MiddleSchoolCourseSyllabus

BeginningBand(2)
CourseTimes:7:30am8:25am/12:10pm1:05pm
Location:BandRoom101
CourseDescription:
TherearetwoBeginningBandclassesoffered.Thesecoursesisdesignedfor
studentsinterestedinbeginninglevelinstructiononflute,clarinet,oboe,
saxophone,bassoon,trumpet,Frenchhorn,trombone,baritone,tuba,and
percussioninstruments(orchestrabells,xylophone,snaredrum,bassdrum,and
otherpercussionaccessoryinstruments).Thegoalofthecourseistoprovide
studentswiththeskillsnecessarytoexcelandsucceedasmusiciansinthefuture.
CourseContent:
SkillsTaught:Toneproduction;musicreadingskills;Basicmusictheory;
andinstrumentcare;properpostureandseatingposition,introductionto
musicalgenres,concepts,terms,andsymbols.
Standards(includebutarenotlimitedto):
MU.68.C.2.1:Critiquepersonalperformance,experimentwitha
varietyofsolutions.
MU.68.H.2.3:Classifytheliteraturebeingstudiedbygenre,style,
and/ortimeperiod.
MU.68.O.2.2:Demonstrateknowledgeofmajorandminor
tonalitiesthroughperformanceandcomposition.
MU.68.O.3.2:Performtheexpressiveelementsofamusicalwork.
MU.68.S.1.5:Performmelodieswithchordprogressions
MU.68.S.2.2:Transferperformancetechniquestounfamiliar
pieces.
MU.68.S.3.2:Demonstratepropervocalorinstrumentaltechnique.
MU.68.S.3.3:Sightreadstandardexercisesandsimplerepertoire.
Grading:Attendanceisarequirementforthecourse.Absencesare
allowedbutwillberegulatedandexcusedbasedontheAttendancePolicy
intheDoubleReedRegimentBandHandbook.Studentsarerequiredto
attendantbothyearlyconcerts.Anabsencefromaconcertwillresultina
dropofalettergrade.Aminimumof2hoursofweeklypracticeis
mandatoryandwillbegradedbasedonweeklypracticeschartsthatneed
tobesignedbytheparentorguardian.Studentswillalsobegradedon
completionofallpassoffs,7scaletests,and2sightreadingtests,and2

musictheoryteststhroughouttheyear.Rubricsofgradingcriteriaare
availableuponrequest.
MaterialsNeeded:StandardsofExcellenceMethodBook,11/23
prongedblackbinder,CollegeRuledNotebook,InstrumentCleaningKit,
Instrument.

MiddleSchoolSymphonicBand
CourseTime/Location:11:15am12:05pm
Location:BandRoom101
CourseDescription:
MiddleSchoolSymphonicBandisanensemblethatprovidesstudentswith
learningandperformanceopportunitiesonwindandpercussioninstruments.The
primaryfocusisonthedevelopment,continuation,andexpansionofbasicskills
begunthepreviousyearthatarenecessaryforeffectiveinstrumentalmusic
performance.Inadditiontolargegroupensembles,individualgrowthand
achievementareencouragedthroughparticipationinadjudicatedsoloand
ensemblecontests,honorbands,andprivatelessons.StudentsintheSymphonic
Bandperforminatleasttwoconcertsayear.Althoughthecurriculumisdesigned
forstudentswithoneyearofplayingexperience,studentswithnoprior
experiencearewelcometoparticipate.
CourseContent:
SkillsTaught:EmbouchureandToneDevelopment;Counting,timing,
andrhythmicdevelopment;Readingandnotationskills,includingsight
reading;IntroductionofScales;SimpleMusicTheory;Developmentofan
extensivevocabularyofmusicaltermsandsymbols;Eartrainingand
listeningskills;Equipmentcareandmaintenance;Effectivepracticehabits
Standards(includebutarenotlimitedto):
MU.68.C.2.1:Critiquepersonalperformance,experimentwitha
varietyofsolutions.
MU.68.H.2.3:Classifytheliteraturebeingstudiedbygenre,style,
and/ortimeperiod.
MU.68.O.2.2:Demonstrateknowledgeofmajorandminor
tonalitiesthroughperformanceandcomposition.
MU.68.O.3.2:Performtheexpressiveelementsofamusicalwork.
MU.68.S.1.5:Performmelodieswithchordprogressions
MU.68.S.2.2:Transferperformancetechniquestounfamiliar
pieces.
MU.68.S.3.2:Demonstratepropervocalorinstrumentaltechnique.

MU.68.S.3.3:Sightreadstandardexercisesandsimplerepertoire.
Grading:Attendanceisarequirementforthecourse.Absencesare
allowedbutwillberegulatedandexcusedbasedontheAttendancePolicy
intheDoubleReedRegimentBandHandbook.Studentsarerequiredto
attendantbothyearlyconcerts.Anabsencefromaconcertwillresultina
dropofalettergrade.Aminimumof2hoursofweeklypracticeis
mandatoryandwillbegradedbasedonweeklypracticeschartsthatneed
tobesignedbytheparentorguardian.Studentswillalsobegradedon
completionofallpassoffs,7scaletests,and2sightreadingtests,and2
musictheoryteststhroughouttheyear.Rubricsofgradingcriteriaare
availableuponrequest.
MaterialsNeeded:StandardsofExcellenceMethodBook,11/23
prongedblackbinder,CollegeRuledNotebook,InstrumentCleaningKit,
Instrument.

MiddleSchoolWindEnsemble
CourseTime:1:10pm1:50pm
Location:BandRoom101
CourseDescription:
TheWindEnsembleistheMiddleSchoolsmostadvancedperformingensemble
forwindandpercussioninstrumentalists.Thisyearlongcourseintroduces
comprehensivemusicianshipthroughmusicperformanceofchallengingand
variedliterature.Skillsandconceptsfromthepreviousyeararedevelopedand
expandedupon.Inadditiontocontinuedrefinementofindividualperformance
skills,greateremphasisisplacedonensembleperformanceskills.Studentswill
continuetodeveloptheirknowledgeofmusictheory,begintoanalyzeand
evaluatemusic,andusecriticalthinkingskillstomakerefinementsintheir
performance.Individualandensembleperformanceskillswillbeexpanded
throughmusicalexpressionandtechnicalaccuracy.StudentsinWindEnsemble
willperformatleasttwoconcertsayear.Individualgrowthandachievementare
encouragedthroughparticipationinadjudicatedsoloandensemblecontests,
honorbands,andprivatelessons.AdmittanceintotheWindEnsembleisbasedon
aformalaudition,whichwillberecorded.ThemajorityoftheWindEnsemble
participantsarein8thgradebuttherearemany7thgraderswhoarealsoadmitted.
CourseContent:
SkillsTaught:AdvancedEmbouchureandToneDevelopment;Mixed
MeterCounting,timing,andrhythmicdevelopment;AdvancedReading
andnotationskills,includingsightreading;Developmentofallmajor
scales;IntroductiontoMinorScales;IntermediateMusicTheory;

Continueddevelopmentofextensivevocabularyofmusicaltermsand
symbols;AuralSkillsTraining,whichincludeschordidentification.
Standards(includebutarenotlimitedto):
MU.68.C.2.1:Critiquepersonalperformance,experimentwitha
varietyofsolutions.
MU.68.C.2.2:Critique,usingcorrectmusicvocabulary,changesin
onesownorothersmusicalperformances.
MU.68.C.2.3:Critiquepersonalcompositionand/orimprovisation.
MU.68.H.2.3:Classifytheliteraturebeingstudiedbygenre,style,
and/ortimeperiod.
MU.68.O.2.2:Demonstrateknowledgeofmajorandminor
tonalitiesthroughperformanceandcomposition.
MU.68.O.3.2:Performtheexpressiveelementsofamusicalwork.
MU.68.S.1.5:Performmelodieswithchordprogressions
MU.68.S.2.2:Transferperformancetechniquestounfamiliar
pieces.
MU.68.S.3.2:Demonstratepropervocalorinstrumentaltechnique.
MU.68.S.3.3:Sightreadstandardexercisesandsimplerepertoire.
Grading:Attendanceisarequirementforthecourse.Absencesare
allowedbutwillberegulatedandexcusedbasedontheAttendancePolicy
intheDoubleReedRegimentBandHandbook.Studentsarerequiredto
attendallconcertsandbandevents.Anabsencefromaconcertwillresult
inadropofalettergrade.Aminimumof2hoursofweeklypracticeis
mandatoryandwillbegradedbasedonweeklypracticeschartsthatneed
tobesignedbytheparentorguardian.Studentswillalsobegradedon
completionofallpassoffs,7scaletestsand3minorscaletest,and2
sightreadingtests,and2musictheoryteststhroughouttheyear.Rubrics
ofgradingcriteriaareavailableuponrequest.
MaterialsNeeded:Habitsofasuccessfulmusicianmethodbook,1
1/23prongedblackbinder,CollegeRuledNotebook,Instrument
CleaningKit,Instrument.

MiddleSchoolJazzBand
CourseTime:1:55pm2:40pm
Location:BandRoom101
CourseDescription:
MiddleSchoolJazzBandisacoursethatisofferedeveryday.JazzBandismade
upof7thand8thgradestudentswhowanttolearnmoreaboutJazzmusic.Many

studentswhoareapartoftheensembleuseJazzBandasanopportunitytolearna
differentinstrumentbutadmittanceintojazzbandisopentoanyone.Admittance
intotheensembleisbasedonaformalauditionprocess,whichisopentoanyone.
Thejazzbandhastwomandatoryperformancesperyear.
CourseContent:
SkillsTaught:Knowledgeofjazzmusicliteratureandjazzartists,
knowledgeofjazzgenresandstyles,developmentofbluesscales,
introductiontoimprovisation,introductiontojazzmusictheoryandchord
identification,developmentofjazzstylearticulationandtone.
Standards(includebutarenotlimitedto):
MU.68.S.3.2:Demonstratepropervocalorinstrumentaltechnique
MU.68.S.2.1:Performmusicfrommemorytodemonstrate
knowledgeofmusicalstructure.
MU.68.S.1.6:Composeamelody,withorwithoutlyrics,overa
standardharmonicprogression
MU.68.S.1.5:Performmelodieswithchordprogressions
MU.68.S.1.1:Improviserhythmicandmelodicphrasesto
accompanyfamiliarsongsand/orstandardharmonicprogressions
Grading:Dailyattendanceisarequirementforthecourse.Absencesare
allowedbutwillberegulatedandexcusedbasedontheAttendancePolicy
intheDoubleReedRegimentBandHandbook.Studentsarerequiredto
attendallconcertsandbandevents.Anabsencefromaconcertwillresult
inadropofalettergrade.Studentswillalsobegradedoncompletionof
scaletest(bothbluesandmodal),and1compositionprojects,1
improvisationtest,and2musictheoryteststhroughouttheyear.Rubrics
ofgradingcriteriaareavailableuponrequest.
MaterialsNeeded:StandardsofExcellence(JazzEdition),11/23
prongedredbinder,CollegeRuledNotebook,InstrumentCleaningKit,
Instrument,additionalmutes(fortrumpetsandtrombones).

MiddleSchoolOrchestra
CourseTime:8:30am9:20am
Location:BandRoom101
CourseDescription:
MiddleSchoolOrchestraprovidesstudentswithlearningandperformance
opportunitiesonviolin,viola,celloandbass.Theprimaryfocusisonthe

developmentandexpansionofbasicskills,whicharenecessaryforeffective
instrumentalmusicperformance.Inadditiontolargegroupensembles,individual
growthandachievementareencouragedthroughparticipationinadjudicatedsolo
andensemblecontests,honororchestraandprivatelessons.Studentsinthe
MiddleSchoolOrchestraperforminatleasttwoconcertsayear.Sincethe
curriculumisdesignedforsecondyearplayers,beginnerswishingtojoinseventh
gradeorchestramusttakeprivatelessons.
CourseContent:
SkillsTaught:ToneDevelopmentandBowingTechnique;Counting,
timing,andrhythmicdevelopment;Readingandnotationskills,including
sightreading;IntroductionofScales;SimpleMusicTheory;Development
ofanextensivevocabularyofmusicaltermsandsymbols;Eartrainingand
listeningskills;Equipmentcareandmaintenance;Effectivepracticehabits
Standards(Includebutarenotlimitedto):
MU.68.C.2.1:Critiquepersonalperformance,experimentwitha
varietyofsolutions.
MU.68.H.2.3:Classifytheliteraturebeingstudiedbygenre,style,
and/ortimeperiod.
MU.68.O.2.2:Demonstrateknowledgeofmajorandminor
tonalitiesthroughperformanceandcomposition.
MU.68.O.3.2:Performtheexpressiveelementsofamusicalwork.
MU.68.S.1.5:Performmelodieswithchordprogressions
MU.68.S.2.2:Transferperformancetechniquestounfamiliar
pieces.
MU.68.S.3.2:Demonstratepropervocalorinstrumentaltechnique.
MU.68.S.3.3:Sightreadstandardexercisesandsimplerepertoire.
Grading:Attendanceisarequirementforthecourse.Absencesare
allowedbutwillberegulatedandexcusedbasedontheAttendancePolicy
intheDoubleReedRegimentBandHandbook.Studentsarerequiredto
attendallconcertsandbandevents.Anabsencefromaconcertwillresult
inadropofalettergrade.Aminimumof2hoursofweeklypracticeis
mandatoryandwillbegradedbasedonweeklypracticeschartsthatneed
tobesignedbytheparentorguardian.Studentswillalsobegradedon
completionofallpassoffs,7scaletests,2sightreadingtests,and2
musictheoryteststhroughouttheyear.Rubricsofgradingcriteriaare
availableuponrequest.
MaterialsNeeded:StandardsofExcellence(StringEdition)method
book,11/23prongedblackbinder,CollegeRuledNotebook,Instrument
CleaningKit,Rosin,ShoulderRest(dependsoninstrument),Instrument.