Program Information
contact information
band phone number
281.463.5857

director e-mail addresses

watkins fax number
281.856.1583

watkins address
4800 Cairnvillage
Houston, Tx   77084

directors
steve silva
director of bands
Mr. Silva has been at Watkins for 13 years.  His degree is a Bachelors in Music with Education Certification from the University of Houston.  His primary instrument is saxophone.  Mr. Silva is married with 3 children, ages 7, 6 and a little baby.  He is the children's worship leader at the church he attends, vineyard community church of west houston (where he is also the webmaster - hence the link).

evelyn sarabia
associate director
Miss Sarabia will be at Watkins for her second year.  Her degree is a Bachelors in Music with Education Certification from the University of Houston.  Her instrument is the flute.  Miss Sarabia grew up in the Spring area where she learned about music and band from some great directors.  She also works at a very fashionable clothing store in the Gallaria area on the weekends.

policies
behavior
We expect our students to behave very well.  Parents are spending money and making an investment for their children to be in our class, and we take that seriously.  No student may disrupt the class so that learning is disrupted.  Behavior at performances must be respectful and appropriate at all times.  This is of very high value to the band directors.

practice
Students must practice to be successful at learning and developing on their instrument.  As with any worthwhile endeavor, you must invest time and energy into becoming a musician.  We recommend a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes at least 5 times a week.  More practice will produce more results.  You cannot learn or develop as a player with little or no practice.  See our band philosophies page for our Main Concepts for Success regarding practice.

training records
Training records, also known as practice cards, are due every Monday with a parent signature.  They must be filled out completely, including totals and have a signature for the student to earn a 100.  If all of the fields are not filled in, the student will receive a 70.  If students turn in the training record on Monday or Tuesday, they receive the full credit.  If they turn it in on Wednesday or Thursday, they will loose 20 points, and if they turn it in on Friday, they will loose 40 points.

names must be on the out side of every case
This policy keeps our students responsible for their instruments and eliminates students not practicing because they don't have their instrument at home. The directors stay until 4:30 Monday through Thursday, but leave earlier on Fridays.  Students involved in athletic games or other activities that make it difficult to get their instrument are expected to make plans to get their instrument home.

all instruments go home every night
One of our policies is that all instruments go home every night.  Students who leave their instruments at school will have a consequence the following day. This includes when students go home early for any reason, if they stay late for any reason, or if they have athletic practice.  We do not make exceptions for this policy.

complete method books
Every student is required to have a Watkins Band Complete Method Book.  They cost $5.00 and are available at any time if a student loses theirs.  There is a large amount of necessary music and information in the Complete Method Book.

band t-shirts
Every Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Concert 1 and Concert 2 student is required to have a band shirt for performance purposes.
They cost $10.00 and are available at any time.
Beginning Band students may purchase them as well.
They come in Adult sizes S, M, L, XL and XXL.  

band cd - "the journey"
At the end of the year, we will make a CD available of the year's best performances for all bands.  The cost is $6.00 (cash only at the end of the year).  We will have order forms in the program for the end of the year Spring Concert.

instrument repair
If your child's instrument ever needs repair, let the directors look at it first.  We are able to fix many of the small problems.  If we cannot fix it, we can send it into the music store, and usually get it back quicker than if you take it in yourself.  The store will contact you with the cost to get approval before doing any repair.

grading for beginning band classes
10%  Training records             
40%  Class Participation                    
40%  Performance Tests                    

grading for symphonic wind ensemble, concert 1 band and concert 2 band
40%  Class Participation
30%  Performance

complete method book
the complete method book must be purchased each year
the cost for 2005/2006 is $5.00

general rules and policies
Every student must behave appropriately for band class.  
If our students are going to learn everything they need to learn in order to be successful, all students must cooperate by contributing to a positive classroom environment, free from discipline issues.  Everyone has paid money to be in band class, and it is unacceptable for any student to inhibit another students music education with disruptive behavior.

Every student must have their name clearly placed on their instrument case.
This policy prevents students from taking the wrong instrument home and allows the directors to easily identify which instrument belongs to which student for security reasons.

Every student needs to take their instrument home every day.   
This policy keeps our students responsible for their instruments and eliminates students not practicing because they don't have their instrument at home. The directors stay until 4:30 Monday through Thursday, but leave earlier on Fridays.  Students involved in athletic games or other activities that make it difficult to get their instrument are expected to make plans to get their instrument home.

Every student needs to take care of their own instrument.
This policy is for security reasons.  Friends are not allowed to get your instrument out of the band hall for you, and you should not touch anyone's instrument except your own.

Students who are not in band are not allowed in the band hall.  
This policy is for security reasons.

Students who take their instrument into the repair shop must bring a note from a parent.
We want to know if your instrument is in need of repair.  Sometimes, the directors can fix problems, so let us try first.  If we cannot fix the problem, we will recommend that you take your instrument in for repair.  

Only percussion students are allowed in the percussion room and to touch or play percussion instruments.  
This policy is to protect our instruments from being damaged.  Our percussion instruments are owned by the school and several of them are very expensive.

There is no gum or food in the band hall.  
We want to keep our band hall looking nice, and this policy helps us accomplish this goal.
 
beginning band expectations
Students will bring their instrument, all music, a pencil to class every day.
Students will have the necessary supplies to play their instrument, such as reeds (for clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon), the mouthpiece, and all the parts needed to play.
Students will keep their instruments in working condition.  Brass instruments will oil valves and grease slides at home.
Students will have their training record filled out every day and signed by a parent to be turned in every Monday.
Students will practice a reasonable amount each week.  The total time will depend on the difficulty of the music they need to learn.
Students will attend and participate in all required performances.
 
concert 2 band expectations
Students will bring their instrument, all music, and a pencil to class.
Students will have the necessary supplies to play their instrument, such as reeds (for clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon), the mouthpiece, and all the parts needed to play their instrument.
Students will keep their instruments in working condition.  Brass instruments will oil valves and grease slides at home.
Students will have their training record filled out every day and signed by a parent to be turned in every Monday.
Students will practice a reasonable amount each week.  The total time will depend on the difficulty of the music they need to learn.
Students will attend and participate in all required performances.
 
concert 1 band expectations
Students will bring their instrument, all music, and a pencil to class.
Students will have the necessary supplies to play their instrument, such as reeds (for clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon), the mouthpiece, and all the parts needed to play their instrument.
Students will keep their instruments in working condition.  Brass instruments will oil valves and grease slides at home.
Students will have their training record filled out every day and signed by a parent to be turned in every Monday.
Students will practice a reasonable amount each week.  The total time will depend on the difficulty of the music they need to learn.
Students will have the correct clothes to fit the uniform at all required performances.
Students will attend and participate in all required performances.
Students will participate in Solo and Ensemble contest.
Students will attend all section rehearsals.
 
symphonic wind ensemble expectations
Students will bring their instrument, all music, and a pencil to class.
Students will have the necessary supplies to play their instrument, such as reeds (for clarinet, saxophone, oboe and bassoon), the mouthpiece, and all the parts needed to play their instrument.
Students will keep their instruments in working condition.  Brass instruments will oil valves and grease slides at home.
Students will have their training record filled out every day and signed by a parent to be turned in every Monday.
Students will practice a reasonable amount each week.  The total time will depend on the difficulty of the music they need to learn. Students must practice enough to learn all the material given to them.
Students will have the correct clothes to fit the uniform at all required performances.
Students will attend and participate in all required performances.
Students will behave better than any other students in the band program.
Students will participate in Solo and Ensemble contest.
Students will audition for District Honor Band and Region Band.
Students will attend all section rehearsals.
 
the watkins band uniform
A white, long sleeved, button down shirt with a collar - Purchased from the Band at the beginning of the year.
Black dress pants - no jeans, no skirts.
Black socks or hoes.
Black dress shoes - no tennis shoes or sandals.
The band will provide a vest for the Symphonic Wind Ensemble
 
some recommendations
We highly recommend that students keep their instruments in the band hall during the day.
This policy is for your benefit.  The directors are always either in the band hall, or the doors are locked.  It is somewhat common to have students leave their instruments in other classes or in the hall if they carry it around all day.  The band hall is the safest place for your instrument.

We highly recommend that you write down the make, model and serial number of your instrument.  
This policy is to protect you in case something does happen to your instrument.  You should write down the make, model and serial number of your instrument and keep it at home.

Make (brand) of instrument: ____________________________

Model of instrument: ____________________________

Serial Number: ________________________________
watkins middle school band * cy-fair isd * 4800 cairnvillage * houston, tx 77084 * 281.463.5857 * (c) 2006