Beginning Percussion

Murray Junior High

InstrumentalMusic

Mr. Dahlberg

Allinstrumental music courses stem from a sequential curriculum. Certain courseprerequisites and/or teacher/counselor approval may be required to enroll inspecific advanced courses. When possible, the requirements are notated alongwith the course title.

Beginning Percussion 1

Achieve and maintain letter grade of ‘B’ (3.0) orhigher in Beginning Percussion.
Maintain State and National Music Standards atBeginning Percussion level.
To move into Beginning Band 2^nd/3^rdtrimester, students must:

Achieve ‘B’ orhigher letter grade in Beginning Percussion 1
DemonstrateProficiency in Snare Drum, Mallets, and Drum Set Skills
Have access toown drum set
Acquire privatepercussion lessons

CourseOutline: This course is designed for7^th/8^th grade students that have indicated a stronginterest in learning how to play percussion instruments. (Beginning Woodwindand Brass Students should enroll in the Beginning Band Course). Students willlearn the fundamental skills and knowledge required to participate in BeginningBand by demonstrating proficiency of applied skills as introduced in bandliterature 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 havea drum practice pad (or other suitable surface for practicing as discussed in class) 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. All materials should be with the student athis/her seat prior to the start of rehearsal including practice pad, drumsticks, pencil, and music.

Rehearsals may 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 and topic being taught.

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 –Practice Pad and drumsticks (#2A or #2B is appropriate)
Method Book(s) –loaned to student from school:
Band Today
Drum Method –Haskell W. Harr
MusicalLiterature (Sheet Music) loaned to student from school.

iii. 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 importantcomposer’s works as it relates to the evolution of music as we understand andperform it in today’s time.

*Styles/Periods of music that may be explored include but not limited to:

Early Music/Renaissance Music
Baroque/Classical/Romantic Period Music
Impressionistic Music
Contemporary Music
Jazz/Blues
Big Band/Dixieland
Overtures
Marches
Pop/Rock
Cultural/Ethnic/Regional

Practice Reports: Practice reports will becollected every Monday for the prior week’s practice. 60 minutes home practice per week is required of each participating band student.

Practice Reports