Middle School Band Minors

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COURSE SYLLABUS

SCHOOL FOR CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

2023-2024

Ms. Barker and Mr. Jones

Course Title:  Band Minors                                        Grade (s) 6th-8th

Course Description:

The Middle School Band Minors Course will provide students with knowledge of their instrument, other instruments, elements of music, proper fundamentals of breathing and posture, study of age appropriate band literature, and rehearsal techniques.

Goals:

Each student will be taught and be able to demonstrate the fundamentals of performing on their instrument, self-motivation, self-discipline, and self/group awareness.

Instructional Objectives:

1. Approach to and care of the instrument

A. Students will name and identify the main parts of their instrument.  

B. Students will demonstrate proper assembly and disassembly of instrument.

C. Students will explain proper care and maintenance of their instrument.

D. Students will demonstrate correct posture and playing position.

2. Elements of Music

A. Students will name and identify the elements of music.

Rhythm, Form, Harmony, Melody, Tempo, Timbre, Dynamics

B. Students will demonstrate knowledge of meter/time signatures.

C.  Students will demonstrate an understanding of counting rhythm patterns.

D. Students will perform various rhythmic patterns on their instrument.

3. Tone Production

A. Wind instruments students will demonstrate correct embouchure and correct hand position

B. Percussionists will demonstrate correct playing technique.

C. Both groups will demonstrate a characteristic tone quality on instrument.

4. Technique

A. Students will demonstrate the correct basic/chromatic fingerings for instrument.

B. Students will demonstrate knowledge of a minimum of 5 major scales, and all forms of minor

     scales relative to each major scales.

C. Students will also demonstrate a chromatic scale with appropriate fingerings.

D. Flexibility

1. Brass students will continue to refine embouchure flexibility while performing lip slurs by making appropriate adjustments.

2. Woodwind students will continue to refine embouchure flexibility in the different registers of the instrument by making appropriate adjustments. 

3. Articulation 

5. Students will demonstrate proper basic articulations:  slur, accent, staccato, legato and tenuto

6.Percussionists will demonstrate knowledge of melodic instruments and basic snare rudiments

A. Percussionists will perform same scales as wind instruments on appropriate keyboard instrument.

B. Percussionists will also name, identify and demonstrate proper technique on various auxillary percussion instruments (i.e. tympani, triangle, cymbals, congas, etc.)

7. Musicality

A. Students will demonstrate a musical performance of appropriate literature.

8. Balance and Blend

A. Students will demonstrate ability to control the quality and volume of their tone, in combination with other students.

9. Response to Conductor

A. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the role of the teacher/conductor in guiding and directing the ensemble.

10.. Students will demonstrate knowledge of various basic meters and the conductors’ role in the ensemble.

11. Affective Domain

A. Students will demonstrate their appreciation of the value of their participation in band.

Units, Topics, Themes:

Continuation of fundamentals of performance, age appropriate band literature, composers, music history as it related to literature, music theory, the elements of music.

Texts, Materials:

 1. Accent on Achievement, Books 2

 2. Concert attire needed for performances: solid black pants, black skirt or black dress; solid black shirt or blouse; black socks, black shoes. If dresses are worn, black tights or hose must be worn. No tennis shoes. 

 3. Selected sheet music for band, chorales, chamber groups, and solos.

 4. Metal folding stand required.

 5. Metronome/tuner is helpful

6. Concert attire needed for performances: solid black pants, black skirt or black dress; solid black shirt or blouse; black socks, black shoes. If dresses are worn, black tights or hose must be worn. No tennis shoes.

Assessment:

1. Active participation in class and afterschool rehearsals

2. Individualized playing quizzes

3. Weekly practice reports-100 minutes per week

4. Music theory tests

5. Performances

Extra Credit:

1. Private lessons

2. Attendance at pre-approved professional, semi-professional, and high school/college concerts/recitals.

3. Participation in honor bands.

4. Participation in various workshops/clinics.

5. Participation in performing groups outside of SCAPA (i.e. CKYO)  

PRIVATE LESSONS ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED   

 CANVAS, Flipgrid, Sightreading Factory and other technology venues will be used for instruction. Folders for band classes are  distributed at the beginning of the school year. Folders will contain music, instructional materials, and other important beginning of the year information.  

Remind, Infinite Campus Messenger, Band website, Facebook page: SCAPA Bluegrass Band Families, Hard copy of band calendar as well as letters home will be used for reminders and important updates.