Band Syllabus
Teacher: Michelle Naegele
Phone: 920-324-5591 x2877
Email: [email protected]
Office hrs: 3:05-3:30pm
or by appointment
Course Description/Overview: Various styles of band literature and difficulty of music are used to develop individual and group performance skills. Emphasis is placed on proper breathing, tone quality, intonation, articulation, development of range, music reading skills, and the understanding of music concepts in the theory of music and music composition.
Required Materials: Musical instrument either rented from school or student owned, binder & lesson book (JH) and pencils. Sheet music and folders will be provided by the school. Students will be responsible for those materials.
Course Standards:
National and Wisconsin Music Standards
· Sing, (in BAND?) you bet!
· Perform on instruments, alone and with others, through a varied repertoire of music.
· Improvise melodies, variations and accompaniments.
· Compose and Arrange music, demonstrating creativity in using the elements of music for expressive effect.
· Read and Notate music
· Listen and Analyze music by demonstrating a growing knowledge of the technical and theoretical vocabularies of music, and analyze examples of a varied repertoire of music representing diverse genres, time periods and cultures.
· Evaluate music, by developing specific criteria for making informed evaluations of performances and compositions.
· Relationships between music and the other Arts, and other content areas, by explaining how characteristic elements, artistic processes and principles are used in similar and distinct ways.
· Through History and Culture, explain the uses of music.
Course Units and Summative Assessments:
Unit 1- September/October – Foundations Review-Pep Band & Marching Performances
Students will review the foundations of performance practices.
Posture
Breathing
Instrument Maintenance
Note and Rhythm reading
Playing with a Good Tone
Students will practice and prepare Pep Band music for Fall Activities.
Students will learn marching fundamentals and perform at parades (JH) and halftime performances (SH).
Ways to practice efficiently
Listening to different styles of music for interpretation
Student Assessments
Formative- Daily and when needed.
Summative- Marching Performances
Pitch and Rhythm Reading
Unit 2- November/December- Holiday Concert Preparation
Continued review of the foundations of performance practices
Students will practice and prepare music for Concert Performance.
Student Assessments
Formative- Daily and when needed.
Summative- Concert performance.
Unit 3- January/February/March- Solo and/or Small Ensemble music.
Continued review of the foundations of performance practices
Students will practice and prepare music for solo or small ensemble in class
performances.
Winter Concert music preparation
Formative – Daily and when needed.
Summative – Solo/ Small Ensemble Performance
Unit 4- March – Winter Concert
Continued review of the foundations of performance practices
Students will practice and prepare music for Concert Performance.
Student Assessments
Formative- Daily and when needed.
Summative- Concert performance.
Unit 5 April/May - Spring Concert Music
Students will practice and prepare music for Concert and Contest Performances.
Student Assessments
Formative- Daily and when needed.
Summative- Concert performances.
Unit 6- May/June - Marching Review and Graduation Music
Students will review marching fundamentals
Students will practice and prepare music for Concert and Graduation Performance.
Student Assessments
Formative- Daily and when needed.
Summative- Memorial Day and Graduation performance.
Grading: Performing (60%)
Rehearsals/CCR (10%)
o Attentiveness: student will be an active and involved member of the band ready to respond to instructor or play when directed
o Instrument Readiness: Students will have instrument at rehearsal and in good working order, music, and other materials at the start of each class.
o Rehearsal Protocol: Students will properly store their instruments and music and showcase respect for their classmates, instrument, and performance area(s).
Playing Assessments (10%)
o Periodic summative assessments will be given to reflect student’s growth in learning music during each unit
Lessons (10%)
· All students are required to have a lessons at school or one from a private teacher
· The lesson schedule is posted online and in the band room
Performances (30%)
· Students will be expected to attend and participate in required (concert/field show/parade) performances.
· Should a student need to be absent for a performance, THE PARENT OF THE STUDENT, must contact the director prior to the performance.
· Students will need to meet with their director prior to the performance date to arrange for an alternative assignment. Unexcused absences will not be given full credit, even if a make-up assignment has been completed
· All performances can be found on the band webpage
Connecting (20%)
· Binder (JH)/Google Classroom (SH): Students will have at least one, short, reflective entry they will make per week. Topics will vary.
· Students will make connections to history and culture through music. Topics will vary.
Responding (10%)
· Students will evaluate themselves, their peers, and the whole ensemble after sectionals (SH), rehearsals, and required performances.
· Any other written work will be evaluated in this category including: solo and ensemble evaluations and the major works project
Creating (10%)
· Each student will have music theory assignments that will be due at midterm and at the end of term.
Grading:
A four-point scale will be used for all assessments.
4 - A
All work and skills are performed consistently well and accurate
3 - B
Good work, skills show minor inconsistencies
2 - C
Average work and skills, inconsistent performances
1 -D
Poor quality work and skills sloppy performances
0 - F
Work and performances do not indicate learning or mastery of subject
Re-Learning and Retakes: There are no retakes for performances. Retakes for in class performance assessments are available up to 2 times within 2 weeks of the due date.
Classroom Expectations:
To have a positive music-making environment, follow these behaviors:
· Enjoy all food, candy, gum, and beverages outside the classroom.
o Water bottles are acceptable in class.
· If you have a cell phone, be sure it is turned off and put away during class.
o ‘Put away’ means NOT on your music stand. Be resourceful: during class, leave your phone in your instrument cubbie, a clothing pocket, or on the white board.
o Use of cell phone without permission in class will result in your phone being taken away and brought to the office plus a referral.
· ‘The Podium’ – When I (or ANY teacher) am on the podium, you must stop all conversation and focus your attention to the person on the podium. It is at this time you are expected to listen, follow directions, and work in an efficient manner. Honestly, this is just respectful and responsible behavior.
o If this becomes a problem, the class will be given a ‘general’ warning. Further disruptions will result in a referral being filled out for the student(s) involved.
· Only percussionists are authorized to touch percussion equipment. The ONLY other reason an ‘unlicensed’ person will have to touch the percussion equipment is if Mrs. Naegele asks for your help in moving the equipment.
· In addition to the above four expectations, all school-wide expectations will also apply to this class.
Concert Attire - Senior High - New for 2019-2020
Senior High Band students will wear ‘concert blacks’ for full band concerts. Boys attire: black pants, black shoes & socks, black dress shirt w/collar. Girls attire: black pants or skirt (no leggings), black blouse, black shoes (nice boots are acceptable) or black dress. Please communicate with Mrs. Naegele if you are concerned about finding appropriate clothing for concerts. She will use her resources to help you.
Why a new dress code?
· Our MUSIC is the focus of our concerts, not the personal fashion choices of any individual.
· What we achieve as an ensemble, we achieve TOGETHER. Our uniform is an expression of that sentiment.
· As musicians, our entire energy in rehearsal and performance is spent in the world of sound. However, the visual world always takes precedence in the human brain. We need to dress and act in a way that puts the audience's focus on our MUSIC.
Concert Attire - Junior High
Junior High Band students will wear the following for full band concerts: black pants (no leggings), black shoes & socks and white music polo shirt. Ladies may wear black skirt. 7th grade students will be fit for polo shirts at the beginning of the school year. Please communicate with Mrs. Naegele if you are concerned about finding appropriate clothing for concerts. She will use her resources to help you.
Senior High Band students will wear ‘concert blacks’ for full band concerts. Boys attire: black pants, black shoes & socks, black dress shirt w/collar. Girls attire: black pants or skirt (no leggings), black blouse, black shoes (nice boots are acceptable) or black dress. Please communicate with Mrs. Naegele if you are concerned about finding appropriate clothing for concerts. She will use her resources to help you.
Why a new dress code?
· Our MUSIC is the focus of our concerts, not the personal fashion choices of any individual.
· What we achieve as an ensemble, we achieve TOGETHER. Our uniform is an expression of that sentiment.
· As musicians, our entire energy in rehearsal and performance is spent in the world of sound. However, the visual world always takes precedence in the human brain. We need to dress and act in a way that puts the audience's focus on our MUSIC.
Concert Attire - Junior High
Junior High Band students will wear the following for full band concerts: black pants (no leggings), black shoes & socks and white music polo shirt. Ladies may wear black skirt. 7th grade students will be fit for polo shirts at the beginning of the school year. Please communicate with Mrs. Naegele if you are concerned about finding appropriate clothing for concerts. She will use her resources to help you.