Red Regiment Band Manual
I. Mission
II. Overview of the program
III. Fees and Requirements
IV. General Expectations
V. Marching Band
VI. Fall Concert Band and Jazz
VII. Spring Jazz Program
VIII. Wind Ensemble
IX. Entertainment Band
X. Solo and Ensemble
XI. District and State Tryouts
XII. Conference Band
XIII. Band Lettering
XIV. Leadership Manual
XV. Attendance
XVI. Grading Policies
XVII. Prepared Testing Policies
XVIII. Auxiliary Band Groups
A. Drumline
B. Guard
II. Overview of the program
III. Fees and Requirements
IV. General Expectations
V. Marching Band
VI. Fall Concert Band and Jazz
VII. Spring Jazz Program
VIII. Wind Ensemble
IX. Entertainment Band
X. Solo and Ensemble
XI. District and State Tryouts
XII. Conference Band
XIII. Band Lettering
XIV. Leadership Manual
XV. Attendance
XVI. Grading Policies
XVII. Prepared Testing Policies
XVIII. Auxiliary Band Groups
A. Drumline
B. Guard
I. Mission
To provide a comprehensive, entertaining, and educational band experience. To prepare advanced students for future studies in music and music education. To teach leadership and team building skills and a sense of community, responsibility, and belonging.
II. Overview of the Program
The Red regiment band program is split into two semesters. The Fall semester includes marching band, winter jazz/pep band, and concert band. The Spring semester includes concert band, jazz studies, and solo and ensembles.
III. Fees and Requirements
All students are charged a $125 fee which covers the entire year. A portion of this fee can be reduced through parents volunteering with the boosters.
IV. General Expectations
1. Students are to be ready to play when a rehearsal starts. "If you're on time, you're late. If you're early, you're on time."
2. Students are to come with a desire to learn and an expectation to work hard on the task at hand.
3. Students will maintain their instruments.
4. Students will respect their uniform and all school equipment.
5. Students will perform their music at grade level.
6. Students will be prepared for every activity or rehearsal.
7. Students are expected to come with a positive attitude.
8. Students are expected to respect and work well with peers and staff.
9. Students need to maintain passing grades and not have missing work for ANY classes.
2. Students are to come with a desire to learn and an expectation to work hard on the task at hand.
3. Students will maintain their instruments.
4. Students will respect their uniform and all school equipment.
5. Students will perform their music at grade level.
6. Students will be prepared for every activity or rehearsal.
7. Students are expected to come with a positive attitude.
8. Students are expected to respect and work well with peers and staff.
9. Students need to maintain passing grades and not have missing work for ANY classes.
V. Marching Band
Marching band starts at summer band camp and runs into October. This group performs at all home football games, four marching festivals, assemblies, hometown parades and events, and other events when asked. The marching band is comprised of the color guard, drum line, pit (front percussion), and the wind players. The Red Regiment marches corps style shows that are highly involved and require a lot of time and energy to learn and perfect. The ensemble rehearses every day with specialty groups starting at 7:00am and the full ensemble at 7:30am. The rehearsal runs through first hour both on red and white days. The band also rehearses from 6-9pm on Thursday nights.
Most marching festivals are all day affairs. This is an exciting day for the band as we perform in the morning to see if we will earn the right to perform again in finals at night. Parents enjoy these days as well. It is as close to a sporting event that band ever gets. Audiences will see rivalries, awesome shows, big bands, small bands, and so much more. It is also a chance to get up high in a nice stadium where you can actually get the full effect of the pictures the band are doing.
Most marching festivals are all day affairs. This is an exciting day for the band as we perform in the morning to see if we will earn the right to perform again in finals at night. Parents enjoy these days as well. It is as close to a sporting event that band ever gets. Audiences will see rivalries, awesome shows, big bands, small bands, and so much more. It is also a chance to get up high in a nice stadium where you can actually get the full effect of the pictures the band are doing.
VI. Fall Concert Band and Jazz
Fall concert band starts after the last marching festival. The band transitions into a concert setting and prepares music for the winter concert, pep band, and spring activities.
Jazz Studies is during the day but we often have a before school jazz band as well that meets a couple times a week before school.
Jazz Studies is during the day but we often have a before school jazz band as well that meets a couple times a week before school.
VII. Spring Jazz Program
We offer a jazz studies course which covers basic jazz theory and improvisation. We use a combo instrumentation to practice these skills. This group will travel in the Spring semester to festivals and clinics across the state.
VIII. Concert Band
The Red Regiment Concert band begins officially in the Spring semester. This group performs as the pep band as well as fulfilling its concert band role. The ensemble works on solo and small ensembles as well as concert band music. The group is often asked to march area parades and to serve other community functions.
IX. Entertainment Bands
This would be any ensembles that we add to serve our school and community.
X. Solo and Ensemble
All students in the band program will perform or play in a small ensemble and or solo every year. All students will be required to play in a solo or ensemble at district festival in March or West Plains music festival in April. Students that are able to receive a I rating at districts get to go on to the state festival to put themselves against a higher standard. Solo and ensemble is a requirement for lettering in band.
XI. District and State Tryouts
Students enrolled in a band class may try out for district band and jazz bands on the second Tuesday of October at Camdenton HS. The tryout information is handed out at band camp in July. It includes etudes, technical studies, and scales up to four sharps and flats as well as the chromatic scale the full range of the student's instrument. This is a competition based tryout and no school is guaranteed and spots. The concert bands meet on the first Saturday of November and the jazz ensembles meet on the third Saturday of January. If a student is able to make a district ensemble they are eligible to try out for the state ensembles on the first Saturday in December. The State Band and Jazz Ensemble meets for a week during the annual MMEA music educator's conference at Osage Beach Mo. It is an amazing experience that far too few of our students have been able to have. Encourage your students to tryout for these ensembles.
XII. Conference Band
The week we come back from Winter break is also the Conference band tryout. This tryout is a laid back ordeal that only requires 16 measures of any etude or solo of the student's choosing, 6 scales, and sight reading. It is however the best band our students usually have a chance to play in as our conference has some excellent bands such as Union, St. Clair, and Pacific. It is a tryout based group and no schools are guaranteed a set number of spots. The tryout is the first Wednesday of January and the students rehearse the following Saturday and Monday and then perform at two schools on the following Tuesday. The concerts are open to the public.
XIII. Band Lettering
A band letter must be earned. It is not given. Students that letter in band must meet the following requirements and be exemplary music students, leaders, and outstanding members of the band program.
Students fill out lettering applications in April in order to be considered for a letter.
Requirements:
1. Must try out for either district band, conference band, or district jazz band.
2. Must have perfect attendance at all band performances.
3. Must be in good standing with the band director and the band program.
4. Must be eligible for participation according to MSHSAA.
5. Must participate in District solo/small ensemble
Special Considerations:
1. Student has held leadership positions in the band for more than one year.
2. Student had been a positive force in the band program, helped to promote growth and excellence, or has contributed in other meaningful ways.
Automatic letter:
1. If a student makes either a district or conference ensemble
2. If a student receives a I rating on a solo
3. If a student has participated in year long band all four years of high school and held a leadership position.
The band lettering system is in place to encourage higher achievement of the ensemble through individual excellence. If the band is going to be strong, the individuals must be strong as well. Please encourage your student's development by helping them find lessons and encouraging the events listed in the lettering process.
Students fill out lettering applications in April in order to be considered for a letter.
Requirements:
1. Must try out for either district band, conference band, or district jazz band.
2. Must have perfect attendance at all band performances.
3. Must be in good standing with the band director and the band program.
4. Must be eligible for participation according to MSHSAA.
5. Must participate in District solo/small ensemble
Special Considerations:
1. Student has held leadership positions in the band for more than one year.
2. Student had been a positive force in the band program, helped to promote growth and excellence, or has contributed in other meaningful ways.
Automatic letter:
1. If a student makes either a district or conference ensemble
2. If a student receives a I rating on a solo
3. If a student has participated in year long band all four years of high school and held a leadership position.
The band lettering system is in place to encourage higher achievement of the ensemble through individual excellence. If the band is going to be strong, the individuals must be strong as well. Please encourage your student's development by helping them find lessons and encouraging the events listed in the lettering process.
XIV. Leadership
The Red Regiment's program is centered around strong leadership. This is especially apparent in the Fall competitive season but we utilize leadership skills the entire year.
Our basic leadership philosophies:
1. Leaders number one objective is to help.
2. Leaders lead by example and servant leadership.
3. Leaders look for things that need to be done.
We spend three days in the summer working on our leadership skills and getting ready to teach the band. During this workshop, we discuss proper teaching techniques, how to run a sectional, how to teach from the ground up, how to deal with peer relations, how to implement servant leadership, and much much more! Our leaders really do lead the band and make the magic happen.
Our basic leadership philosophies:
1. Leaders number one objective is to help.
2. Leaders lead by example and servant leadership.
3. Leaders look for things that need to be done.
We spend three days in the summer working on our leadership skills and getting ready to teach the band. During this workshop, we discuss proper teaching techniques, how to run a sectional, how to teach from the ground up, how to deal with peer relations, how to implement servant leadership, and much much more! Our leaders really do lead the band and make the magic happen.
XV. Attendance
The band program expects good attendance. We have extra rehearsals, morning rehearsals, band camp, Saturday performances, and much more. The success of all of these events lies in every member of the band being at the event and pulling their weight. Sometimes life has other plans for us all however so here is the official attendance policy.
1. Any non emergency absences must be made know to the head director in writing at least three weeks before the event that will be missed in order for a make up assignment to be given.
2. Emergency situations are not in anyone's control. Please send a note to school explaining the problem or call the directors. If possible, let us know there is a problem before the event starts or the bus leaves so the staff can handle the situation effectively.
3. Students must maintain an overall 90% attendance rate to be eligible to perform. This rule is voided if there is a health emergency and the student is capable of keeping up with the material.
4. Excessive absences will result in losing performance privileges.
5. Students must be in attendance the day of a performance or the Friday before a Saturday event.
6. Students in ISS or OSS will lose their attendance status for the days they spend in suspension.
7. Excessive tardies will result in a loss of performance privilege.
8. When there is a conflict with a school function, we operate with the following guidelines:
a. State events trump district events which trump local events.
b. Marching festivals are graded which prioritizes them over local events that are not graded.
c. When possible, we ask that the students and parents arrange to be at both events if the schedule allows.
d. It is the directors and coaches responsibility to work these issues out and to tell the students which event will be attended.
e. Any situations not covered here will be worked out by the directors.
9. If attendance is a significant issue with a student, they will be asked to forfeit their place in the band program.
1. Any non emergency absences must be made know to the head director in writing at least three weeks before the event that will be missed in order for a make up assignment to be given.
2. Emergency situations are not in anyone's control. Please send a note to school explaining the problem or call the directors. If possible, let us know there is a problem before the event starts or the bus leaves so the staff can handle the situation effectively.
3. Students must maintain an overall 90% attendance rate to be eligible to perform. This rule is voided if there is a health emergency and the student is capable of keeping up with the material.
4. Excessive absences will result in losing performance privileges.
5. Students must be in attendance the day of a performance or the Friday before a Saturday event.
6. Students in ISS or OSS will lose their attendance status for the days they spend in suspension.
7. Excessive tardies will result in a loss of performance privilege.
8. When there is a conflict with a school function, we operate with the following guidelines:
a. State events trump district events which trump local events.
b. Marching festivals are graded which prioritizes them over local events that are not graded.
c. When possible, we ask that the students and parents arrange to be at both events if the schedule allows.
d. It is the directors and coaches responsibility to work these issues out and to tell the students which event will be attended.
e. Any situations not covered here will be worked out by the directors.
9. If attendance is a significant issue with a student, they will be asked to forfeit their place in the band program.