Somers Central School District
Somers Middle School - Band 2010-2011
Steven Chetcuti - Director

Festivals (NYSSMA)
 

SMS Bands Rehearsal Schedule

Ensemble Description Day / Time of Rehearsals
6th Grade Band(6) For all 6th Grade Students Tuesday / Thursday @ 7:40 am
7th & 8th Grade Band(7/8) For all 7th & 8th Grade Students Monday / Wednesday @ 7:40 am
Jazz Band (Jan-May) For all SMS students Friday @ 7:40 am
Fife & Drum (Sept-Nov 11) For all SMS & SHS students Wednesday @ 3 - 4pm
Fife & Drum (Jan-June) For all SMS & SHS students Monday @ 3 - 4pm
Note - All rehearsals are held in the SMS Band Room (next to the auditorium)

Calendar of Events
Date Group Event Place (Arrival time) Performance Time
TBA JC / JE SEF Spaghetti Dinner Somers HS Cafeteria @ 4:30pm 5:30 - 8:30pm
TBA all SMS Winter Concert Somers SMS Auditorium @ 6:45pm 7:30pm
12/15/10 opt Registration for NYSSMA solo festival due to Mr. Chetcuti
Download form		 See NYSSMA Festival info  By appointment
TBA opt.

NYSSMA solo Festival
non-jazz solos

 TBA Directions available soon
TBA opt. Piano only festival TBA Directions available soon
TBA opt. Jazz, Drum, Guitar, Harp festival TBA Directions available soon
TBA all SMS Band Night(Spring Concert)

Somers Middle School Auditorium
Meet in SMS band room @ 6:45

 7:30pm
TBA solos 8th Grade Graduation To Be Announced one hour before graduation
         
 

FAQs
Smartmusic Rehearsals
Concerts Transportation School Delays
Phone Chain 		Grading
Communication Please do not hesitate to call me at the Middle School 277-3399(ext 714) if you have any questions regarding this material or anything else pertaining to the band program.
Instruments Each student is responsible for supplying his /her own instrument. Instruments must be kept in proper playing condition. All personal equipment must be labeled . All instrument cases must be clearly labeled with your child’s name. Instruments must be brought home at the end of the school day. Instruments are not to be left in the school over night. They are not insured after school hours.
Maintenance Please keep instruments is clean, working order. If you think your instrument has a problem, ask Mr Chetcuti to take a look. If it is something small he might be able to fix it. don't go for weeks with a broken instrument. It it is something bigger than a simple repair, Mr. Chetcuti will advise you as to some places it can be fixed.
Materials

All band students must have the following
1. A three ring binder to keep all lesson and band materials (I suggest those plastic sleeves)
2. Essential Elements 2000 lesson book 1&2 for your instrument.
3. SmartMusic Software for home practice (www.smartmusic.com)
3. Solo book for NYSSMA songs(What is NYSSMA?)
Individual instrumental needs -
1. Brass - must keep their valves well oiled and have extra valve oil on hand.
2. Woodwind - must have extra reeds, cork grease and cleaning cloths in their case at all times.
3. Percussionists must own all equipment before they can be registered for band
**Required Percussion equipment list: Percussion kit includes a 2 -1/2 octave Bells(notes G3 – C5), Acrylic, Yarn, and Timpani Mallets ,5A and 2B drumsticks, a Remo practice pad, a Stick bag and a drum key.

Lessons Students are excused from their regular classes to attend instrumental lessons on a rotating schedule. They are expected .to make up any class work missed. Lessons are part of the school curriculum and attendance is required Please see the grading statement below.
Lesson Procedure Instrumental students must follow the same procedure before attending a lesson
1. If a student has a test or a quiz that period, they are to stay in class and make up the lesson at recess or after school within one week.
2. Before a student goes to their lesson, the student is to inform the teacher of their lesson, and hand in any homework that.is due.
3. After the lesson, the student; must check with their classmates or teacher about class activities or additional assignments.
Smart Music All band students are required to use SmartMusic as a supplement to the band lessons in school. The software costs $30/year and will be used by students to submit performance assignments. You can download this program at www.smartmusic.com. This software will be demonstrated at open house.
Rehearsals Students should be in their seats by 7:40. Rehearsal starts at 7:45 am. Students will. be dismissed at 8:23. Attendance is mandatory. Missed rehearsals/performances will affect your child's grade.
Rehearsal Schedule 1) The 6th Grade Band will meet on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
2) The 7th / 8th Grade Band will meet on. Monday and Wednesday mornings.
3) Jazz Ensemble will meet on Friday mornings
4) The Bell Choir and guitar club will meet on Tuesday afternoons.
Concerts

There are two required performances.
The Winter Concert held at the High School auditorium
T he Spring Concert held at the High School auditorium.
Attendance is mandatory at all Band performances

Band members are required to wear concert dress attire at all functions.
*Boys - White button down oxford shirt, dark slacks, socks, shoes and a dark long tie.
*Girls - White button down blouse, a ANKLE length black skirt and black shoes

Transportation Your child can take the morning bus to the High School and then be shuttled down to the Middle School in time for rehearsals. If you choose to bring your child yourself or form a car pool with other families please have the children arrive at least five minutes early to set up for rehearsal. All students should be dropped off in front by the portables no earlier than 7:35 am.

School Delays

In case of a delayed opening all morning rehearsals will be cancelled. However, daily lessons will take place.
Phone Chain I will make every attempt to make an announcement at school if I know rehearsal is going to be cancelled for the next day. However, there may be times when I will not be able to hold rehearsal in the morning and no announcement was made. For this reason I will be creating a phone web. I will need your permission to put your child on this phone chain. Please check to box on the registration contract to be added to the phone chain. I would also like you to consider volunteering to make five calls on the web. Please check the volunteer box as well if you can help.
Grading

Students will graded on the following criteria.
1. rehearsal participation(25%)
If your child is absent they must bring me a note on the next rehearsal.
2. lesson participation(25%)
Students must prepared for their lesson with all required materials
3. home practice sheets(25%)
Students must keep this form in their band binder.It will be checked at weekly lessons.
4. tests, performances (25%).
Students will be tested on concert materials one week before the scheduled performance.
This will be combined with their performance event grade.

Rehearsals
Lessons attended
Homework Points
0 unexcused - 100
8 - 100
40 - 100
2 unexcused - 95
7 - 90
36 - 90
4 unexcused - 90
6 - 80
32 - 80
6 unexcused - 80
5 - 70
28 - 70
8 unexcused - 70
4 - 60
24 - 60
10 unexcused - 60
3 - 50
20 - 50
Part of a Team Students who sign up for band are making a commitment to be part of a team for a scheduled performance. Leaving the band mid season does affect the group’s sound quality. Therefore, If a student stops attending rehearsals or lessons he/she will receive zeros until the end of that grading period (semester). These zeros will averaged into your child’s band semester grade. A student may be resign from band at the end of the 2nd quarter with a note from their parent/guardian.

NYSSMA Spring Festivals
All Registration must be submitted to Mr. Chetcuti by February 29, 2008


2008 NYSSMA Registration Form - Click Here to Download
What is NYSSMA?
NYSSMA stands for the New York State School Music Association, and every spring around the county there are solo festivals for the students to audition for certified music judges. At this festival your child will play a prepared solo from the NYSSMA Manual, play scales from memory, and sight read a short exercise. In a bout two weeks the results for the audition will come back to Mr. Chetcuti.
What do these results mean?

That your child has been ranked in a state performance festival. Your child's score can get them nominated to a special band called All-County where they play with the best musicians in Westchester County. But basically, You just keep this audition for your child's personal file of achievements (which are now being used in college interviews)
What are the fees for particiation?
Fees to register for this festival are as follows
Levels 1-4 are $14 (add $5 for piano solos-$19)
L evels 5-6 are $21. (add $5 for piano solos-$26)
What are the rules for participation in a NYSSMA solo festival?

1. No Xeroxed copies are allowed at NYSSMA Festivals. Original copies ONLY.
2. One copy of the solo is required, two copies are preferred. Make sure you have NO XEROXED COPIES.
3 . Only selections from the NYSSMA Manual Edition XXVII (effective July 1, 2003) are permitted for evaluation grades.
4 . Only NYSSMA school teachers may register students. Registration must be given to Mr. Chetcuti by the deadline. Missing the registration deadline may result in not being scheduled for an audition time. Registrations made by non-NYSSMA teachers are not the responsibilities of the school
5 . There is a specific listing for voice solos. Only the specific solo in the specific key will be accepted as an All-State audition. If no key is stated, the standard published key is required.

Additional Rules
Late registrations may be returned to you. Get materials in on time to make sure your students are well served by the adjudication experience.Unregistered students will not be allowed to audition.
Unpaid auditions may result in your student not being heard or not receiving his/her sheet.
Check the manual and then check the manual again. Make sure to check titles, opus numbers, keys, key signatures, clefs, languages, recitatives, required movements, editions, and then check the manual again. Check the errata and addendum sheets posted at NYSSMA.org in the Manual section. BECOME FAMILIAR with the SIGHT-READING PARAMETERS IN THE NYSSMA MANUAL

Audio Files
Links