6th grade band focuses on developing students’ musical skills and knowledge through the performance of beginning level ensemble music. Students will focus on continuing to improve in weekly small group lessons, allowing for more one-on-one feedback from the teacher.

Over the course of the school year, your student will continue to develop and improve the skills learned in 5th grade band according to the National Music Standards. The main goal of 6th grade band is to develop skills specific to each instrument, rhythm reading, and perseverance through participation in the small group lessons and weekly full group rehearsals. 

Rules and Expectations 

1. Go straight from class to the band room when it is time for your lesson.

2. No gum, food, or drinks in the band room except for water.  

3. Be respectful of others including the teacher  

4. Follow directions the first time they are given  

5. Use polite and respectful speech and body language.  

Classroom Consequences  

1st offense – warning  

2nd offense – student will be moved to an “in class movement” seat away from peers for 5 minutes but will continue to participate in class. 

3rd offense – student will be moved to an “out of class movement” seat in a different classroom. They will be given a reflective sheet to fill out and parents will receive a call home. 

Physical violence or defiance will automatically be moved to an out of class movement

Practicing

All students are expected to practice in preparation for their lesson each week. At the beginning of each quarter, students will receive a Homework/Practice Tracker to keep track of what they should be practicing each week.

Each lesson, students will be assigned 3-5 short songs from their lesson book to practice along with a playing check for the next week. Students are expected to practice 60-90 minutes each week. 

Playing Checks

Students will be assigned 3-5 songs out of their lessons book each week to work on a specific skill. One of these songs will be chosen as the playing check for the next week and will be noted in their homework tracker. This allows me to individually asses your student's progress and give them direct feedback. Students are expected to practice all music assigned to them each week. Students will not have a chance to practice the song in class before the playing check however they are able to re-take the playing check in following weeks if they are not happy with their grade. Each playing check is worth 10 summative points in the gradebook. Please find the 6th grade playing check rubric below. 

Lesson Schedule: Please contact Mrs. McQuillan if you have a question about your student's specific lesson day/time.

MONDAY

1st period - brass group 1, clarinet group 1

5th period - brass group 2

TUESDAY

1st period - percussion group 1

5th period - percussion group 2

WEDNESDAY

1st period - clarinet group 2

5th period - clarinet group 3

THURSDAY

1st period - beginning brass

5th period - percussion group 3

FRIDAY

1st period - beginning woodwinds, flute group 1

5th period - flute group 2