Course Syllabus

Instrumental Music: Band 1, 2, 3H, 4H (Concert Band) COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Description: 

Concert Band is a performing ensemble, designed for students who demonstrate intermediate technical skills on their instrument.  This course is designed to build on the foundational skills learned in middle school band.  Students will continue to develop musicianship, technique, and performance-related music theory skills in this course.  Students will study a varied repertoire of music ranging from grade levels II to IV.  Students should expect that some activities may occur outside of the regular class period.  Attendance at after-school rehearsals and performances is required. 

 

Prerequisite Course(s):  Students must complete a course of study in middle school band or demonstrate an equivalent skill set. 

 

Requirements:  Participation in Marching Band is strongly encouraged but NOT required. 

 

What to Expect

  1. Students will develop individual and ensemble skills (components of playing), including tone production, timing, intonation, breathing, embouchure, fingering, rhythm, style, phrasing, articulation and scales (technique).  They will use these collectively and simultaneously in expressive musical performance.
  2. Through the rehearsal/performance process, students will improve musicianship and technical facility on their respective instrument.
  3. Students will be able to demonstrate and maintain proper posture, instrument placement, and breathing technique.
  4. Students will learn and regularly test all twelve major scales and be able to play comfortably and confidently in all twelve major keys. 
  5. Students will be able to perform the All-State required chromatic scale with a characteristic tone quality in all registers.
  6. Students will study/rehearse/perform music of varying level of difficulty and styles.
  7. Students will continue developing reading and writing skills in standard music notation.
  8. Students will be able to clap, sing, and play rhythms in a variety of combinations and meters.
  9. Students will study the common elements of music and develop a vocabulary to discuss and describe music.
  10. Students will be able to speak and write intelligently about music from evaluating a variety of musical performances.
  11. Students will be able to improvise melodies in several keys and add original material to incomplete melodies.
  12. Students will gain a rudimentary understanding of the history of Western Classical Music, their instrument, and other related topics.
  13. Students will demonstrate basic care and maintenance for their respective instruments.
  14. Students will become independent musicians, participating in Region Band, All-State Band, All-County Band, and Solo & Ensemble. 

 

Grading

Major Grades (60% of final grade); Examples include but are not limited to:

Playing Tests

Concert Performances 

Written Tests

Minor Grades (40% of final grade); Examples include but are not limited to:

Class Participation

Practice Logs

Music Theory/Reading/History assignments

 

Concerts and Performances

Participation in all concerts is a requirement of being a part of this course and will include some time spent after school in rehearsal/performance.