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Handbook,
p. 4
Performance
Attire
Students
are required to wear a standard outfit when performing with the
Salem Middle School Bands. Students who come to the concert without
the required attire will not be allowed to perform. This requirement
may change within a few days of the opening of Salem Middle School
as we establish ourselves. However, typical formal concert attire
is indicated below.
| Gentlemen |
White
dress shirt, neck tie, black trousers, black dress shoes
with black socks.
|
| Ladies |
White
blouse and black dress pants or black skirt. All skirts
must be below the knee when sitting. Black dress shoes
are also required. Absolutely no jeans or sneakers of
any color will be allowed.
|
| Absolutely
no jeans or sneakers of any color will be allowed. |
Grading
Policy
The grading
policy for Salem Middle School Bands have been designed to ensure
that the grade clearly and accurately reflects the performance
quality of each individual and further ensures that the band experience
is fair and equitable to all who participate. Below is an explanation
of the grading formula used for each quarter.
Each student's
quarter average is based on two categories; tests/practice charts
(50%) and participation (50%)
Tests/Practice
Charts: Students will be given both playing and written
tests periodically on assigned music exercises and concepts.
Music being rehearsed in class may be tested at any time. Practice
charts will be checked periodically and must be completed and
signed by a parent for a grade. It is important to know that
no credit will be given for practice records that are not signed
at the end of each week.
Participation/Conduct:
Students begin each quarter with a grade of 100 in this category.
Deductions will be made for failure to comply with classroom
rules and/or failure to participate in class.
Performances
are an integral part of every student's music education. An
unexcused absence from any performance will result in a major
deduction for this grade category. The only excused absences
from a performance are those, which are determined an excused
absence from school as outlined by WCPSS policy 6000.
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Curriculum
Guide
Parents and
students will find below a list of learning goals for students
in Salem Middle School Bands. After three years in Salem Middle
School Bands, the student should be able to:
Individual
Goals
- Hold
the instrument, sticks, or mallets correctly with correct
hand position.
- Demonstrate
the correct posture to be used when playing the instrument.
- Form
a correct embouchure or stick grip for the instrument.
- Produce
a characteristic, controlled sound on the instrument.
- Perform
clean articulations on the instrument to include; tongue and
slur combinations, accents, staccato, legato and forte-piano.
- Perform
solo works with minimal assistance from the director.
- Demonstrate
the ability to care for, maintain, store, and transport the
instrument.
Ensemble
(Group) Goals
- Explain
and demonstrate, with the band, the pyramid balance concept.
- Demonstrate
the ability to tune the instrument and play in tune with the
band.
- Explain
and demonstrate, with the band, staggered breathing.
- Explain
and demonstrate, with the band, dove-tailing of phrases.
- Perform
the appropriate level of concert music with artistry and musical
taste.
- Successfully
sight-read an appropriate level of concert music.
- Perform
and receive a rating at the NC Band Festival.
- Perform
music for the public with the band.
Music
Theory Goals
- Identify
pitches in both treble and bass clef.
- Count,
play, and identify by ear, common rhythmic figures including
eighth-note/eighth-rest combinations, sixteenth-note/sixteenth-rest
combinations, syncopated rhythms, rhythms involving ties,
dotted rhythms, triplet figures, and cut-time figures.
- Define
basic Italian, French, German and Latin terms and symbols
found in music.
- Name
the keys on the piano.
- Construct
half-steps and whole-steps above or below any given pitch.
- Write
and play all major scales. · Write and identify all major
key signatures.
- Identify
any given pitch in any given key using numerals, solfege,
or proper degree names.
- Identify
(aurally and written) major, minor, and perfect intervals.
Advanced
Individual Goals
- Play
chromatic scales on the instrument.
- Play
basic swing rhythms on the instrument.
- Play
blues scales on the instrument.
- Play
pure, harmonic and melodic minor scales on the instrument.
- Transpose
and perform basic tunes up or down a whole step at sight.
Music
Appreciation Goals
- Experience
the performance of fine music by ensembles and soloists by
attending live concerts and listening to recordings.
Citizenship
Goals
- Exhibit
personal pride, integrity, responsibility, commitment, dependability,
a strong work ethic, and esprit de corps.
- Respect
the abilities and efforts of others.
Additional
Percussion Goals
Percussion
students will also demonstrate additional proficiency in the
following areas:
- Perform
basic drum rudiments to include rolls, flams, paradiddles,
drags, ruffs, and ratamacues.
- Demonstrate
knowledge of suspended and crash cymbal technique.
- Demonstrate
knowledge of chime technique.
- Demonstrate
a knowledge of auxiliary instrument technique (triangle, tambourine,
sleigh bells. woodblock, etc.).
- Demonstrate
knowledge of concert bass drum technique.
- Demonstrate
the ability to tune and play basic timpani parts.
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How
to Practice
Daily practice
time is essential for student success in band. All band students
should spend a minimum of 30 minutes each day in individual practice.
Daily practice time is homework for band. The guidelines below
will help to organize your practice time. Remember, practice time
is to be spent practicing, not watching the clock.
- Practice
in the same place each day. Be sure there are no distractions.
- Begin with
long tones. Concentrate on producing a pleasing sound. Think
about your breathing. Produce a steady and controlled air stream.
You should love your sound. It is yours and no one else's. No
two musicians have the same tone. Always make sure that
your tone is clear and beautiful.
- Spend time
on scales. Play them slowly at first and then work for speed.
Work from your method book each day. Try to stay several lines
ahead of the class. Work for accuracy and be sure to play everything
on the page.
- Practice
in front of a mirror to check your embouchure, hand position,
and posture.
- Practice
your music. Work on the parts that you cannot play. Practice
them slowly at first and then increase the speed. Work one measure
at a time for difficult parts. Once you are able to play a measure
five times without mistakes then you can increase the tempo.
The same goes for the entire exercise.
- Pay careful
attention to details such as: correct notes and fingerings,
rhythms, key signatures and accidentals, signs and symbols,
dynamics and articulations.
- End by
playing something just for fun.
- Swab woodwinds
thoroughly, empty water from brasses and return instrument safely
to case.
Jazz
Band
The Jazz Band
is open by audition only and meets after school, two days per
week for approximately one hour. Instrumentation will be based
on standard big band instrumentation: trumpet, trombone, alto
sax, tenor sax, baritone sax, and a rhythm section consisting
of drum set, piano, bass, and guitar. Audition material is largely
based on the same material used for All-District Band auditions,
which can be found at www.ncbandmasters.org/cdba.
How
Parents Can Help
Regardless
of musical background, a parent's support and encouragement will
have a tremendous impact on a child's progress in band. To assist
in the musical growth of your child, you can:
- Support
the goals, policies, and procedures of the director. Your child
succeeds when the band director succeeds.
- Require
regular practice at home. Provide a daily time and place where
your child can practice without distractions or interruptions.
- Ask your
child to play for you and encourage performance.
- Teach your
child to be punctual by helping him or her to be on time to
performances and rehearsals.
- Enthusiastically
attend all band functions to show your support. Get involved!
Join the Salem PTA!
- Help keep
your child's instrument in good repair.
- Give strong
consideration to providing private lessons for your child.
In
Closing
Young
people need positive direction. I see band as an opportunity to
shape young lives and to positively influence young people.
Students
must understand that their actions will have a tremendous impact
on their lives and the lives of others. The nature of that impact
(positive or negative) is up to the individual.
Remind
your child when the challenge becomes tough that teachers, just
like parents, set high standards, because we care. Thank you for
your support and best wishes for a safe, happy, successful school
year.
If
you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
My office number is 363-2698. My email address is bhinson@wcpss.net.
Sincerely,
Robert L. Hinson, Jr. Band Director
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