Spruce Grove Composite High School
Band Handbook
2013
Courtesy of Ryan Laslop
Spruce Grove Composite High School Band Director
Forward:
Congratulations on being a member of the 2013 Spruce
Composite High School Band program. Our goal as a newly
program is to become rated amongst the top bands in Parkland
Division.
Grove
started
School
The information contained in this handbook will allow
you to be well
informed regarding the policies, and personal requirements of
this program.
A band program is only as successful as the level of
commitment
of its individual members. The SGCHS Bands are no exception to
this rule. We
must all (director included) constantly seek to better ourselves. The journey through music is constant in that it has no
end. If we all seek growth, then our ensembles will grow and continue to flourish.
Feel free to come and talk with me about any questions or concerns you may have about the band program or
the musician’s life in general. I am available both before and after school, by phone at 780-962-0800 or by email
[email protected].
Once again welcome to the program and I hope you look forward to the upcoming semester as much as I do!
Kind Regards,
Ryan Laslop
Director of Bands
Spruce Grove Composite High School
Greetings to the Spruce Grove Composite High School Band Parents:
Hello, my name is Ryan Laslop and I would like to take this time to formally introduce myself as I will be the Director of
the newly reformed Spruce Grove Composite High School Band Program. I am a graduate of the University of Alberta
where I received my Bachelors in Education with Music major. My principle musical instrument is Percussion though
through my education I have become versed in all of the instruments within a concert band. I have previously directed
the Band Program at Kitscoty Junior Senior High School as well as teaching percussion privately and as a professional
clinician. Beyond this I also enjoy playing piano and guitar.
I was born and raised in Devon Alberta where I began my musical journey under the tutelage of the well-respected
Clarence Samuelson. After high school I studied percussion privately under Brian Thurgood and Brian Jones who are
both resident percussionists of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and are instructors at Grant MacEwan University and
the University of Alberta. I received my Music Educators training under Dr. Tom Dust and Dr. Jim Brennan. I have played
with many different ensembles over the years most notably the Edmonton Youth Orchestra, The Edmonton Singing
Christmas Tree, The Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, and with the likes of Dr. Dominic Spera and Senator Tommy Banks.
I would like to take this time to thank Spruce Grove Composite High School, Parkland School Division No.70, the
community of Spruce Grove and the SGCHS band parents for this opportunity to educate the SGCHS Band students and
for their ongoing support of not only the Arts, but in the recreation of the SGCHS Band program.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Kind Regards,
Ryan Laslop
Director of Bands
Spruce Grove Composite High School
Ensemble Rules:
 Respect yourself and others in the room at all times. This includes all instruments and other personal
belongings.
 Practice sufficiently to be able to perform to the best of your ability at each rehearsal and especially at
performances and during competitions.
 Make a conscious effort to learn and improve daily.
 Consistently conduct yourself in a manner reflecting pride as a member of the Spruce Grove Composite High
School Band Program.
 Never embarrass the ensemble or our school by smoking, drinking alcoholic beverages, possessing illegal drugs,
or participating in illegal activities during any band-related activity.
 Try to do your best at all times
Failure to comply with these simple ensemble rules may result in the students permanent termination from the band
program.
Disciplinary Protocol within the Classroom
1. Verbal Warning
2. Verbal Warning or Detention depending on severity of repeated offence (Phone Call Home)
3. Out of class time conference with director (Phone Call Home)
4. Student will be directed to their Grade Coordinator
Late Arrival will be dealt with as follows:
The student who is late without valid reasoning (excused by a parent, or has spoken to the instructor prior) will be given
a warning first. A second unexcused tardy will be followed by a detention and a phone call home. The third unexcused
late will be an out of class conference with the director. If no reasonable means of compromise can be met out of class,
the fourth unexcused late will result with the student being sent to meet with their grade coordinator.
Band Room Expectations
1. No Food or Drink is allowed in the band room. Penalty will follow the same protocol as a tardy.
a. Any item ingested orally will inevitably leave residue within the mouth of the person consuming them.
This residue will then deposit itself within the instrument being played and will cost money to fix. This
cost will be at the player’s expense.
2. From the beginning of the rehearsal students will have five minutes to be ready to play. This includes having
their instrument assembled and music stand in place, and be seated in their chairs. I will give the same duration
of time at the end of class to ensure that the students have ample time to return their instrument, stand, and
music to their proper locations without effecting the time needed to get to their next class.
3. The Student is responsible for the upkeep of the instrument. The student should have the following at all times.
a. Extra reeds (when applicable)
b. Valve oil, slide grease, or cork grease (where applicable)
c. Clean out your instrument/mouth piece at least once every two weeks.
i. I keep tabs on which instruments go home and this will be included within the musicianship
mark.
4. All students must have a pencil for every rehearsal.
5. All students will respect not only each other but their director as well. In order to properly function as a team
there must be a mutual repect among all members. The director will show you the same respect as he/she
requires you to show in return.
6. To be a member of any of the SGCHS Band program extracurricular events/activities/or ensembles all students
are required to maintain the coursework in all other classes to the level of academic eligibility found in the
school handbook. These activities are a privilege and must be regarded as such.
Objectives of the Band Program:
The Alberta Music Curriculum defines the “Fine Arts” as follows:
“The fine art’s embraces music, art and drama without obscuring their uniqueness. Each has a body of content, partly
derived from tradition and partly developed from the insights and interests of those involved. Each has its own mode of
expression and makes its own contribution to society, necessitating the inclusion of the arts as separate subject areas in
the school program.
There are fundamental principles that apply to all three. Specifically, the student is involved as a creator, performer,
historian, critic and a consumer. Throughout the grades, an articulated fine arts program should enhance the depth and
breadth of expression and intuitive response. The maturing student learns to appreciate, to understand, to create and to
criticize with discrimination products of the mind, the voice, the hand, and the body.”
Term Goals For The Students Are:
1. Develop skills in listening, performing and using notational systems.
2. Encourage students to strive for musical excellence, individually and as members of a group.
3. Enable students to understand, evaluate and appreciate a variety of music.
4. Provide experience that will foster self-expression, creativity and communication through music.
5. Make students aware of the history of music and its implications in our society.
At The End Of Their Term, Students Will Have Grown In Their Abilities To:
Play:
I
Discover, develop, and evaluate their talents and abilities relative to playing a musical
nstrument, and establish while reinforcing correct techniques and skills.
Listen:
Develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments based on critical listening and analysis of music.
Read:
Interpret rhythm, melody, harmony, form, and expression as they appear in musical notation through
both cognitive and psychomotor responses.
Create:
Develop an additional avenue of self-expression by composing, improvising and interpreting music.
Value:
Be aware of the implications of music in our society with respect to music careers. It’s vocational and
leisure uses; and grow in the appreciation, understanding, and enjoyment of music as a source of
personal fulfillment.
FINE ARTS
MUSIC
The three year music program emphasizes knowledge of self and others through participation in and reflection on musical
experiences, competency in playing skills through exploration of various musical disciplines, and development of an appreciation for
music as a process and art form. Students will work in a supportive and challenging environment, exploring technical performance,
instrumental competency, improvisation, and personal practice skills; all while exploring classical, jazz and contemporary music.
Students will gain experience in working within a group setting and learn how to balance, tune, and combine their individual sound
into a large ensemble setting. Under the guidance of dedicated instructors and visiting artists, students will develop the practical skills,
techniques and approaches that will ensure their musical success.
For the smaller ensemble instruments, students will be provided the opportunity to “rent to own” their instrument giving them the
ability to acquire a lifelong companion. This is program is offered through “The Bandstand”.
For guitar ensemble instruments, students will also be provided the opportunity to “rent to own” their guitar. This program is offered
through “Long and McQuade Music”.
Students will also be offered opportunities to play in small ensembles, jazz combos and as soloists within these smaller ensembles.
These opportunities will be offered at lunch and/or afterschool.
Students will also be offered the opportunity to travel, gain clinician experience, compete and perform throughout the duration of the
program.
Extra-Curricular Opportunities for the students who are able to pass the audition process may include private lessons on their
instrument, participation in the Northern Alberta Honor Band, Edmonton Youth Orchestra and Music Camp Alberta.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC 10
NOTE: STUDENTS IN GRADES 10, 11 OR 12 ARE ABLE TO TAKE GENERAL MUSIC 10 NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
No prerequisite
5 CREDITS
This is an introductory course to music intended to develop confidence, concentration, creativity, and the technical playing skills to
enable the student to function within an ensemble setting. Students will gain the knowledge of correct physical technique on their
individual instruments, develop the rhythmic abilities, theory abilities as well as gain the ability to play within the ranges required for
a successful beginning musician. Students will begin by playing their individual instruments in unison and will develop into
independent sections before the end of the course. Focus in this course is primarily on creating the correct physical and technical
habits required to be a successful musician.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC 20
Prerequisite: General Music 10
5 CREDITS
Frequent use of different warm-up activities will help to stimulate
more of a creative process for the students involved in this course.
This will also help the students develop their ability to create balance
and tuning within an ensemble. Students will gain experience in the
use of chromatics, be introduced to new keys, gain technical skills in
sixteenth and eighth note syncopations and extend the ranges of their
instruments. The primary focus of this course will be on performance
skills and abilities though there will be a theory component involved
as well.
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC 30
Prerequisite: General Music 20
5 CREDITS
In this course students will continue to develop their technical
abilities on their respective instruments. Students will continue to
extend their playing range to be able to meet the demands of the
increased difficulty in the music performed. Emphasis in this course
will be primarily on performance and competition. Added emphasis
and extra-curricular opportunities will be provided for those students
seeking to gain post-secondary admittance in both the audition
process and the theory/ear training components required by postsecondary institutions. Students in this course will be provided the
opportunity to travel and compete against other ensembles, as well as
gain both private and ensemble clinician experience
STAGE BAND 1
NOTE: STUDENTS IN GRADES 10, 11 OR 12 ARE ABLE TO TAKE STAGE BAND 1 NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
Prerequisite: Student Must Be Enrolled In General Music 10 – 20 – or 30
5 CREDITS
This is an introductory course to music intended to develop confidence, concentration, creativity, and the technical
playing skills to enable the student to function within a jazz ensemble setting. Students will gain the knowledge of
correct physical technique on their individual instruments, develop the rhythmic abilities, theory abilities,
improvisation technique as well as gain the ability to play within the ranges required for a successful beginning
musician. Focus in this course is primarily on creating the correct physical and technical habits required to be a
successful jazz musician.
STAGE BAND 2
NOTE: STUDENTS IN GRADES 10, 11 OR 12 ARE ABLE TO TAKE GENERAL STAGE BAND 2.
Prerequisite: Enrolled In General Music 10 – 20 – 30, Successful Completion Of Stage Band 1, AND Successful Audition
5 CREDITS
This course is designed to help students continue to develop the technical abilities on their respective instruments
within a jazz band setting. Students will continue to extend their playing abilities and improvisational skills on their
individual instruments. Emphasis in this course will be primarily on performance techniques and competition.
Added extra-curricular opportunities will be provided for those students seeking to gain post-secondary admittance
in both the audition process and on the theory/ear training components required by post-secondary institutions.
Students in this course will be provided the opportunity to travel and compete against other ensembles, as well as
gain both private and ensemble clinician experience.
GUITAR 1
NOTE: STUDENTS IN GRADES 10, 11 OR 12 ARE ABLE TO TAKE GUITAR 1 NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
No prerequisite
5 CREDITS
This is an introductory course to guitar and is intended to develop confidence, concentration, creativity, and the
technical playing skills on the guitar. Students will gain the knowledge of correct physical technique on their
individual instruments, develop the rhythmic abilities, theory abilities as well as gain the ability to play within the
ranges required for a successful beginning musician. This course is designed to move the guitarist from not only
reading tablature, but reading staff music, standard chording and understand the musical theory behind chord
creation.
GUITAR 2
NOTE: STUDENTS IN GRADES 10, 11 OR 12 ARE ABLE TO TAKE GENERAL MUSIC 10 NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.
Prerequisite: Guitar 1
5 CREDITS
This course is a continuation of the Guitar 1 program. Guitar 2 is intended to continue to create student
independence from tablature. Students will continue to gain experience and skill playing as a soloist and in a variety
of group settings. Students will gain a greater familiarity in reading standard chording, reading staff music and the
theory behind the creation of music. Added extra-curricular opportunities will be provided for those students seeking
to gain post-secondary admittance in both the audition process and on the theory/ear training components required
by post-secondary institutions.