Band Syllabus
Prerequisites: At least one year's experience on an instrument and permission of the instructor.
Course Description: The Hazen Union High School Band is made up of music loving students who enjoy working hard on their own and in the group to create great sounding music. Students perform several major concerts a year and have various opportunities to play solos, small ensembles and participate in regional music festivals. In addition to the regular class meeting time each student is required to have a lesson once a week during which time s/he works on computer assisted music drills as well as technical exercises, solos, duets and band music.
Homework: Extensive rehearsal and regular home practice is required.
Course Objectives: All members of the Hazen Union High School Band will:
Vermont's Framework of Standards:
It is our belief that learning and playing music helps students in many areas outside the realm of the arts including all four of the "Vital results" (Communication, Reasoning and Problem Solving, Personal Development and Civic/Social Responsibility). In the Arts Standards, many are addressed in band class including "Critical Response" (5.1-5.7), "Responding to Media (5.14), "Artistic Process" (5.22-5.27), "Elements, Forms, and Techniques in the Arts/Artistic Proficiency" (5.28), "Elements, Forms, and Techniques in the Arts/Music" (5.31-5.32).
National Standards for Arts Education ~ Music
We have adopted the National Standards for setting our goals to achieve. Of the 9 standards we address 7. They are:
#2 ~ coming soon.
Course Overview: Band class meets 1 period per 8 period rotation. In addition to the class each band member is required to have a lesson (usually scheduled once an 8 day rotation cycle during the student's study hall) with the band instructor. The High School Band performs about 4 major concerts a year as well as playing at other times (school functions, community events, etc.). The majority of class time is spent preparing the full band repertoire. But also of considerable value are the other kinds of activities besides full group playing. These include listening to selected recordings and discussing them, working on specific technical problems (scales, rhythm work, etc.), units on music vocabulary, musical expression, musical composition and occasionally projects such as making music videos. As part of the ideal of developing as high a degree of musicianship as possible and creating well rounded musicians, band members also prepare solos and small (duet, trio, quartet) ensembles for performance. Many members also audition and participate in the regional Northeastern Vermont Music Festival, Vermont All-State Music Festival and sometimes even the All-New England Music Festival. In addition to working on specific individual technique issues and pieces in lessons, each student works his/her way through a sequenced curriculum of computer assisted music drills. This starts in Middle School and usually takes most all of High School.
Student Expectations: A list of "Band Rules" is handed out at the beginning of each year. The most critical of these are:
Materials:
Special Activities: The High School Band takes an annual trip (usually an overnight) made possible by its fundraising efforts to a city (usually Boston or Montreal) where we go to a museum, sightsee, eat some kind of ethnic food and attend 1 or 2 concerts (usually a classical orchestra but sometimes a Jazz group, dance group or even an avant garde electronic music event).
Grading System: The Hazen Music Department uses its own special Instrumental Music Report Card to better indicate and communicate each student's progress. A sample copy is handed out at the beginning of each year. Students are graded on five basic categories:
Tests, quizzes and exams are factored in to each quarter grade at 25%. Extra credit is given for extra playing, auditioning, festival participation, etc. Points are subtracted for unexcused missed lessons, rehearsals and concerts.
Other information: Students are always welcome to ask for extra help, extra practice time, extra playing opportunities and other musical experiences. Additional music courses are available in the form of independent study to all motivated music students as is the extra-curricular Jazz Ensemble. A Band Newsletter is sent home several times a year in an effort to keep parents informed. Everyone is welcomed anytime to visit the music department as well as sit in on a band class (the kids love to perform)!