Reynolds Band E-News
It's that time of year! Spring sports are ramping up, along with all of the academic UIL events, clubs, theatre, you name it! Students are stretched thin and are asked to be in a thousand places at once. This guide is created to help your child navigate band expectations during this busy time of year.
Remember: Band is a TEAM activity, and every child is important. There is no bench in band - every student participates and every student contributes to every performance.
What To Do When A Conflict Arises
STEP ONE: Determine the Priority
Help your child determine which activity SHOULD be prioritized. Often, students struggle to understand the difference between which event is the most important versus which teacher they are most afraid to "disappoint". This is where the Hierarchy of Priorities can help! Items highest on the list are the most important items to attend when a conflict arises.
STEP TWO: Determine How Early To Contact Directors
It is important to give all of the teachers involved plenty of time to plan around your child's absence from an event. Sometimes, one student's absence could create major changes and challenges for the entire group. The best way for your child to take care of the team is by making sure that the directors/coaches in charge have plenty of time to make arrangements in case your child's absence creates such major changes. With enough advanced notice, the directors and coaches can sometimes even find a way to share time so that your child can be part of BOTH activities!
The band handbook outlines specific expectations for band students:
- Absence from a Performance: Minimum of 2 Weeks prior
- Absence from a Rehearsal: Minimum of 48 hours prior
STEP THREE: Contact BOTH Sponsors/Directors/Coaches
Once the priority is determined, it is time to contact the teachers who will be impacted by this event. It is important to make sure both parties are aware of the conflict to avoid confusion. It is perfectly fine to CC both parties in the email if needed. In the email, please specify your child's name, which activity your child will miss, why your child will be absent, and what day/time the conflict happens - sometimes the teachers can work out a schedule together to allow your child to split time between both activities.
When contacting a band director, please make sure to contact your child's specific director. Please see below for more information:
WHICH BAND DIRECTOR TO CONTACT
Ms. Taylor
Mr. Dann
Mr. Bassham
Mr. Matthews
STEP FOUR: Make Up The Work
If it is determined that band must be missed, the student will have some make-up work to complete. Here is what to do if your child misses band:
Sectional Absence:
- Your child should speak with his/her section leader or another person in the section to catch up on missed homework assignment information, important information about the music practiced, markings made in music, notes taken, etc.
- If your child misses a test, your child should work with the director to schedule a retake.
- Practice an extra session equivalent to the amount of sectional time missed to catch up. (45 minutes for CB 2, 60 minutes for CB 1, 75 minutes for SW)
Masterclass/Clinic Absence:
- Should be treated the same as a sectional absence.
- Masterclasses are usually about 90-120 minutes long. Your child should practice for the amount of time missed and still be prepared to perform the music in class the following band class day at the same level as the rest of the section.
Performance Absence:
- Typically, a director will work with your child to complete an alternate performance opportunity. Your child should prepare for the alternate opportunity and complete it by the day/time designated by the director.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
SO CAN MY CHILD REALLY BE IN BAND AND OTHER ACTIVITIES?
YES! All of our policies are in place to help your child navigate through the busy middle school schedule to be a part of band AND everything else he/she wishes to be part of! We strive to be one of the MOST flexible organizations on campus because we want to see our students thrive in everything they wish to be part of. It just takes some proactive communication to make it happen.
WHAT IF BOTH EVENTS ARE THE SAME PRIORITY LEVEL?
- State-sanctioned events such as UIL should take the TOP priority. UIL is the STAAR test for band/choir/orchestra/theatre, with one MAJOR difference: It is a GROUP effort to receive the grade! A person missing could cause a part to be missing, and could hurt the entire organization's score as a result.
- Honor Events should take the next priority. Typically, students put in hundreds of hours to earn a spot in these types of events and compete against others to earn the opportunity. Missing one of these events could keep another student who worked hard from attending the event.
- In many cases, time might be able to be shared. Talk to both directors/coaches/sponsors as early as possible to try and work out a schedule.
- If time cannot be shared, the student will need to pick between the two activities. The two easiest ways to choose are either whichever event was communicated the EARLIEST or whichever activity needs your child's attendance the most (such as, the only person covering the part/position/etc). Your child's choice should be communicated as QUICKLY and EARLY as possible to allow the groups to make plans/arrangements.
BOX 2: GRADED, NON-PERFORMANCE UNIQUE EVENTS
- Use the same general planning as Box 1. In these cases, time can typically be shared between the two groups with enough advanced notice. (At least 48 hours, but the more time given the more likely your child will get to do both activities).
BOX 3-5: PRACTICES, ETC
- Give your child's teachers at least 48 hours notice to work out a compromise or solution. Usually, band will be the most flexible for your child in these cases with enough heads up to give your child the plan for the rehearsal.
I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT A CONFLICT FOR TOMORROW'S EVENT! HELP!
No worries! Just let us know as soon as you know, and we will do our best to make it work for your child.
WHAT ABOUT TUTORING?
In most cases, teachers are expected to offer tutoring more than once per week. Additionally, Eagle Time is available for additional help. If your child's teacher asks your child to come to a sectional, just make sure they know your child has sectionals and needs to schedule a different time. If your child needs assistance, a director is happy to help facilitate the conversation with enough notice.
WHAT IF MY CHILD LEAVES SCHOOL EARLY?
No worries! Just make sure your child comes to the band hall to pick up his/her instrument and just let us know that your child had to leave school early so that we can excuse the absence. Make sure your child asks a section peer for any missed information.
WHAT IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT FROM SCHOOL?
An absence from school will also result in an excused band absence. While it is helpful to let a band director know that your child is out sick, we will assume that your child will not be present if your child is absent from school for the day!
WHY ARE THE BAND ABSENCE REQUEST POLICIES SO STRICT?
Remember: BAND IS A TEAM! And part of being on the team is taking care of all of its members. When one student misses a practice or performance, it impacts the entire band - not just the one child. Unlike most other activities, band does not have a "bench" - every single member is vital to the success of the team. Having time to properly prepare helps us ensure the success of the team.
PRACTICES: 48 hours for a practice allows us to make alternate lesson plans if necessary and to give your student information about the material missed in advance. Additionally, we can sometimes work out a shared schedule that will allow your child to be at both events! Sectional time is the ONLY time we are able to work on the specific needs for each individual instrument group and it allows us the opportunity to give individual time that cannot be afforded during band class with 50+ students in the room together. This time is absolutely vital to the success of the group and is nearly impossible to make up. However, with 48 hours' notice we can at least limit the loss as much as possible to help your child continue to be successful in our contest preparations.
PERFORMANCES: We need 2 weeks' notice for performances because in all 3 bands, there are sections where students might be the ONLY person playing their part or missing a person from your child's part could create an unbalanced section. In either case, another student will need to learn your child's part to make sure it is covered because proper balance of parts is something that the judges are listening for when we perform. Students practice and perfect the concert music for months, and giving a peer any less than 2 weeks to learn new music would create an unfair situation for the peer, for the section, and for the band. In extreme cases, a person might need to move up from another ensemble to cover the part and we need as much advance notice as possible to make sure that can happen. Additionally, 2 weeks will allow us enough time to give your child an alternate opportunity to make up the missed performance experience to still earn the correct band class grade for the performance. Sometimes, though, we are able to find a way to make shared time work for both groups; however, it is MOST fair for both groups to have ample time to plan around the alternate schedule to make it work best for your child and your child's teammates. (Ms. Taylor has been able to move concerts for athletes and has even worked with theatre to change performance orders in the past to make busy schedules work around performances! It absolutely CAN be done with communication!)
Why is all of this important?
Band is a team! We need everyone present and eager to learn in order to be successful.
We want your child to be able to do EVERYTHING he/she wants to do, but that often takes some proactive planning and communication in order to make sure all organizations are successful.
I Still Have Questions
No problem is too big or too small to help your child return to school feeling confident and ready to learn! Please feel free to email your child's band directors about your child and the Reynolds Band program. We generally respond to emails within 24 hours.