Division:  Middle School

Department: Fine and Performing Arts:  Band

Course Title/Code:  Beginning Band                        ARTBW100

 (year-long/ 3 days per week)

Course Description:   Open to sixth-grade students only. Students learn the fundamentals of music notation and develop basic skills in the individual and ensemble practice and performance of their instrument. Emphasis is placed on developing technical skills on their instrument as well as in listening, valuing, creating and studying the elements of music.  

 Goal

• Students will develop basic skills for practicing and performing on a wind or percussion instrument.

 Skills

• Tone production (playing with a characteristic and beautiful sound)
• Tempo (keeping a steady beat)
• Rhythm reading (counting, clapping, and playing rhythm patterns)
• Pitch reading (naming notes and associating fingerings with notes)
• Technique (finger/hand dexterity, embouchure [lips] control, tonguing, range)
• Interpretation (phrasing, dynamics, expressiveness)
• Balance (matching volume within the section and the entire ensemble)
• Blend (matching sound within the section)
• Intonation (playing in tune with oneself, the section, and the entire ensemble)
• Listening (identifying structure and form of the overall piece of music, as well as the function of the part a student is playing)

Activities

• Practice outside of class at least two and one half hours per week
• Rehearsals during class
• Two or three evening performances at school
• Various performances for the school during the school day

Assessment

• Playing Quizzes in class (short excerpts assigned from the music studied)
• Practice Assignments recorded at home (longer excerpts assigned from the music in class or assignments relating to individual student needs)
• Participation in rehearsal (being on time with instrument, supplies, and music and being prepared to play the assigned music in rehearsal)
• Performances (some evening/weekend performances may be required)

Each student is expected to furnish her/his own: 

Instrument – for most instruments $600-800 to purchase, $25-35 for monthly lease/rental

Supplies – approximately $40 for woodwinds, $10 for brass, $70-80 for percussion

Designated performance outfit – approximately $75 for a new outfit

Book– Essential Elements 2000, book one, for the student’s specific instrument ($7)

Computer software - $20 for a yearly subscription of Smart Music 

Resources:  

Printed – Essential Elements 2000, book one, for the student’s specific instrument

Internet site – www.musictheory.com

Intranet sites - http://web1.caryacademy.org/arts/inst_music/default.htm

Computer software - Smart Music (accompaniment and recording software)