Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
KUTZTOWN UNIVERSITY
Kutztown, Pennsylvania
MUP 281
UNIVERSITY BAND
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The University Band program is comprised of a Marching Band during the fall semester, and a
Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble during the spring semester. The Symphonic Band performs of a
wide variety of wind band literature: standard repertoire, recently published compositions, and
selections from festival lists. The Wind Ensemble is comprised of the top wind, brass, and percussion
students from the symphonic band program. The spring semester includes one concert by the
Symphonic Band and two concerts by the Wind Ensemble. The Marching Unit performs a diversified
musical repertoire with coordinated drill design at all home and selected away football games. The
schedule also includes performance at parades, and other special events.
One semester hour credit
COURSE RATIONALE
Musical performing organizations provide opportunities for students to develop their technical and
interpretive skills by exposing them to various styles of music literature. The actual performance of
music also allows students to develop a greater sensitivity to and understanding of the elements,
techniques, and stylistic concepts of the musical score. Students will develop an aesthetic and
intellectual awareness through the rehearsal and performance experience.
The artistic and academic values experienced by students belonging to a musical performing
organization are commensurate with the artistic and academic values of studio courses in other art areas.
This equation is indeed valid since the studio course format involves creative and interpretive aesthetic
applications that elicit psycho-motor responses -- the very type of creative and interpretive responses
realized by the participants of a performing organization.
The artistic and academic values experienced by students belonging to a musical performing
organization are commensurate with the artistic and academic values of studio courses in other art areas.
This equation is valid since the studio course format involves creative and interpretive aesthetic
applications that elicit psycho-motor responses--the very type of creative and interpretive responses
realized by the participants of a musical performing organization. Participation in a musical
organization, with its academic and artistic orientation, is analogous to the curricular orientation of
laboratory, practicum, and studio courses.
The artistic and academic expertise demanded of faculty directors, and the continuing year long
programs that culminate in public concerts, serve to exemplify and strengthen the curricular status that
should be accorded performing organizations.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To develop, through preparation and performance of music repertoire, the following skills, attitudes, and
understandings.
1. Skills: Instrumental and vocal production of musical sounds, production of articulate sounds both
musical and textural, carrying a part in ensemble playing and singing, expressive reaction to musical
score.
2. Attitudes: The increased use of instrumental and vocal music as a means of satisfying a personal
expression; participation in band, choir, and orchestra will be an ongoing musical and artistic growth;
participation will result in increased sophistication of artistic discriminatory abilities. This will
scrutinize and develop a musical performance program that allows for educational interrelationships
between university and community.
3. Understandings: Relationships of melody, harmony rhythm, tempo, dynamics, texture and form
through instrumental and vocal performance, relationships between music of various periods in a general
historical perspective integration of instrumental and vocal ensemble playing and singing to social,
economic, and political current; recognition of the place instrumental and vocal music occupies in
contemporary culture.
COURSE OUTLINE
A.
Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
1.
Organizational and tonal aspects of the ensemble
a. Balance and blend of woodwinds, brass, and percussion sections
b. Strength of individual players and effective depth of all sections
c. Range of individual’s instrumental capacity with total ensemble’s
capacity
d. Tone quality of individual and entire band
e. Placement of instruments for total ensemble sound
f. Instrumentation within each section for various size bands for balance
2.
Repertoire
a. Diversification of types of band literature
1) Marches
2) Overtures
3) Classics
4) Show tunes
5) Symphonies
6) Suites
7) Concertos
b. Diversification of styles of band literature
1) Renaissance
2) Baroque
3) Classical
4) Romantic
5) Impressionistic
6) Expressionistic
7) Contemporary
8) Jazz
9) Show
10) Standards
B.
3.
Individual Development for Total Group Musicianship
a. Quality tone production
b. Rhythmic and tonal accuracy
c. Good physical habits
1) Good posture
2) Breath support
d. Special techniques involved with specific instruments
e. Style of performing
f. Musical vocabulary
g. Sight reading skill
h. Rehearsal deportment
1) Attendance
2) Practice
3) Listening
4) Responsible to total group and director
4.
Social Requirements of Band Performance
a. Contribution of individual to section and band through cooperative
artistic endeavor
b. Contribution of individual to committee and band through creative
planning, promotion and execution of musical events
Marching Band
1.
Organizational and total aspects of the Marching Band
a. Balance and blend of brass, woodwinds, and percussion sections
b. Role of percussion with cadences and features
c. Alignment of instruments
d. Range of individual’s instrumental capacity
e. Marching and maneuvering techniques in various size bands
f. Position of instruments
g. Placement of Instrumentation on the field for various size bands for
balance
h. Tone quality of individual and entire band
2.
Repertoire
a. Diversification of types of marching band literature
1) Marches
2) Classics
3) Show tunes
4) Overtures
5) Patriotic selections
6) Combination of all the above into one segment
b. Planning a band show
1) Entrance or Opening Production
2) Percussion feature
3) Concert Production
4) Closing Production
3.
Individual Development for Total Group Musicianship
a. Quality tone production
b. Rhythmic and tonal accuracy
c. Good physical habits
1) Good posture
2) Coordination of body in drill with mental capacity for
complete musical performance and physical reaction
d. Special physical drill movements
1) Eight to five, six to five, and adjusted step
2) Flanks, faces, slides, obliques and counter movements
e. Sight reading skills
f. Rehearsal deportment
1) Attendance
2) Practice of drill and playing
3) Listening to total ensemble sound through physical movement
4) Responsibility of individual to group and director
4.
Social requirements of band performance
a. Contribution of individual to section and band through cooperative
artistic endeavor
b. Contribution of individual to committee and band through creative
planning, promotion and execution of musical events
INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES
A. Primary References - Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble
Actual music being performed, plus material derived from these sources:
Benner, Charles. Teaching Performing Groups. Washington, Music Educators
National Conference, 1972.
Garofalo, Robert J. Guides to Band Masterworks. Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Meredith
Music Publications, 1992.
Goldman, Richard Franko. The Wind Band: It’s Literature and Techniques.
Boston, Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1961.
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1986.
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music Workbook. Chicago, IL: GIA
Publications, Inc., 1991.
Green, Elizabeth A.H. The Modern Conductor. 6th Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice Hall, 1996.
Kennan, Kent and Donald Grantham. The Technique of Orchestration. 5th
Edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1996.
Miles, Richard. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Chicago, IL:
GIA Publications, Inc., 1997.
B. Secondary References - Concert Band
Duvall, W. Clyde. The High School Band Director’s Handbook. Englewood
Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1960.
Ernst, Karl D. and Gary, Charles L. Music in General Education. Washington,
Music Educator’s National Conference, 1968.
Fennell, Frederick. Time and the Winds. Kenosha, Wisconsin: G. LeBlanc
Corporation, 1954.
Goldman, Edwin Franco. Band Betterment. NY: Carl Fischer, Inc., 1934.
Moore, E.C. The Band Book. Kenosha, Wisconsin. G. LeBlanc Co., 1953.
Prescott, Gerald R. and Chidestor, Lawrence W. Getting Results with School
Bands. Minneapolis, Schmitt, Hall and McCreary Co., NY, also Carl
Fischer, Inc., 1938.
C. Primary References - Marching Band
Actual music being performed, plus material derived from these sources:
Band Magazine. 2779 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City MI. Published bimonthly.
Casavant, A.R. Precision Drill. San Antonio, TX: Southern Music Co., 1957.
Green, Barry. The Inner Game of Music. New York, NY: Doubleday, 1986.
Miles, Richard. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Chicago, IL:
GIA Publications, Inc., 1997.
Moffit, William. Patterns of Motion. Winona, MN: Hal Leonard Music, Inc., 1961.
Rapp, Willis M. The Visual Drumline. New Berlin, WI: Jenson Publications, Inc.,
1985.
Raxsdale, William. Limited Edition Drill Design Manual. New Berlin, WI: Jenson
Publications, Inc., 1985.
Snoeck, Kenneth. Contemporary Drill Design. C.L. Barnhouse, 1981.
The Instrumentalist Magazine. 1418 Lake Street, Evanston, IL. Published
monthly.
Wells, James R. The Marching Band in Contemporary Music Education. T.
Presser Co., 1976.
D. Secondary References - Marching Band
Foster, William P. Band Pageantry: A Guide for the Marching Band. Winona,
MN: Hal Leonard Music, Inc., 1968.
Hjelemervik, Kenneth and Berg, Richard C. Marching Bands. NY: A.S. Barnes
& Company, 1953.
Leckrone, Mike. Koncert Kaleidoscopes. Winona, MN: Hal Leonard Music, Inc.,
1972.
Lee, Jack. Modern Marching Band Techniques. Winona, MN: Hal Leonard
Music, Inc., 1955.
Marcouiller, Don. Marching for Marching Bands. Dubuque, IA: Wm. C. Brown
Co., 1958.
Spohn, Charles L. and Heine, Richard W. The Marching Band. Boston, MA:
Allyn and Bacon, Inc., 1969.
Totgenhorst, Ted C. and Wolf, Donald L. Precision Marching with Band. NY:
Bourne, Inc., 1954.
Wright, Al G. The Show Band. Evanston IL: The Instrumentalist Co., 1954.