General Information
Seventh Grade Lesson and Full Band Schedule
The Seventh Grade Band Schedule occurs from 9:00a.m. – 9:45a.m.
Mondays – lessons for flutes, oboes, clarinets, and percussion
Fridays – lessons for cornets, low brass, and saxophones
Tuesday and Thursday – Full Band for everyone
Wednesdays – alternating Monday and Friday lesson groups (students have a laminated schedule for the year)
Please put the performance dates on your calendar at home and plan to attend. Attendance at performances is mandatory and evening concerts are worth 50 points of the grade for that 9 week grading period. Emergency absences (illness, death in the family,etc. should be called in to me as soon as possible or a note given to me (from parents) if you were unable to call ahead of time. Non-emergency absences will be handled on an individual basis and must be discussed with me at least two weeks prior to the concert date.
Each BJHS band member will need to supply the following parts of their uniform:
Black pants – these must be all black; may be black jeans
Black shoes – these must be all black
Black socks – all black
A uniform jacket is supplied by the school. A plain, short- sleeved t-shirt should be worn underneath the jacket. The dress guidelines may seem strict but they ensure uniformity within the group and help make the group something of which they can be proud to be a part. If anyone is unable to obtain these items because of a financial problem, please let me or your counselor know in time to be able to help you.
Voluntary Musical Opportunites
Bloomington Jr. High School Jazz Band is an auditioned performance group. This year’s auditions will be the week of September 15th with workshops being held the week of September 8th. See Mr. Day for more details
Band students are given the
opportunity to perform solos and/or ensembles at the
Students also have the opportunity
to audition for and perform in the
We will be fitting jackets in October. Students take the jacket home just before a performance and will return it the day after the performance. The student is financially responsible for the uniform while it is in their care. If a uniform jacket gets something spilled on it, DO NOT attempt to clean it or take it to the cleaners. Please return it to me stating what the uniform has on it. The school dry- cleans the jackets at the end of each school year. You would be financially responsible for any additional cleanings during the school year.
We will again be using the “Accent on Achievement Book 2” for all 7th grade band students. Percussionists will need to purchase this book, and we have them available for $9 here at BJHS. You may bring cash or a check made out to “The Music Shoppe.” All other students should still have this book from last year; if not, you will need to purchase one from a local music store.
All instrument cases must have name tags on them with the student’s name by Friday, September 5th. Many cases look alike and it is easy to get them mixed up. It’s also a good idea to have the serial number of the instrument at home.
It is impossible for us to overemphasize the positive impact of private lessons. Individual instruction is the best way to help students fulfill their potential. The main benefit of a private lesson is weekly one-one-one instruction with a specialist on the same instrument. A private instructor will immediately reinforce strengths and give specific suggestions for improvement. Please check our website or talk with us for a list of recommended private instructors, if this is an advantage you wish to offer your child.
Students are responsible for having their instrument and appropriate accessories for each lesson and rehearsal. This includes 2-3 good reeds for woodwind players, valve or slide oil for brass players, and a pencil for everyone. Keep a pencil either in the instrument case or in the band folder. Each member is responsible to the group for learning to play their music at the best of their ability. If a student forgets to bring their instrument to school, they will be assigned a time before or after school to come in to make up the rehearsal time.
Home Practice
Home practice helps make it possible to play a musical instrument to the best of one’s ability. The benefits of home practice include building self-confidence and pride in one’s performance. The recommended practice goal is 20-30 minutes a day, five days per week. However, quality of practice time is more important that quantity of practice time. This year students will be required to turn a BJHS Band Organizer and Practice Sheet on a weekly basis.
We do have a band website where much of the information concerning the band department is available. You may access it by going to www.district87.org/bjhs/band
All of the scale sheets are available there in pdf format for printing with Acrobat Reader.