Advanced Band 2008-09


Welcome to another great year with the GVJH advanced band.  I'm really excited about working with this group.     Welcome to everyone who is in advanced band for the first time and welcome back to our returning eighth graders!   If everyone works hard we should have a wonderful year.


Please purchase the Standard of Excellence band method (Book 2) (the blue book) for your child's instrument. within the first two weeks of school. Nick Rail Music, Instrumental Music and Santa Barbara Music are good places to get these books.  Call to see if they have the books in stock.  Also, please place an ID tag on your child's instrument with name and phone number.  We need to do this for security reasons.   We have never lost an instrument, but sometimes the wrong instrument is taken home by mistake.  To eliminate confusion, this really helps.  Our storage room is locked, so instruments are secure here.

If you are reading this and haven't gotten this info via email, please send me your email. I will put as much info as I can on the website, but I do the majority of parent communication via email.


My grading policy is very simple.  Students receive a weekly grade for their participation and effort.  Practice sheets for the week of September 1 will be handed out on August 29. That practice record is due on September 8.  Practice records will be due each Monday for students' practice time from the prior week.  Students hand in the practice record that is due and then take a new practice record for the following week.  Practice sheets turned in after Friday of the week due, receive 50% credit. Within the first two weeks of school, I will begin posting grades on line approximately once a week.

I ask that students practice 90 minutes a week on their instrument.   I will have an occasional playing test that counts toward their grade.  Weekly participation/effort is about 80% - 85% of the grade, practicing 10% -15% of the grade, and playing tests about 5% of the grade.  I ask that students take their instrument home daily to they can get in good practice habits and can practice for a few minutes on very short notice.

Major concert performances are mandatory.  These include the Holiday Parade, winter, spring and end-of-year concerts and the Big Dog Parade.  Students are expected to attend these performances except for illness, religious obligations and compelling family business.  Any other absence, must be approved at least two weeks ahead of time with Jeff Peterson.  Unexcused abences result in loss of two grades for concerts and loss of one grade for parades.

Please check the upcoming events link to see our performance schedule.  It is possible that additional performances may be scheduled, but this represents 80% -90% of our performances.


Email is my primary means of communicating with parents.   Please send me your email address so I can put you on my email list for your student's class.  I sent out emails blind copy so your address is not shared with others without your permission.  I am very prompt at returning emails, so please email me with your questions, comments or concerns.   Thanks for supporting your child with their involvement in music by bringing them every morning to advanced band.  We do start promptly at 7:30 a.m.


Jazz Ensemble will begin around the fourth week of school.  Until then the advanced band meets everyday at 7:30 a.m.  Jazz Ensemble is a pull-out class that meets on Tuesday mornings from 7:30 - 8:15 am and Thursday mornings from 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 am. in room 603 with our jazz ensemble director John Douglas.  The students who are not in jazz ensemble will meet with me on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  We will work on band music, small group ensemble practice and in sectionals.  Advanced Band is a five day-a-week class for everyone.

The jazz ensemble has a rhythm section and horn section.  The rhythm section, piano, bass, drum and guitar is open by audition.  The horn section, saxophone, trumpet and trombone is open by director selection.  Students must demonstrate proficiency before joining the jazz ensemble.