Grading will be by playing tests and participation in class.    Students can expect a playing test every Friday on any material that was covered during the week so practice is essential.  Ideally, students should practice every day but in reality most students can't always do so.  Therefore, practice can be spread out over the week, spread out over a few days or be done at one time. 

Football Band- 7th and 8th grade play for most home football games unless it is raining.   Students will earn 10 extra credit points for each game played.  They also will receive a football button for playing at one game.  They will play during the 1st half and the 4th quarter.  They will have the 3rd quarter off to go to the restroom and get refreshments.  Students will stay in the stands the 1st, 2nd and 4th quarters.  Students can wear band shirts or plain red t-shirts.  Since students will be representing our school and we want to make a good impression they will be expected to be on their best behavior during the entire game.  Detention hall will be assigned to students who don't follow the rules.

Goal Buttons-Students can earn buttons by completing projects such as Music Website Design, learning the required scales and arpeggios, making All-County or Ratings bands, participating in Football Band, accumulating 30, 60, 90, and 120 practice hours, competing "Essentials of Music Theory" books and more.  Some buttons are only for 7th and 8th grade bands.  Students are required to keep a practice journal to qualify for practice buttons.

All-County Band and Rating Band is open to 7th and 8th graders.  Students selected by outside audition for All County will combine with students from the other county middle schools and present a concert.   The Ratings Band group based on playing tests, class participation and needed instrumentation for the selected pieces.  Students are required to have a 2.0 GPA at the end of the first semester in order to participate in Ratings Band.  The Ratings Band group  performs for 3 judges  at Cabell Midland High School for the Region 3 Band Festival where we will earn our overall rating.  All-County Band and Ratings Band are two completely different activities.  Students do not need to make All-County to be selected for Ratings Band.

Christmas and Spring Concerts are required.  The Halloween Concert for 6th grade is also required.  In the event that a student is ill or cannot attend for some other excused reason, writing a 3-page paper on a topic of my choice can make up the grade.  Dress for the Christmas and Spring concerts will be dark pants/skirts and white shirts.  6th grade students will wear their Halloween costumes for that concert if they like but a costume is not required to participate in the concert.

BOOKS

If a student needs to purchase a book they can get them at Kerr's Music. 

8th Grade- "Standard of Excellence" Book 3 and "Bach and Before

7th Grade- "Stand of Excellence, Enhanced" Book 2 and "Bach and Before

6th Grade- "Standard of Excellence, Enhanced" Book 1 and "First Performance

For your convenience Kerr's Music (Barboursville store) will deliver supplies that you need to  HMS.  Contact Kerr's at 1-866-642-3047 and get the price for the item being ordered and send the exact amount cash or check in a sealed enveloped addressed to Kerr's Music to the band room.  Please order full boxes of reeds.  You are responsible for placing the order to Kerr's.  Be sure to say you are with Hurricane Middle School! 

The school provides folders for 7th and 8th grade sheet music.  Students will be assigned a slot and a folder.  Students are expected to keep music neatly in the music cabinet.  No 3-ring binders will be allowed in the cabinet.  They don't fit!

RULES TO REMEMBER

• Band is a performance class so students are expected to play every day.  The only excused days are for medical and orthodontic problems or a broken instrument that is being repaired. 
• A student responsible for damaging any instrument or instrument accessory, whether accidentally or intentionally, will be expected to pay for the repair.  Repairs can be quite expensive so students need to be very careful in the band room.
• Detention will be assigned to any student who opens any instrument case other than his/her own.
• Students are expected to clean up after themselves.  Music and instruments must be put away after use.  No food, gum or drinks are allowed in the band room.
• Students must enter and leave the band room in a quiet and orderly manner.  Do not cut through the cafeteria.  Go through the breezeway.
• No running in the band room.