Troy Buchanan High School

We Are What We Repeatedly Do.

Excellence, then is not an act, but a habit.

-Aristotle

Welcome to the Troy Buchanan High School Band Program. We are thrilled that you are part of the band program here at TBHS.  In this handbook, you will find answers to most of your questions about the band program. If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. There are many performance opportunities at TBHS and the NGC. Below you will find a brief description of each of our performing groups. 

 

TBHS Symphonic Band

The Troy Buchanan Symphonic Band is one of three concert ensembles at the high school level. The Symphonic Band will begin their rehearsals at the conclusion of Marching Season. Auditions for selection into the band and chair placement for Symphonic Band will occur near the end of October. The auditions are over the chromatic scale, major scales, and excerpts from the district band packet. This band will perform at school concerts. All performances are required.

Students in this group are encouraged to audition for the Northeast Missouri All-District Band and the Missouri All-State Band. Students are also encouraged to participate in MSHSAA solo/small ensemble contest in the spring semester.

An honors section of Symphonic Band is offered for students who wish to study and perform at a higher level. The honors section is open to any junior or senior that meets the prerequisites and has instructor approval.  Students enrolled in the honors section of Symphonic Band will be required to audition for All-District Band during the fall semester as well as complete a final jury at the end of the semester.  During the spring semester, honors students will be required to participate in the MSHSAA solo and ensemble festival and complete a jury at the end of the semester.

 

TBHS Concert Band

The Concert Band at TBHS is one of three concert ensembles at the high school level. The concert band will begin their rehearsals at the conclusion of Marching Season. Auditions for chair placement will occur near the end of October. The auditions are over the chromatic scale, major scales, and excerpts from the district band packet.  This band will perform at school concerts. All performances are required.  Concert Band members are eligible for and encouraged to audition for the Northeast Missouri All-District and All-State Bands and to participate in MSHSAA solo/small ensemble contest.

Ninth Grade Concert Band 

The Concert Band at the NGC is one of three concert ensembles at the high school level. The concert band will begin their rehearsals at the beginning of the school year. This band will perform at school concerts. All performances are required. Ninth Grade Concert Band members are eligible for and encouraged to audition for the Northeast Missouri All-District and All-State Bands and to participate in MSHSAA solo/small ensemble contest.

 

Trojan Pride Marching Band

The Trojan Pride Marching Band is composed of all students in the band program in grades 10-12. This ensemble represents Troy Buchanan High School at home football games, local parades, and a variety of regional festivals. Emphasis is placed on combining the discipline necessary to excel musically with the physical discipline required to create visual excitement. All performances and rehearsals are required. The Trojan Pride Marching Band rehearses after school every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:45-4:45 PM during the marching season (1st quarter).

 

Jazz Bands

There are three jazz bands at Troy Buchanan High School. These classes will focus on two areas: ensemble performance and solo improvisation.  While students might not feel comfortable improvising, the knowledge with which to do so will be taught as part of the course. The jazz bands will perform at local performances and regional festivals. Selection into the jazz bands is by audition, and auditions will occur every spring for the following school year.   

Students in the jazz bands are eligible for and encouraged to audition for the Northeast Missouri All-District Jazz Band and All-State Jazz Band. All performances are required.

An honors section of the year-long Jazz Ensemble is offered for students who wish to study and perform jazz at a higher level. The honors section is open to any junior or senior that meets the prerequisites and has instructor approval. Students enrolled in the honors section of the Jazz Ensemble will be required to audition for the Northeast Missouri All-District Jazz Band during the fall semester as well as complete a final jury at the end of the semester.  During the spring semester, honors students will be required to complete a jury at the end of the semester.

 

Color Guard

The TBHS color guard serves as an integral part of the high school band program. The color guard is a class that meets through the fall semester only. Color Guard is an auditioned group and auditions will occur every spring for the following school year. The color guard’s primary objective during the fall semester is to add visual enhancement to the marching band show. All performances and rehearsals are required. The Trojan Pride Marching Band rehearses after school every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:45-4:45 PM during the marching season (1st quarter).

 

Pep Band

This group is open to any member of the band program. This volunteer group is responsible for playing at boys and girls basketball games through the winter sports season. There will be one rehearsal prior to the beginning of the basketball season.  The emphasis of this band will be playing well and having fun supporting our winter sports teams.

 

All-District & All-State Band Organizations

During the fall semester, students from high schools all over the region gather at an area high school (Moberly) to audition for the Northeast Missouri All-District Band and Jazz Band.  While students are not required to audition for these ensembles, students are strongly encouraged to participate. Students who are selected for one of these ensembles then become eligible to audition for the Missouri All-State Band/Jazz Band at Hickman High School in Columbia on the first Saturday in December.  The audition material for both levels is the same and is given to all students during the fall semester. Transportation for both the All-District and All-State auditions is provided.

Students achieving All-District or All-State distinction often receive mailings in regard to this honor. Colleges and universities are regularly sent lists of members of these ensembles, and students are then added to college/university recruitment mailing lists.  This is a great way to get a “foot in the door” at many institutions of higher learning, whether or not one plans on becoming a music major.

Both the All-District and All-State honor bands will perform a concert. Those who are recognized as members of an All-District or All-State organization are required to perform with those ensembles.

 

District and State Music Festivals

Do not confuse Northeast Missouri All-District and All-State events with District and State Music Festivals. District and State Music Festivals, sponsored by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHAA), are held each spring for high schools throughout Missouri.

Students can participate as a soloist or as a member of an ensemble at the MSHSAA District and State Music Festivals. High schools are limited in the number of entries that are eligible to attend from each school. We will use student scores from their chair audition assessment to determine which students will be participants in the solo and ensemble festival. Solo and ensemble pieces must be selected from a list approved by the Missouri State High School Activities Association. Mr. Blankenship and Mr. Barchesky will guide students in the music selection process.  

Participants will receive an Exemplary, Outstanding, Satisfactory, Developing, or Ineffective. Those receiving an Exemplary rating are eligible and expected to advance to the State Music Festival at the University of Missouri, which occurs the last week of April.  

 

 

Letter Award in Band

Students must meet specific requirements on a yearly basis to earn a letter award in band at Troy Buchanan High School. Students receive points for participating in different band events, and students must receive a total of 75 points and have perfect attendance at all required band performances to letter in band. Points are assessed as follows:

25 - Jazz Band Member

25 - Pep Band Member

25 - Musical Pit Member

25 - Drum Major

25 - Section Leader for Marching Band

25 - Consistent Private Study (documentation required)

25 - College/University Band Camp (not ours)

25 - Equipment manager

25 - Audition for All-District Band

25 - Member of All-District Band

50 - Member of All-State Band

25 - Solo or Ensemble rating of E, O, or S at District Contest

25 - Solo or Ensemble rating of Silver or Bronze at State Contest

50 - Solo or Ensemble rating of Gold at State Contest

25 - Attend College/University sponsored honor band

25 - Multiple regular performances at church on your band instrument (documentation required)

25 - A+ or CYV in an instrumental music class

Students may carry over a maximum of 50 unused points from a previous year.

Students will be responsible for preparing an application for lettering that will include all completed activities. The band office will provide this application in the spring semester.

Students that earn a letter award will receive a certificate to recognize their achievement. Students who wish to purchase an actual chenille letter can do this in the band office for $12.

Student Eligibility and Physicals

Band at Troy Buchanan High School is an activity that is part of the Missouri State High School Activities Association. All students must meet the MSHSAA eligibility requirements to participate in MSHSAA competitions. This includes Marching Band Competitions, Jazz Festivals, All-District and All-State Band, and Solo and Ensemble Contest. Eligibility requirements do not pertain to home football games, concerts, and other non-competitive band events. Questions about individual student’s eligibility should be directed to the activities office at Troy Buchanan High School. Students must also complete yearly MSHSAA participation documents and have a current physical on file with the TBHS Activities Office to participate in marching band.

Symphonic/Concert/Marching/ Jazz

Syllabus and Grading Policy

Textbook: The only official text is the sheet music assigned to folders and special handouts. Students will be responsible for bringing their folders to class daily.  Music will be turned in at the end of the semester.

Course Objective: The purpose of these classes is to assist students in the development of both their individual musical skills and the skills necessary to perform in a large ensemble. Included will be a study of many of the elements of music, including musical terms, symbols, and concepts. Students will develop an appreciation for and understanding of a variety of music through rehearsal and performance experiences.

Fees: Band members will need to wear required black shoes and black socks for Marching Band and Symphonic/Concert Band performances. The band activity fee is $50 for all band members in grades 10-12. This fee covers dry cleaning and maintenance of the band uniforms and pays for our band t-shirts and marching band registration at festivals. Students are also required to purchase a pair of black marching band shoes. Marching Band shoes will be ordered in a mass order during band camp or the first week of school and cost $35.  

Grading: Grading is based upon those personal factors that contribute to individual musical growth and the success of the bands.

Grading System: Students will earn points each quarter for participation in co-curricular performance/rehearsal activities, technical proficiency, and daily classroom participation.  Each quarter’s activities may vary; therefore, grades will be assigned by a percentage of points possible.

Point Values:

Chair Audition +200

Technical Proficiency +100 

(Playing Tests)

Memorization (when required) +100

Performance +200

Additional rehearsals +50

Daily class-prepared +10

Percentage Scale:

90-100 A

80-89 B

70-79 C

60-69 D

59 or below F

Each student is required to participate in performances pertaining to the group of which he/she is a member. An unexcused absence from any performance will result in complete loss of performance credit points. Since students receive a schedule of performances at the beginning of the school year, they are responsible for arranging their schedules accordingly. Work is not an excuse.  Extreme illness or death in the family are examples of excused absences.  Notify a teacher in advance whenever possible for these types of absences.  Students who miss a performance due to an excused absence will be given an alternative assignment to make up the points they have missed.

 

Expectations for Band

            1. You will be marked tardy if not in the room (on the field during the marching season) the time the bell rings.

2. You will be marked tardy if not in your seat with your instrument ready by the time the director begins.

3. When ANY conductor is on the podium, cease all playing and talking.

4. We do not have time to work just on your part; your homework assignment is to have your music in your folder technically prepared for class rehearsal.

5. This is a performing ensemble; therefore, you are expected to be prepared for performances. Attendance at performances is required.

6. Gum, food, or beverages are not to be brought into any part of the rehearsal room.

7. Always keep your instrument in your assigned locker and LOCKED.  Many students will use this classroom, and we want your instrument to remain safe at all times.

8. Percussion: All equipment is to be stored correctly at the end of each rehearsal/performance. EVERYBODY HELPS!

Game Day Regulations/Expectations

1. You will be in full uniform from the time pre-game starts until the end of the game.

2. You will sit in the stands during the game in your assigned seating arrangement.  

3. Those who are not band members will not be allowed to sit with the band during the game.  

4. You will play whenever the full band plays while in the stands.

5. Only percussionists are to be in the percussion section.

6. You are not to leave your seat except for emergencies, and then only after you have received permission.

7. Uniforms must be worn correctly. Look first class; be first class.  Students are not to consume any food or drink other than water while in uniform.

8. No visual jewelry during performances.

9. Upon the conclusion of games, make sure that you put everything all the way away. Please do not leave your things for others to put away. 

10. No one is allowed to play their instrument while the ball is in play. We will all play together when instructed to do so. 

11. As a member of the band, you are an important part of the “home game” atmosphere. We want our football team to sense a definite home field advantage.  Get involved.... It makes the whole game much more fun.