Band Karate

Band Karate Overview:

This program consists of a series of benchmark activities that are marked with ribbons representing the color of achieved level. Students are given a Band Karate worksheet, showing the various activities that they need to complete in order to show proficiency for each level or color. When students successfully perform all of the activities required for a color, or benchmark, they receive a ribbon to tie on their instrument case, or you can tie ribbons on a rubber band and let them wrap their rubber band on their instrument, displaying their accomplishments. Students can earn a prize at the end of the school year for completing the band karate program.

Materials Needed:

• Colored paper for each color used in your program
• Small cards for students to write their names - they will move these cards onto each classroom color as they progress through the program
• Push pins - use these so that students can pin up their card on each level as they progress through the program
• Band Karate activity sheet for each grade level
• Ribbons matching the colors selected for your program

Preparation:

Bulletin Board

• Put up a background of your choice filling the bulletin board, label the top of the bulletin board with "band karate"
• Using the 8.5 X 11 colored sheets (1 for each color in your program), staple them in order on your bulletin board so that they match the order in your program.
• Cut out small pieces of cardstock, preferably using cool shapes, so that students can write their name and instrument on those, and move them to different colored sheets on your bulletin board

Other ideas:

• Send a letter home to parents explaining the program so they can help encourage their child.
• Share the motivational program with your school principal and other teachers so they can help support student efforts and congratulate them when they succeed.
• Share the program with the schools PTO. Request their support to purchase materials, incentive prizes, or other ideas to promote student motivation.
• Create multi-level incentives for those hard-working students that can serve as prizes for big achievements.
• Ask the school principal if student achievements can be announced on the PA system to help promote the program.
• Share the program with other music teachers to generate consistency, excitement and broader competition.