Jr. High/High School Marching Band Course Syllabus

Instructor: Tom Broccolo

Room:  107A

Office Phone: 623)-288-6250 extension 3108

Email: thomas.broccolo@alaschools.org

Course supplies: 

  • Your Instrument

  • Supplies for your instrument (additional strings, oil, reeds, rosin, chin rest, bow, sticks, mallets, etc.)

  • Music Folder

  • All Sheet Music and Method Books Assigned

  • Pencil / eraser

  • Positive Attitude

Course Description:   

This is a year long course for students with previous Orchestra experience OR no experience but a desire to learn an instrument. A wide variety of music will be studied and performed throughout the year. In addition, students may have individual opportunities to participate in optional events like Solo and Ensemble Contests, Honor Bands, and Regionals/All-State. Junior high students with comparable skills may be placed in this class. Although not required, students are encouraged to attend private or semi-private lessons on a regular basis. Attending all full Marching performances is a course requirement. Students will be required to rent or purchase instruments. Students may also be involved in large group festivals pending on year one of ALA West Foothills. This course is designed to meet the requirements of the Arizona Standards for the Arts. Students will receive 1.0 Fine Arts , Elective credit or PE credit upon completion of this one semester course (0.5 credit each semester).

Grading Policy:

  • Homework (Practice Records) & Daily participation   - 50%

  • Formative Assessments (Quarterly Concerts)/Quizzes (playing tests) - 30%

  • Summative Assessments = End of Quarter/Semester Football Games/Festivals (your final/midterm)  - 20%

Grades will be updated in Infinite Campus (IC) weekly. You can download the Infinite Campus parent and student apps on your mobile device for easy access.

Homework:  

Practice Records can be found on the website and should be turned in physically or electronically every week. 

Late Work Policy: In order to keep up and master the curriculum, students must do their homework on time.  However, late work will be accepted with reduced credit. 20% will be deducted each day it is late for up to three days (80%, 60%, 40%). If absent, students must communicate with the teacher to obtain any assignments given over the period of absence. For each consecutive day absent, students will have one day to turn in their work. Homework that was due the day you were absent is due immediately upon your return to school. As per ALA policy, late work will not be accepted after the three day period. 

Extra Credit Policy: In order to ensure ALA’s lessons, assignments, and assessments truly reflect student mastery, ALA’s academic program does not include extra credit offerings.

Retake Policy: All students will be given multiple opportunities (case by case basis) to demonstrate mastery of state standards in each course, recognizing that students learn at different rates and times. Grades will be based on the latest assessment taken by the student.  Retakes  are  only  authorized  for  formal  assessments  (practice records, daily participation, and playing tests). It will be extremely difficult to make up a summative assessment (concerts/festivals) as these are considered finals and midterms for the quarter/semester. For a student to retake a specific assessment, the student must complete all of the following: 

  • demonstrate  readiness  to  retake  the  assessment, 

  • work with the teacher to schedule a time to retake the assessment at a time that will best meet the needs of both the teacher and student, 

  • the retake must be completed before the next formal assessment, 

  • retake of assessments will not be permitted outside the grading period it was first given. 

Website Access: This course does have a website.  Please check alabands.com weekly if not daily.. It will include test dates, an assignment calendar, syllabus, contact information and other key information to help you be successful. It’s an awesome website! The website is password protected and the password is: Guardians.

Rules and Expectations:  

Remember that membership in the band/orchestra requires special effort from a special kind of student because the band/orchestra is in reality a “public class” with its final results being concerts, contests, football games, and performances.

Respect: Our teachers, students, staff, and families show respect for one another.

Accountability: We hold students, teachers, and staff accountable for their responsibilities and their actions. Our classrooms and lessons are held accountable to state standards.

Integrity: We value and expect honesty and adherence to principle.

Service: We seek after and organize opportunities for service, both in and out of school..

Excellence: We hold ourselves to high standards and seek constant improvement.

Work together with teachers to create a classroom that is safe, conducive to learning, clean, and free from distractions 

● Use good manners and polite speech; refrain from profanity. When the music stops, it’s time to listen.

● Treat others with respect; encouragement is contagious

● Be honest and demonstrate integrity at all times 

● Accept corrections and constructive criticism respectfully 

We never eat or drink in uniform regardless of what that uniform is.

We sit as a specific group in the stands in a specific area in the stands at all times.

● Display a positive attitude; you can always start your day over.

● Treat school property with respect; if it’s not yours don’t touch it.

● Refrain from bringing toys, pets, inappropriate literature or media, electronic devices or other items that are unsafe or that could disrupt the learning environment 

● Not chew gum on campus; think about how your instrument would feel :(. 

● Abide by all ALA policies and procedures 

Be Responsible; follow all directions when given 

● Be Respectful; be on time, raise your hand if you need the teacher's attention, and stay in your seat until you have permission. To be early is to be on time, To be on time is to be late, To be late is to be left behind.

● Be Ready; bring all needed materials to class 

● Be Considerate: keep all objects, hands, and feet to yourself 

● Be Kind; if you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say anything at all 

● No food or drink in the classroom (with the exception of water), unless authorized by Administration (examples may include approved classroom party or where circumstances require lunch to be eaten in the classroom)

All band and school rules apply when you are at a home or away game/festival.

Academic Integrity: American Leadership Academy expects all students and faculty to abide by ethical academic standards and the RAISE values. Academic dishonesty—including plagiarism, cheating, or  copying  the  work  of  another,  using  technology  for  illicit  purposes,  or  any unauthorized communication between students for the purpose of gaining advantage during an examination—is strictly prohibited. ALA’s Academic Integrity Policy covers all school-related tests, quizzes, reports, class assignments, and projects. 


Students are expected to abide by all school policies including the dress code, attendance, and tardy policies. See the Parent-Student handbook for more information.

Consequences: Please refer to ALA’s conduct matrix for questions regarding consequences to misconduct.

Tutoring: Tutoring hours are scheduled weekly in between after school to 3:30pm. To schedule a tutoring session outside of these hours, please contact me directly.

Communication: The best way for parents to reach me quickly is via Email at thomas.broccolo@alaschools.org or telephone at (623)_288-6250 extension 3108 before or after school If you have questions or concerns about your student, please contact me as soon as possible.

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Teacher Acknowledgement

I commit to providing you with the space and tools you need to learn the concepts outlined below. By following these expectations, I am confident we will have an excellent year full of learning. 

Student Acknowledgement

By signing below, I acknowledge the aforementioned policies and procedures and commit to abide by them to the best of my ability. I commit to putting forth my best effort in this course and to communicate with my teacher directly should a situation arise. 


Student Signature: ______________________________________ Date: _______________________


Parent/Guardian Acknowledgement 

By signing below, I acknowledge the aforementioned policies and procedures and commit to supporting my student to abide by them to the best of my ability. I commit to communicating with the teacher directly should a situation arise. 


Parent/Guardian  Signature: ________________________________ Date: _______________________