Pacetti Bay Middle School
 245 Meadowlark Lane  •  St. Augustine, FL 32092  •  (904) 547-8760
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Pacetti Bay Middle School Band

Pacetti Bay Percussion Class
Updated on July 27, 2011

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR:

 For the first time at Pacetti Bay, our 7th and 8th grade percussion students will have their own percussion class. Ms. Sparkman and I are very excited about the opportunity to present such a unique ensemble to our students and our community. As far as I am aware, there are no other percussion classes like this at the Middle School level in St Johns County. The music selected for this ensemble was specifically written for percussion ensembles. Students should use this web page as a resource for recordings of these pieces.
 
As the school year begins, each child will be given a copy of the Pacetti Bay Band handbook. Please be sure to take a few moments to read through this manual or syllabus. It will outline the expectations and guidelines for your child's participation in our band program. In addition, this web page is designed for parents and students and should be used as a resource for detailed information upcoming events and general information about our band program (handbook, guidelines, etc.). Recordings of pieces and specific assignments will also be made available online via this web page.

There will be a number of opportunities for parents and family members to get involved with the band parent organization at Pacetti Bay. Please be sure to become familiar with the CHARMS website. CHARMS is a web based program that many music programs are using to facilitate parent communication and register parent volunteers. The band students can also upload recordings of their practice for me to listen to and evaluate. This is a wonderful tool and proves to be very useful for the students, parents and the director. Click here to access the CHARMS page.

Many of your questions and concerns may be addressed on this web page. Please feel free to contact me with additional questions or concerns. The best way to reach me is by email.

Charlie C. Rankin
Band Director
Pacetti Bay Middle School


Course Description: This class is open to percussion students who have successfully completed beginning band and have the director's recommendation to be placed in the class. The objective of the class is to allow these select students the opportunity to develop to their full potential as musicians and percussionists. Students will have the opportunity to work on snare drumming, mallet playing (bells, xylophone, marimba, vibraphone, chimes), timpani, drum set, Latin percussion (congas, bongos, timbales) and all auxiliary percussion instruments

Students will be sorted by grade into two groups that will perform with the advanced bands during our band concerts (Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble). The students will also have the opportunity to partner with classmates as we form various smaller ensembles (duets, trios, quartets, etc.).The students in this class will be required to participate in the Florida Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment.


Because of the unique nature of this class, each percussionist will be expected to have specific mallets and/or sticks. Please be sure that all times your percussionist is equipped with the following equipment.

Snare Drum -
Snare Drum Sticks -
Bell Mallets -
Yarn Marimba/Auxillary -
Timpani Mallets -
Stick Bag -

Please consider ordering the following method books that will be used in class.
These method books are available from www.jwpepper.com or other online stores.

1) Life's Little Rudiment Book by Steinquest
2) Drummers Daily Drill by Deliucia


PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES:

Advanced Band Concerts*
Winter Concert: December 13, 2011
Pre-Festival Concert: March 6, 2012
Florida Music Performance Assessment: March 9, 2012*
End of the Year Concert & Awards: TBA
*All Concerts wil begin at 6:00 pm (except for Florida Music Performance Assessment)

Florida Solo and Ensemble Music Performance Assessment
Location: Creekside High School
Dates: February 10 and 11, 2012 (students can request a preferred date if necessary).
Times: Determined by Florida Bandmaster's Association (2 weeks before event)
Registration Fees: Solo* - $10.00; Ensemble - $20.00 total
Piano accompaniment is required for all solos - in general pianist fee is $20.00 (paid directly to the pianist).

Limitations/Guidelines: Students performing in solo and ensemble must be a member of the band.
1) Student(s) must complete a solo/ensemble registration form and pay registration fee before Thanksgiving break.
2) Student(s) must perform the solo/ensemble for Mr. Rankin prior to Christmas vacation for approval.
3) A student can perform in no more than four events
4) A student can not perform on the same instrument in the same type of event (2 solos on the same instrument or 2 duets on the same instrument, etc.) However, a flute student could play a flute solo, a flute duet, flute quartet and woodwind chior.

Please check with Mr. Rankin about other specific questions related to solo and ensemble.

Nease Middle School Night: Date - TBA
Pacetti Bay advanced band students will have the opportunity to perform during half time of a Nease football with the Nease High School Band.

Details about the event: The band students will have a great time as we rehearse with Mr. Johnson and the Nease band before the game as we prepare for our performance. After the rehearsal the students will eat dinner with the Nease band. Students should have $5.00 for dinner (Last year it was Taco Bell). After dinner we will get lined up to march over to the Nease Stadium for the game. We will sit in the stands with the Nease Band and cheer on the Nease football team. Have fun! Do what the high schoolers do! If they dance - you should dance; if they cheer - you should cheer, etc. It's supposed to be FUN! Just before half-time we will warm up for our performance. During half-time, you'll march right on to the field and play for the hundreds of fans. After half-time you'll have a few minutes to visit the concession stand and get a snack or drink. Then back to the stands for the fourth quarter and more cheering and playing. After the game, we'll march back to the Nease band room where you will enjoy one final performance from the Nease band. Transportation to Nease from Pacetti Bay is provided and students can be picked at Nease High School or at Pacetti Bay after the game. A parent permission slip and $5.00 for dinner are required from each student. *NOTE: This event is required for all 8th grade band members!  

PRISM Concert Trip (presented by the Florida State University College of Music)
Date: TBA (Early December)
Destination: Tallahassee, Florida
Transportation: Charter Bus
Spots Available: 140 students; 20 chaperones
Cost: TBA

Curious? The PRISM concert field trip was recieved with great reviews by band students and chaperones. Ask any student or chaperone that went on this field trip and you can bet that they will be signing up again this year. The PRISM concert is a non-stop, over the top band performance. Each instrument in the band is highlighted and featured as the college students and professors show their stuff. The finale is overwhelming as the FSU Marching Chiefs surround you and play selections from their current repertoire. The concert is held in the newly renovated Ruby Diamond Auditorium which is located in the iconic Wescott Building on FSU's Tallahassee Campus.


Advanced Band Spring Trip:
Date: Proposed for May 3 - 5, 2012
Destination: Orlando, Florida or Atlanta, Georgia
Transportation: Charter Bus
Spots Available: minimum of 75 students/maximum TBD
Chaperones Spots: minimum of 10/maximum TBD
Cost: TBD

The advanced band trip has become a highlight of the band expeience at Pacetti Bay. Students in the past have greatly enjoyed the opportunity to perform at Downtown Disney in Orlando, Florida. The cost of the trip last year was $250.00 and we are hoping to keep the price close to that same amount for this year. However, some students suggested that we consider visiting a different city for the trip - so we will be getting more information on expanding the trip as we look at Atlanta, Georgia. Expanding the trip would increase the cost - so we'll keep you informed about the trip as information becomes available.



Band Uniform

For band performances percussion students will wear the following:

Symphonic Band
PBMS band polo shirt (shirt must be tucked in)
Tan khaki pants (no shorts/no jeans)
Dark dress shoes (no sandals/no tennis shoes)

Wind Ensemble (2 Uniforms)


PBMS band polo shirt (shirt must be tucked in)
Tan khaki pants (no shorts/no jeans)
Dark dress shoes (no sandals/no tennis shoes)
White tuxedo shirt (provided by the student)
Black Dress Slacks/Skirt (provided by the band)
Black Bow-tie and Cummerbund (provided by the band)
Black Shoes and black Socks (provided by the student)

At Home Practice

Practice time (out side of class time) is required for all band students. This requirement can be met at home or at school. Students should be practicing 15 - 20 minutes per day outside of band class. Please remind and encourage your child to bring his/her instrument home on a daily basis for at home practice. If your child plays a large instrument please consider a car pool or car pick-up so that your child can take the instrument home. Or, consider picking up your child at 3:00 pm which would allow your child to practice after school in the band room. Please notify Mr. Rankin if this option is necessary.

*NOTE: Students who are not meeting the expecations for at home practice will be asked to complete an at home practice log to improve at home practice habits.

After School Practice

To be prepared for band concerts, percussion students will have occasional after school rehearsals with Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble. Rehearsals will be minimal and a rehearsal schedule will be made avaialble ahead of time. The rehearsals will be held after school prior to scheduled band performances. Attendance at all after school rehearsals is required.
Percussion Ensemble Library

You can find recordings of many of these pieces online. Try visiting www.rowloff.com and you can search for each title and download a recording on your computer or mp3 device. Many recordings are also available on www.jwpepper.com.

2001 Mallet Oddity
Barnstormer
Big Yellow Mambo
Children's Magic Box
A Caveman Told Me
Clap Happy
Dance of the Wind Up Toy
Easy Winners
Escape from Pirate Cove
Evening News
Feline Pursit
First Adventure
March of the Emporer
Mozambique
Prelude in E Minor
Spinning Song
Streets of Ankara
Taste of the Classics
Mallet Appetizers for Two (Duets)
Los Cabos Suite (trio)
Three Way Split (trio)
Soy Del Barrio
Malletsicles
Rhythmsicles
Groovesicles










Last Modified: Jul 27, 2011