Jazz Band
Tardies will be calculated on if the student is ready to go with required class materials 5 minutes after the bell rings. Here is the Disclosure for Jazz Band
Jazz Band
SYLLABUS
Expectations
Present: To be present means to be at class on time, for the duration of the class, and to stay focussed on what the class is doing. Present individuals make efforts to use their time efficiently. Tardies will be calculated on if the student is ready to go with required class materials 5 minutes after the bell rings.
Honest: Members of the ensemble need to remember to be honest with each-other and concerning the work they do and how they approach it.
Respectful: Respect in the band room includes treating self, others, and equipment with kindness. The band room should be a place of pride both in terms of the physical space and how we treat each other.
Responsible: Students are expect to take responsibility by being organized, taking ownership of the assignments including practicing, coming prepared for class
-Students will follow the above WHS expectation as part of the music programs goals. This means being in class, participating, having your supplies and materials for class, being true to self and other, showing respect for everyone and the room you are in. Students take ownership of learning in this class.
-Logical consequences will be applied to each student and situation. Parents will be made aware of perpetual issues and a plan of action will be decided upon involving all parties. Violation of school policy as outlined in the student handbook will be handled via referral or/and administrative intervention.
The focus is that our head (brain), hands (what we do), and heart (emotional focus) should be in the right place. Realize this can be applied to all situations, people, times, places, and actions within the music department. We must make sure we treat each other and the space we work in with respect and dignity. That includes all instruments whether owned by the school or by students. The key ingredients for success are striving for emotional impact, mindful awareness, and purposeful action. Be willing to try new things and to get out of your comfort zone.
Note: We must address the food issue. We need to keep our room clean as well as our instruments. The practice rooms do not get cleaned regularly like other places. So to keep us clean we keep food in the cafeteria.
Note: Cell Phones and Tech must be used appropriately. The new decision is that cell phone use in class is limited to tuners, metronome, or apps based in learning music. No phones or computers will be collected for misuse. Instead, a warning is issued and after that, the student will be sent to Administrators for repeat violations. Mr. Ryszka understands there may be circumstances that warrant phone usage. Please let me know ahead of time or when the situation comes up so I may be better understanding.
Grading
Daily Participation Points 30%
Participation daily includes following the class expectations, performing in class, being on time, and being prepared for class (have an instrument with needed accessories, music, and pencil). You will have a weekly survey to fill out on canvas concerning your participation. This is due on Friday.
Practice Reports 20%
Music is an art form that requires consistent and dedicated practice to become a better musician. Daily practice is recommended and a minimum of 3 hours per week. That is 30 minutes a day 6 days a week. This report is due every Friday and is in a survey available on Canvas. Goals should be made for specific progress you want to make.
- Practice goals include working on your music for class or specific assignments. Any other exceptions need to be approved through Mr. Ryszka.
Tests/assignments 20%
- Written and/or performance tests will be issued weekly. The purpose of these is to check progress and comprehension of information given in class.
Performances 30%
- Concerts are mandatory. Students must arrive 45 minutes before any performance for warm-up, tuning, and any last-minute instruction. Some of these performances will be district events such as honor band, band festival, and or region solo festival. School concerts, collaborations, school events, and community events may also qualify as concert performances. For full schedule, questions refer to the website below. www.wasatchbands.weebly.com (Links to an external site.) For guitar class we do small performances typically in class. There are only a few of these and the criteria will be established before the performance. To be excused for a performance Mr. Ryszka needs to be clearly notified asap. This should be done at least a month in advance. There are always exceptions but promptness is key.
Concert Attire-(Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Percussion I, Percussion II)
Option 1:
Black Tuxedo or tuxedo like attire-(black pants, jacket, white button up shirt, and back bow tie)
-Black slacks
-Black jacket
-Tuxedo shirt or white long sleeve button up shirt
-Black bow tie
Black dress shoes (polished and looking nice)
Tall black socks (no short socks!)
Option 2:
Black floor length skirt
Black short sleeve, 3/4 length or long sleeve blouse
OR
Long black dress (floor length and sleeves the same as above)
Black closed toe shoes (polished and looking nice)
Panty Hose or knee highs
Jazz Band-
Option 1: We are going to wear a Black Button Up Shirts (long sleve), Black Slacks, black socks and shoes, and Gold Ties. You will be issued a gold tie for performances that will need to be turned in after the year.
Option 2: Black dress that goes to mid-calf or lower.
Other considerations:
Hair needs to look clean and tidy - no extreme styles or colors
Makeup is ok - no extremes
Modest Jewelry is ok - nothing extreme
Absolutely NO t-shirts
Absolutely NO jeans (even black jeans)
Absolutely NO white socks
Absolutely NO open toe shoes
No bare midriffs, no bare shoulders, no bare feet and no bears!
Extra Credit
- You are required to attend one performance per term you are not involved with. You may attend other performances and receive extra credit. Mr. Ryszka will notify you of these events. If you have a performance you would like to go to let Mr. Ryszka know ahead of time. You need to bring back a ticket or program from the performance to get credit.
- Attending any Wasatch Music/Theatre department productions excluding ones you are in may also be counted as extra credit.
- Attending a performance is worth the equivalent of a regular assignment.
https://forms.gle/RakkjHPzkZH9p2VQA (Links to an external site.)
Calendar and website
www.wasatchbands.weebly.com (Links to an external site.)
Do all you can to know what the schedule is. Mr. Ryszka has a website that has all of the scheduled events of the year on. Make sure to take note of what group is listed to play on the calendar as that there will be events listed you are not involved with (extra credit though if you attend it).
Communication
Please contact Mr. Ryszka with questions or for any other concern via email at: [email protected]
Please like Our Facebook Page-Wasatch High School Bands
For all wood-winds, brass-winds, and percussion we will also be setting up cut-time accounts. If you have previously registered you will be bumped into the correct ensembles. If you are new you will be added.
Places to get your own instrument or to rent outside of the school setting.
Lee’s music
55 W 100 S, Heber City, UT 84032
(435) 657-0012
-Lee’s has guitar supplies, guitars, and some small percussion and wind instrument supplies. They also send repair work to Bert Murdock’s and do rental instruments through Bert Murdocks.
Summerhay’s Music
1006 S State St, Orem, UT 84097
(801) 226-1760
-Good for many of your guitar, brass/woodwind, and percussion needs. They also do repairs and rentals.
Bert Murdock’s
981North, 1200 W, Orem, UT 84057
(801) 225-7922
-Good for many of your guitar, brass/woodwind, and percussion needs. They also do repairs and rentals.
Resources
Woodwinds
Brass
Region and State Functions
Instrument Sales and Repair
For All Musicians
Resource Websites
Jazz Improv
And all that Jazzz
Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band (learn about the modern jazz scene here).
Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band
And all that Jazzz
Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band (learn about the modern jazz scene here).
Gordon Goodwin Big Phat Band
Transcription Software
Transcribe is a program that takes songs and slows them down enabling musicians to play along or to transcribe parts of the music. click the link below...
Transcribe
Audacity-music recording software
For those of you that don't have garage band on your computer Audacity is a great program for your computer to allow you to make digital recordings of yourself. The best part about this program is that it is ftee. click the link below...
Audacity
Transcribe
Audacity-music recording software
For those of you that don't have garage band on your computer Audacity is a great program for your computer to allow you to make digital recordings of yourself. The best part about this program is that it is ftee. click the link below...
Audacity