Teachers

Google Meet Link: amsband

Like us on Facebook:

Asheville Middle School Band Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AVLMSBand

Asheville City Schools Bands Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ACSBands

Band Remind Codes:

Join our Remind! This is our best and quickest method of communication! Here is how to join:

-Text the #81010

-In the text message type the following code for your grade level"

6th grade Band: @6ams20

7th grade Band: @7amsavl

8th grade Band: @8bandams

Course Syllabus

Synchronous Class Time- Students will meet twice a week. Because we cannot have the entire band play at the same time (Google Meet is barely able to even hold a conversation of 70+ much less a rehearsal) we will use the morning class time as “Guided Practice” and "Concept Presentation." Students should be practicing on mute where we can see all students practicing and dropping in on sessions by unmuting students and checking in on their work. This is essentially a 40 minute practice session. We will also use this time to teach large concepts and for class meetings.

v Participation Grade 50%

Asynchronous Afternoon Lesson Time- All 5 Band Directors have divided up all ACS students 7-12 into Instrument Cohort groups where they will each receive a 30 minute lesson per week. This represents about 150 hours of lessons each week given by the ACS Directors. This is a HUGE amount of time on our part but it is the only way we can see real instruction happening and working. During this time students will actually get “taught,” get assignments to work on, and will play each week for us. This is where the real education and teaching of concepts and lessons will happen. This is likely the opposite of academic classes.

v Lesson Grades 50%- Each teacher will assign materials based off of each student’s interest and level. Their education will be tailored to their needs but all students will do similar activities musically no matter the content or level. See the “Lesson Curriculum/Grades” at the end of this document for more info. All students will learn and be assessed on:

Private Lesson Exemption:

There is a strong culture and participation in ACS of private lessons. If students are taking weekly private lessons with one of the teachers on our approved ACS Private Lessons list then they may substitute that weekly lesson time for their weekly 30 minute time with the ACS Director if they choose. The rationale is if you are spending 30, 45 or 60 minutes a week with a qualified private instructor you are getting the same or better instruction than you would get with the director and can substitute the time. If they choose to use their Private Lessons assignments as their 9 assignments for each 9 weeks they may also do so. If a private teacher is tailoring instruction for the student and keeping up with their weekly progress in lessons these assignments are just as rigorous or even more and should be able to be used as their playing test. This will not only encourage students to do private lessons but will make sure we are not giving the students in lessons extra assignments on top of their private teacher. Just let us know you are studying privately and we will be in touch with your teachers for most grades instead of doing it in your afternoon lessons. The ACS teachers have exactly enough time for 45 students per teacher as well so any students who take private lessons already will help make room for students who do not on our schedules.

Private Lesson Curriculum/Grades

Note to Students/Parents: Your private teacher/ assigned band director will be giving you materials to work on each week at your specific level inside of your private lessons. This is going to be THE MOST EDUCATIONAL part of your week and 50% of your grade. The normal class time we have is really just a guided practice session. The lesson you will get scheduled separately is where the most valuable teaching will happen. This is likely the opposite of your academic classes. While each student will get assignments tailored specifically to them, they will be assignments from these categories and the lessons teachers will give a grade for each student in these specific areas to your regular band director.

LESSON CURRICULUM/GRADE AREAS

I. Long Tones- Students will work on Long Tones #1-4 as their ACS Daily Warmups and at the beginning of lessons and class. Knowing all pitches for 2 octaves worth of notes in addition to how to adjust those pitches on their instrument to play each pitch in tune is the long term goal of these 4 exercises. Long Tones warm up sheets will be provided by the Band Director in Canvas.

II. Scales- Scales are the building blocks of music. Scales teach key signatures, technique, finger patterns and allow students to perform music from specific keys.

III. Chromatic Development- The development of the chromatic scale, chromatic fingerings and knowledge of enharmonic pairings will be taught. Much like scales, this is the same concept from beginning through advanced level with speed and range increasing as students progress on the instrument.

v Beginning Level- Daily Warmups #6- 1 Octave Concert Bb Chromatic Scale from the Daily Warmup Sheet will be used for students at the beginning level.

v Intermediate Level- Daily Warmups #7 or #8- 2 Octave Chromatic Scales on Bb and F use expanded range for certain instruments.

v Advanced- All State Chromatic Range from Honors Band Scale Sheet

v Middle School

v 9-10 Range

v 11-12 Range

§ Link to all Scale Sheets:http://www.ncbandmasters.org/honorsband/honorsbandauditionrequirements.html

IV. Solos- Solos are a great way to progress on your instrument and enjoy playing. For instruments that don’t traditionally play melodies in band music, solos are a much more enjoyable way to learn the instrument. Each student in lessons will pick a solo to begin working on at whatever level they feel most comfortable with. We are providing solos books to you from Grade .5 through Grade 6. There are about 55 per instrument. These have piano accompaniment in Smart Music and we will also provide the piano part for you in .mp3 so that you can perform these anywhere you like. Download the solo pack here:

V. Etudes/ Method Book Lines- Method books are a great way to progress on your instrument. Skills you may have never been formally taught can be re-taught or addressed through the method book All Middle School students have Traditions of Excellence and all High School students have Rubank Intermediate. Exercises, Etudes, Melody Lines, etc. will be used from these books to aid in your progress. They will be assigned in Smart Music by your lessons teacher.

VI. All State Solos- For the more advanced students, studying the All State/All District Solo and preparing that for an eventual audition is THE BEST way to progress on your instrument and know what kids all across North Carolina are also working on. You will begin work on these in your lessons with the help of your assigned band director/ lessons teachers. You will receive paper copy/books from band directors. Your solo info can be found here:

Solos will be provided by the Band Director in Canvas

Solo Rotation Link: http://www.ncbandmasters.org/honorsband/honorsbandauditionrequirements.html

Band Basics (scale sheet, long tones, district solo)

Flute

Oboe

Bassoon

Clarinet

Bass Clarinet

Alto Saxophone

Tenor Saxophone

Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet

French Horn

Trombone

Baritone

Baritone TC

Tuba

Percussion