Sparkman Band

Harvest, Alabama

Sparkman Band Procedures

All band members must adhere to strict procedures in order to function in the most efficient manner. All students should read and familiarize themselves with all procedures listed below:

School Arrival & Departure

All students must enter the school through designated entrances in the mornings before taking instruments to the band room. Students may leave school each day through the outside door in the band room.

  • Bus Riders All Wind Players
    • Take the school bus to the High School in the mornings. Exit the bus and drop off your instrument in the HS Band Room.
    • After school, travel to the HS Band Room and pick up your instrument. 9th graders will have to wait for the HS bell to ring and get on the school bus from the HS.
    • Any student not dropping off or picking up their instrument from the HS Band Room should follow standard arrival procedures set forth by their school.
  • Car Riders All Wind Players (Subject to change due to school policies)
    • 9th graders that are dropping of their instruments in the HS Band Room should be dropped off at the high school. School opens at 8:10am. Students may also be dropped off at S9 but will have to travel across the skybridge and back to drop off their instrument in the HS Band Room.
    • 10-12 Grade students can drop off their instruments any time after 8:10am.

Classroom Procedures

Instrument storage
All instruments should be stored in their designated locker. During class and performances, students should store their empty instrument case back in their lockers to keep the floor clear.

Dressing Out
During Marching Season students will be allowed 5 minutes to change into shorts, t-shirt, and tennis shoes. These items should be stored in the student’s locker and taken home to be washed at the end of each day. Students must use the designated area to dress out. (Bathrooms & Dressing Rooms)

At the end of each class students will be allowed 5 minutes to dress back into their regular school clothes before going to their next class.

Food and Drink
No food or drink is allowed in the band room with exception to water (not flavored water). In the morning/afternoon when students are dropping off or picking up their instrument they should leave any drink or food on the table located in the foyer of the band room and pick it back up on the way out.

Chairs and Stands
Chairs and stands will be setup and put away at the beginning and end of every rehearsal. Students should understand the proper way to store these items.

Chair Racks = 20 Chairs Maximum
Stand Racks = 20 Stands Maximum (10 per side)

All stands that will not fit on a rack should be stacked neatly in the designated area.

Lost and Found (limited storage)
Students should never leave personal belongings in the band room or surrounding area. A designated area will be declared for lost and found items and it is the student’s responsibility to claim the items before they are discarded. If a student has lost a more expensive item they should contact the director because they will be stored in a secured area.

Absence Procedures

Attendance is the most important element to the band’s success during marching or concert season.  Students should make every effort to attend all rehearsals during and after school.  When a student misses a rehearsal or event, the material covered during that rehearsal must be retaught to the entire band upon the return of the student.  Due to the nature of our performances, a student can not truly make up this time lost outside of a band rehearsal.

Tardy Procedures
When a student arrives to a rehearsal late they should check in with their section leader or drum major. During marching season a drum major will be in charge of recording absences and tardies.  Students will be required to make up any time lost at the end of the rehearsal by performing various duties, rehearsals or exercises.  If the amount of time missed exceeds a reasonable amount of time to make it up after the rehearsal or the student is required to leave in a timely manner after rehearsal then make-up time may be split across a series of future rehearsals.

Excused Absences
An excused absence is one that would include a doctor’s note or some other family emergency of an immediate family member or an issue that is discussed with the director’s prior to the event.  A copy of an office visit (doctor’s excuse) or other documentation should be accompanied upon the student’s return.

Make-up times will be allowed for all excused absences.  These additional assignments may take place take place on Monday’s and/or Wednesday’s after school or with an online assignment.  The student will receive a grade of a zero until the assignment is properly made-up.

Unexcused Absences
All absences that do not fall under the category of emergency will be considered unexcused.  Unexcused absences are not eligible for make-up times and will result in a deduction of the student’s grade and possible removal from performances.  The director’s should be notified of any special circumstances that may arise that would effect a student’s attendance.

All Absences
Absences deemed excessive by the director could result in removal from the band program or disciplinary action.  It is the responsibility of the student to activily seek a make-up time through their section leaders or directors.

Alternates (Competition Band Only)
The Competition Band will contain alternate Personnel members that will shadow positions in the competition program.  These positions are determined based upon the attendance and performance of the competition members.  If a competition band member is absent, their position will be covered by an alternate.  If the alternate demonstrates proficiency in that position with a good attendance record, they will replace the original competition band member.

All alternates will have a marching position in the Marching Band Program and will perform at all Marching Band events.  If an alternate acquires a full-time position in the Competition Band, their Marching Band position will be swapped with the former competition band student that will become an alternate.