Percussion Ensemble

Kingsway Regional School District

Percussion Ensemble Syllabus

Mr. Vince Pagliaro – Room 208 – pagliarov@krsd.org                             Grade Level(s): 9-12

Department:    Visual & Performing Arts                                               Credits: 5

Course Description:

Percussion Ensemble Course is designed to offer student percussionists practical experience in the playing of percussion instruments in a variety of chamber music settings.  The concepts set forth in this curriculum – rhythm, articulation, technical development, music theory, listening and analysis, musical expression, and care and maintenance of equipment – are designed to be taught simultaneously throughout the school year.  Varied repertoire provides students with the opportunity to work with many different types and styles of music, thus allowing them to be exposed to different expressive qualities, technical demands, etc.

Students will continue to address these concepts throughout the school year in ways that engage them and allows them to experiment and scrutinize how these concepts are evident in different styles of music. Extensive performance opportunities are provided to students as they progress through the program.

 

Course Goals & Standards: 

Students will be able to:

1.    Demonstrate knowledge and skills that increase aesthetic awareness in music and how it relates to the performing arts.

2.    Refine perceptual, physical, and technical skills through creating music. 

3.    Produce artistic musical performances using music and art elements, technology and media.

4.    Demonstrate design skills for planning performances and events.  

5.    Collaborate in small and large groups with other students in performance situations.  

6.    Understand the role of an individual part in connection to a full ensemble sound.  

 

Course Content & Topics:  

·         First Semester: 

Unit 1: The Foundations of Music are the building blocks from which all music is created.  As students become familiar with these Elements, they will skills and understanding of applying notation reading and execution of correct technique.  Although the course begins with basic skills, this unit will culminate with polished understanding of percussive technique to prepare for the first concert.

Unit 2: This unit focuses on the Principles of Music, which are ways to organize or arrange the Elements of Music in a work of repertoire for more understanding of completing compositions. Students will develop and apply musical comprehension skills for the Winter Concert. 

·         Second Semester:

Unit 3: This unit focuses on ensemble performance basics, including listening points, melodic priority, and musical layering. As students become savvy with group listening and understanding, they will experiment with pieces of repertoire with multiple layers for the Spring Concert.  

Unit 4: This unit focuses on the influence of Music in today’s world. Students will study music of different cultures, styles and in different numbers to design the final concert.

Grading Scales/Ranges:

Primary (Major Projects/ Summative Assessments) 8-12 assignments  50%

Secondary (Minor Projects/ Quizzes) 6-10 assignments  40%

Supportive (Behavior/ Classwork) 6+ assignments 10%

 

Relevant Text and Required Materials:

 SD1 Snare sticks (purchased from Coles Music or any other local music store)

 

 PERFORMANCES. These are the currently scheduled, MANDATORY performances for this ensemble. Please note that events such as weather cancellations may result in a date change.

**There will be a fee to attend the spring trip. Itinerary and payment information will be available as soon as it is determined.

Concert Report Time: 6:00PM for ALL ENSEMBLES

**All Students are expected to be in attendance for the duration of the concerts. When not performing, students will be seated in the theater to view the other performances.

DRESS for all performances is concert BLACK. No jeans, sneakers, shorts, sandals or polo shirts are permitted. Students are asked to dress appropriately and professional at all times as the school dress code should be followed for concerts. Proper dress is expected and will be considered a part of the concert performance grading.

 

Recommended Instrument Repair Shop:

Coles Music Service 471 Main St Sewell, NJ 08080 Monday-Friday 9am-6pm Phone: 856-848-2122 www.colesmusicservice.com

 Assessments:

Although Percussion Ensemble is primarily a Performance-based course, students may occasionally take quizzes on relevant material. As with all courses here at Kingsway, students will be required to take 4 Common Summative Assessments. (CSAs) The first of which is a pre-assessment and does not count towards the students’ grade, but is utilized to determine a baseline of knowledge. 

District Reassessment Procedure:

If a student receives a grade of less than an 83 (B) on a secondary assessment, he/she is eligible for a second opportunity to demonstrate proficiency of the material. The highest grade the student can receive as a result of the reassessment opportunity is an 83. To be considered eligible for this opportunity, the student must demonstrate that he/she has engaged in further study/learning to better understand what he/she did not previously understand by completing at least 1-2 of the communicated Learning Demonstration Activities. (LDA) Students have 1-2 weeks (1 week is optimal) from receipt of the first assessment grade to engage in the LDAs and to take the reassessment. 

 Behavioral Expectations of Students: