Beginning Band
Murray Middle School
InstrumentalMusic
Ms. Olsen
All instrumental music courses stem from a sequential curriculum. Certain course prerequisites and/or teacher/counselor approval may be required to enroll in specific advanced courses. When possible, the requirements are notated alongwith the course title.
Beginning Band
- Achieve and maintain letter grade of ‘B’ (3.0) orhigher in Beginning Band.
- Maintain State and National Music Standards atBeginning Band level.
CourseOutline: This course is designed for7th/8th grade students that have indicated a stronginterest in learning how to play a woodwind or brass instrument. (BeginningPercussion students should enroll in the Beginning Percussion 1 Course).Students will learn the fundamental skills and knowledge required toparticipate in Beginning Band by demonstrating proficiency of applied skills asintroduced in band literature and method book material at a level 1.0 -1.5 + difficulty level. Students must acquire and maintain a letter grade of‘B’ (3.0) or higher in all Beginning Band coursework to continue participationin this level group. Proficiency in beginning musical theory skills andperformance skills is an emphasized strand of instruction.
Expectations:Students will show proficiency in allaspects of understanding the mechanics and performance of their instruments,musical theory, terminology, history, expression and stylistic subtleties aspresented within the text of appropriate method books and/or musicalliterature, worksheets and/or other hand-outs.
Class/Rehearsal Procedures: All students must haveinstrument assembled, and be seated in their chair, ready for rehearsal within3 minutes after the bell has rung. Students not in their seats within that timewill be counted absent or tardy. Empty instrument cases should be placed inlocker cages during rehearsals. All materials should be with the student athis/her seat prior to the start of rehearsal including instrument, supplies forinstrument, pencil, all music, and folder.
Rehearsals will generally include threegeneral elements: Warm-ups (scales/etudes/chorales), new material(etudes/literature/method book) and Review (method/literaturereview/performance readiness) with some possible overlapping of instruction orskills based on the overall needs of the group.
Students are not allowed to talk orsocialize during rehearsals while the director or other instructor is on thepodium. Students will be rewarded at the end of class with a few minutes (5minutes) to socialize provided they work well during the rehearsal. Minutes tosocialize will be deducted if time is wasted during rehearsal and may carryoverto following days until time is repaid in full. Individual students that talkexcessively, disrupt instruction, or in any other way prevent other studentsfrom learning, will lose points from their final grade.
Gradingand Evaluation: Grading andassessment will be broken down into categories as follows:
- Attendance.Students will gain points for attending class on a regular basis. Students willhave 3 minutes from the time the bell rings to assemble instrument and findtheir seat. Tardiness to class (without an excused reason or pass) or tardinessin getting to one’s seat will result in the reduction of points.
- Preparation.Students will gain points for having instrument, music and all requiredmaterials to class on a regular basis. Students will lose points for lack ofrequired materials. Students are alsoresponsible for all lost or missing music loaned to them from the school at$10.00 per method book or $3.00 per piece of sheet music.
- Requiredmaterials as follows:
- Instrument
- Supplies forinstrument (reeds, mouthpiece, cork grease, neck strap, drum sticks/practicepads, valve oil, etc.).
iii. Method Book(s) –loaned to student from school:
- Band Today
- MusicalLiterature (Sheet Music) loaned to student from school.
- Pencil(s) need tobe sharpened prior to sitting in chair for the start of class.
- DailyParticipation. Student exercisesdiscipline and maturity by participating and playing instrument at appropriatetimes during class rehearsals and raises hand/speaks with respect during classdiscussions. Student comes prepared by practicing or preparing the assignedlesson.
- Playing Tests. Playingtests will be given on a regular basis as a method of determining the growth ofstudent with relation to the skills and standards being taught.
- Worksheets/Written Exams. Worksheets and written exams will be given on a semiregular basis to test the musical knowledge of students with relation to thefundamental skills required as mandated by State and National Music Standards.
- Practice Reports. Practicing is a required part of all instrumental music classes. Thisrequirement is in alignment with the district homework policy and will befactored into the final grade. See details below.
Emergency Procedures: Emergency procedures willbe discussed in class including fire drills, tornado drills, evacuation andlockdown drills.
Music: All music will be provided by theschool. A variety of different methods, skills, genres and styles will beexplored to give the student a broad base for music appreciation. Musicalstyles will reflect important historical periods of time and important composer’sworks as it relates to the evolution of music as we understand and perform itin today’s time.
*Styles/Periodsof music that may be explored include but not limited to:
- EarlyMusic/Renaissance Music
- Baroque/Classical/RomanticPeriod Music
- ImpressionisticMusic
- ContemporaryMusic
- Jazz/Blues
- BigBand/Dixieland
- Overtures
- Marches
- Pop/Rock
- Cultural/Ethnic/Regional
Practice Reports: Practice reports will becollected every Monday for the prior week’s practice. 60 minutes of home practice per week is required of each participating band student.