Measurement Topic: Music Composition and Performance - and 3- part songs

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3 BAND OBJECTIVES Band objectives are the categories that students are measured in. Not all students will be measured in all categories. It is expected that by the end of eighth grade, proficiency could be demonstrated in all objectives. MUSIC EXPRESSION Measurement Topic: Music Composition and Performance - and 3- part songs notation and composition skills (e.g., reorchestrate, revoice, or compose a short piece) Measurement Topic: Music Theory half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighth, and sixteenth notes), tempo, and articulation Measurement Topic: Analysis of Music terminology or time periods ame style or genre using basic musical MUSIC AWARENESS Measurement Topic: History, Culture, and Society Listen to music of other cultures and explore the role of music and musicians related to the cultures Describe the historical background, composer, genre, and style of music pieces being studied Analyze the roles that musicians play in the media Evaluate contemporary uses of music to influence societal changes (e.g.; campaign songs, songs of protest, etc.) Identify the origins of American musical genres Measurement Topic: Real World Connections Respond to musical examples heard in class Evaluate a live musical performance Identify career opportunities in music Measurement Topic: Integrated Studies Identify the physical properties of sound including frequency, amplitude, and wavelength Apply mathematical concepts to the rhythms encountered in music (e.g., fractions to meter, patterns to form or rhythm) Interpret a piece of music using art, poetry, writing, or dance

4 MORAL FOCUS OBJECTIVES WORK MANAGEMENT As well as measuring music objectives, students will be measured on how they manage their work in Band. Work independently and cooperatively (e.g. work without disturbing others) Follow classroom rules and routines (e.g. listen and follow directions) Contribute relevant information or ideas when participating in class activities and discussions Utilize time to manage assignments and deadlines (e.g. record and prioritize assignments using a planner) Bring required materials to class (In band, this refers to Instrument, Pencil, Music) Complete assignments on time Produce work that reflects personal best (quality) 6-8 th Grade Assignments 1. Planned Playing Tests There will be trimester-scheduled planned playing tests given to each student. Planned playing tests will be over specific scales and exercises from the band method book. At some grade levels, certain scales or exercises will need to be memorized. Planned playing tests will be digitally video-recorded and submitted via Google Classroom These tests will be graded using a rubric based upon the Music Composition and Performance and Music Theory Measurement Topics. Playing tests rubrics are included in this handbook. 2. Pop Playing Tests During each trimester, there may be occasional surprise tests given in class. The date for the test will be given at least one week prior The pop playing test will be over a pre-selected portion of the concert pieces. The selection portion may not be announced until the day of the test Pop playing tests will be done in class. Playing tests rubrics are included in this handbook. 3. Homework Practicing All 6-8 th grade band students are required to submit practice logs All practice logs will be submitted via Google Classroom (classroom.google.com) Paper versions of our practice logs will be available by request. 5 th Grade Curriculum Students learn instrument fundamentals through a flipped curriculum o Brief online videos (accessible through Google Classroom) will teach students lessons specific to their instrument. Let Mr. Bays know if internet is unavailable. o Application and practice of these online lessons will take place during class Once fundamentals are mastered, students perform playing tests online or in person at their own pace to advance through an Army rank promotion system

5 WEEKLY SCHEDULE 5 th Grade Rehearsal 9:35-10:15 Tue & Fri 6 th Grade Rehearsal 8:45-9:25 Every Day 7 th /8 th Grade Rehearsal 8:00-8:40 Every Day Note: Mr. Bays is available most days at the beginning of dismissal Monday-Thursday for anybody who would like some extra practice time, assistance, or wants to do a playing test 1. BE RESPECTFUL 2. BE RESPONSIBLE 3. BE SAFE RULES Discipline procedures will follow the School-Wide Behavior Management System. Phone calls and/or s to parents and detentions will then be assigned accordingly. Level UP Purple Viking Horns Level 1 Yellow Warning Level 2 Blue Parent Notification ( /phone call), signature required Level 3 Red Detention To encourage responsibility and personal accountability, part of each student s participation grade will be tied to being prepared for class. This means having your instrument, music, and pencil! EXPECTATIONS Every band member will try his or her hardest to succeed. practice be prepared and on time. listen to the given instructions. encourage other band members. have a positive attitude all class long. practice. play their instrument every day. cooperate with other band members. keep their music in a folder. behave like young adults with self-control. practice some more participate and attend all performances (concerts, parade, etc.) NOT chew gum in class. just go practice already!!!

6 GRADING SCALE 6-8 th grade Participation, concert attendance, being prepared with materials 33% Assignments, practice logs, projects, etc. 33% Performance proficiency (playing tests) 33% 5 th grade Participation, concert attendance, being prepared with materials 50% Performance proficiency (flipped content via Google Classroom and playing tests) 50% SOLO & ENSEMBLE Solo & Ensemble is strongly recommended for all 6-8 th grade band members. Mid-January, students will determine if they would like to prepare by themselves or with a group to perform for a judge in March. This is a unique opportunity to get individualized feedback by a specialist on your instrument! There is a small cost involved with this event ($9). More information will be given as it is available later in the year. CONCERTS All students must attend all concerts. The purpose of learning to play instruments is to perform our music for an audience. A musician exists to perform. This expression of our hard work is rewarding for each individual student. Missing the performance takes everything away from the enjoyment of band. For this reason, concerts are factored strongly into students participation grades. A concert schedule for the full year is posted on our website at the beginning of the year. Write these dates down on your calendar so that you will not schedule something else into a conflict. Plan to come to the concert a half hour (30 minutes) to an hour before the concert begins to warm up and to take attendance. You are required to stay for the entire performance! Any exception to this must be brought to Mr. Bays no later than the day before the concert by the parents. Concert Dress: Concerts are formal experiences. We want to make an impression by our sound and our appearance. Therefore the Concert Dress Code is ALL BLACK. This means: Boys: a black collared shirt with black pants, black socks, and black shoes. Girls: black top with a knee length or longer black skirt or black pants and black socks/nylons/shoes. A black full-length dress is also acceptable. All skirts and dresses must fall below the knee when sitting. Concert attire must also meet the Vanguard Dress Code as stated in the Middle School Handbook.

7 TRIPS During the course of the year, Vanguard Bands may go on various field trips to enrich and enhance their musical learning. These trips may include the 5 th grade Symphony trip, MSBOA Concert Festival, performing in the community, Toronto, Chicago, Michigan s Adventure, and others. Students are expected to follow all school rules while on a school trip. We are representatives of Vanguard Charter Academy to our community and we must set a good example. Parent volunteers are vital to the success and effectiveness of these trips. BAND ACCOUNTS - FUNDRAISERS To facilitate these trips and other events, each band student has an account set up to hold funds for use in band activities and other purchases. Fundraisers are the primary source of building the band account from year to year. We will have one or two fundraisers per year for students to save money for the big trips such as Chicago or Toronto, and also for other events that the student chooses to participate in. Deposits into this account are made through fundraisers and individual extra payments. Withdrawals from this account will be made to pay for events that the student participates in such as Solo & Ensemble or the Chicago or Toronto trips. Other band purchases, such as band books, reeds, and other instruments supplies may also come from the band account if we have parent authorization. If a student leaves band, either through choice or graduation, all money in their account will be transferred to a younger sibling in band or choir. If there is no younger sibling in band or choir, the money will be transferred to the band s general fund. INSTRUMENTS School-owned and student-owned instruments must be kept in good playing condition at all times. General policies that are to be observed (more can be found at vanguardbands.weebly.com): 1. Do not leave anything unattended where it might be stolen or damaged. 2. Keep a record of the serial number, model and make. 3. Be sure your name appears on the inside or outside of your case. 4. Keep your instrument in top condition. Cleaning materials, such as valve oil, slide grease, and polishing clothes are your responsibility. Required equipment is listed on our website 5. Students will be expected to replace any part of a school instrument that is broken by careless use or deliberately defaced. 6. Percussionists must provide their own drum sticks, mallets, and drum keys. 7. Instruments may not be left lying out. Please put everything away after class as you found it. Take smaller instruments back to your locker or class and store them there. The music

8 room storage shelves are available for student instrument use, with priority for large instruments. 8. Do not store music or folders in your case. It may damage the instruments, the folder, and the music. 9. Percussion instruments are not toys for the entire band to play with. If you do not play percussion, do not play percussion! If you are fooling around on any percussion instrument, this will automatically result being placed on Level 2 Blue for the day. INSTRUMENT RENTAL A limited number of instruments are available for rental on a need-based and then a first-come first-served basis. Please contact Mr. Bays for more information. MUSIC Please use only pencil to mark your music. Pens, highlighters and gel pens make changing markings impossible. Extra copies are available by making a note on the parking lot. A band folder and storage rack is available for you to use so that music stays in playable condition. If you would like an additional copy for at-home practice, please request it from Mr. Bays. PRIVATE LESSONS Private lessons are available to all students who desire to challenge themselves and excel to a high level of achievement. Lessons last a half hour with Mr. Bays and the cost is $15/lesson. Lessons will meet after school on the scheduled day. For advanced students, Mr. Bays can also suggest additional teachers. Please refer to the contact information below to set up lessons. CONTACT INFORMATION Mr. Kevin Bays School phone: x kbays@nhaschools.com

9 Vanguard Bands Price List Valve Oil $2 Slide Grease $3 Clarinet Reeds 2 ½, 3, 3 ½ $2 Bass Clarinet/Bari Sax Reeds 3 $4 Alto Sax Reeds 2 ½, 3 $3 Reed Case $2 Note: it is often cheaper to purchase reeds in bulk from Marshall Music. Method books must be purchased from Marshall Music.

10 PLAYING TEST RUBRIC CATEGORY Pitch Accuracy Does not apply to Percussion. Pitches are consistently accurate. All elements of 2.0 and some of 3.0 with assistance from the teacher or repeated attempts. A few inaccurate pitches are played, detracting from the overall performance. Wrong pitches consistently detract from the performance. Rhythm Accuracy The beat is steady and the rhythms are accurate. All elements of 2.0 and some of 3.0 with assistance from the teacher or repeated attempts. The beat is occasionally unsteady. Some rhythms are accurate. Frequent or repeated errors. Rhythm problems occasionally detract from the overall performance. The beat is unsteady and rhythms are seldom accurate, significantly detracting from the overall performance. Expression Additive Elements Articulation 1.0 Tonguing is clear and used correctly for each note. Dynamics 1.0 Written terms and symbols are applied to the musical performance. Tempo 1.0 Written terms and symbols are applied to the musical performance. Expression 1.0 Music is performed in a way that evokes meaning or an emotion. Percussion: Rudiments 1.0 Markings and symbols are played correctly. Technique Additive Elements Posture 1.0 Sitting up straight and using correct hand/arm positions on the instrument. Tone Quality 1.0 Producing a characteristic tone across the range of the instrument. Breathing 1.0 Breath is consistent and used appropriately. Preparation 1.0 Evidence that the selection has been practiced beforehand Percussion: Stick Grip 1.0 Percussion: Stick Height -1.0

11 Band Commitment Contract Student I,, understand the handbook and agree to obey all the rules and guidelines in it. I agree to participate fully and contribute my best towards musical excellence. I agree to cooperate with Mr. Bays and work with my classmates. I understand that a violation of any of this will result in my parents being contacted and a discipline referral will be filled out. Finally, I will perform to the best of my ability at all Vanguard performances. Signature Date Parent I,, understand the handbook and agree to support Mr. Bays by ensuring that my son/daughter,, will abide by it. I understand that as a parent I am the critical factor to whether my child succeeds in music. I agree to encourage my child to practice for the improvement of his/her instrumental skills. I understand that my child cannot quit band without a conference with Mr. Bays and Mr. DeJong. I understand that all concerts are vital to the development of my young musician and will make every effort to guarantee that my child will be at each performance in its entirety. I understand that if my child violates any part of this handbook that I may be contacted to discuss the situation. Signature Date Do you agree to have your child s photo shared on Vanguard Bands social media? Mr. Bays appreciates the opportunity to give parents glimpses into the classroom! Yes/no (circle one)

12 PARENT VOLUNTEER FORM The Vanguard Music Department depends largely on parental support for our success. Not only do we need your help in supporting your student at home, but we need your help at school, too. Please put a check mark by any of the following activities that you could assist us with. Any help you can offer is needed and appreciated! Parent Name Student Name Grade Phone #(s) I can sit in and listen to a small group rehearse (no musical experience necessary). I have experience playing a band instrument (please specify) and could work with a small group of students on this instrument: I could chaperone band field trips during the week. I could transport music equipment/instruments to band events. I could volunteer for Solo & Ensemble, date TBD. I could help set-up/tear-down band events. - December: Holiday Grand River Prep - January: 5 th Grade Band Vanguard - May: Spring Grand River Prep - June: 8 th grade Kentwood Community Church I could assist with fundraising (ordering, assembly, and pick-up). Any other ideas? I could