9th Grade Band

9th grade band is an elective course at SEP Junior High.  It consists of large group rehearsals and small group lessons.  The 9th grade band instructor is Mr. Jayson Gerth.

Click any heading below to learn more about 9th Grade Band.

jayson.gerth@southeastpolk.org    

Phone: 967-5509 Ext. 3106 

Communication

We will use email through Infinite Campus and texting through the Remind App as the conduit for the bulk of our communications. Remind App sign-up information will be sent out at the beginning of each school year to band families 

Performance Expectations

All SEP band performances are required. To have our most successful performance results, we must have all members present putting forth their best effort. The SEP Band attendance expectations are as follows:

Excused Absences: 

Absences such as family emergencies or illness are considered excused absences. In all cases, the director should be notified in advance of the absence via phone, email, or writing from a parent or guardian. If the circumstance does not allow contact before the absence, communication should be made as soon as possible. Students will be allowed to make up missed points. He/she must speak to the director immediately upon their return about making up those points in their grade. The make up work must be completed within the week following a missed performance. 

 

Unexcused Absences:

Unexcused absences include simply not showing up, forgetting the performance, WORK… Students will not be allowed to make up lost points due to unexcused absences.


Make up assignments for missed EXCUSED absences:

Students will perform selected sections of the pieces performed at the missed concert for the director.

Performance Clothing

All students in the 8th and 9th grade bands are required to wear self-provided, solid black, dressy attire for performances. The goal of performance attire is to look like a classy, professional instrumental ensemble and not draw attention to individual performers. 


Acceptable clothing: pants/slacks, skirts that fall below the knees, long black socks or black hose, nice black shirts with sleeves, and black shoes. 


Unacceptable clothing: jeans, shorts, skirts above the knee in length, leggings, sweatpants, t-shirts, sweatshirts, sleeveless shirts/spaghetti straps, short socks, nude hose, any article that has other colors, stripes, shoe strings, writing outside of the just black. 


FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

If you already have clothes that fit the outlined requirements above, we encourage students NOT to purchase new clothing for concerts. If you do not already have clothes that fit the requirements, check consignment stores before going and buying brand-new clothing items. Marching Band shoes (if 9th graders have them) are OK to wear.


What if I am not in a financial position to purchase these items at this time?

No worries! Please contact your band directors if your student is in need of assistance in gathering these items.  We may have a few extra clothing items that we can lend out.  Please contact us ASAP so we can get your student squared away prior to concert night.  We will do our best to ensure every student looks and feels their best.


ALSO, if you have black dressy tops and/or pants or shoes that your student has outgrown, we will gladly accept a donation of these items for others to use. Please contact a director if you can help.


Why does it matter so much that my student is dressed so specifically?

As students get older, we aspire to higher quality performances and productions. Part of an elevated level of performance is an elevated look to our ensembles. We also find that our students have an elevated mindset and achieve at a higher level when dressed professionally!

Performance Opportunities

The number of different band opportunities for 9th grade students takes a leap from 8th to 9th grade.


Required Ensemble

FRESHMAN CONCERT BAND (All 9th graders play in this group)

Concert band meets every day. The school year is spent in a concert ensemble performance setting.

 

Optional Ensembles

MARCHING BAND (freshmen by audition at the end of 8th grade) 

During the fall, freshmen may participate in the Southeast Polk Marching Band, also known as “The Marching Rams,” through audition in the previous spring. It is a curricular course that meets during ‘zero hour’ 6:30-8:00am every day of the week except Wednesdays. On Wednesdays, the marching band meets from 8:00 to 9:30 am. All rehearsals are at the high school stadium. Students are required to perform graded playing exams, and attend all home football games, contests, and scheduled parade performances.


HIGH SCHOOL PEP BAND

The high school (10-12) pep band is an optional extra-curricular group available for freshmen.  In November, students who are interested in pep band meet before and after school for scheduled rehearsals at the high school.  Attendance at these rehearsals is a vital component to the selection process to the pep band. Selected students are required to attend all assigned home basketball games. 

 

FRESHMAN JAZZ BAND

Jazz Band is open to all students interested in learning about and playing jazz.  Placement playing assessments will occur in late September. The band meets before school from 6:40-7:25am on Tuesdays and Fridays from mid-October through late March.  


SOLO/SMALL ENSEMBLE FESTIVAL

All interested students will work on a solo or in a small group from November to late February and perform it for judged feedback in late February.               

In School Lessons

Each student is assigned an individual or small group lesson.  Lessons are 15 - 20 minutes long and will occur at least once every two weeks, and ideally, weekly.

Lessons will be scheduled on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays of each week. Wednesdays will be left open for EXCUSED lesson make-ups. 

We are very flexible and understanding when conflicts arise as long as they are communicated to us at the time of their occurrence. Make up lessons can be done in person or through video submission. The make up must be done by midnight on the Sunday of your lesson week. Unexcused absences may not be made up (exception below). Excused absences include illness, field trips, tests in class and the student being prohibited to attend by the teacher.   

Lesson Materials

All 9th Grade students will receive the 9th Grade “Band Book.” This large (100+ page) spiral bound bok is large group instruction material and the basis of the lesson curriculum. Additional materials will be prescribed on a case by case basis.


Reed and Mouthpiece Recommendations

Oboe - Reeds: Jones or Emerald, medium strength

Bassoon - Reeds: Jones or Emerald, medium strength

Clarinet - Reeds:  Vandoren V-12, strength 3 or 3 ½ (No RICO Brand (orange box) reeds, please)

Bass Clarinet - Reeds:  LaVoz, strength medium or medium hard or Vandoren strength 3

Saxophone - Reeds: Vandoren Classical; Vandoren strength 3 or 3 ½ (No RICO Brand (orange box) reeds) 

For Jazz: Vandoren Java jazz; Rico Jazz; Rico Jazz Select

Mouthpieces: Selmer Super Action-80; Selmer Super Action-90; Meyer; Otto Link; Beechler

Horn - Mouthpieces: Farkas medium to medium deep

Trumpet - Mouthpieces:  Bach 3C, 5C or equivalent, valve oil

Trombone/Baritone - Mouthpieces: Bach 6 ½ AL; Yamaha, Schilke Size: 4 or 5. Slide cream & a small spray bottle

Tuba - Mouthpieces: Conn Helleberg, Valve oil     

Percussion - Rudimental Etudes and Warm Ups (Easy) by Steve Murphy, Kit Chatham, Joe Testa. Additional material will be assigned as needed.

Outside of School Private Lessons

Private lessons are of vital importance to the development of a musician.  Students who study privately will also have a lesson at school. 


Many students at the high school level at SEP study privately each year. Contact the band director for a recommendation of private instructors in the area. Please reach out to your band director for a recommendation.

Fees

Please note: not all of these fees may apply to your child. Your child will be notified if and/or when a fee will apply to them.

 

Instrument Rental Fee (for those without their own instrument. Does not include percussion) $75.00/yr

Instrument Rental Fee (each instrument after the first rented) $35.00/yr

Percussion Usage Fee (paid by all percussionists) $50.00/yr

Summer Rental Fee $25.00/Instrument

Additional Opportunities and Honor Bands

BAND OFFICERS

Band Officers will act as a decision-making body for various ensemble issues.  They also help with the day-to-day functioning of the band.  These positions include: President, Vice President, Secretary, Librarian and Class Representatives.


SCIBA HONOR BAND

Students have an opportunity to audition for and participate in the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band. Honor bands are an excellent opportunity for students to rehearse and perform with some of central Iowa’s finest musicians. Information will be distributed when it becomes available. Students who wish to be considered MUST be available for all rehearsals and performances of the honor band opportunity.


ALL STATE BAND

Students may audition for the Iowa High School Music Association All-State Festival in the fall.  Students are required to prepare all of the major scales and chromatic scale, two required etudes, and an individually selected solo.  Auditions are held the third weekend of October at the district audition site.  If a student is chosen for this high honor, the All-State festival is held in November in Ames.  Only a select number of the most advanced and mature players from each district are selected for this ensemble.

Varsity Band Letters

The Southeast Polk High School Band Letter Awards were created to recognize student achievement and participation in the many activities of the band program.  The SEP band program offers numerous performance opportunities to all members.  These letter awards are intended to recognize students for their comprehensive involvement in instrumental music during the school year. Beginning in 9th grade, students can earn points toward a varsity letter.


Points needed for... 

First Year Letter: 100 (points accumulate year over year until achieved)

Second Year Letter: 150 (points must be earned in one school year)

Third Year Letter: 200 (points must be earned in one school year)

Fourth Year Letter: 250 (points must be earned in one school year)


All freshman awards will be presented at the Spring Awards Concert.  Letter points will be awarded for participation in the following:

Private Lessons on primary instrument  50 / semester

Private Lessons on non-primary Instrument 25 / semester

Piano Lessons              25 / semester

All State Audition (40), Recall (10), Alternate (15), Accepted (30)

All State Jazz Band Audition (30), Accepted (30)

SCIBA Honor Band Audition 20

Other Honor Bands                            10/ per day

Attend Public Performances (NOT your own)  5 / performance

Pep Band                                          25

I rating @ Solo & Ensemble Festival              Solo (40), Ensemble (30)

II rating @ Solo & Ensemble Festival Solo (30), Ensemble (20)     

III rating @ Solo & Ensemble Festival Solo (20), Ensemble (10)     

Accompanist – Solo & Ensemble Festival 10 / student

Musical Pit Orchestra (10-12 only) 25

Regular Church Band Musician 15

Community/Municipal Band 25

Band Booster Meeting Attendance 5 / meeting

Summer Band Camps (non SEP) 10 / per day

All State Preparation Clinics 5/ per clinic

DSM Youth Symphony,

Wind Ensemble, or Jazz Band 50 / semester

Marching Band Drum Major (75), Squad Leader (50)

Band Officer 15

Band Work 2 / hour

State Fair Water Sales 10 / shift

State Fair Parking 15 / shift

Show Choir Band 50

Jazz II (10-12 only) 25

Jazz III (10-12 only) 25

Freshman Jazz Band (9 only) 25

Jazz Combo 5

Multi Instrument (different family) 5

**for example, a flute player learning the tuba receives letter points, but an alto sax player playing the bari sax (which is in the same instrument family) does not.

Band Boosters

The Band Boosters are an organization whose purpose is to aid and support the band program at Southeast Polk High School.  We need all interested band parents to join this organization and help our program grow and prosper. 


The following committees are open to any parent/guardian interested in helping the band program: 

*Uniform Committee                                 

*Marching Band Chaperone Committee   

*Equipment Committee                             

*State Fair Parking & Water Sales Committee

*Concert Band/Special Event Hospitality Committee

*Awards Banquet Committee

*Concert/Jazz Band Chaperone Committee

*Marching Band Hospitality Committee

*Fall Fundraising Committee  

*Spring Fundraising Committee


Please see the band calendar for booster meeting dates. All meetings are at 6:30pm in the SEP High School Band Room S122.