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GHS Course Syllabus GHS Course Syllabus General Course Information Subject: Jazz Band Year: 2016-17 Department: Fine Arts – Music Room #: 146 Periods Taught: Before School-Early Bird Course Title: Jazz Band Course Description: Jazz Band is an instrumental course designed to study and perform styles of music native to American popular music. Membership in the Symphonic or Concert Band is required for wind instruments and drum set. Electric Bass, piano, and electric guitar will be auditioned from non- band members if no band members are available to play them. Electric Bass and guitar players need to own their instrument and be able to read chord figures and written music without tabs. This is a performance based class with performances during and after school. Students enrolled in Jazz Band should expect attend mandatory performances and occasional rehearsals on evenings and/or weekends. This class meets early bird before school. Faculty Name: Ray Severns Course/Faculty Website: http://www.ghsbandboosters.net Office Hours: 1A or B Welcome/ Welcome to the Glencoe High School Band family. By joining the band you have dedicated Introduction to yourself to an outstanding organization committed to excellence through performance. The band Course: has a tradition of excellence that you have committed to being a part of and in doing so you will have some of the most powerful experiences of your entire life; make lasting friendships; learn the value of teamwork, discipline, and hard work; and create beautiful music in the process. Some of your experiences in band will be very similar to middle school – Concert Band rehearsals and performances, Auditioned Honor Bands, Solo and Ensemble and Sight-Reading. Some will be different – Marching Band, Jazz Band, Color Guard, Winter Guard, and Indoor Drum Line . These activities are included in the High School Experience and are enough to keep anyone busy. Note to The Glencoe Band Booster Club is very active in helping the band with many of the things that Parents: just cannot be done with the limited staff. In addition to organizing fundraising efforts, they do many things to support the band. Volunteers with the band booster club are some of the most active on campus. Band is a fairly expensive activity. In addition to instrument purchase/rental and maintenance, there is a School District Activity Fee and a “Fare Share Fee” for band students. Students must also purchase a pre-approved black dress or tuxedo for concert band and a matching uniform shirt for jazz band. These are outlined in the band handbook available in the band office. Band students are very busy. This year there are approximately 30 Performances, Pep Band Events and Fundraising dates outside of the school day including approx. 10 Saturdays for band members. In addition the band rehearses regularly throughout the summer including 2 weeks of band camp and 1 or 2 nights a week for most of the school year. Learning Outcomes Course Goals - Upon Exiting the band program all students will: Objectives: 1) Perform with Excellence Individually and within the Group 2) Read Music 3) Make critical judgments of musical performances and mediums 4) Value music for its significance to society 5) Value music for its contribution to the quality of ones life Grading Band is a performance activity requiring performance in and out of class time – after school rehearsals and performances are graded as assignments and tests as they are the curriculum. Activity Total Grade Activity Total Grade Points Points Summative Formative Band Concerts 40 (5x8) each Practice Records 5 each Playing Tests 15 (5x3) each After School Rehearsals 5 each Written Critique of Performance 10 (5x2) each Written Assignments 5 each Scoring – Out of 5: 5=A, 4=B, 3=C, 2=D, 1=F, 0=Non-Participation Very low grades may result in your removal from the band program. Grading Grading is based on a GPA style system, average of scores out of 5. Scale: A = 4 to 5, B = 3 to 4, C = 2 to 3, D = 1 to 2, F = 0 to 1 Late Work Policy: -Written Assignments may be turned in late within the first week half a letter grade). After that a full letter grade is deducted for late work. Make-up Work Policy: -A missed concert can be made up one of two ways: 1. Live performance of the music for a crowd – at lunch in the cafeteria 2. A pre-approved minimum 1000 word research paper, properly cited. -Rehearsals can be made up with extra practice time – 2 hrs per rehearsal documented and signed for by a parent or guardian -Playing Tests must be made up during lunch or before or after an after school rehearsal. Cheating/Plagiarism Cheating/plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any student caught cheating will receive a grade of Policy: zero on the assignment or exam. In the event of a second offense, the student may be removed from the class with loss of credit, suspended, or expelled from school. Course 1st Semester Schedule/Outline: September through November – Fundamentals, Contest Prep December – Fundamentals and Holiday Concert prep January – Sight Reading Focus 2nd Semester February through April – Fundamentals, Pep Band, and Winter Concert Prep May and June – Fundamentals and Spring Concert Prep Please see the band calendar in the band handbook for rehearsal and performance dates and times. Classroom 1. Punctual Conduct: Be at every event Arrive15 minutes before the call time. 2. Prepared Have everything you need for class or rehearsal including a pencil, your instrument, mouthpiece, music, dot book, all uniform parts, quality reeds, proper lubrication for your instrument, proper attire and shoes, mutes, etc. 3. Positive Be mentally and emotionally prepared to learn. Have a positive attitude and be willing to try new things. Follow the chain of command (see the band handbook) and bring problems to Mr. Severns attention. Treat the band as a family, respect authority and work together. Have fun!! Students and Parents/Guardians – Please provide your signature below indicating you have read and understand the requirements and expectations of this course. Student Signature & Date Parent/Guardian Signature & Date .
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