Welcome to the Rockvale Middle School Band Click below to access Band website:

Band Directors Kathy Quarto, head director Debbie Hice, assistant director Sara Sears, jazz band assistant Ashley Beasley, student teacher

What will your child learn in band? How to play an instrument Organizational skills Leadership skills How to work with others as a part of a team Reading and language skills Mathematical reasoning Artistic interpretation Creativity Commitment & work ethic Self evaluation skills Writing skills Problem Solving Study Skills

Grading Rehearsal Technique Practicing Performances Written Assignments Playing Tests (Performance Assessments)

On-Site Private Instructors Rebecca Murphy – flute Rachel Grasso – clarinet Karl Wingruber – sax, flute, clarinet, bassoon, bass Mike George – brass (trumpet, F Horn, trombone, baritone, tuba) Wilson Sharpe - oboe, bassoon, brass Tim Hale – percussion

Costs / Investment Instrument Instruments Accessories Method Books Pep Band t-shirt Concert Band Polo shirt Black Dress slacks/shoes, black dress shoes Audition fees – Mid-state/All County/Solo & Ensemble (optional)

Instrument Large instruments (tuba, baritone, F Horn, bari sax, tenor sax, bass clarinet) are rented from the school – $50 per semester Small instruments (flute, clarinet, alto sax, trumpet, trombone, bell set/practice pad) are rented from a music store if not owned by the student Percussion instruments (marimba, xylophone, vibraphone, bells, bass drum, drum set, timpani, snare drum, cymbals, etc) $25 per year user fee Percussion pack – marimba mallets, xylo/bell mallets, snare drum sticks, mallet bag (may purchase or rent from school) – $50 purchase / $25 rental

Performing Groups 6 th Grade Band 7 th Grade Band 8 th Grade Band Jazz Band – auditioned group Chamber Ensembles – formed 2 nd semester

Method Books 7 th Grade Essential Elements 2000 Book 1 Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 8 th Grade Essential Elements 2000 Book 2 Foundations for Superior Performance

Accessories Woodwinds Clarinets/Saxes – Reeds – Cleaning Swab – Cork Grease Flutes – Cleaning Rod – Cleaning Cloth Brass/Percussion Trumpets/Baritones/Tubas – Valve oil / Slide Grease F Horns – Rotary Valve Oil / Slide Grease Trombones – Slide Oil / Tuning Slide Grease Percussion – Drum Sticks, Marimba & Xylo Mallets, Practice Bells, Practice Pad

Smart Music Practice Program App available on Ipad Optional Home subscription Access to all music in method books Sight reading Hundreds of songs $40/year for home subscription

Smart Music

Performance Attire Pep Band Tie-Dye Band T-shirt – $15 Concerts Rockvale Band Polo Shirt – $15 Black Dress Slacks/Skirt Black Dress Shoes Black Socks

Practicing

Success

Required Performances Football Pep Band Winter Band Concert Pre-Festival Concert Concert Band Performance Assessment Solo & Ensemble Classroom Performances Spring Band Concert

Football Pep Band Tuesday, August 18 – 8th Grade only Tuesday, September 15 – 7th & 8th Grade Tuesday, September 22 – 7 th & 8 th Grade Tuesday, September 29 – 7th & 8th Grade o Home games are played at Eagleville School stadium o Parents provide transportation o 5:00 – students warm-up & rehearse in stands o 6:00-7:45 game o Students wear pep band tie-dye t-shirts o $5 admission for family members o Need parent volunteers to provide water & snacks o Need vehicle to transport percussion instruments & stands o Need parents to help with supervision Please be there on time to pick up your child

Winter Band Concert Tuesday, December 15 RMS Auditorium o 5:30 warm-up o 6:30 concert begins Concert attire o White Rockvale Band polo o Black dress pants or skirt (no jeans) o Black dress shoes & socks (no tennis shoes)

Pre-Performance Assessment Concert Tuesday, February 23 – 6:30pm Rockvale Middle School auditorium 7 th & 8 th Grades perform with the Riverdale High School bands Clinician will work with our bands Concert Attire

Concert Band Performance Assessment Band is judged and rated on performance of 2 Concert Selections & Sightreading piece Equivalent of TCAP for Band Takes place during the school day Transportation by school bus Need parent chaperones Date and location to be chosen from the following o March 8, 9, 10, 11 – MTSU

Solo & Ensemble Classroom Performances School day in May Students perform solos & ensembles for 6 th grade classrooms Takes place during the school day Students wear regular school clothes

Spring Band Concert Thursday, May 12 RMS auditorium o 5:30 warm-up o 6:30 concert begins Concert Attire

Optional Recommended Performances 8 th Grade Band Nights – BHS, RHS, EHS Mid-State Honors Band (auditioned group) All County Honors Band (auditioned group) Literacy Night (chamber ensembles) Solo & Ensemble Performance Assessment

BHS 8 th Grade Band Night Blackman High School – Friday, September 11 – Students zoned to Blackman High School join the BHS Band at a home football game – Parents provide transportation & supervision – Students wear RMS pep band t-shirt

RHS 8 th Grade Band Night Riverdale High School 8 th Grade Band Night – Friday, October 23 – Students zoned to Riverdale High School join the RHS Band at a home football game – Parents provide transportation – Students wear RMS pep band t-shirt

EHS 8 th Grade Band Night Eagleville High School – Friday, TBA – Students zoned to Eagleville High School join the EHS Band at a home football game – Parents provide transportation & supervision – Students wear RMS pep band t-shirt

Mid-State / All County Honors Band Auditions Saturday, November 21 *THIS IS A DATE CHANGE – McGavock High School – Nashville – All day – Parents provide transportation Students who are more advanced musicians Private Lessons are highly recommended to prepare for this Students are evaluated and ranked against each other based on their performance on the following: – Scales - memorized – One or 2 musical excerpts (provided by band director) – Sightreading

Mid-State Honors Band Rehearsals – Siegel High School o Thursday, January 7 – evening o Friday, January 8 day & evening o Saturday, January 9 – morning Performance – MTSU Tucker Theatre o Saturday, January 9 – morning o Parents provide transportation to and from rehearsals & performance

Rutherford County Honors Band Smyrna or LaVergne High School Thursday, February 25 o Evening rehearsal Friday, February 26 o Day rehearsals o Evening Performance o Parents provide transportation to and from rehearsals / performance

Solo & Ensemble Performance Assessment HIGHLY Recommended 98% of RMS students participate Eagleville School Each student prepares a piece to perform as a soloist or as a part of a small ensemble Each event is evaluated and rated by a judge Students receive a rating sheet and a medal for 1 st & 2 nd place ratings Students are evaluated against a standard of excellence – not ranked against each other Parents provide transportation

Literacy Night Tuesday or Thursday in April – evening TBA Solos & Chamber Ensembles perform Barnes & Noble Casual Atmosphere

Jazz Band Begins the 2 nd 9 weeks Membership based on audition Rehearsals take place 3 times a week – Tuesdays – 7:05-7:40 am – 1-2 days a week – R&E (8 th period) – Fridays – 7:05-7:40 am

Jazz Band Performances Winter band concert in December 2 basketball games in January Jazz Fest – Saturday, May 7 Middle School orientation – Tuesday, May 10 Spring band Concert in May

Can My Child Participate in Band & Sports? Yes!! : ) However……….in case of a conflict see the director immediately

Parent Help Encourage your child to practice – help child establish a regular time and place to practice Sign practice record each week to be turned in Monday Transport your child to and attend performances Poinsettia Fundraiser help Provide snacks / drinks / vehicle for equipment transportation for football games Provide breakfast snacks/drinks for Quarto café Supervision for football games Chaperones for Concert Festival Chaperones for 8 th Grade TPAC performance Let the directors know of any issues that may affect your child’s learning

8 th Grade TPAC Performance “Phantom of the Opera” musical theatre production Sunday, Mar. 20 – 2:00 pm performance in Nashville Bus departs from RMS at 12:00 noon Cost - $40 per 8th grader – $32 ticket (Regular, non-discounted price is $60+) – $8 bus – Reservation & $40 payment is due by September 20 – Parent Chaperones pay $40 for group rate ticket by October 1 – No siblings allowed – Cost of each bus is $275 – The plan is to take 2 busses

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