Oldham County High School Band
OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BAND
SYLLABUS for
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE COURSES
2017-2018
Class expectations:
Be respectful
1.Be on time
2.Pay attention in class.
3.Don’t converse when the conductor is speaking.
4.Raise your hand to speak
5.Demonstrate a positive attitude
6.Show respect toward your fellow students, the classroom, the belongings of others, school equipment, and most importantly, yourself
Be responsible
1.Be seated within two minutes of the bell with your music, instrument and needed equipment
2.Maintain orderliness and patience
3.Lead by example
4.Always be accountable for your actions and choices
5.Be prepared to work and demonstrate an attitude of effort in all rehearsals
Be kind
1.Always treat others as you would wish to be treated
Rehearsal expectations:
Prepared for class each day. Have all materials (music, pencil, etc.) and equipment necessary for each rehearsal. Preparation of assigned parts is the responsibility of the individual; individual practice is expected of each student outside of class.
Appropriate conduct in class. Respect each other; respect the task at hand.
Attendance in class daily and at all scheduled after-school rehearsals. Missed class time and/or after-school rehearsals will have an impact on our ability to perform as a group. Unexcused absences from rehearsals, either during the day or after school will also negatively affect your grade.
Performance expectations:
Attendance at all performances. Illness (verified by doctor’s note) or death in the family will be considered an acceptable excuse for absence. Other things may be reasons for missing a performance, but are not excuses. You are expected to make every effort to notify the director PRIOR to the performance missed regardless.
Properattire. The band provides uniform dress for marching and/or concert performances; you are expected to provide and wear certain performance items and proper shoes and socks. Additions to the uniform (jewelry, etc.) deemed a distraction or not in keeping with the uniform are not allowed.
A high level of musical performance. This comes as a result of observing the rehearsal expectations listed above.
As the nature of the work done in these courses involves performances and rehearsals that take place outside the school day as well as daily classes, all rehearsals and performances will have a bearing on the grade a student receives. Individual practice, preparation, and participation by every member of the band are essential to the entire group performing at its best, and are periodically evaluated and scored as part of the grade as well.
A calendar of events is published and distributed in August and November, outlining scheduled rehearsals, activities, and band performances. This calendar may be amended (with adequate notice) to address adjustments in the school calendar, snow days, conflicts with other activities, or to reflect added performance opportunities for the band. All rehearsals, activities and performances of the band should be considered required of all students, and will constitute a substantial portion of the final grade.
OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BAND
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE COURSES
2017-2018 (page 2 of 5)
Course Offerings
Symphonic Band I and II/Marching Colonels:
Emphasis of the OCHS band program. These performance ensembles are made up of wind players enrolled in Symphonic Band classes, with the addition of musicians enrolled in Percussion Techniques class.
Activities/expectations
Preparation and performance of marching band music/drill
Preparation and performance of symphonic band literature
Attendance at all after-school rehearsals (marching and concert)
Use of individual evaluation/interactive accompaniment software (SmartMusic)
Preparation and performance of a variety of ensemble literature
Development and evaluation of individual technique and skills on your instrument
Performance at KMEA Solo and Ensemble festival (required of all members)
Performance of music for individual evaluation (live and on SmartMusic)
Performance of audition music (November) for concert band seating
Other performances scheduled throughout the year
Percussion Techniques:
Percussion Techniques is the “band class” for percussionists, or students wanting to learn about performing on percussion instruments.
Activities/expectations
Preparation and performance of marching band music/drill
Preparation and performance of percussion parts with concert band
Preparation and performance of a variety of percussion ensemble literature
Attendance at all after-school rehearsals (marching and concert)
Use of individual evaluation/interactive accompaniment software (SmartMusic)
Development and evaluation of individual technique and skills on all percussion instruments
Performance at KMEA Solo and Ensemble festival (required of all members)
Performance of music for individual evaluation (usually one or two per quarter)
Performance of audition music (November) for concert band seating
Other performances scheduled throughout the year
Jazz Ensemble:
This course is designed as an elective extension of the Symphonic Band, allowing students to learn jazz styles, improvisation, and performance through an ensemble class. An audition is required for students not enrolled in the Symphonic Band or Percussion Techniques class.
Activities/expectations
Preparation and performance of jazz ensemble literature
Attendance at scheduled rehearsals (after school or in school)
Use of individual evaluation/interactive accompaniment software (SmartMusic)
Development and evaluation of individual technique and skills on your instrument
Performance in one or two jazz ensemble festivals (required of all members)
Performance of music for individual evaluation (usually one or two per quarter)
Other performances scheduled throughout the year
Pep Band:
All wind and percussion players will perform pep band music for pep rallies during school, and selected home girls and boys basketball games. Pep bands for basketball season will be assigned in November. Each student will be expected to meet a reasonable performance obligation during basketball season. A listing of basketball dates not in conflict with other band activities will be posted with assignments for performance. Students are expected to
OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BAND
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE COURSES
2017-2018 (page 3 of 5)
Pep band (cont’d.)
work out their personal schedules to accommodate their assigned pep band obligations. Attendance at performances is required, with performance grades assigned.
Tournament games will be covered by the entire band as needed. Bus transportation and tickets will be provided to all tournament games played off-campus.
Athletes in band (OCHS sports teams):
We take great pride in being a program that allows the opportunity for band students to represent OCHS as musicians and as athletes. While it takes a good bit of work to make this possible, it is worth the effort to do so for the students who are willing to undertake the challenge of participating in the band and with a school sports team.
Band members who are involved in school athletics are expected to communicate their band requirements to the coaching staff involved with their sport (after school rehearsal schedule and all performances), and to provide the band director with their practice, conditioning, and game schedule. Conflicts are best worked out when everyone is aware of what is expected. As most team sports practice multiple times each week after school, athletes in band are expected to work out attendance at after school band rehearsals (one afternoon per week) with their coach.
Generally, athletes are excused from bandrehearsals if they are in conflict with a scheduled game—not a team practice. Arrangements to “split” practice time between the band and the team, run conditioning or do weightlifting after band practice, etc. have worked well for many band athletes in past years. Band performances rarely are in conflict with games—if they do conflict,attendance at the band performance must take priority, as the student receives a grade for their performance. Every effort to make it possible for the band athlete to participate in both events will be made in these limited cases, and many of these situations can often be worked out! Communication well in advance is the key to making this arrangement work for the benefit of all concerned.
Grading
It is expected that each student understand his/her rehearsal and performance commitments (as these are made available at the beginning of each semester) and agree to participate fully in meeting these obligations.
Students in all instrumental music performance classes receive grades based on ensemble performance (judges’ numerical ratings), individual performance on assigned proficiency tests, attendance and full participation in all daily activities and rehearsals of the band. As one academic credit is awarded for each year a student meets the requirements of band membership, the band grade should be considered to hold the same importance as it impacts GPA as any other academic elective course offered at OCHS.
Your grade will be negatively affected if you:
are unprepared or late for rehearsal
are asked to leave rehearsal for disciplinary reasons
have more than one unexcused absence from class
miss after-school rehearsal (unexcused)
wear improper attire for performance
are absent from any performance of the band (unexcused)
Illness (verified by doctor’s note) or death in the family will be considered an acceptable excuse for absence. Other things may be reasons for missing a rehearsal or performance, but are not excuses. You are expected to make every effort to notify the director PRIOR to the rehearsal or performance missed regardless. Rehearsal attendance will constitute up to 20 percent of the overall grade in band.
OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BAND
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE COURSES
2017-2018 (page 4 of 5)
The director makes the call on whether or not an absence will be excused, with each situation considered on an individual basis. Conflicts with non-school related activities are not the basis for considering an excused absencefrom a rehearsal or performance.
In general, a single unexcused absence from a rehearsal will not have a significant impact on the final grade. However, additional unexcused absences will have further negative impact, and carry the very real possibility of you being held out of subsequent performances. If you have not rehearsed with the ensemble, then the ensemble has obviously figured out how to get through the performance without you!
Unexcused absence from required performances of the band will result in a significant reduction in your grade based on the weighting of the particular performance. The full ensemble rehearsal or performance experience cannot be duplicated by an individual; therefore, no make-up of points lost due to unexcused absences for either rehearsals or performances will be allowed.
Ensemble Performance Criteria (allclasses):
Numerical scores from adjudicated performances in which the band receives a rating or numerical score will be averaged as a part of each student’s grade. These performances normally occur during the 3rd and 4th quarter of the year. Grades will be based on the rating assigned by judges on a particular performance; e.g.: Distinguished ratings will receive the numerical equivalent of an “A”; Proficient ratings—the highest numerical equivalent of a “B”; and so on. Appropriate weight will be assigned to this type of evaluation score based on the type of performance—up to 30 percent of the overall grade will be based on this type of group evaluation.
Other non-adjudicated performances (football/basketball, home concerts, etc.) will receive appropriate weighting based on the number of these performances, and are based on preparation, punctuality, and attendance.
Individual Performance Criteria (all classes):
Students will be assigned music excerpts to prepare for individual performance. These assignments will be completed using SmartMusicsoftware, and may include a practice time component. These assignments may be used to affect chair placement, and also serve as a means of identifying individual strengths/weaknesses and provide a performance-based component of the individual grade. The averaged individual performance evaluation grades may provide up to 50 percent of the overall grade in band.
Individual Auditions (all classes):
A seating audition is required of all band members in November. The auditions are recorded using digital technology. Preparation for the audition is aided by using SmartMusic. The auditions are judged “blind” by the directors. Audition materials: Kentucky All-State Band audition excerpts, major scales/rudiments, and sight reading. The audition is scored in the same manner as an individual performance evaluation.
The director’s recommendation is required for participation in the OCHS Band. All students, including incoming 8th graders wishing to register for band will perform a Placement Audition near the end of the school year. Those who audition successfully will be placed in the appropriate large ensemble class for the coming year.
Students who do not meet the minimum musical standards of the Placement Audition will not be allowed to register for the class. Students who need remediation will be expected to take private lessons and successfully audition prior to registering for band.
Written Assignments (all classes):
Students will be expected to complete basic music theory assignments; some may require a homework component, but most will be done in class. Basic music listening skills and music vocabulary will also be studied.
OLDHAM COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL BAND
INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC PERFORMANCE COURSES
2017-2018 (page 5 of 5)
Field Trips:
Many of our most important activities are in the form of field trips to evaluated performances, clinics, honors bands, etc. Some field trips are a part of your grade in band; others are simply an extension of our classroom learning. Some of these events require that students miss class time in other subject areas. It is vitally important to the success of our program that all students participate in all activities that involve the entire band, such as concerts, festivals and the like.
If your grades in other academic subjects are not up to par, it is very likely that you will not be allowed to participate in field trips. This could result in your band grade being adversely affected (missing a concert/festival).
THE BOTTOM LINE: keep your academic grades UP, or expect to be left behind when the band travels.
Instrumental Music Course Outline
Parent and Student Acknowledgement Form
Please sign and return to the director by Monday, August 21st, 2017
I have read the Instrumental Music Course Outline and grading policy, and acknowledge receipt of a fall calendar (August-December 2017). We understand and agree to meet the requirements of attendance, conduct, and performance presented in said document.
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Parent Student
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Date