Hope College
Music 130 – 01/11 – Wind Ensemble
Dr. Gabe Southard, Conductor
Spring 2016 Syllabus
Office Phone: 395-7646
Email: southard@hope.edu
Rehearsal times
Monday and Wednesday from 5:00-6:10 PM
Friday from 1-2:30PM (Chamber Music and Sectionals)
JHMiller 130
Office Hours
To be posted outside Dr. Southard’s office (Miller 174)
Other times available by appointment
Course Objectives
Wind Ensemble will expose the student to the very best variety of wind literature and
performing styles possible, including original works for band, transcriptions, as well as chamber
pieces. At least two performances will be scheduled for each semester as well as run-out
concerts to area schools. Wind Ensemble will also help improve each student’s concepts of tone,
intonation, balance, technique, and overall ensemble skills. As the Wind Ensemble is based on a
one-person-per-part concept, the group is open by audition only.
Required Materials
Instrument – each student is expected to provide his/her own instrument; percussionists
are expected to provide his/her own sticks and mallets. Some of the more exotic instruments
(bass clarinet, contra-bass clarinet, baritone saxophone, etc.) are available to be signed out.
Music – provided by the Wind Ensemble Librarian
Pencil
Attendance
Attendance at each rehearsal is mandatory. Unexcused absences will result in the
lowering of the final grade by one letter grade (i.e. A to B, etc.). Excused absences consist of
absences pre-approved by the conductor and extreme illness as supported by appropriate
documentation. It is expected that the student will not: schedule other meetings, lessons, field
placements, or study sessions during class time, or agree to meet for other classes (unless it is the
normal class meeting time) or extracurricular activities during Wind Ensemble time, including
the Friday 1-2:30PM time slot. Two unexcused tardies (arriving at class during or after the
tuning pitch) will equal one absence so please be on time. Please note: extracurricular activities
(including extra events for classes) that have not been approved at the beginning of the semester
are not excused. If you have an event, a class field trip for example, that is listed on the class
syllabus, please bring me a copy of the syllabus. If it is not on the syllabus, I will require a note
or email from your teacher to consider it an excused absence.
Some absences at performances may be unavoidable, specifically extreme illness and
family emergencies – in cases of extreme illness I will REQUIRE a doctor’s note to miss the
concert. Other rehearsals, practices, performances, auditions, and other avoidable conflicts are
not excused and will result in a failing grade. As attendance is 100% of the grade, being present
is good for your GPA. However, missing rehearsals and performances affects the entire
ensemble – you are important!
In order to be excused from a rehearsal, you should contact the conductor directly,
preferably via email or office hour. If you do not contact the conductor, the absence will
automatically be considered unexcused. In addition, please do not just tell your friend that you
are not coming to rehearsal for any reason. If I do not hear from you directly, I will count the
absence as unexcused. In addition, if you are too sick to be in rehearsal, I would expect that you
are too sick to attend other classes as well. If Wind Ensemble is the only class you miss that day,
it will NOT be excused.
Use of phones, pagers, or other electronic devices not necessary for rehearsal is
prohibited. Any use of said devices will result in its confiscation, to be returned at the end of
rehearsal. Consistent use will result in a lowered grade.
From time to time it may be necessary for me to get information from the group quickly,
usually via email. In the past people have occasionally ignored emails from me with direct
questions. Thus, if you do not respond to an email with a direct request for a reply, I will treat it
the same way as an absence and assume your response will be positive.
PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of whether you are signed up for 1 credit or 0 credits, you
are responsible for all rehearsals and events. Students taking the 0 credit option will not be
treated any differently than their 1 credit colleagues.
Grading
Attendance – 100% (see above for attendance information)
PLEASE NOTE – Tour and Commencement are required events.
Expectations
- Please check the Wind Ensemble web site
www.hope.edu/academic/music/windensemble for rehearsal times and order. While
every attempt will be made to put up a schedule for the week in advance, changes
may be made as little as 2 hours before the rehearsal. This is particularly important as
there will be pieces that will not involve the entire Wind Ensemble. Check to see
when you need to be in rehearsal.
- As we will be rehearsing and performing very challenging works, each student will be
expected to practice his/her music for at least one hour each week, and to attend each
rehearsal warmed-up and prepared.
- Rehearsals will begin on time. Unless there is a class conflict that has been discussed
with the conductor at the beginning of the semester, it is expected that the student will
be in his/her chair at 5:00PM ready to play (see attendance section).
- Ask questions. If you want to know what value certain literature has or would like
some help preparing a particular piece of music, please come see me – I’ll be happy
to answer your questions and help.
- Check Naxos or Moodle – Many of our pieces are available on Naxos – if you need
help finding it on the Library site, please let me know. Recordings that are
unavailable on Naxos will often be posted on Moodle, as is the syllabus, grades, and
other information.
- Answer emails.
- Enjoy Wind Ensemble! While we will be challenged and work hard, we should have
a good time making music together!
Dress
Men: Concert black, tuxedo preferred, although an all black suit with bow tie will be
acceptable. Black shoes and socks required!
Women: All black, either a dress or a combination of a black shirt and black skirt or
pants. Top must have elbow length sleeves and the dress/skirt must be at least to the calf. Black
hose and black shoes (no sandals please) are required
SPRING SEMESTER CONCERTS
Miller Concert Hall Opening Concerts (replaces DeVos Showcase) – Friday and Saturday,
2/5 and 2/6 – time TBA
Repertoire TBA
Concert 1 – Friday, 2/26/16 at 7:30PM, Concert Hall
Shostakovich/Hunsberger, Festive Overture
Bach/Hunsberger, Passacaglia and Fugue in c minor
Weber, Concertino for Oboe and Winds with Dr. Sarah Southard (1/0/4(2 C)/2-2/1/1/0
plus bass)
Gabrieli/Southard, TBA
Vaughan Williams, Toccata Marziale
Pre-Tour Concert – Wednesday, 3/16/16 at 7:30PM, Concert Hall
Repertoire TBA from previous concerts plus:
Rouse, Blaze
Gorb, Suite for Winds (2/2/4(1 bass)/2-0/0/0/0 plus 4 saxophones)
Jacob, Old Wine in New Bottles (2(1 picc)/2/2/2-2/2/0/0)
Wind Ensemble Tour – Friday, 3/18/16 through Wednesday, 3/23/16
Locations and repertoire TBA
Concert 2 – Wednesday, 4/27/16 at 7:30PM, Concert Hall
Hovhaness, Symphony No. 4
Other pieces TBD
Commencement – Sunday, 5/8/16 at 3:00PM, Football Field
Call-time is 2:15PM, Dress rehearsal is Saturday, 5/7/16 from 12:30-2:30PM
Repertoire TBA