Norwell High School INSTRUCTOR: Sam Wells

Ossian, Indiana TELEPHONE: (260) 543-2213 Ext. 7302

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Concert Band is based on the Indiana Academic Standards for High School
Instrumental Music. This course provides students with a balanced comprehensive study of music through the
concert band, which develops skills in the psychomotor, cognitive, and affective domains. Ensemble and solo
activities are designed to develop elements of musicianship including tone production, technical skills,
intonation, music reading skills, listening skills, analyzing music, studying historically significant styles of
literature, and integration of other applicable disciplines. Experiences include improvising, conducting, playing
by ear, and sight-reading. Students develop the ability to understand and convey the composer's intent in
performance of music. Time outside of the school day may be scheduled for rehearsals and performances. A
limited number of public performances may serve as a culmination of daily rehearsal and musical goals.
Students are required to participate in performance opportunities outside of the school day that support and
extend learning in the classroom.

SUPPLIES: Students will need to bring their instrument, any sheet music or warm-ups (inside your folder),
instrument supplies (available to purchase from Mr. Wells), and a pencil to class each day. Students are NOT to
write in sheet music using ink pens or anything other than a pencil. Students will be informed in advance when
electronic devices are needed. On the first week of school, students will be issued an instrument locker and
provided a lock to keep all belongings secure.

GRADING SCALE:
A+ 97-100 B+ 87-89 C+ 77-79 D+ 67-69
A 93-96 B 83-86 C 73-76 D 63-66
A- 90-92 B- 80-82 C- 70-72 D- 60-62
F 0-59
GRADING: All grades are weighted on the following scale:
40% - Class Participation/Assignments
50% - Performances
10% - Final Exam

HOMEWORK/CLASSWORK: Not much physical homework will be given in Band class. However, your
homework (I strongly encourage you to view it as such) is PRACTICING YOUR INSTRUMENT. You may be the
most talented person in the world to ever pick up your instrument, but if you do not practice, you will NEVER
reach your full potential. Just like reading for English class, you have to do some work outside of class in order
to be prepared for the class itself.
PLAYING TESTS: You will be periodically given playing tests to evaluate how well you know your music and so
that we can find areas that you may need improvement. You will have one opportunity to retake the playing
test in a timely manner, if you believe you can do better.

PERFORMANCES: There will be a handful of performances throughout the school year that are mandatory for
all High School Band students to attend. Please review the performance dates below and ensure that you plan
properly to be at every one. If you know that there is an unavoidable conflict that conflicts with a large grade,
please communicate with me far in advance AND fill out a Conflict Form. Any student with an excused absence
from a performance will be given the opportunity to complete a make-up assignment. Unexcused absences
from a performance will result in an automatic ZERO for that assignment.

VOLUNTEERING: (NEW) We are very fortunate at NHS to occasionally host various Invitationals and Festivals
on our campus. This semester, we will be hosting both an IPA (Indiana Percussion Association) Invitational AND
an ISSMA Organization Festival. The IPA invitational takes place on Saturday, February 15th, and ISSMA is on
Friday & Saturday, April 25-26. As a portion of your grade this semester, every HS Band student will be
expected to sign up for AT LEAST one shift at one or both of these events. Please note that this is not an
unusual request, as all choir students volunteer for their show choir invitational. If you have any concerns, or
need to communicate any conflicts, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr. Wells.

FINAL: A reflection assignment will be given as your final at the end of each semester.

CHEATING: Per the student handbook, the first offense will result in a 0 for the assignment. Second offense will
result in an F for the semester in class.

BEHAVIOR: Students are expected to be respectful to teachers, peers, and any other adult in the building. My
classroom is a safe place for learning and achievement. If behavior is an issue, there will be consequences. First
will be a conference with me. Second offense will result in a call or email to a parent. From there on out,
discipline will be handled by the main office.

CLASS PROCEDURES: Each day, students are given 3 minutes from when the bell rings at the start of class to be
in their seats with instruments assembled, music and a pencil on your stand, and beginning to warm up
individually. The exception to this expectation is for 1st period because morning announcements will take up a
couple extra minutes.

ATTENDANCE: If you miss class, it is your responsibility to figure out what you missed. If you miss a playing
test, you are responsible for talking to me and figuring out a time to make it up. Failure to do so may result in a
ZERO for the missing work. Missed assessments will be put into PowerSchool as a zero UNTIL YOU MAKE THEM
UP. If you are going on a field trip or have a planned absence, you must communicate with me to find out what
you are missing in class that day. There are no exceptions!
TARDY: Be in class when the bell rings. As stated, you have 3 minutes from then to be ready to start. By school
policy, the 4th tardy will be a 45-minutes detention, the 5th tardy is a 90-minutes detention, the 6th tardy is a
Friday night school, and the 7th and thereafter is a referral to the office.

LATE WORK POLICY: Late work will be accepted for 50% credit up until the end of a concert cycle or the end of
the semester, whichever comes first. Work submitted after that point will no longer be “missing” but will
remain a ZERO. Remember that it is always better to receive partial credit than none at all.

HALL PASSES: Please do not abuse restroom privileges. If I find that you are not going where you say you are,
or you are going to the restroom too frequently or too long, it will result in denial of restroom privileges or
having to use the restroom in the Main Office.

E-LEARNING DAYS: On eLearning days we will meet on Teams at the designated times. Students must attend to
be marked present for the day.

CELL PHONES: As per school policy and Indiana state law as of 2024, students are not permitted to have cell
phones or other personal devices in the classroom, unless provided with special accommodations by the
school. Because of this change, it would be wise of you to either purchase a tuner/metronome for yourself or
download one to your school device.
If I confiscate a phone, it will remain with me until the end of the school day when you come and get it. If I
confiscate a phone for the second time, it will go to the main office until a parent/guardian comes to the
school to retrieve it, according to the student handbook.

Finally, please do not be afraid to make mistakes in this class. Mistakes, in life or in music, are unavoidable. I
encourage all students to make mistakes confidently and intentionally. The best way to learn and grow is to
learn from your mistakes. Also, please feel free to come to me if you have any questions or if you need extra
help outside of class. I will always do my best to make myself available.
Welcome back to Concert Band! I’m looking forward to an incredible second semester!
SEMESTER TWO IMPORTANT DATES: *Dates in Bold are required for all HS Band.

JANUARY
• Friday, January 10 – Pep Band, Girls vs. Leo HS
• Tuesday, January 14 – Pep Band, Boys vs. Wayne HS
• Friday, January 17 – Pep Band, Boys vs. Bellmont HS
• Friday, January 24 – Pep Band, Girls vs New Haven HS
FEBRUARY
• Saturday, February 8 – ISSMA District Solo & Ensemble @ Eastbrook HS
• Saturday, February 15 – IPA Invitational @ NHS
• Friday, February 21 – Pep Band, Boys vs. Jay County HS
• Friday, February 28 – Pep Band, Boys vs. Homestead HS – SENIOR NIGHT
MARCH
• Saturday, March 1 – ISSMA State Solo & Ensemble @ North Central HS & Westfield MS
• Friday, March 7 – ISSMA District Jazz Festival @ Carroll HS
APRIL
• Date TBD – Purdue Fort Wayne Band & Orchestra Festival
• Friday & Saturday, April 25-26 – ISSMA Organization Festival @ NHS
MAY
• Friday, May 16 – Spring Concert
• Tuesday, May 20 – Spring Band Banquet (All are invited)
JUNE
• Sunday, June 1 – NHS Graduation

ALL SPRING MARCHING BAND DATES WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON!