Homework

Middle School:

Middle school students will be graded on class work (see classroom expectations) as well as being quizzed on major scales over the course of the year.

Quizzes include B flat and E Flat concert scales in trimester one, A flat and F concert scales in trimester two, and a chromatic scale in trimester three.

I strive to make the "quizzing process" as stress free as possible. Students play as a group and I will observe two to five students at a time. I would never have a student perform alone in front of the group without that student's consent.

The schedule of quizzes is the same in grades six through eight. However, there are various aspects of musicianship added to the quiz in grades seven and eight which appropriately raise the level of difficulty. Examples of this would include articulation, dynamics, memorization, and following conducted tempo changes.

Students do not have official homework in band. Naturally, I would prefer students to practice on a consistent basis. However, I have many students who are excellent contributors to the band who do not practice consistently. I rarely pressure students to practice as I am aware of the nature of their day to day schedules.

I will occasionally recommend some practice time to a student who is struggling to keep up with the group due to a perceived lack of effort.

While many students will do well on the scale quizzes on just the work we do in class some may need a little work at home to play the scales with confidence. This should not require a significant amount of time. A rough guess would be five to ten minutes a night over five to seven nights.

Elementary School:

Elementary students, particularly beginning students, usually require some amount of practice time in order to be successful. I recommend fourth grade students practice on a daily basis for a short period of time. This may be as little as five minutes a day if done regularly. A fourth grader practicing a little bit, on a regular basis, will likely be able to implement an instructor's suggestions. A young student who does not practice will likely struggle to implement suggestions from the instructor. Therefore, there are limits to what a teacher can do to to help a student who does not practice at home. This being said, there is no rule to govern all students. If you are wondering how your student is progressing please contact Mr. Kelly.