Table of Contents

Why Teach Music?

2005-2006 Booster Executive Board

Band & Color Guard Staff

Four Year Schedule

Band Grading Policy

Color Guard Grading Policy

Band & Color Guard Hierarchy

Rehearsals

Bus Information

Medication Policy

Uniforms

Frequently Asked Questions About Uniforms

Student Accounts

Fundraising

2005-2006 Band & Color Guard Information

WHY TEACH MUSIC ?

Music is a science. It is exact, specific, and it demands precise acoustics. A conductor's full score is a chart, a graph which indicates frequencies, intensities, volume changes, melody, and harmony all at once and with most exact control of time.

Music is mathematical. It is rhythmically based on the subdivisions of time into fractions which must be done instantaneously, not worked out on paper.

Music is a foreign language. Most of the terms are Italian, German, or French, and the notation is certainly not English - but a highly developed kind of shorthand that uses symbols to represent ideas. The Semantics of music is the most complete and universal language.

Music is history. Music usually reflects the environment and times of its creation, often even the country and/or racial feeling.

Music is physical education. It requires coordination of fingers, hands, arms, legs, lip, cheek and facial muscles, in addition to extraordinary control of the diaphragmatic, back, stomach and chest muscles, which respond instantly to the sound the ear hears and the mind interprets.

Music is all of these things, but most of all, music is art. It allows a human being to take all these dry, technically boring (but difficult) techniques and use them to create an emotional response. That is one thing science cannot duplicate: humanism, feeling, emotion, call it what you will.

That is why we teach music!

FOUR YEAR SCHEDULE

Without careful planning, other courses can conflict with band or color guard. To help you plan your time, here is a suggested four-year schedule. Student will meet yearly with their counselor to insure that graduation requirements are being met. There is a sample schedule on the following page, but be sure to check current requirements with the counselor. This schedule is based on the 2005/2006 James Logan High School Course Catalogue.

The students in the graduating classes of 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009 must earn a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in order to earn a James Logan High School diploma.

All students must have earned a minimum of 20 hours of Community Service.

The students in the Class of 2006 and subsequent classes must pass the High School Exit Exam.

FRESHMAN YEAR:

• Elective
• English 1(or Honors English)
• Algebra 1 / Algebra 2
• 1st year of Foreign Language
• Band
• PE - Band
• Life Science

SOPHOMORE YEAR:

• Physical Science
• English 2
• Mathematics
• 2nd year of Foreign Language
• Band
• PE - Band
• World Studies

JUNIOR YEAR:

• US History (or AP US History)
• American Literature
• Mathematics
• Chemistry or Physiology
• Band
• PE - Band

SENIOR YEAR:

• American Political Systems (1 semester), Economics (1 semester)
• World Literature or Honors World Literature
• Elective
• Advance Math (Calculus) if needed
• Band
• PE - Band

BAND GRADING POLICY

A student's six week grade in instrumental music is an average of his marks in three equal areas: daily average, rehearsal / performance, and musicianship/performance skills.

I. Daily Average: The grade is determined by a student's overall attitude and effort as evidence by such things as promptness to rehearsals and performances; having proper equipment at all times; equipment/uniform maintenance; and general cooperation. Infractions in school/band policies will be reflected in this grade.

II. Rehearsal/Performance: Students receive an attendance of "A" for each rehearsal/performance at which they are present. A grade of "C" is marked for excused absences due to illness, family business, or emergency. A grade of "F" is recorded for each unexcused absence. No excused absences will be granted without prior notice from the parent. An unexcused absence from a required performance will result in a lowered six week grade, and the parents will be contacted. A second violation may result in suspension or dismissal from the band and a grade of Withdrawal/ Failure (WF).

III. Musicianship/Performance Skills: This grade is an average of the grades earned in testing situations. Areas to be tested quarterly may include reading musical selections, playing musical selections, written skills, and demonstration of marching execution.

COLOR GUARD GRADING POLICY

A color guard grade is based on an average of the equal areas: daily average, rehearsal/performance and skills/technique.

I. Daily Average: This grade is determined by a student's overall attitude and effort as evidenced by such things as promptness to rehearsals and performances; having proper equipment (flags, sabres and rifles) at all times; equipment/uniform maintenance and general cooperation. Infractions in school/band & color guard policies will be reflected in this grade.

II. Rehearsal/Performance: Students receive an attendance grade of "A" for each rehearsal/performance at which they are present. A grade of "C" is marked for excused absences due to illness, family business or emergency. A grade of "F" is recorded for each unexcused absence. No excused absences will be granted without prior notice from the parent. An unexcused absence from a required performance will result in a lowered grade and the parents will be contacted. A second violation may result in suspension or dismissal from the color guard program and a grade of Withdrawal/Failure (WF).

III. Skills/Technique: This grade is an average of the grades earned in testing situations. Various areas may be tested throughout each quarter and may include performing portions of the current show, movement, dance technique, as well as other skills which are learned and developed throughout the year.

Eligibility Requirements:

Color Guard is considered an "Extra-Curricular Activity" and therefore the following academic eligibility requirements which have been set forth by the New Haven Unified School District apply to all Color Guard Members.

• A student must earn at least a 2.0 grade point average and receive no F's in all enrolled classes for the prior grading in order to participate in the color guard program activity during the current grading period.
     
• A student who fails to achieve a 2.0 GPA or receives an "F" will be placed on probation for the current grading period provided the student complies with the school tutorial assistance program.
     
• During the probationary period the student may be excluded from participation in color guard activities during the subsequent grading period. A student who does not achieve at least a 2.0 GPA during the probationary period shall be excluded from participation in all color guard activities. A student that receives more than one "F" during any grading period will be excluded from participation in all color guard activities for the following grading period.

BAND & COLOR GUARD HIERARCHY

Student leaders are part of the chain-of-command. Because the director(s) cannot possibly deal with every detail, it is important that everyone understands the role of each leader.

Drum Major/Assistant Drum Major

These students are in charge of the marching band. They give marching commands, conduct at football games, and have the authority to assist in resolving problems when necessary for all members of the band and color guard. They have the full confidence of the directors behind them at all times and students will respect and cooperate with them accordingly. The drum majors will also act as liaisons between the student and the staff.

Color Guard Captain

This student is in charge of the color guard unit. The captain is responsible for all equipment and color guard esprit-de-corps. He / She must always foster camaraderie and unity within the members of this group. This student has the full confidence of the directors behind her / him at all times and students will respect and cooperate accordingly.

Section Leaders

The section leaders are in charge of each section of the band. They run sectional rehearsals, check attendance in their sections, help with questions, etc.

They have the authority to assist in resolving problems within their sections as they see fit. They have the full confidence of the band directors behind them at all times and students will respect and cooperate accordingly. The section leaders are the liaisons between the students and the drum majors.

REHEARSALS

Rehearsals will start and end exactly at all times specified. This means you must be on the practice site and ready to play / perform at the rehearsal call time. Any detraction from the scheduled rehearsal time will diminish our performance excellence. When rehearsal starts, roll is taken. If you are tardy, be sure to check in with the Drum Major and one of the staff.

When someone is on the podium or you are brought to attention, there will be no talking, playing, or moving around. Complete attention is necessary in order to follow instructions properly. The Drum Major is encouraged to remedy performance problems he / she observes by rehearsing sections of the band.

Our rehearsal time is minimal for the type of program we have. Anything less than 100% output and cooperation will put us behind an already tight schedule.

Band rehearsals are a class, and as such, people who interfere with the progress of a rehearsal will simply be asked to leave. If necessary, meetings with the learning Directors and parents may be scheduled.

For marching band practice, dress comfortably. You will be required to wear tennis shoes for marching rehearsals. During band camp and Saturday practices in the fall it is advisable to wear a hat, use plenty of sunscreen and drink lots of water.

BUS INFORMATION

We travel to and from all band events either on school busses, charter busses or airplanes. At the beginning of the season students will sign up for a particular bus. Students will ride the same bus for the entire season.

The head chaperone will be assigned a specific bus for the entire season and he/she is in charge of all the chaperones assigned in each bus. The head chaperone is also the person to turn to for help with any matters regarding the trip.

For insurance and safety purposes, students are to remain seated while the bus is in motion. For longer trips, it is permissible to bring personal CD players only if it is used with headphones.

If a student will be riding home with a parent after an event, the parent must personally present a note to the student's bus chaperone prior to leaving the school. Students are required to ride the bus at all times unless previously arranged with the band director. Students are not allowed to ride with other students except in a special circumstances and then only with written permission from both parents involved.

MEDICATION POLICY

Medications include all doctor ordered prescriptions, over-the-counter remedies, as well as simple aspirin and antacids. The band and color guard first aid kit carries common remedies such as aspirin, Tylenol, cough drops, etc., however chaperones cannot give any medications to a student unless the BAND & GUARD MEDICATION RELEASE AUTHORIZATION FORM, located at the end of this handbook, has been signed by the parent and turned in.

In the event of an emergency, it is extremely important that the Head Chaperone be aware of the medications being taken by the students. Further, the hectic pace of a band trip can cause even the most responsible student to forget to take required medication. It will be the responsibility of the Head Chaperone to see that medications are taken at the prescribed time. Therefore, it is very important that everyone adhere to the following procedures regarding medications:

1. Place all prescription medications in their original containers in a plastic zip-lock bag which has been labeled with the student's name.
2. Include a written note authorizing the student to take these medications and provide instructions for administering the medication.
3. Give the medication to the Head Chaperone.
4. Students who use inhalers need to carry one with them and give the other one to the Head Chaperone. Please make sure that there is a signed doctor's note allowing them to carry their own inhaler. This can be noted on the Medication Release Authorization Form.

When requested by the student, the Head Chaperone will dispense the medication and the student will be allowed to take the medicine as authorized by the BAND & GUARD MEDICATION RELEASE AUTHORIZATION FORM.

UNIFORMS

At all competitions the James Logan Band & Color Guard is judged not only on musical and visual performance, but also on appearance. Before the band enters a parade competition zone, there is a formal inspection. Band and Guard members must stand at complete attention while judges walk around looking for untidiness in uniforms. Each time a judge finds a fault, the group's over-all score is lowered to some degree. When a competition is tight, the difference between first and second place could be a dirty shoe or a crooked hat!!!

UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS

1. Shoes must be shiny and clean at all times! No dirt or scuff marks on shoes or laces. Shine black shoes/clean guard shoes after each band activity.
2. Socks must be BLACK. They should be clean for each performance.
3. Uniforms must be clean with no wrinkles and no loose threads.
4. Band gloves must be BLACK with no dirt or stains.
5. Hair cannot be past the collar of the band uniform.
6. Shakos (hats) are not to be put into uniform bags. Keep your shako in its proper box.
7. Jewelry is not permitted. NO jewelry (including earrings) will be worn by band members. Boys are to be clean shaven. Guard wears uniform make-up.

There will be inspections prior to competitions. If you do not pass inspection, you may not be able to perform in the event. If this occurs often, you will be dropped from the program and given an "F" for the semester.

UNIFORM COST AND CARE

BAND

A $25.00 Uniform Maintenance Fee is required as a cleaning deposit for the use of the uniform for the entire school year. Payments must be made prior to uniform pick up. If your student is a member of the band, he/she will be issued a uniform consisting of a jacket, bib pants and shako, along with a garment bag, hanger and shako box. For any item needing major repair due to student negligence, the cost of the repair will be charged to the student. It is the student's responsibility to inform the Uniform Coordinator regarding damage done to his/her uniform. The student will be charged for the repair of any damaged item or replacement of any lost item. Black marching shoes, black gloves, and black (not navy blue) socks are to be furnished by the student.

Band uniforms should be laundered. Uniforms must be cleaned prior to returning them at the end of the year At that time your student's account will be credited $10.00. If the uniform is returned in need of cleaning no credit will be given.

The following is the price list for replacing uniform parts and pieces:

• Jacket - $110.00
• Shako (hat) - $30.00
• Plume - $16.00
• Bib Pants - $40.00
• Mirrored Disk - $3.00
• Garment Bag - $25.00
• Hanger - $2.50
• Shako Box - $6.00

Items that need to be purchased by each band member include:

Marching shoes - $35.00 a pair. Students who need shoes must give their shoe size to the Uniform Committee, with a check payment, during band camp. A one time order will be placed to minimize the cost of individual ordering.

Gloves - $3.00 a pair. These can be purchased from the Uniform Committee at any time. Brass instrument players may be asked to buy special gloves that allow free finger movement. There may be an additional cost for these gloves.

COLOR GUARD

Color guard members will be required to purchase their uniform. They will be issued a garment bag and hanger which must be returned to the Uniform Coordinator at the end of the year. Accessories, such as shoes, unitards, hair items, etc., are to be furnished by the student. All items are the property of the color guard members and may be kept after the season is over.

Note: Any charges that the student incurs that are not paid for will be written up on a "School Bill." Any financial obligations will hold up report cards, and / or the issuance of next year's schedule during registration / orientation.

Items that need to be purchased by each guard member includes:

Marching shoes - $35.00 a pair. Students who need shoes must give their shoe sizes to the Uniform Committee with a check payment during band camp period. A one time order will be placed to minimized cost of individual ordering.

Gloves - $3.00 a pair. This could be purchased with the Uniform Committee at anytime.

UNIFORM ALTERATIONS

While the Uniform Coordinator & Committee make the initial alterations, we ask that each parent take care of his / her student's uniform alterations. This simply means the lengthening or shortening of bib pants (DO NOT CUT FABRIC IF SHORTENING).

NOTE: By signing the Acknowledgement Form at the end of this Handbook, you are in agreement to the terms and conditions of our Uniform Policy.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT UNIFORMS

Q. How do I clean my Color Guard uniform?
A. The Guard uniform varies from year-to-year and specific instructions will be issued with the specific uniform.

Q. Can I wash my band uniform?
A. Yes. The uniform jacket and gauntlets may be washed in cold water and hung to dry. The pants and vest should be washed separately from the jacket in cold water, and then placed in the dryer on low heat. A "Dye Magnet" should be issued when washing the uniform jacket to prevent colors from running. It can be purchased at local supermarkets and Wal Mart.

Q. Where do I buy my gloves?
A. From the Uniform Coordinator during the first two days of band camp.

Q. Where do I purchase my shoes?
A. Band shoes must be purchased through the Uniform Coordinator who will order from a special supplier. Guard members will be told where and when to purchase their shoes.

Q. What should be worn under my band uniform?
A. Band members should wear t-shirts and lightweight shorts under their uniform. Long johns are permissible during cold weather.

Q. What is the rainy day policy regarding uniforms?
A. Competition is rain or shine. Make sure you carry dry clothes to change into.

Q. How often should the uniform be cleaned?
A. Obviously, they should be cleaned any time they have been soiled and before all competitions. It will not be necessary to clean your uniform quite as often if you take good care of it. After each wearing, return the uniform and its parts to their proper places on the hanger. NOTE - Guard members will be issued special uniform care instructions.

Q. What do I do if the uniform gets wet from the rain?
A. Take the uniform out of the garment bag and the shako out of the box as soon as you get home. Open the uniform for best drying. Launder if needed. The Guard should do the same.

Q. Do I need to clean the band uniform before final return at the end of the school year?
A. YES, upon receipt of a clean uniform your student will be credited $10.00. The Guards can keep their uniforms.

Q. Do I have to use the same garment bag?
A. For the protection of the uniform, a garment bag must always be used when storing or transporting the uniform and shoes. The shako box should be used for transporting the shako (hat). Students are issued a uniform, garment bag, hanger, shako (hat) and shako box. These items should be turned in with the uniform.

Q. What should be done about uniform problems?
A. If the uniform is in need of repair, please go to the Uniform Coordinator, who will fix it. This should be done as soon as the problem is noticed. Do not wait until just before competition to mention that your uniform is in need of repair.

Q. What happens if I forget, lose or damage a part of the uniform?
A. There are replacement items for emergency use. If you lose or damage a part of your uniform or do not return a borrowed item, you will be responsible for the replacement cost of that item.

STUDENT ACCOUNTS

Upon entering the James Logan Band and Color Guard program, all members have an account opened in their name. There are two basic ways that a student's account receives credit.

• 1. Cash Deposit (from the student and/or his family)
• 2. Fundraiser (from a scheduled fundraising event)

A student's account will be debited for trip expenses when appropriate. The student accounts were not designed to be used as charge accounts for uniform / band supplies. Items such as gloves, shoes, socks, missing or damaged uniform parts or equipment are not charged against a student's account unless it has sufficient funds to cover the expenses. Only as a last resort will a student's account be charged for payment, if necessary.

A ledger is kept on a monthly basis of all activities in a student's account. The ledger is available for parents and students to review at any time with the Treasurer of Student Accounts.

It is important that students and parents are aware of their account balance because when a trip is taken, a positive balance to cover the trip cost is required prior to departure.

Checks are the preferred method of payment for any financial transactions within the Band/Color Guard. They should be made payable to James Logan Band Boosters. The student's name and the reason for the payment should always appear on the check to ensure proper posting to the student's account. This makes it easier to track should an accounting error take place. Any fee for a returned check due to insufficient funds will be charged back to the student's account. All payments should be mailed to the following address:

James Logan Band Boosters
P. O. Box 924
Union City, CA 94587

Payments should NOT be given to directors or administrators!

FUNDRAISING

There are two types of fund-raising activities available for students and their families - individual fundraising, which helps students earn substantial credits that go directly to their accounts, and general fundraising, where all the proceeds go to the general fund and benefit the entire program. Fundraising money should be turned in at designated times to the Fundraising Coordinator or his/her designee. Everyone is encouraged to participate to ensure the continued success of our program.

2005/2006 BAND & COLOR GUARD INFORMATION

The James Logan High School Music Department is made up of various groups. Most everyone is well aware of our excellent combined Marching Band and Color Guard, which competes in the 5A class during marching band competitions. Marching season starts with Band Camp in mid August and ends in November at the Western Band Association (WBA) Championships, typically held the weekend before Thanksgiving.

After marching season our music students continue to perform in one of the four concert bands, while the color guard begins their Winter season, with the Open and World Guards.

BAND

In December, students will already have been auditioned and placed into one of the four concert bands - Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Band I andConcert Band II. There are also three jazz bands and one percussion ensemble.

The performing bands participate in various concerts and festivals, including the Western Band Association (WBA) National Concert Band Festival, in Long Beach, California.

The jazz bands perform locally at school and community events and at various festivals throughout northern California. They typically participate in the Reno Jazz Festival during the springtime.

The percussion ensemble travels and competes at local and regional circuits, including the Winter Guard International (WGI) West Regional, hosted by the James Logan Band and Color Guard Boosters.

COLOR GUARD

Our Open and World Guard students audition during the field show season and are placed into one of these two color guard units during November. Rehearsals begin during the Thanksgiving holiday week and winter vacations.

The Open and World Guard travels and competes at local and regional circuits throughout the West, including the Winter Guard International (WGI) West Regional hosted by the James Logan Band and Color Guard Boosters.

The World Guard also competes at the WGI World Championships in April of each year, usually held in Dayton Ohio. In April of 2006, the Logan World Guard will be returning to the WGI World Championships to defend their title of WGI Scholastic World Guard World Champions!