Senior High Band Grading Requirements
revised 8/17/09
by Carol Braun
August 18, 2009
Senior High Band Grade Requirements
40% Class Participation & Preparation
Learn and Perfect The Music
To earn these points you must be adequately prepared for rehearsal
each day . You must gradually learn your part, and try to attain
the best musical product. Daily directions from the instructor will
guide you on how to reach those expected musical goals. Additional
lessons outside of class may become necessary depending on the
student’s ability, level of music difficulty, and needs of the
student. If you can not learn the music during class time, then it
is expected that you practice at home, or come in to practice in
the music room/commons when those areas are available. You must
have your equipment, music, and instrument for class. If you forget
your instrument you will lose your daily points. Each class is
worth 10 points. 10 points = A, 9 = B, 8 = C, 7 = D, 6 and below is
failing.
Responsibility to the Band and Yourself
You should be cooperative and professional with classmates and the
instructor, and be willing to work with enthusiasm. Treat band
equipment and instruments with care and respect. One to ten points
can be deducted in this area depending on the situation.
Example #1: interrupting rehearsal: 1 warning, 2nd warning would
cause a mandatory 15 minute meeting (detention) after school and a
possible loss of daily points.
Example #2: rough housing,pushing, shoving which caused damage to
equipment could result in the loss of the entire day’s points, plus
the expense of any damages or replacements.
Example #3: Played to the best of ability with a goal of always
improving. Worked cooperatively with teacher and classmates, paid
attention to directions. Took good care of instrument, music, and
equipment. Earned 10 points.
Daily Attendance
Band is a performance based class. Assigning homework, or doing
makeup work is difficult, but can be done. It is expected that you
arrive to class on time and be a class participant for a majority
of the grading quarter. Exceptions will be made if there are valid
medical or personal problems. The director will create alternative
options to earn class points in most circumstances.
Example: Be a student aide to the bands and director, work on music
computer programs, organize music inventory, go to concerts and
musically analyze them with a follow-up meeting with the
director.
Tardies: Students are allowed 2 tardies a quarter. Any tardies
after the first two tardies will cause a deduction of 1 quarter
point from the final quarter grade. You are considered tardy if you
are not in the room with your instrument and music when the bell
rings at 8:15 am. Students should be in their seat ready to play,
or go to the field by 8:18 am. You may enter class with a pass from
another teacher, but if you do this more than once a week, you will
need to meet with the director to figure out a better way to avoid
this attendance problem.
Example: Marge received 5 tardies in first quarter. Her first two
tardies were excused. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th tardy created a
deduction of 3 points from her final quarter grade. She had a 93%
for the quarter and lost 3 points on the tardies which gave her a
final grade of a 90%.
Absences: It is stressed that band is a performance based class. A
band student’s grade is earned through participation!! If the
student misses class more than 5 days of a grading quarter
(regardless of the reason,) the student will need to make up the
work. Each absence over 5, is worth a daily deduction of 10 points.
It is the student’s responsibility to keep track of their absences
and communicate with the instructor their intentions of doing the
make-up work. If students know of absences ahead of time, they can
do make up work before the absence takes place. The make up work
will be planned with the director. Most importantly, the student
may need to take lessons with the director in order to learn the
band music. If the student knows the music, then other types of
make up work will be assigned. See the instructor when you need to
do make up work, and do not postpone it to the last week of the
quarter, or you may have few options. Keep track of your absences
periodically with the instructor. The president and vice president
of the band will record daily absences in a calendar book that
students can look at to help them plan make-up work. These records
are also available on power school.
Example: Joan was absent 3 days for illness, 1 day absent for the
car not starting
which made her get to school after band dismissed, 1 day absent for
a dental appointment, and 2 days for track meets. Joan’s 6th
absence happened on a Monday, April 10th. By the following Monday
April 17th, she needed to make up 1 day of class time (45 minutes)
or forfeit her daily 10 points from her quarter grade.
40% Attendance and Participation at Performances
The instructor will give you scheduled dates as soon as they are
known. Most performances are printed on the school calendar. We
play at all home varsity football games and most of the home
varsity basketball games. We also perform on the Veterans Day
program in November and Graduation in May. Students will be
required to attend a preset number of pep band performances,
(usually 6-8 games). After fulfilling the pep band responsibility,
you can attend extra performances for 3 points each on your overall
G.P.A., or fulfill your independent project requirement.
Pep band performances range from 5-10 percent of the 40 %
performance grading. You do get 1 excused absence from 1 pep band
performance if you give the instructor 3 days warning. The
instructor can decline an excused absence if several students have
already asked for an excused absence on the same date. Major
performances such as parades, marching shows, and concerts range
from 10-20 points - and sometimes the full 40 points if that is the
only performance of the quarter. At each new quarter, the
instructor will let you know what each performance is worth. A full
deduction of points will be given to the student who has an
un-excused absence from a performance. If you are late to a
performance you will automatically receive a “C.” Do not be late to
the warm-up because that is the time you need to be ready to play.
Contact the instructor as soon as possible when you know you can
not be at a performance due to illness or emergency. Work is not a
reason for missing performances. You have chosen to be in band and
you understand that band has several commitments outside of class
time. Communicate with employer and know your work schedules. Ms.
Gerdes can speak with your boss if you would like.
Performance points can also be deducted from the grade if you do
not have the proper uniform, equipment, instrument, or music.
Points will be taken off at the discretion of the instructor and it
will be explained to the student in a meeting.
Examples #1: Pep band performance - forgot the band T-shirt. The
grade is dropped to a “C”
Example #2: Student is in the show band for a football game. They
for got their instrument at school and had to go back and get it.
They missed the pre game show, but they did march half time. They
received a “D.” Overall performance is poor which is what a “D”
means. Its important to be a part of all the performance.
10% Quizzes
Quizzes can be on any of the songs we are studying. The instructor
will announce a quiz at least one day in advance. Playing quizzes
will occur in class in group sections. Quizzes can also be over
music vocabulary, music symbols, and music history and
structure.
Example: The band will have a quiz one week from today on the song
we take to the parade. The instructor wants the song memorized. The
band will take the quiz by have everyone play the song several
times. The instructor will walk through the band, listening to and
grading each student individually.
page 3
10% Independent Project
This category lets every band student contribute to their own
musical growth, or the growth and organization of the band. Below
you will find many ways you can earn your 10 quarter points. 1/2
hour is worth 5 points, and 1 hour is worth 10 points. In the past
many students go over the one hour. Extra credit is not extended
for the time given to their own musicianship or betterment of the
band program, but it is sincerely appreciated. Students are
responsible for making sure their work is recorded in the “project”
book.
Examples of lettering opportunities:
1. Work at a concert: videotape, manage 5. Work on a computer music
program.
younger students, stage help 6. Play at a social event outside of
school.
2. Fold concert programs. 7. Take a solo or small group to
contest
3. Organize/Clean music room. 8. Take lessons
4. Run errands: get and take instruments 9. Go to performances
& supplies to music stores. 10. Your ideas ! ?
Semester Tests 10% of Semester Grade Average
In first semester, the semester test will be given at the end of
the semester which will cover the general terminology and music
concepts used by the band in music they have played. Some terms may
be tested that are not used in band music of that semester, but
they are terms that are basic fundamentals of the understanding of
music. All terms and concepts will be reviewed in class.
Example: Jack earned a 95% 1st quarter and a 96% for 2nd quarter.
The two quarters are 45% each of his semester grade. He earned a
92% on the semester test.
95 x .45 = 42.75 1st q.
96 x .45 = 43.20 2nd q.
92 x .10 = 9.20 sem. test
95.15 semester grade, rounded off, will be a 95%.
Any grade with a .5 or higher will be rounded off to the next
highest number.
In second semester students vote on the type of semester test they
want. The test can be over music terminology and the structure and
history of the music they are currently using in 2nd semester. Or,
it can be a performance test from the district music rating from 3
judges. If the band votes for the contest rating, the ratings are
reflected in this way:
1, 1,1 = 100+100+100=300 divided by 3 = 100
1,1,2 = 100 +100 + 90 = 290 divided by 3 = 96.6 rounded off to a
97%
1,2,2,= 100 + 90 +90 = 280 divided b y 3 = 93.3 rounded off to a
93%
2,2,2 = 90+ 90+ 90 = 270 divided by 3 = 90%
2,2,3 = 90+ 90+ 80 = 260 divided by 3 = 86.6 rounded off to an
87%
3,3,3 = 80+80+80 = 240 divided by 3 = 80%
Rating divisions can go as low as a 5,5,5 which is a 60%.
Earning A Letter In Band
The student must earn an “A” grade in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd quarters to
receive a band “letter” their first year, and consecutive bars that
follow on a yearly basis. Lettering awards are given in May.
