Intermediate Band Syllabus

East High Intermediate Band Syllabus 2015-2016

Teacher: Mrs. Dorothy Pino
Email: Dorothy_pino@dpsk12.org, dorothypino@gmail.com
Website: dorothypino.blogspot.com
Classroom: Commons (Cafeteria)
Time: 6th Period
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00AM-7:25AM, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 3-3:30, Thursday 1:30-2.
Textbooks: Standard of Excellence Green Book, Various sheet music throughout the school year TBD on band’s ability
Materials: Instrument, pencil, binder paper, music folder, music books, cleaning supplies, and maintenance supplies
Expectations
Students will be expected to:
        Arrive on time to class each day with all the appropriate materials (you will lose points if you do not have your music or instrument)
        Turn off and stow cell phones upon entering class
        Treat their instruments, materials, classmates, and teacher with respect
        Complete all assignments on time, be prepared for class, and work to the best of their ability
        Have a positive attitude and participate fully in classroom activities
        Be safe, respectful, and responsible
        Raise their hands with questions about the content or come in during office hours for extra help.
Consequences
If students do not adhere to the expectations there will be consequences including (but not limited to):
        Parent phone calls/emails for disrespectful behavior, referrals for repeat offenders, or removal from the course for severe and detrimental behavior
        Confiscation of cell phones (or other distracting devices)
        Reduction in grade if academic standards are not being met, assignments are not completed, preparation for tests is not evident, or students have excessive tardiness and lack of participation.
Objectives
Students, throughout the course of the year, will learn how to:
        Read music in treble and/or bass clef
        Sit and stand with appropriate posture while performing
        Respect “the podium” by responding appropriately to the conductor’s directions
        Prepare music for performance at levels 3 and higher by the end of the year
        Play all 12 major scales and 24 minor scales by the end of the year
        Play the chromatic scale in the full range of their instrument by the end of the year
        Play music in unison and in divided parts
        Listen for balance across the ensemble
        Tune their instruments by listening to a pitch and by referring to electronic tuners
        Match pitches throughout the ensemble by learning their instrument pitch tendencies
        Differentiate between different styles and time periods of music
        Use expression in music, including dynamics, phrasing, articulation, tempo contrast, and timbre
        Analyze a musical performance and give appropriate feedback about the music, including what improvements could be made and what went well with a piece of music
        Compose simple arrangements for band using basic chords such as I-IV-V-vi and cadences
        Improvise to basic harmonic patterns
        Sight-read at a level of 2 or greater by the end of the year
        Follow the conductor’s cues and signals while performing music
        Interpret musical symbols correctly and appropriately
        Master their instruments and move onto the next level of musicianship
        Learn to play in a pep band and parade march setting
Goals:
We are going to learn all major, minor, and chromatic scales by the end of the year which will increase our ability to sight-read. We will hopefully be playing between levels 2-3 (easy to medium difficulty) by the end of the year.
Procedures:
Start and Finish: Each day, students will enter the classroom and immediately start setting up their “playing station” by getting a music stand, chair, music, setting up their instrument, and warming up.
Podium Respect: In the music world, the conductor is the leader of the ensemble. In this class you will be learning how to respect a conductor so that you will be prepared to continue into higher levels of musicianship. In order to master this skill, you will respond to the conductor, Mrs. Pino, in the following ways:
        Mrs. Pino steps on the podium or to the center of the room, and all students will stop talking/playing, straighten their posture, and quietly look to Mrs. Pino for further instructions.
        When she raises her conducting baton, instruments will go to the ready playing position.
        When her baton is lowered, instruments will be brought down to resting position.
        Whenever Mrs. Pino is working with another group of students, use this time to write in notes in your music, silently practice tricky fingerings, and/or quietly help a neighbor with a question about the music. Make the most of every second in class by using it to improve your musicianship.
        Remember, there is a time for work and a time for fun. We will be having both this year!
During Class: Throughout class, students will be given opportunities to ask questions about the music and to participate in class discussions. Students will be expected to raise their hand and wait to be called on if they have a relevant question. Students are asked to refrain from making rude comments as this hinders the learning environment and classroom safety.
Bathroom Breaks: Mrs. Pino understands that restroom emergencies happen, so students will be allowed to go to the bathroom only 4 times each quarter during class before it affects their participation grade (if you’re regularly missing class, it’s hard to participate). Only 1 student may be out of the class at any given time. Students will be expected to return within 3 minutes after they leave the classroom to use the restroom. If for some reason the particular emergency requires more time, let me know in advance. In order to cut down on class disruptions, to ask for permission to use the restroom, all you have to do is lift your student planner, already filled out. I will give you a head nod if you can go at that time. If I need you to wait a minute, I’ll signal for you to hold on with my hand. Lift your planner again in a few minutes to receive permission to go.
Pencils: Every student should be equipped with two pencils every class period. There will be a pencil jar for emergencies, but it is best if every student come prepared to class with their own pencils. Please, no pens in class! Writing in PEN in music is a BIG NO-NO. Please, Please, Please... only use pencil in music class. If you make mistakes writing in notes, it will be easy to change. Also, when working with sheet music, we can erase markings before returning it so the next person has clean music.
Materials: Every class period, please bring your instrument, music books and sheet music, pencils, and keep a few pieces of binder paper in your music folder so that you can take notes if necessary in class. Keep in mind that all music that is not personally purchased by you is the property of East High or Mrs. Pino, and it should be returned in good condition when it is no longer needed for class. If music is not returned after use, it will be billed to your student account.
Tests: In order to help Mrs. Pino help you in your learning, she will have routine assessments/tests. Every other Block Day, students will be asked to prepare specific songs/pieces or scales for performance. Sometimes students will get to choose between a range of songs, and other times, they will be given precise examples to play. Please make sure you are prepared to play these by yourself, with a friend, and/or as an instrument section.
Sectionals: On occasion, Mrs. Pino will give the class time to work within their instrument sections on specific selections that are difficult. Please make sure to use this time wisely and work nicely with your classmates in order to accomplish more in less time. If it appears this time is being abused by certain sections, we will use other methods to rehearse difficult pieces as a whole class.

Grades:
Grades will be calculated in a few ways. On the following page, you will find a breakdown of how you will be graded in our class. Your grade will be broken down into the following categories:
        Music Effort - Participation and Effort  (30%)
     Practice (50 points every 6 weeks = 500 minutes)
     Students will receive a daily participation grade which adds up to 4 Points. (100 points each 6 weeks)
        Practiced/Completed homework and knows part
        Behavior, effort, and attitude in class
        On-time with all materials, in class, ready-to-go
        Active Participation in class discussions and performances
        Musical Expression and Theory- Performance Ability/Improvement and Assessments(40%)
     Student shows great improvement throughout the year and performs at an appropriate level for each stage of learning (100 points each 6 weeks)
     performs well and prepares for assessments (75 points each 6 weeks)
     comes in for help during office hours when struggling or arranges another time with Mrs. Pino (25 points each 6 weeks),
        Music Performance - Concert Attendance (20%)
     Student is present/on time at all required concerts in the appropriate attire (all black “Concert Blacks” for most concerts, unless otherwise indicated) and checks in with Mrs. Pino prior to each concert (100  points each)
     Student brings all required materials to the concert (music, instrument, reeds, oil, stands, etc)
        Music Analysis and Composition - Music Assignments (10%)
     Composition and improvisation assignments (25 points)
     Homework, including take home quizzes (25 points)
Total Points Available each 6 weeks = 500 Points
Semester Finals will be worth 10% of your overall grade (30% for each of the three 6 week periods plus 10% = 100%)


Concerts: Attendance is mandatory. Please set aside these dates on your calendars.
TBD - Veterans’ Home Concert Field Trip during school hours in November
November 11 – Instrumental Pizza Dinner, Commons, 5pm-9pm
December 1, 3, 4, 7- CD Recording Project Field Trip during school hours (we will only go on one of these days), CEC, all day
January 19 - Pops Concert, 7pm in Auditorium
March 22 – Original Composition Concert, 5pm in Auditorium
May 4-5 - Spring Concert for instrumental department, 6:30pm, auditorium, one of these days
May 19 –Arts Walk, more details to come, 5:30- 8pm.

*Optional Pep Band Opportunities* (Extra credit available)
-Veterans’ Day Parade with JROTC
-  Homecoming Rally, Pep Rallies (4 per year)
- Football games (1 or 2 per month)
- Basketball games (1 or 2 per month)



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