Curriculum

The Rosemount Middle School band curriculum provides large group rehearsals and small group lessons for participating students.  By registering for band, a student makes a year-long commitment to the program. 

Lesson Program

The lesson is the basic foundation of the band program.  It is in the lesson that students learn the value of consistent practice and the importance of being able to follow directions given by the instructor.  The lesson is also the vehicle for addressing the unique technical and mechanical considerations of the instrument that the student plays and is a means for assessing individual student progress that is not possible in a large group rehearsal.

Consistent lesson attendance and preparation is imperative to make progress on any instrument.  Students are expected to practice approximately 25-30 minutes most days.  There are many strategies that can be employed to make the most of practice sessions (name/finger/tap, count and play, sing it, tah it, air play, using a play-along track or metronome, etc.).

Students demonstrate the results of their practice in lessons.  Lessons are scheduled during Band class and are excused from class for an approximately 18-minute lesson once during a lesson cycle.  They are responsible for knowing what day their lesson is scheduled and arriving on time from class.  They are responsible for bringing their instruments and necessary books and materials to their lessons.  If students encounter conflicts with their assigned lesson times, they are responsible for completing make-up work on Schoology.  Students should speak with their lesson teacher to arrange make-up lesson work.

Grading

Trimester grades are determined by daily participation and in-class and recorded assignments.  Students are evaluated in lessons based on categories on the lesson rubric.  By examining the number of points earned in each category, families and students may identify areas of strength and areas of improvement in the students' musical performance on their instrument.

Band Rehearsals

All students registered for band have a scheduled rehearsal every other day.  In rehearsals, students apply the knowledge and skills developed in lessons to perform music in a large group.  Rehearsals follow the alternating day rotation at RMS (Blue or Gold day).  Bands are organized by grade level and meet for a 52-minute period.  Everyone is expected to have all their equipment at all rehearsals including working reeds, valve oil, pencil, etc.   Appropriate consequences will be assigned for students who do not bring their instruments to band rehearsal.

All members of each band contribute to the success of the group and all parts equally important in affecting balance, intonation, and musicality.  There are no auditions or chair placement challenges that might promote a competitive element to rehearsals that would be contrary to what is in the best interests of students at this level of personal and musical development.  Parts are assigned based upon a student's progress in lesson materials to ensure that the part they are assigned doesn't require skills and knowledge that exceed the student's abilities (e.g. being assigned a part that contains pitches in a range that are much more advanced than the student has learned or is able to control with a good sound).

Concert Performances

Concert performances demonstrate the progress made through lessons and rehearsals.  Each student will be given an opportunity to have the part they play on the concert music checked in a lesson prior to the concert.  Successful preparation ensures a positive performance experience in concerts.  Infrequently, due to factors such as a recent move or less-developed skills, a student may be advised to leave out sections of music that are beyond his or her capabilities at the the time of the concert.

All concerts at RMS are presented in the Multi-Purpose Room (RMS-MPR).  The concerts with RHS are presented in the Performing Arts Center (RHS-PAC).  Additional performances may be added at a later date for some ensembles.  A public concert is the culminating experience for all the rehearsals spent preparing music; therefore all students are expected to attend all of their own concerts.  Performances are an integral component of the band curriculum.  Everyone's participation is essential for a successful performance.  If your child has an unavoidable conflict with a concert date, please notify the band director in advance.  Concerts range from 25-45 minutes in length.

Attire for Performances

It is typical and appropriate that musical performance groups present themselves ina uniform way that highlights each individual's membership in a larger group.  Uniform dress is an important part of the history and tradition of band performances.  The required concert attire for RMS band performances will be ALL BLACK clothing.  Black skirts that is at least knee-length are also allowed.  Black shoes are encouraged, but not required.

Why require uniform concert attire?

1. Band rehearsals and performances nurture the collective efforts of individual students to contribute to an overall group performance.  Uniform concert attire helps promote an identity of being part of a larger group and contributes to the cohesiveness of the band, much like the uniforms of an athletic team.

2. Uniform concert attire is part of the history and tradition of performing ensembles like bands, choirs, and orchestras.  It contributes to the students' shared knowledge of traditional performance practices and enhances the artistic impact of performances.

3. By requiring the students to wear uniform attire, it eliminates any question or confusion regarding what is appropriate attire for public performances.

The RMS Band Program offers students a wide variety of opportunities to participate in ensembles that will be scheduled during mid-day flex time (Irish Time) or before/after school.  Groups that may be formed throughout the year include Jazz Band, Percussion Ensemble, Holiday Band, and other various ensembles.  Requirements for ensembles will vary, depending on student interest and ability and instrumentation needs.  Consistent practice and making steady progress in lessons will help ensure that students are eligible to participate in these ensembles.

Class Supplies

Each student should have:

1. 1" inch 3-Ring Binder with 25 sheet protectors and 3-ring pencil case for pencils and instrument supplies

2. Name Tag on Instrument*

3. Rhythm Busters/Prelude To Success Method Books (6th Grade - order online on MyPayments Plus)

4. Band Music (will be passed out to students in class to be put inside their sheet protectors in their binder)

*Many instrument cases look alike.  We are thankful that no student instrument has ever been stolen from RMS, but there have been situations where students have grabbed the wrong instruments at the end of the day because it looked like their own and the instrument case didn't have a name tag.  To help prevent such traumatic occurrences from happening, ALL STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR NAMES CLEARLY MARKED ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CASE.  Stickers or other identifying marks are not sufficient.

Band Instrument Supplies

We have many band instrument supplies that students can purchase directly from us.  However, we may not have these items in stock at any given time.  Lesson books, mouthpieces, reeds, oils, cleaners, and other itemse may also be purchased directly from one of our local music stores (Schmitt, Groth, or Eckroth) or online.  If we do happen to carry the item in stock, you may pay with cash or a check made payable to RMS.

Rental of School-Owned Instruments

Students who play bassoon, bass clarinet, tenor sax, bari sax, french horn, baritone or tuba rent their instruments from District 196.  The rental fee for the school year is $100 and is due at the time the instrument is picked up.  The rental fee is charged for use of the instrument until the end of the school year.  All students playing a school-owned instrument must own their own mouthpiece.  See the Band Supplies tab on the website for specific mouthpieces and where to order.

Instrument Repair

We can make arrangements for most instrument repairs with music stores or local repair businesses.  The student should bring the instrument to one of the band directors to assess any damage.  Any fees or billings are handled directly between the repair service and the customers.