Welcome!

Dear Students and parents/Guardians:

Hello, my name is Chew, Qian Yao. Welcome to a AWHS Band. I am happy and honored to be

your children's band director! I look forward to working with and getting to know my students

and their families this year. I promise that in participating in this course, I will do my best to

allow students to explore music and all aspects of the musical experience. The AWHS Band

Department welcomes all students to participate in band activities. Students will start with the

most basic training to learn teamwork and improve their musical literacy and skills.The AWHS

Band Department welcomes all students to participate in band activities. Students will start with

the most basic training to learn teamwork and improve their musical literacy and skills.

Instruments assignments will be sent to students' email. Once the audition is done, students get

the result. All the members can start preparing the required materials.

I assure you that I will strive to provide my students with the best band experience, and I hope

my teaching meets the expectations. Don't hesitate to contact me via email if you have any

questions, comments, or concerns. I look forward to working with you all!

Table of Contents
AWHS Band Program Information P2-5

- Ensemble Offerings

- Rehearsal Schedule

- Performance Schedule

Student Conduct and Grading Policy P6-8

- Behavior Expectations

- Cell Phone Policy

- Attendance/Tardy Policy

- Communication Methods

- Grading Policy

AWHS Band Financial Obligations P9-12

- Required Band Materials

- Instrument Rental/Maintenance

- Band Scholarships

- Fundraising

Band Support Information P13

Student and Parent Contract P14

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Band Offerings
Concert Band: Mainly comprised of students in grades 10-12. The wind band is by

far the most significant number of high schools and has a high participation rate of

the wind band. Membership is by audition only. The orchestra's extensive and

advanced repertoire focuses on playing and learning about styles from different

countries. After-school rehearsals for all Wind Ensemble students are weekly and

mandatory. There will be an end-of-term performance once a semester.

Jazz Band: The jazz band is primarily for students with band performance

experience. Being in a band is the first requirement before an audition. This course

provides information on rhythm, tone, style, concepts, listening skills, and

improvisation related to jazz. The top goal of this group is to allow interested students

to study and perform jazz ensemble literature. This program allows students to listen

to recording videos and texts for jazz band appreciation. For this course, after-class

rehearsal is required.

Percussion Band: All members will learn all the instruments of our three main

percussion instruments: marching percussion, concert percussion, and percussion

ensemble. Advanced members will be assigned to play with the wind ensemble in

parts as needed. This program is also for beginner students because, at the

beginning of the semester, every member will start by learning time signatures and

different types of notes. Participation in the marching band is essential.

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Rehearsal Schedule
Monday

AWHS Concert Band Rehearsal 8:00-10:00 am

AWHS Percussion Rehearsal 10:15-11:30 am

AWHS Jazz Band Rehearsal 1:00-2:30 pm

Tuesday

AWHS Concert Band Rehearsal 10:00-11:30 am

AWHS Jazz Band Rehearsal 1:00-2:30 pm

AWHS Percussion Rehearsal 2:45-3:00 pm

Wednesday

AWHS Percussion Rehearsal 9:00-10:15 am

AWHS Jazz Band Rehearsal 10:30 am-12:00 pm

AWHS Concert Band Rehearsal 12:30-2:30 pm

Thursday

AWHS Concert Band Rehearsal 8:00-10:00 am

AWHS Percussion Rehearsal 10:15-11:30 am

AWHS Jazz Band Rehearsal 1:00-2:30 pm

Friday

AWHS Jazz Band Rehearsal 8:00-9:30 am

AWHS Concert Band Rehearsal 9:45-11:45 am

AWHS Percussion Rehearsal 1:00-2:15

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Performance Schedule
Fall Semester

September

None

October

Oct. 7th: Concert band midterm performance in AWHS music hall

Oct. 17th: AWHS Jazz band will perform in AWHS music hall

November

Nov 18th: AWHS percussion band will perform an opening for the school football
team.

December

Dec. 16th: The concert, Jazz, and percussion band will perform a piece alone, and
then they will perform a Christmas song with the school choir to end the concert.

Spring Semester

February

Feb. 10th: The concert band will perform with a middle school choir for a music
cooperation project.

March

March 14th: Jazz band performance for the school anniversary celebration

April

None

May

May 12th: The concert, jazz, and percussion band will perform in AWHS music hall for
their final performance.

Behavior Expectations
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- It would be best if all the members arrived at the rehearsal venue 15 to 20

minutes early for each rehearsal.

- Each student should tune the instrument before the rehearsal begins and ask the

director for help if there is any difficulty.

- It is the responsibility of the members to arrive at the site for rehearsal every

month. All absences and tardiness require prior communication with the band

director or other faculties. Related policies will be further explained in this

handbook.

- Band students and all band members should be respectful to each other.

- Please do not bring any food or drink to the rehearsal.

- All members must master their playing and their performance quality. Each

member should have a positive attitude toward all band activities and rehearsals.

Talk to the relevant faculties or director if you have any questions or concerns.

Cell Phone Policy

Mobile phones cannot be carried or used in any band to make every rehearsal

efficient and orderly. Any electronic device needs to be muted. No one is allowed to

use a mobile phone during rehearsal. Please inform the members in advance if there

is any reason to carry a mobile phone and use it. If parents/guardians have urgent or

emergency needs for communicating with members, they can directly contact the

band's faculties or director to improve communication efficiency. Communication

methods related to the band will be provided in the following content.

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Attendance/Tardy Policy
All the band members have the responsibility to attend every rehearsal and activity.
Any member who needs to ask for an absence should contact the band director and
section leader. If other activities result in the band's lack, students should check the
schedule of the two groups at the beginning to inform teachers and directors in
advance. The attendance requirement of the band is mainly to ensure the quality of
the band's performance and the efficiency of the rehearsal. Students should be
aware of their obligations and responsibilities. Only illness or a family emergency can
be counted as an exceptional condition. Any other information should be informed
promptly and in advance. Any absence without the knowledge of the director or
parents may result in leaving the band.

- Students are allowed two unexcused absences, but they must be announced
before rehearsals or other events.

- More than two unexcused absences may cause a 50% deduction from the final
grades or leave the band.

- Any member who misses the dress rehearsal will not be allowed to perform.

- Two times of tardiness equals to one absence

Communication Methods
Effective communication is the key to a band's success. Students and their parents
can check the band's official website at www.awhs.edu to find the school email
addresses of all members responsible for attendance. Students can contact the
section leader first when asking for leave. All section leaders will provide their school
email addresses and other available contact information. Suppose the section leader
does not reply to the email in 12 hours, or it is an urgent situation. In that case,
students can contact the director, band teachers, or section leaders directly.

Grading Policy
Rehearsals Participation and Attendance: 50%

Performances Attendance and the Results of Performances: 20%

Class preparation and participation: 25%

Music assessment (music theory: written tests and skill checks): 5%

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Required Band Materials and Fees

Wind (Brass and Woodwind) Fees: 285$

◆ Dress Code

■ Black shirt, black dress/pants (not jeans), Black leather shoes/any black
shoes other than sports shoes – all the students have the exact dress code

◆ Woodwind or brass instrument rental from school instrument rental: 75$ for each
instrument

■ Students are allowed to bring their instruments.

◆ Travel expenses and other miscellaneous expenses: 180$

◆ Repair and Maintenance Fees (only for school-owned instruments): 30$

Percussion Fees: 330$

◆ Dress Code

■ Black shirt, black dress/pants (not jeans), Black leather shoes/any black
shoes other than sports shoes – all the students have the exact dress code

◆ Vic Firth EP2 Intermediate Education Pack (includes SD2, M3, M6, T3, BSB): 120$

■ There are equivalent drumstick and mallets packs. Please contact the
AWHS director for more information.

◆ Travel expenses and other miscellaneous expenses: 180$

◆ Repair and Maintenance Fees: 30$

String: 285$

Rental Fee: 75$

Repair and Maintenance Fee: 30$

Travel expenses and other miscellaneous expenses: 180$

Notes: The final fee to be submitted may change according to the actual
situation. All the final cost details will be sent to the student's account in the
first week of the band rehearsal.
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Instrument Rental and Maintenance

On the question of instrument rental, each member can rent the instruments needed

by the band from the school. The monthly rental provided by the school can help

students reduce the cost of Musical Instruments and greatly help students achieve

the action of joining the band. The band department at AWHS rents instruments for

$75 per instrument. Students will not be held responsible for any problems with the

instrument itself. But any damage done to instruments by students. Students will be

responsible for all maintenance costs. For some unavoidable issues due to the

performance of the other instruments, the director will contact the maintenance

department regularly to agree on the maintenance of the instruments. All instruments

that need to be repaired will be counted by the director in advance and reported to

relevant departments. Any student who finds a problem with the instrument, please

inform the director as soon as possible.

Band Scholarships
The scholarship aims to help students improve their financial situation and actively
participate in band activities in the best possible condition. AWHS has three
scholarships available:

- AWHS High Band Participation with Excellence Performance: 300$

■ This scholarship is offered to students who maintain perfect attendance and

have a grade point average of 3.5 or above.

- Academic Excellence Scholarship: 250$

■ This scholarship is for students who participate in any band with a GPA of 3.8 or
higher.

- Merit Scholarship in the Field of Music: 380$

■ This scholarship is awarded for proven musical skill and excellence. Students
must provide previous awards from music competitions and letters of
recommendation from the student's instrument instructor. Students are required
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to provide a video of the piece being played. Play the repertoire will be decided
by the music band department. Students who want to participate in this
scholarship must apply and check the Band Department's official website for the
repertoire to be played.

Fundraising
Music Festival

Our school will organize music festivals together with other high school bands. All our
income from the music industry will be put into future travel and other expenses.

AWHS Anniversary Celebration

All the bands will perform and join other events to receive funds from the festival.
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Band Support Team

The school has already hired someone to handle the band's logistics. In the past
year, the school has been able to use professional support staff to support our band.
Our support staff is distributed as follows:

Chief Team Leader

Deputy group leader

Assistant

Financial Team

Trip Planning Team

Operations and Transportation Director

Event Operation Team

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Contract/Student & Parent

Signature Page
Student Name ____________________

Grade _________________

Instrument ____________________

Parent/Guardian Name _________________________

- Emergency Contact Info:

■ Phone _______________________

■ Email _________________________

Please List dates that will conflict with the rehearsal/concert schedules presented in
this handbook:

Band Student: I have read and understand this band handbook and agree to abide
by its contents contained in it. I agree to follow the band's policy and understand that
my role is essential to the band. I will always show my highest quality with
musicianship and excellence.

Band Parents: I have read and understood this band handbook and have agreed to
allow my children to participate in all band activities and trips. I know that the
discipline policy of AWHS is in effect, and I agree to encourage my children to be of
the highest quality during the school year to the best of my ability, musicianship, and
excellence.

Student Signature___________________________________
Date________________

Parent/Guardian Signature__________________________ Date________________