Middle Schools

40% - Attending and participating in Concerts/Performances  

Attendance is required at all performances.  The only accepted excusal from a performance is a family emergency.  Missing a performance must be communicated with the director as early as possible.  If excused, an alternative assignment will be provided.  If there is a scheduling conflict you must notify the director as soon as possible.  Concert dates will be announced very early before any performance. 

20% - Completion of playing tests and pass-offs 

Playing tests will be performed every week and will be announced regularly.  Students will know what the upcoming test will be (always on Thursday/Friday) and should be practicing daily to prepare for each playing test.  Students and parents can see what the upcoming playing test is on the Mendive Band website. 

Pass-offs are recorded assignments that require students to achieve a 100% score.  Students are given unlimited attempts to achieve this score throughout the quarter.  If, by the end of the quarter, a 100% is not achieved students will be given their highest score from their third attempt. 

40% - Completion of materials checks, classwork, practice logs, assignments, and turning in forms. 

Every day students will need in class;  

Band Binder – pencil, fingering chart, scale sheet, method book, assigned sheet music, etc. 

Instrument 

Valve oil/reeds & cleaning swabs 

Behavior Grade - Attending and participating in class in a respectful manner 

Respect your peers, your teacher, and yourself by; 

Being on time for class, rehearsals, performances, etc. 

Being in your chair with equipment and ready to go when the bell rings.  

Gum, candy, and treats are to be chewed or eaten out of school grounds. No sports drinks, soda, etc. are allowed in the band hall.  ONLY WATER. 

PENCILS are to be on the music stand with music. 

Sit up tall in chairs; feet flat on floor, percussion students will stand up to play. 

Raise your hand to be called on to make comments or to ask questions. 

Respect, and take care of, ALL school instruments/equipment. Leave all equipment/instruments alone that are not checked out to you. 

Respect, and take care of, other students’ equipment as well as your own. Do not touch other students’ instruments. 

3 Strike System 

1st Strike – Warning 

2nd Strike – Pack-up but follow along (good behavior bumps back up to 1st warning) 

3rd Strike – Alternative seating, alternative assignment, letter grade deduction from behavior 

*Two consecutive semesters within the same academic year receiving a behavior grade of D or lower may result in ineligibility for enrollment into a music class in the following year 

Make-up/Absence Work 

If a playing test or assignment is missed the student will need to arrange a time with the director to make-up the playing test (for full credit).  This can be scheduled for before or after school. 

Int/Adv 

All Black Dress Pants 

Slacks or Dress pants 

NO jeans/joggers/sweats or etc. 

All Black Shoes or Dress shoes 

All Black Socks(long enough to completely cover the ankle when sitting down) 

Polos – Mendive Band Black Polo - $10 (can use for both 7th and 8th grade) 

Beginning Bands 

Jeans, closed toe shoes, band shirt (to be provided) 

Students are expected to practice at least 15 minutes each day. 

Just like how an athlete progresses by working every day, musicians succeed the same way! 

It is must better to practice 15 minutes each day than to practice 4 hours one day.   

Practicing regularly will allow you to be extremely prepared for all playing tests 

While band is fun, band is best enjoyed when you are playing your instrument well!  This is achieved by participating in class and practicing regularly 

Students will need to submit weekly practice logs for a grade 

What do I practice? 

Warm-up (Can be the same as in class) 

Technique (Scales, tonguing, paradiddles, etc.) 

Playing Test of the week 

Assigned Music 

Fun Music 

Practice Club - After School – The Band room and three practice rooms available 

Rental/Purchase options: 

Rent-to-own from a music store 

This allows you to rent an instrument with each rental payment going towards purchasing the instrument.  This can result in you owning a high-quality instrument that will last through high school and even into the start of college without having to pay a large sum up front.  

Renting from a music store 

Many music stores offer instrument rentals for a monthly fee.  See the Mendive Band website for links to many local stores in town. 

Purchasing an instrument 

Please Note, if you are purchasing an instrument, it is highly encouraged that you check with Mr. Overlay before purchasing an instrument.  There are many instruments available, especially online, that offer great prices but often the instruments are of such low quality that they do not function properly.  Furthermore, these instruments tend to break frequently and will result in expensive repairs that can cost more than the instrument itself.  To avoid this happening, you are welcome to ask me about the instrument first.  I would never recommend plastic instruments and/or instruments that are of an unnatural color (red, pink, blue, green, etc.).  Remember, you get what you pay for.  

Renting from Mendive MS 

Mendive Middle School has a limited supply of instruments for students.  We would like to reserve these instruments for students whose financial circumstances truly prohibit them from renting an instrument.  School instruments will be issued on a first come, first serve basis, and based on availability with priority given to those on Free & Reduced Lunch, as per WCSD policy.  Please keep in mind that if you are approved for use of a school instrument that there is a $50 instrument use fee.  This fee helps to cover the cost of cleaning/servicing the instruments over summer.  Please do not pay for this fee unless you are checked-out a school instrument.  The form to request a school instrument can be found on the Mendive Band website.