You can use the links below to navigate the handbook.
The purpose of this handbook is to outline the policies, procedures, and expectations of our organization. Please take the time to read and familiarize yourself with its contents. While we have done our best to provide the most comprehensive overview of our program and our expectations, please know that it is impossible to address every single detail. If you have questions that are not addressed in this handbook, please email us and we would be happy to answer them.
With over 150 students, the Rogers Middle School Band is the largest student organization on campus. The band program is highly successful, having earned “Best in Class” at the 2019 Shadow Creek Showcase of Sound and earning consistent superior ratings at contests and festivals. More than 150 band students have earned a "First Division" at our annual beginner solo contest, while more than 30 students have earned an "Outstanding Soloist Award.” The Rogers Middle School Band is the direct feeder program for the Berry Miller Junior High Band which is also highly successful, having earned numerous local, state, and national honors.
Our goal as music educators is to help our students develop a life-long love and appreciation of music. We accomplish this mainly through performance — teaching students to perform at their highest possible level. We know that not every student will pursue music as career; however, it is our hope that by holding themselves to a high standard in music our students will develop other valuable life-skills such as self-discipline, time management, collaboration, accountability, perseverance, and much more.
Click on this link to read more about the benefits of arts education.
Parental support is a fundamental component of student success inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, it is also a vital part of any successful school organization. We rely on parents not only to reinforce good habits in our students but also to help out with the band program directly. There will several opportunities throughout the year for parents to volunteer, chaperone, help out at concerts, etc. If you are interested in being a chaperone on a trip, please make sure to register as a volunteer with Pearland ISD.
Click on this link to access the district’s volunteer page.
Email is the best way to contact us!
Since we work at more than one campus, we will not always be available by phone. Furthermore, when we are at school, we are almost always actively teaching. If needed, you may email us arrange a time speak by phone. Our emails are listed below.
Chris Bennett
Director of Bands
bennettc@pearlandisd.org
Austin Brake
Assistant Director of Bands
brakea@pearlandisd.org
Katelyn Seymour
Assistant Director of Bands
seymourk@pearlandisd.org
Lou Boldrighini
Director of Percussion
boldrighinil@pearlandisd.org
We do our best to get important information out as quickly as possible. We primarily do this through mass emails — sent out through Charms. Skyward does not give us enough flexibility when sending out class emails. For example, we may need to communicate information that is only relevant to one particular instrument or section such as Symphonic Band oboes.
Because we use Charms as our primary means of disseminating information, it is absolutely imperative that we have the most accurate contact information for you on file. Please make sure to log into Charms and update your contact information — most importantly your email — so that you receive the most accurate and up to date information.
Click here for instructions on how to log into Charms.
We believe that teachers and parents have a responsibility to help students develop their professional communication skills so that they can become effective communicators as adults. As such, we highly encourage students to advocate for themselves by contacting their teachers directly through Canvas or Pearland ISD Student Email if they have questions regarding their courses and assignments.
Any routine orthodontic work such as braces can pose some challenges in learning a brass or woodwind instrument. Students can get braces and still be successful on their instruments; however, we ask that you be mindful of the timing. For students who started learning an instrument without braces, it usually takes a few weeks to get adjusted to playing with braces. Likewise when braces are removed, time is required to adapt to “a new face.”
For this reason, we ask that you consider not getting braces nor removing them prior to important performances, contests, or auditions.
Please keep us informed of your plans concerning any orthodontic work. For band students, there is never a “good” time to get braces. Your band director can help you plan around important events to help your child be as successful as they can be.
The policies and procedures of the Rogers Middle School Band program are subject to the following governing bodies:
The fine arts are defined as part of the “required curriculum” in state law. The law distinguishes between “foundation curriculum” and “enrichment curriculum.” Foundation curriculum includes English language arts, math, science, and social studies. Enrichment curriculum includes physical education, the fine arts, and others. As part of the required curriculum, we must cover 100% of the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) for music. As such, band is a curricular course. However, band students do participate in extracurricular activities that are associated with the course. Here is a brief summary of which activities are considered curricular and which ones are extracurricular.
All students are required to participate in the following activities even if they may be ineligible. Furthermore, a lack of participation in band will adversely affect their band grade and could jeopardize their eligibility for extracurricular opportunities associated with band and other activities.
The following activities are considered extracurricular. As such, all students must be eligible as defined by the TEA & UIL Side-by-Side in order to participate in the following activities.
The TEA & UIL Side-by-Side states:
A student who receives, at the end of any grading period (after the first six weeks of the school year), a grade below 70 in any class (other than an identified class eligible for exemption) or a student with disabilities who fails to meet the standards in the Individual Education Plan (IEP) may not participate in extracurricular activities for three school weeks. An ineligible student may practice or rehearse, however. The student regains eligibility after the seven calendar day waiting period has ended following a grading period or the three school week evaluation period when the principal and teachers determine that he or she has earned a passing grade (70 or above) in all classes, other than those that are exempted. (p. 3)
Special Note: This only applies to band festivals. Concerts and Solo Contest are an extension of the band classroom and are considered curricular. Please the Pearland ISD Eligibility Calendar for more details.
The band classes at Rogers are structured to maximize students' musical growth. Students begin their first year of band in a homogeneous class setting — that is, all students in one band class play the same instrument. Homogenous beginner classes are necessary in order to give students a solid foundation on their instrument and enable them to become independent players. We offer the following instrument classes at Rogers.
After their first year, students continue their band experience at Berry Miller Junior High in mixed-instrument classes based on ability level. This allows us to differentiate instruction and maximize each student’s musical growth.
At the end of their 6th grade year, students will audition for placement into one of the four performing bands at Berry Miller Junior High. Audition music will be made available to students on a certain date (usually the beginning of May). Students will have a designated amount of time to prepare for their audition.
Band placement is determined not only by audition results but also work ethic, reliability, attendance, citizenship, and other factors. Once posted, band placements are considered final. Students may not re-audition.
Students keep their band placement for the entire year. On occasion during the school year, it becomes apparent during that another band class is more suitable for the student. In this situation, the band directors will communicate with the counselors to discuss a schedule change. Please keep in mind that factors outside the band program may also influence the possibility of a schedule change.
Band members receive a large amount of sheet music throughout the year. Being organized is crucial to success in band class; therefore, all band students are required to have a band binder whose components are:
Students will be given more details on how to organize their binder in band class. Students are expected to keep their binder organized at all times. We will conduct binder checks every few weeks.
All students must have a tuner/metronome. We highly the recommend the Tonal Energy App! The app costs $3.99 (most mechanical tuner/metronome combos can cost up to $40) and is available for iOS, Android, and Amazon Apps. Not only is the app a less expensive option, but it also has features and capabilities that no other tuner/metronome has — such as sound generation and waveform analysis.
Click here to learn more about the app and its features.
Students who play flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, or trombone must provide their own instrument. These can be rented from a local vendor such as Music & Arts. We highly recommend renting instead of purchasing as instruments are covered under a Liability Damage Waiver (LDW) during the rental term.
Clarinet and saxophone players are expected to buy their own reeds and have a set of three working reeds at their disposal at any given time.
Pearland ISD does not provide insurance for personal property. See your homeowner’s insurance policy for possible coverage. You may also consider a company that specializes in musical instruments such as Anderson Musical Instrument Insurance Solutions, LLC. Students are assigned individual band lockers for use during the school day. It is the student’s responsibility to keep their instrument in their assigned locker. We recommended labeling the instrument case with your student’s name.(Luggage tags work great for this!) The band hall is always locked when directors are not present.
All personal instruments must go home every day! This is to ensure the safety of your personal property.
Pearland ISD provides instruments for students who play oboe, bassoon, horn, euphonium, or tuba for an annual rental fee of $100 payable by semester. This fee covers the cost of routine maintenance and cleaning. Students are responsible for any maintenance costs incurred due to misuse.
Oboe and bassoon players are expected to buy their own reeds (you should purchase these from your private lessons teacher) and have a set of three working reeds at their disposal at any time.
Brass players must furnish their own mouthpiece.
Important note. Per district policy, students who play school-owned instruments are required to be enrolled in private lessons.
Percussion students must provide their own sticks, mallets, and practice pad and rent a practice marimba. Since percussionists also utilize school equipment, a $50 rental fee is assessed in the spring semester.
Students are expected to perform minor routine maintenance to keep their instruments in working condition as appropriate for their instrument. For brass players, this includes oiling valves and applying slide grease. For woodwinds, this includes (as appropriate) swabbing and applying cork grease.
If an instrument appears to malfunction, contact a band director immediately. Do not attempt to fix the instrument on your own. If a director cannot solve the problem, then we will recommend a local instrument repair shop. (This is usually the same place that you are renting the instrument from. Your rental contract should cover the repair at no charge to you.) Our local vendors usually visit our school once a week. We can have them take the instrument with them and they will call you before making any repairs. If the repair is urgent — for example, your child has a performance or audition in the next few days — we recommend taking the instrument directly to the repair shop on your own.
As stated above, if an instrument appears to malfunction, do not attempt to fix on your own. Notify a band director immediately and we will handle the repair process for school-owned instruments.
Below are a few local music stores/repair shops that we recommend.
Music & Arts — Webster
19335 Gulf Freeway 10
Webster, TX 77598
(281) 316-1724
https://stores.musicarts.com/webster
Music & Arts — Alvin
2101 SH-35 S
Unit 103
Alvin, TX 77511
(281) 585-6731
https://stores.musicarts.com/alvin
Band Fee. All band students must pay $20 course fee. This fee is set by Pearland ISD and covers expenses such as clinicians, music, supplies, and band shirts. This fee must be paid via Skyward.
Instrument Rental Fee. As mentioned above, students who play school-owned instruments must pay an annual fee of $100. This fee must be paid via Charms. Instructions for how to pay Instrument Rental Fees can be found here.
All band students are required to have a formal uniform for concerts/performances and an informal uniform for band trips and other less formal events.
The formal concert uniform is what one might wear to a wedding, funeral, or other important events where you would dress more formally.
Boys
Girls
The informal uniform is the Rogers Middle School Band shirt. Every year, we purchase new shirts for the students. The band cost of the band shirt is covered by your band course fee.
Learning an instrument requires daily and consistent practice. For this reason, students will be submitting daily and weekly Practice Logs via Canvas. Detailed rubrics will be made available and posted in Canvas. Students will be notified when they must begin logging and submitting practice minutes.
Assessment is an important part of any academic class. It allows teachers to monitor students’ growth and adjust instruction as necessary. In addition to live playing tests, band students will have weekly recording assignments submitted through Canvas and SmartMusic.
Canvas is the learning management system (LMS) provided by the district. We will use Canvas to submit weekly Practice Logs, post instructional videos, and submit video recordings of playing tests. Every student in Pearland ISD should automatically have access to Canvas.
SmartMusic is a music practice and assessment software that has been purchased by the Fine Arts department. SmartMusic is unique in that it automatically grades student submissions and provides practice tools that are designed specifically for music. Students will have to set up their own SmartMusic accounts and join the correct “class” using a class code. Directors will send out class codes via email.
Instructions for creating SmartMusic accounts can be found here.
According the Music TEKS, students are expected to “demonstrate appropriate concert and stage etiquette as an informed, actively involved listener and performer during live and recorded performances in a variety of settings.” Concerts represent the culmination of our students’ hard work — the goal that we’ve all been working toward in a grading period. In many ways, this is analogous to a major exam on a particular unit in a math course. As such, concert attendance is required for all band students and comprises a major portion of their grade.
In preparation for our two combined band concerts, it is necessary to rehearse as an ensemble. This also gives students a preview of what band will be like in junior high. Rehearsals are considered an extension of the classroom and will be graded as such. Parents will be given sufficient notice for any required rehearsals.
Part of the Music TEKS require that students perform alone and independently. To meet these requirements, we host an annual Solo Contest for all Rogers Band students. Students are required to pay an accompanist fee of $25 directly to their pianist. More information about this event can be found here.
Daily grades comprise 60% of the student’s final grade. These include, but are not limited to, the following.
Major grades comprise 40% of the student’s final grade. These include, but are not limited to:
Students should expect to have at least one major grade (playing test, etc.) each week once we begin instruction.
All missing/late assignments/corrections must be turned in by the posting window of each grading period. Assignments will not be accepted after the posting window has opened. Please take note of the dates below.
The success of any ensemble is directly dependent on the contributions and efforts of its members. Band is a collaborative effort; therefore, any student’s absence negatively affects their peers. As such, the following guidelines are put in place regarding activities outside the classroom where attendance is required.
In the event that a student must miss a scheduled rehearsal, parents should notify a band director immediately via email. Absences may be excused at the discretion of the band directors under the following circumstances.
Documentation for the absence is required in order to be excused. (This can be a parent email.) Excused absences must be made up prior to the next scheduled rehearsal in order to receive full credit.
In the rare circumstance that a student must miss a scheduled performance, band directors should be notified immediately via email. Students will be given an alternative assignment.
An absence will be considered unexcused unless a student obtains prior approval from a band director. Additionally, the following reasons are not valid excuses for missing a scheduled sectional, listening, or rehearsal.
Unexcused absences may be made up for partial credit (70) using an alternative written assignment.
We are very fortunate to have an outstanding private lesson program at Rogers Middle School. Many of our teachers hold advanced degrees in music performance and are experts on their instruments. Some of our teachers even perform with professional orchestras such as the Houston Symphony! Private lessons are highly encouraged for all students regardless of their band placement. As mentioned above, students who play school-owned instruments are required to take private lessons per district policy.
Click here for information about our private lesson staff and how to enroll.
Above all, a Rogers Middle School band student should exhibit the highest standards of character, honesty, and integrity in everything that they do. Students are expected to follow all rules, policies, and procedures in the Pearland ISD Student Handbook, the Pearland ISD Student Code of Conduct, and those set forth here in the Band Handbook.
We are very fortunate to have outstanding facilities and equipment. We want to keep everything in the best condition possible; therefore...
The following procedures will help you understand how class runs on a daily basis. Except for very infrequent/special occasions, we will be playing/rehearsing every day.
For any event associated with school, students are held to the same expectations outlined in the Pearland ISD Student Handbook, the Pearland ISD Student Code of Conduct, and the Band Handbook. Students are subject to disciplinary action for any offense committed during an event associated with the school. Students are representing Rogers Middle School and Pearland ISD; therefore, we expect them to take this representation seriously and be the best representatives of our school and district. Students have additional expectations while traveling and during concert performances.
It is impossible to outline every conceivable situation. As such, students are expected to use their judgement to make safe, respectful, and responsible decisions knowing that they are representing more than themselves at any event outside of school.
Band students are to get to band class on time and move with purpose at the start of class. Students coming to band after the rest of their class must have a note from their teacher.
Students will have one minute after entering the classroom to be in their seat with all materials prepared for class. Failure to do this will result in necessary disciplinary action concerning classroom procedures.
For minor offenses, the following system will be used.
Major offenses may result in an immediate office referral or permanent removal from the band program as appropriate.
Participation on any band sponsored trip or in a performance is a privilege reserved for students who exhibit good behavior, citizenship, and teamwork. It is at the director’s discretion to remove a student from any band sponsored trip or performance who the directors believe could negatively impact the ensemble or detract from the overall experience of the trip or performance. This includes, but is not limited to:
In the event that a student is removed from a trip due to disciplinary reasons, the family will receive a full refund for the cost of the trip via Skyward. If a student is removed from a graded performance for disciplinary reasons, the student will receive an alternate assignment to earn full credit for the performance.
Band students participate in a variety of events throughout the year. Descriptions of these events can be found below. A calendar of required events will be sent out via email.
Every December we present our annual Winter Concert. This is the first major performance of the year for all Rogers Band students. This performance is required for all band students and comprises a major portion of the student’s grade.
Every spring the Dawson Cluster Percussion program hosts a percussion ensemble concert. This concert showcases the entire percussion program from beginner band students to high school seniors.
In the spring semester, all classes will perform a “Class Recital” where each class will perform as a section. This performance is required for all band students and comprises a major portion of the student’s grade.
Performing music independently is one of the most important skills that we can develop in our students. It is also one of the TEKS for music. For this reason, we host an annual Solo Contest for all middle school band students. Students independently perform a piece of music alone — usually accompanied by piano — for a judge who gives them a rating based on the quality of their performance/preparation. All band students are required to perform a solo. Students must also pay a $25 fee to their accompanist for rehearsals and performance.
Every spring the Rogers Band participates in a local band festival such as the Shadow Creek Showcase of Sound. In addition to receiving a rating for their performance like at UIL, bands at the festival also compete against each other for “Best in Class” in their division. The Rogers Band and all of the Berry Miller bands have earned this distinction at least once — often multiple times — in both schools’ history. Information about performance dates and times will be made at a later date.
Our annual Spring Concert is usually the last major performance of the year for the Rogers Band. This performance is required for all band students and comprises a major portion of their grade.
We expect our band students to develop not only their musical skills, but also their social skills. For this reason, we organize several fun short trips and activities every year. One of our most frequented locations is iT'Z Pizza. In order to participate in these trips, students must be in good standing academically, behaviorally, and otherwise in all of their classes — not just band.
As a reward for their hard work and commitment all year long, we usually take one big trip every Spring. More information about this trip will be made available later including the destination, date, and trip fee.