7Th & 8Th Grade Band Criteria

7th & 8th Grade Concert Band Syllabus Mrs. Amanda Woods, Music Teacher & Band Director PO Middle School Phone: 814-342-4906 Email: [email protected] Website: www.pomounties.org/AmandaWoods.aspx

Welcome to the 7th & 8th Grade Concert Band Class! This class is an extension of the earlier band courses offered in 5th & 6th grade however students new to instrumental music are welcome to join. In this course you will challenged to improve your technique and musicality while learning more about the pieces performed and performing more difficult pieces. It is a performing class that will present concerts in the fall, spring, and Memorial Day in addition to performing during the school day at various times. The class will be held during 4th period this year. Students will have Concert Band every day except for those who have chorus during the same period who will alternate according to the schedule. Students will be scheduled for instrumental lessons in small groups on a rotational pull-out schedule. Since students will at times miss another class for this lesson, they will only be required to attend 5 lessons per nine weeks period. Students are graded on these 5 lessons in addition to band class and will receive a zero on lessons not attended (up to 5).

7th & 8th Grade Band Areas of Grading for each nine weeks are as follows:

Performance of Music – 40%  Student performance of music in the classroom setting with and without the group for the nine weeks.  Student performance of music in actual concerts and assemblies.  This category includes the performance of required memorized scales individually done in multiple octaves when appropriate using a steady tempo.

Effort/Preparedness – 20%  Effort shown in class on a daily basis. Student is ready to play at the appropriate times and tries their best.  Grade reflecting the student’s preparedness for class on a daily basis. All students start with 100%. Points are deducted for not bringing their instrument, music, folder, papers to be turned in for class, etc. on a daily basis. *Each time a student forgets to bring their instrument to class they are also issued a “minor infraction”. Three minor infractions result in a 1-hour detention.*

Executive Skills – 20%  Skills needed to perform well on the individual student’s instrument of choice. Examples include but are not limited to hand position, embouchure, posture, knowledge of fingerings, identifying notes, etc.  Class room application of skills taught.

Instrumental Lessons – 20%  Weekly small group instruction done on a pull out basis. Instrumental lessons are offered each week on a rotational period basis and are graded.  Students will be required to attend 5 of the offered lessons in each nine week period.

The performances scheduled this year so far are:

Monday, Dec. 18- In-school band concert Tuesday, Dec. 19, @ 7 PM – Evening Concert Monday, May 7- In-school band concert Tuesday, May 8 @ 7:30 PM - Concert Monday, May 28, 2018 @ 10:00 AM – Memorial Day Performance in Philipsburg Park (required for grade)