Welcome to the band program of Oostburg Christian School, home of the Chargers! What a joy it is to glorify God with the musical gifts and abilities He has given us. Through our beauty making, we can learn to glorify and praise God. As products of God's creativity, it is our joyful duty to respond through a sacrifice of praise. Band is a class that hones students' abilities to create beauty through dedicated practice and hard work. As you look through the information below, please know that I am grateful for your investment into this angle of your child's lifelong education.
Program Description
Students enrolled in band commit to a year-long experience.
5th grade band meets during a 30 minute period once a week.
6th-8th grade band meets during a 35 minute period twice a week.
Each student will receive either private or small-group lessons with Mr. Kuipers once a week. These lessons are generally 15-20 minutes in length.
Concert participation is mandatory.
Goals
As a band; we will strive to meet the following technical goals throughout the year:
To demonstrate appropriate posture for good tone production and breath control
To play with free, natural, and warm tone
To understand specific band terminology and notation
To be able to successfully participate in a tuning process
To respond sensitively to gestures of the conductor
To interpret correctly what is on the printed page, improve music literacy, and improve sight reading skills
To be capable of playing ensemble music with increased difficulty each year
To play music in various keys
To understand and display appropriate rehearsal etiquette
To develop solo repertoire playing
Procedures
All students will come to band fully prepared to participate and learn. This means remembering the following:
Instrument
Valve oil, grease, and any other maintenance supplies
Music binder and band book
Pencil
A smile!
If a student will be absent from band due to medical/other appointments, please bring this to Mr. Kuipers' attention before band begins.
Communication
If your child has special circumstances that are making it difficult to be in band or maintain consistent practice, please let Mr. Kuipers know early on so a solution can be found. After all, band is a year-long commitment. Though you can call me at school, availability is not always guaranteed. Email is preferred.
Practice
While some students may hear the word practice and shudder, others may think of it as an opportunity. Mr. Kuipers is a firm believer that practice, when done correctly, is the most influential factor in a student's musical development. Throughout the year, students may practice 80+ minutes per week to receive a band buck. All practice pages must be signed weekly by a parent/guardian and will be checked at the beginning of the student’s lesson.
Grading
To “pass” band, work intentionally in band, attend each and every concert, come to lessons on time, and complete four practice projects per semester. Practice minutes will not be factored into the student’s grade.
Concert Expectations
Unlike traditional classes with quizzes and tests, the band demonstrates their learning a couple of times a year through a concert. Each student is required to participate in every band concert. The only acceptable reasons to miss a concert are illness, medical emergencies, a funeral or a wedding. Other extenuating circumstances must be approved by Mr. Kuipers one month before the concert. Extracurricular practices, activities, events, and vacations will not be approved. As a parent, you are responsible for your child’s concert attendance grade as you are their sole method of transportation to and from the concert. Therefore, their grade reflects you as well.
Concert Dress
Concert dress consists of black pants/skirt, white shirt/blouse, and black dress shoes. The idea of concert dress is to look as uniform as possible, so avoid clothes that draw attention, e.g. shiny or shimmery fabric, trendy styles, etc. The boys’ white shirt needs to have a collar and long sleeves. The girls’ shirt/blouse should have long or ¾ length sleeves. No short sleeves allowed. This uniform need not cost much money--check second-hand stores, clearance sales or borrow from a friend or relative. As a school, we have also received a number of donations of black and white attire that you are free to use if needed. Feel free to check out the school inventory to see if there are any items that would fit your son/daughter. We ask that you donate the OCS attire back to the school when your son/daughter has grown out of them or leaves OCS.
Important Dates
Transfer these required performance dates to your family calendar to prevent conflicts:
November 19Friday9:00 a.m.Grandparent/friend Day December 14Tuesday6:30 p.m.Christmas Concert May 6FridayAll dayMusicFest @ Brookfield Christian June 3 Friday2:30 p.m.Concert on the lawn
State Honors Project
The WSMA Middle Level State Honors Music Project offers musically accomplished youth the opportunity to rehearse and perform with nationally-known conductors in a professional setting. Students audition in April and then, if selected, perform at the Wisconsin State Music Conference in October of the next year. Middle Level State Honors students receive their music in August and meet for the first time the day before their fall performance. The rehearsal day and formal concert will take place in the Madison area.