Concert Band
Instrumental Music with Mr. Dahlberg
All instrumental music courses stem from a sequential curriculum. Certain course prerequisites and/or teacher/counselor approval may be required to enroll in advanced courses. When possible, the requirements are notated along with the course title.
Prerequisites include:
- Must be in 7th/8th grade.
- Successful completion of Varsity Band Course (or equivalent if transferring from another school – Audition and teacher/counselor approval required).
- Achieve and maintain letter grade of ‘B’ (3.0 or higher) in Varsity Band.
- Maintain letter grade of ‘B’ (3.0 or higher) in Concert Band.
- Proficiency of State and National Music Standards at Varsity Band level
Course Outline:
This course is designed for 8th grade students that have shown proficiency in all of the fundamental musical skills (written and performed) covered in Varsity Band as aligned with State and National Music Standards.
In addition, students must demonstrate maturity and discipline readiness for the advanced form of rigor required for this type of musical instruction.
Students will further advance the skills and knowledge acquired in Varsity Band by demonstrating proficiency of extended and applied skills of a band literature and method book material at a level 2.0 - 2.5+ difficulty level.
Students must acquire and maintain a letter grade of ‘B’ (3.0) or higher in all Concert Band coursework to continue participation in this level group.
Proficiency in advanced musical theory skills and performance skills is an emphasized strand of instruction.
This course represents the final step in band performance and instruction at the junior high level and will prove most helpful in auditioning for band ensembles at the senior high level.
Students will be notified of required band concerts and events as they become known.
Expectations:
Students will show proficiency in all aspects of understanding the mechanics and performance of their instruments, musical theory, terminology, history, expression and stylistic subtleties as presented within the text of appropriate method books and/or musical literature, worksheets and/or other hand-outs.
Class and Rehearsal Procedures:
All students must haveinstrument assembled, and be seated in their chair, ready for rehearsal within 3 minutes after the bell has rung. Students not in their seats within that time will be counted absent or tardy. All materials should be with the student at his/her seat prior to the start of rehearsal including instrument, supplies for instrument, pencil, all music, and folder.
Rehearsals will generally include three general elements: Warm-ups (scales/etudes/chorales), new material(etudes/literature/method book) and Review (method/literaturereview/performance readiness) with some possible overlapping of instruction or skills based on the overall needs of the group.
Students are not allowed to talk or socialize during rehearsals while the director or other instructor is on the podium. Parents of individual students that talk excessively, disrupt instruction, or in any other way prevent other studentsfrom learning, will be contacted and may lose points from their final grade.
Grading and Evaluation:
Grading and assessment will be broken down into categories as follows:
Participation and Preparation. Students will gain points for participating in class on a regular basis. Students will have 3 minutes from the time the bell rings to assemble instrument and find their seat. Tardiness to class (without an excused reason or pass) or tardiness in getting to one’s seat will result in the reduction of points. Students will lose points for lack of required materials. Students are also responsible for all lost or missing music loaned to them from the school.
Required materials as follows:
- Instrument
- Supplies for instrument (reeds, mouthpiece, cork grease, neck strap, drum sticks/practice pads, valve oil, etc.).
- Method Book(s) – loaned to student from school. Scale Etudes, Chorales and Musical Literature (Sheet Music) loaned to student.
- Pencil
- Playing Tests. Playing tests will be given on a regular basis as a method of determining the growth of student with relation to the skills and standards being taught.
Worksheets/Written Exams: Exams will be give on a regular basis to test the musical knowledge of students with relation to the fundamental skills required as mandated by State and National Music Standards.
Practice Reports. Practicing is a required part of all instrumental music classes. This requirement is in alignment with the district homework policy and will be factored into the final grade. See details below.
EmergencyProcedures: Emergency procedures will be discussed in class including fire drills, tornado drills, evacuation and lockdown drills.
Music:
All music will be provided by the school. A variety of different methods, skills, genres and styles will be explored to give the student a broad base for music appreciation. Musical styles will reflect important historical periods of time and important composer’s works as it relates to the evolution of music as we understand and perform it in today’s time.
*Styles/Periods of music that may be explored include but not limited to:
- EarlyMusic/Renaissance Music
- Baroque/Classical/Romantic Period Music
- Impressionistic Music
- Contemporary Music
- Jazz/Blues
- BigBand/Dixieland
- Overtures
- Marches
- Pop/Rock
- Cultural/Ethnic/Regional
Practice Reports:
Practice reports will be collected every Monday for the prior week’s practice. 60 minutes of home practice each week is required of each participating band student.
Concerts and Events:
Concerts are a required part of the instrumental music curriculum. All or some of the points allotted for a required concert may be deducted from a student final report card for unexcused absences. Sports practices and scrimmages, other arts activity practices and weekly lessons,other regularly scheduled extra-curricular activities, etc. are not considered excusable reasons for missing a band concert. In the event an absence for a scheduled concert or event occurs that has been determined a valid and excusable purpose (planned or unplanned), an alternate assignment will be assigned and due back to Mr. Dahlberg within one week of the scheduled missed concert to receive full credit (TBA). Please contact me if you are aware of any planned reasons for concert absences so alternate performers and/or appropriate music can be chosen based on available instrumentation. Please contact me with questions or for further clarification.
Required Concerts:
- Thursday, December 14, 2018 @ 6:30 P.M. @ MMS
- Thursday, May 17, 2018 @ 6:30 P.M. @ MMS
Other Concerts and Events:
(Although these concerts/events may not be required,some events will require the majority of members performing to participate – in the event any event occurs during the school day, it will be expected that all members will participate in the event as a class/school field trip).
We will discuss and choose from the following:
- Guthrie Theater (Opening Night for 'A Christmas Carol')
- Saints/Twins/Wild Game – Star Spangled Banner (TBA)
- Joint Concert with other St. Paul Senior High/Suburban Jr. High
- Adjudicated Festival – i.e. PAC /Valleyfair (Spring)
- MOA/other mall
- Parades – Grand Old Day, Cinco de Mayo, St. Paul Police Patrol, Other.
- Elementary School Recruiting Tour
- Out of State Musical Tour