified. All Tuesday afternoon rehearsals are required.
ABSENCES
An absence from an extra rehearsal or performance will be excused in the
case of illness of student involved or a death in the immediate family.
The student must notify the director, in person, prior to the absence AND
provide the director with a note signed by the parents within three school days
of the absence. All other absences are unexcused.
EXCUSED
ABSENCES
The student will be credited with the points for the event.
Make up work may be required and is to be completed within three school
days.
UNEXCUSED
ABSENCES---REHEARSALS
FIRST
ABSENCE---------Student receives "0" points
SECOND
ABSENCE-----Student receives "0" points and parents notified.
Student
will be replaced in show.
THIRD
ABSENCE---------Student receives "0" points and a parent--teacher
UNEXCUSED
ABSENCES---PERFORMANCES
FIRST
ABSENCE----------Student will receive "0" points and a parent/ teacher
SECOND
ABSENCE------Student will be removed from band.
TRYOUT
----- TEST ----- MUSIC PASS-OFF
Tests will be for a grade and/or for chair position unless otherwise
specified. Value will be assigned
by the importance of the test (i.e. a nine week's test will be worth more than a
weekly test). Music must be played,
individually, for the director by assigned dates in order to participate in
performances. Marching music must
be memorized but concert music does not have to be memorized.
PRACTICE
RECORDS
Practice records are due
at the end of each nine-week grading period. These records will count for a major portion of the
students’ grade. Practice records
cannot be graded unless they are turned in by the due date.
Demerits
(
MINUS POINTS)
ONLY the director may
give demerits. Demerits will be
given for:
1--- Tardiness to class, extra rehearsal or performances or leaving
before being dismissed.
2--- Failure of inspection or not taking inspection.
3--- Gum chewing or food in the band room.
4--- Improper care of music or equipment (playing another instrument,
5--- Writing on the whiteboard without permission.
6--- Failure to follow directors' instructions.
7--- Disrespectfulness.
8--- Failure to pass-off music.
9--- Any conduct not representative of an outstanding band.
RESULTS OF DEMERITS
4 Demerits ---- student
/ teacher conference
6 Demerits ---- parent /
teacher conference (conference can
be by phone)
8 Demerits ---- parent /
teacher conference (conference can be by phone) and removal from band
BONUS
POINTS
Bonus points will be
given for:
1------Making All-Region First Band -- 100 points
2------Making All-Region Second Band -- 75 points
3------Trying out for All-State Band -- 100 points
4------Making All-State Band -- 150 points
5-----Any extra work done for the band above and beyond the call of duty
(to be determined by director)
6-----Any reason assigned by the director (to be determined by director)
FINAL
OR NINE WEEKS' GRADE
The grade is found by totaling required points, bonus points, subtracting
demerits (25 points per demerit) and dividing by the total points possible to
reach a percentage grade. Semester
grades are reached by the method described in the PCSSD Handbook.
Lettering
System
To earn a letter in the
North Pulaski Band, you must complete Sections 1 and 2 and any 6 parts of
Section 3. Any excused
absences from a performance or rehearsal will not affect lettering. (Refer to section on EXCUSED ABSCENCES) IF A STUDENT RECEIVES 4 OR MORE DEMERITS THEY WILL NOT
LETTER.
SECTION
1
ATTEND
100% OF ALL REHEARSALS
SECTION
2
ATTEND
100% OF PERFORMANCES
SECTION
3
MUST
COMPLETE ANY 5 OF THE FOLLOWING
¨
Make All-Region Band
¨
Make a First or Second Division at
Solo and Ensemble
¨
Make All-State Band (worth two)
¨
Be a band officer
¨
Perform in the band that makes a 1st
Division at Region Contest
¨
Turn in 35 hours of practice each 9
week period
¨
Maintain 1st chair through all
tryouts