Attendance Expectations and Grading
Attendance is the main portion of the total grade, and therefore if you earn an “F” in attendance you earn an “F” in the course.
Each student is expected to attend all rehearsals and provide any equipment or accessories (instrument, lyre, smartphone, etc.) required by the music being performed. The grading scale for attendance is as follows:
- A - All Attendance and pass-offs met in a timely manner
- B - (4 unexcused tardies or 2 unexcused absence)
- C - (3 unexcused absence)
- D - (4 unexcused absence + other factors/tardies/pass-offs)
- F - (5 unexcused absence + other factors/tardies/pass-offs)
All students must be in their spot/warming-up by the scheduled rehearsal time. Two tardies will constitute an unexcused absence. Failure to bring required materials (e.g., music/smartphone, eFlip/lyre) will count as a tardy. To receive an excused absence the student must obtain the director’s approval prior to the rehearsal. Excused absences will not be granted after the rehearsal in question. University sanctioned activities, catastrophic events, or illness accompanied by a doctor’s note will be excused. A doctor’s note will ONLY be accepted at the next rehearsal following the absence. Any student missing a performance or dress rehearsal (this includes Saturday morning rehearsals) will have their grade dropped by one letter. Being tardy to or absent from the Saturday morning rehearsal may result in a student not being allowed to perform at halftime.
Excused absences: *illness with doctor’s or nurses written verification
- death in the immediate family
- school related activities (these absences require approval from the director no less than one week prior to a rehearsal or four weeks prior to a dress rehearsal/performance). Excusing an absence from a dress rehearsal or performance due to a school related activity is solely at the discretion of the director.
- in the case of an extended absence, refer to the SUU student handbook
“If a student is absent from a class more than the equivalent of one week of instruction (more than three days for MWF class, during a regular semester, for example) those absences may be reported by the instructor of record to the dean of students. The dean will then send the student a notice of pending action. The student is advised to contact the instructor as soon as this notice has been received. Ten calendar days after the report is submitted by the instructor during a regular semester. A student may be dropped from the class for excessive unexcused absences at the request of the Director.
STUDENTS WHO ACCRUE A TOTAL OF SEVEN ABSENCES (EXCUSED, UNEXCUSED, OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF) WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE ENSEMBLE, NO EXCEPTIONS!!!
Rehearsal Expectations
Though a student’s absence, in most classes, affects only his/her learning situation, being absent from Wind Symphony, Athletic Band or any other team-like endeavor affects all the members of the ensemble. Every student is important to the group, and all parts, whether melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic are integral to the ensemble’s performance. The absence of a single instrument negatively impacts balance, dynamics and the overall group sound, thus damaging the experience for all involved. Excused absences are only granted in extenuating circumstances, wedding, funeral, illness (with doctors note), etc. The quality of the group is greatly enhanced when we all are committed and are giving our best.