Age

Joyful Noise has programs for all home school students between the ages of 3 to 18.


Attendance

Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances. Students missing more than two rehearsals within a concert period or missing a rehearsal prior to a performance may have their seating changed or be denied permission to perform. No student will be allowed to perform in a concert if he or she misses the final rehearsal prior to the performance.


Bad Weather Policy

Due to the great distances some of our families travel, we have to have a conservative bad weather policy. If Cobb Public Schools are closed for bad weather, Joyful Noise is closed. We do not make up these days. Please check for weather updates on our news page before leaving for band.


Challenges

For those who are dissatisfied with chair placement, you may challenge to move up. These challenges will be heard on the last Friday of each month. If you wish to challenge, you must obtain a “Challenge Notification Form” from the Information Table. Fill it out and give it to your director the Friday before the scheduled challenge. Your director will schedule a time. If you miss the scheduled time, the challenge is forfeit. You must wait another month to challenge again. The director’s decision is final.


Character

JNHSB has student guidelines that every student is expected to follow. As we wish to do all to the glory of God, we require all our students to exhibit the following minimal personal virtues:

  • Kindness
  • Punctuality in attendance and work
  • Truthfulness
  • Courtesy and respect toward others
  • Modesty in dress
  • Diligence in effort and attention
  • Respect for and obedience to those in authority


Code of Conduct

Students are expected to behave in a respectful, obedient fashion while participating in Joyful Noise activities, at the church or at performing venues. Any abuse of the facilities could cause us to lose this privilege; therefore, abuse of the facilities and disrespectful conduct or attitude is grounds for immediate dismissal without refund. Our desire is to be pleasing to the Lord and not a stumbling block to each other. This code of conduct will be enforced before, during, and after class anywhere on the property in which Joyful Noise practices. Damage done to the facility or its equipment will be the financial responsibility of the persons involved in causing the damage.

The following behavior will result in immediate disciplinary action:

  • Foul language or unwholesome talk (Eph. 4:29)
  • Roughhousing
  • Disruptive behavior during rehearsals
  • Disrespect for those in authority
  • All other inappropriate behavior as deemed by the director


Daily Practice

Daily Practice is required of all band/orchestra/guitar members. Beginning Band/Orchestra/guitar students will be required to practice at least 5 days a week, 15 minutes a day, gradually being increased by the director to 30 minutes a day after Christmas. All other band/orchestra/guitar students will be required to practice for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Weekly practice minutes must be recorded each Friday. If a student does not practice sufficiently to learn the assigned music, he or she may have their seating changed, be placed in a lower class or dismissed from the class.


Dress Code

“Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” – Philippians 4:5 Everyone (including family members of students) must come properly dressed to JNHSB. Your children will be dismissed from a practice or a performance if not dressed properly. Midriff tops and undergarments that show are not allowed. Please click here for concert dress code.


Facility Care

The atmosphere of our music program must be one of order, discipline, and cooperation. No running or roughhousing will be permitted. Please remember we are guests at Eastside Baptist church and our concert venues. Let’s work together to leave the building in the same condition as we found it. At Eastside please enter and leave at the front door of the Student Center. Unless otherwise directed, all Joyful Noise activities are limited to the Student Center building.


Instruments and Instrument Care

All beginner band and orchestra students must attend an instrument fitting during the summer. As a rule, each family is responsible for providing their instruments. Orchestra students will need a violin, viola, cello or bass. We do have some band instruments that we loan for the maintenance fee of $75 – $100 for the school year. If registration for the following year is paid, student may retain possession of borrowed instrument over the summer for the additional fee of $25. These are available on a limited basis, so we recommend that you ask friends, neighbors, church associates and others if they have any instruments they aren’t using. If you leave Joyful Noise for some reason, please consider donating your ‘gift’ instrument, so that others may receive the same blessing you have received.

Percussion students must provide a snare for beginner band, but will have free use of many other instruments, as the music requires. All percussion students must have at least a year of experience playing a piano or other instrument in order to play percussion in the beginner band.

Students should never play or handle another student’s instrument, case, or accessories. Instruments and cases should be left in the Atrium area where the game equipment is located. Students other than the drummers should never touch the percussion equipment. Parents are financially responsible for repairs to and upkeep of instruments loaned to their child by the band.


Lost and Found

We have a lost and found with items gathered weekly. In order to build responsibility in our students, we charge a $.50 per item in order to redeem it if it has your name on it. Items not labeled with be charged a $1.00 fee to reclaim them. Items will be available for one month following the date left, after such time items will be sold or donated. Please put your name on everything! All coats, backpacks, stands and music books look the same! We do not assume the responsibility of keeping up with your things.


Music and Copyright Policy

Joyful Noise complies with copyright laws and follows the publisher’s requirements for music use by the members of JNHSB. Everyone participating (teachers, students, student’s families, etc…) in any JNHSB activity is required to govern themselves according to the law and according to the policies of JNHSB. Music issued by JNHSB remains the property of JNHSB. No teacher, student or family members may keep or copy the music issued to them by JNHSB in any form. All music must be returned to JNHSB. Joyful Noise assumes no responsibility for actions of teachers, students or family members in violation of the above-mentioned laws. A $5 fee will be charged per sheet of music not returned, as we will have to purchase that music once again.


Need-Based Scholarships

We endeavor to keep Joyful Noise fees low for all our families. However on occasion, some may experience a season of financial need due to the loss of a spouse, job, a medical emergency, or other significant financial setback. These need-based scholarships come from Joyful Noise funds, and are therefore, limited. They are awarded on an ‘as needed’ basis. Preference is given to single mother households and/or current Joyful Noise members, but others are considered. These are in the form of partial scholarships. We do not desire that any student be denied musical training because of lack of finances. The purpose of the JNHSB Scholarship Fund is to give thanks to, and glorify the Lord through aiding those home school families who are in temporary difficulty. If God has blessed you financially, you may make a donation to this fund, or to a specific family or student. Donations may be made anonymously, if desired. We thank those families that have already contributed to this cause.


Parent Participation

Parents can participate in Joyful Noise programs for only the $60 registration fee and not have to pay tuition at any time. We have many parents who play with their student in band or orchestra, as well as sing in the chorus. It’s amazing how it helps build family unity when both parent and child are learning to play an instrument. Students find that they are on a level playing field and can compete with their parent, perhaps for the first time! Seeing their parents being diligent in practice encourages diligence in the student. Students sitting near the parent actually appreciate their support and encouragement. It works for our students, our families and our programs. It’s a good thing all around.


Parental Supervision

We are not a drop off service. We thank you in advance for understanding that every student or child must be supervised by an adult at all times. There is a waiting room available for you and your children to use. There are to be no children running in the building at any time. Many of our parents use this time to encourage each other, and the little ones love to play. If you leave your student at Joyful Noise, you must arrange for another parent to be in charge of your student until you return and your student must know that “Mrs. So-an-dso is responsible for you.” You must also sign them in at the information desk along with the name of the responsible parent. Students driving themselves to Joyful Noise are expected to monitor their own behavior appropriately. They must also have a “Character Contract” on file at the information desk and sign in and out weekly.


Practice Minutes

Students should be practicing a minimum of 150 minutes per week, the majority of which should be spent specifically on concert music or assigned exercises. Beginner classes only require 75 minutes for the first semester. Practice minutes should be recorded on the sign-in sheet each week. If student is absent, record the minutes in the appropriate space the next week he attends.


Private Lessons

Private lessons are not a requirement but are encouraged. A student who receives individual instruction will generally progress better than those who do not. Many local stores and private individuals offer private lessons. Eastside Baptist has a Academy for the Arts that has private instructors too.


Section Leaders

A section leader is the first chair or principle player of a given section. It is an honor to be section leader, as it means you have worked hard to be the very best on your instrument. This is rewarded with the status of section leader, but also carries certain responsibilities. More detailed information will be provided to section leaders in band class.


Student Requirements

All students are required to maintain a record of home practice to keep up with our weekly instruction. All students will need to provide a folding wire stand for home practice and to bring to rehearsals, as well as a 1” black binder for concert music, a practice book, to be announced and “concert dress.” Experienced students needing to be placed in a class should come prepared to audition with our directors on Audition Day in August. And of course, being a homeschool program, students must be home-educated.


Volunteers

Due to the number of students involved and a desire to keep the cost of Joyful Noise programs reasonable, we find it necessary to require all families to be involved in the operation of Joyful Noise. Approximately 10 hours per family/per year is all that is needed to operate Joyful Noise in an efficient manner. A detailed list of jobs and times will be available at instrument fittings, auditions, and at the Information Desk during the month of September. Please sign up as soon as possible. We need all families to respond early to have the whole year scheduled. If you have health problems that prevent you from working, an exception will be made for you. If you are healthy but too busy to help, you will be charged $80 per year to be of help in a different way. Please be sure to indicate this by checking the appropriate box on the Enrollment Form.

Joyful Noise Home School Band holds to the truth that all people are created in the image of God. Therefore, we will never discriminate against any student on the basis of race, color or national origin. All students are precious to us and will receive just treatment and equal opportunity for advancement.