HONOR BAND REQUIREMENTS

Revised for 2008-2009

• Students must participate and fulfill all requirements in the ensembles of their choosing to receive the cumulative points needed to earn honor credit. 
• Credit will be given based on participation and quality of student’s musical development and performance.
• Students must maintain a minimum grade of a “B” in regular Band or Band/Chorus and cannot be on “no credit status” to be eligible for honor credit.
• Students must sign up for each ensemble at the beginning of the school year to hold a spot and to help the band director prepare music and instrumentation.
• Participation in the listed ensembles will not directly affect the letter grade earned in regular Band or Band/Chorus.
• Honor status will be awarded to the student at the end of the school year by the guidance department upon completion of all ensemble requirements.
• Honor status will make Band and Band/Chorus a Level 2 Honors class from a Level 4 class where students will earn more quality points towards their class rank.

JUNIORS & SENIORS:

Students must total TEN points.  Students must meet all requirements in each ensemble to earn points.

FRESHMEN & SOPHOMORES:

Students must total EIGHT points.  Students must meet all requirements in each ensemble to earn points.

* Students should NOT CALCULATE the points for these ensembles into their proposal sheets due to the instrumentation requirements of each ensemble.  I cannot guarantee spots because of this.  However, interested students will be chosen by director as needed in compliance with the instrumentation of the ensembles to be able to earn points.

**Percussion Ensemble will be open to all students but priority will be given to percussionists in Concert Band.

Students are encouraged to consider doubling on another instrument to qualify for these ensembles.  We are in need of trombone and baritone players for these ensembles.

PEP BAND (6 points)

• Students must attend the summer rehearsals (schedule TBA).  Missing these rehearsals will count as evening rehearsal absences.
• Students may not miss more than TWO performances (cancelled games will not be counted).
• Students may not miss more than THREE evening rehearsals.  Rehearsals will take place regardless if there is a cancelled up-coming game.
• Students MUST arrive at the scheduled meeting time for rehearsals.  Unexcused tardiness will count as HALF an absence.
• Each additional unexcused absence will deduct honor points by .5.  So on your third unexcused absence, you will only be able to earn 3.5 points instead of 4 points.
• Absences may be excused with proper documentation from a coach, teacher, or parent in accordance with the MHS attendance policy.

BIG BAND (6 points)*

• Meets once weekly for TWO hours starting mid-October.
• Standard instrumentation is: 2 altos, 2 tenors, 1 bari . sax, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, 1 bass, guitar, piano, and 1-2 percussionists.
• Rehearsal dates are still TBA as well as attendance policies to earn honor points.
• Students must participate in all scheduled performances (TBA).
• Absences may be excused with proper documentation from a coach, teacher, or parent in accordance with the MHS attendance policy.

PIT ORCHESTRA (6 points)*

• Students will be chosen by band director as needed depending on orchestration of production.
• Meeting times TBA 
• All tech week rehearsals must be attended.
• At least 3/4 of the rehearsals must be attended as well as ALL THREE performances, or honor points will be denied.
• Absences may be excused with proper documentation from a coach, teacher, or parent in accordance with the MHS attendance policy.

PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE (4 points)**

• The percussion section of the concert band will have first choice to be selected for this group but it may also include non-percussionists (as needed).
• Meets once weekly for 1.5 hours (schedule TBA).
• Students must participate in all scheduled performances (TBA).
• Absences may be excused with proper documentation from a coach, teacher, or parent in accordance with the MHS attendance policy.

HOLIDAY ENSEMBLE (2 points)

• Meets ONCE weekly for ONE hour from the least week of November until our Spring Concert (TBA)
• Students must participate in all scheduled performances (TBA).
• Absences may be excused with proper documentation from a coach, teacher, or parent in accordance with the MHS attendance policy.

MUSIC MARATHON/BAND DAY (2 ponts)

·        Student must participate in every facet of the Music Marathon/Band Day.

·        Student must be willing to run clinics, perform, and act as a guide and mentor to the younger students.

·        Absence will result in a forfeit of points.  This event is only one day.