Percussion
"Percussion is the most adaptable family of instruments. The biggest challenge is to project percussion in a lyrical way."- Evelyn Glemmie
Course Description:
An elective course for all students. No previous experience is required. This course is designed to provide students with learning opportunities on percussion instruments in band. This multi-section course will cover percussion instruments from marching band, keyboard mallet instruments, and concert band percussion. Students will be able to understand how the instruments work, instrument care, as well as an understanding of basic music theory. The primary focus is on the development, continuation, and expansion of basic skills that are necessary for effective instrumental music performance.
Classroom Rules:
Be respectful to everyone and everything.
Accept responsibility for yourself, your actions, and your learning.
No touching things that don't belong to you.
Do your best everyday!
Classroom Expectations:
Students will come into the classroom and gather everything needed for that day (for example, a practice pad/bucket, a pair of snare sticks, and the music packet for that day during 1st quarter). They will take a seat and may practice quietly on their own until class starts. During class, they will listen to and follow all instructions. At the end of class, they will put away all materials where they are told.
Grading Policy
- Classwork- 35%
- Playing Tests/Exams- 65%
The playing test rubric posted below is based on playing assignments/playing tests worth 100 points.
The Percussion Contract:
This contract is required to be signed by all students taking Percussion. We have had issues in the past with students breaking mallets and not coming forward about it. We have had to purchase many new pairs of mallets every year, and that is something we cannot continue to afford. Mallets will be clearly labeled so there will be no confusion as to which pair is assigned to each student. This contract also covers damage to any instruments. A lot of the percussion equipment is 3 years old or less. This equipment must be able to last for many years and needs to be treated carefully. Miss Domke goes over the correct way to play each instrument, including which mallets to use (the mallets are also labeled), and the correct way to hold and use each mallet.
Below is what to expect for Percussion through the course of the school year. We start off the year learning to read music and then move onto learning snare drum, bass drum, and quads. From there we work on drumline cadences until Christmas break. There will be a few projects thrown in during that time as well. Coming back from Christmas break, we do a little review before we move onto learning to read keyboard music. Keyboards include bells, xylophone, vibraphone, and marimba- so not piano, although we do use pianos to play keyboard music, just not typical piano music. We will stay working on keyboards through most of the semester. Toward the very end of school, we will start to look at beginning ensemble pieces. When students finish this class, they will have learned how to read rhythms, read notes, play multiple percussion instruments, and understand how ensembles/concert bands/drumlines work together to sound they way they do.