Mountain Lion Instrumental Music Requirements and Grading Policy

Participation Expectations

All Mountain Lion Instrumental Music students are expected to arrive on time to class with their instrument, a pencil, and their planner. Students will have a full minute after the tardy bell to get their instrument and take their seat. Students with unexcused tardies will need to wait until the attendance is completed before getting their instruments. Students are expected to follow all of the instrumental music room rules and demonstrate positive, mature behavior.

• Overall participation and behavior will constitute 30% of the student’s quarter grade.

Since the Mountain Lion Band and Orchestras are performing classes, all Mountain Lion Band and Orchestra students are expected to be at both the Winter and Spring performances. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and make-up work will be required of those students with excused concert absences. Unexcused concert absences cannot be made up and the student’s grade will be affected.

• Concert attendance and performance will serve in the place of the second playing test for the student’s second and fourth quarter grades. (See “…playing tests…” below)

Assessment

A Band or Orchestra Student’s homework is his or her practicing; therefore, each student will be responsible to practice, at home, at least three half-hours per week. A parent will need to sign/initial the practice log for each week, and the practice logs will be collected every three weeks (three practice logs per quarter).

· Practicing AND turning in the practice logs will constitute 10% of the student’s quarter grade.

Two assigned playing tests will be given each quarter. (Each student is required to perform their playing test before the rest of the class, and every student is required to demonstrate the utmost respect for the student performing their test.) Notification is usually one week prior, giving the student adequate time to prepare their best performance. Other quizzes may also be assigned.

· Assigned playing tests, concerts, and other assessments will constitute 50% of the student’s quarter grade.

Each quarter all students will be assigned a written project. This project will involve research work in the area of music, but will not be limited to band music only. Each student will decide on a topic and have it approved by the instrumental music director before starting their project. Typically there will be at least a month given for the completion of the project.

· Written Projects will constitute 10% of the student’s quarter grade.