South Allegheny Band

2743 Washington Boulevard, Liberty Borough, PA 15133 | 412-678-9790

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Parent & Student Handbook

Expected Behavior at Football Games & Band Festivals

• Pick up your garbage
• You will not eat or drink in uniform unless WE give it to you
• Be courteous... try it once!
• Enjoy yourself without acting like a "fool"
• Pick up your garbage
• You will keep your complete uniform on unless you are told otherwise
• Do not step on our seat covers; we want to keep them clean for you!
• Do not use vulgarity; there is NO SWEARING in band!
• Whenever the Star Spangle Banner is being played, you MUST STOP, FACE THE FLAG and STAND STILL. Absolutely NO TALKING or looking around during either the SSB or a school's Alma Mater. If we already have our uniform hats on we keep them on; as part of a uniform, we do not need to take them off for the National Anthem. The proper response after the playing of our National Anthem is respectful silence, NOT applause. Save the applause for the hockey game.
• Pick up your garbage
• Treat all other bands with respect, no matter their level of performance. Remember we are ALL trying to do our best and that deserves respect. With that said, regrettably we may come across some bands who do not seem to follow this advice. Show them that you are above this childish behavior and DO NOT respond in an immature manner.

Expected Behavior on the Bus

• The bus chaperones are to be treated with the same respect you would give any staff member or teacher. Do not treat them with disrespect or you will answer to Mr. Riffle.
• Pick up your garbage
• Be considerate of everyone else on the bus. Remember, you don't want them to spoil your day, so don't do anything that will spoil their day.
• No yelling, shouting, screaming or other obnoxious behavior.
• Keep your radios at a low volume level. If things get too loud, NO ONE will be allowed to take a radio or tape/CD player on the bus for the remainder of the season.
• As you should have learned in Kindergarten, keep your arms, legs, head, and other body parts inside the bus, and NEVER throw anything out of the bus windows.
• We enter and exit the bus from the front doors ONLY. The emergency exit door in the rear of the bus is for... Emergency exits ONLY!
• When we return to the school at the end of a trip, close your bus window, pick up all personal belongings, make sure you have everything that is yours, then...
• Pick up your garbage
• In the past, some students have chosen not to follow the rules and they have found they have been punished in a number of ways, from being barred from further band trips, with the subsequent lowering of their grade to being forced to sit behind the band director on the bus for the remainder of the season.

Expected Behavior During Sit-Down Rehearsals

• Don't waste time!
• Food or drinks are NOT permitted in the band room
• Do NOT chew gum in the band room
• We need to make the most efficient use of our limited rehearsal time, so get set up ready to play as quickly as possible. Make sure you are not blocking anyone else from getting ready. Make sure you have all of your music and instrument parts before you sit down.
• Take care of all personal matters before you come into the bandroom. Enter the bandroom with the attitude that you are ready to play music and work to improve the quality of the band.
• You are responsible for maintaining your instrument in playing order; this includes reeds, valve oil, etc. If you are having a mechanical problem with your instrument, take care of it immediately. Get it to a good and reliable repair shop. Grandpa may be a great handyman, but he will probably be more like the TV tool man Tim Taylor, when it comes to delicate musical instruments. Don't ignore the problem, musical instruments never heal themselves. If you are using a school owned instrument, make sure you tell Mr. Riffle about your problem before you do anything!
• Keep your hands off of other peoples' instruments/property. Especially do not play with the equipment that is in the bandroom, i.e. percussion equipment etc.
• Band rehearsal is not the time to work on your stand-up comedy routine, save that for the lunchroom where the comedy will take your mind off of the food.
• Don't do anything during the rehearsal that would distract the other band members; this include idle chit chat, irrelevant comments, getting up from your seat, throwing things, making noises, etc.
• Pick up your garbage

Students or parents who willfully lie about missed band performances, illness, or absences will result in the students expulsion from the band.