MADISON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Madison High School Band
Authored by: Robert Seibert
Reviewed by: Lee Nittel,
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Stacy Snider,
Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts
Adopted by the Board: January, 2013
Members of the Board of Education:
Lisa Ellis, President
Patrick Rowe, Vice-President
David Arthur
Kevin Blair
Shade Grahling
Linda Gilbert
Thomas Haralampoudis
James Novotny
Superintendent: Dr. Michael Rossi
Madison Public Schools
359 Woodland Road, Madison, NJ 07940
www.madisonpublicschools.org
I. OVERVIEW
Band is open to all students with previous instrumental training. The curriculum is not isolated: it is based
on a continuum extending from the elementary and junior school curricula. It provides, in addition to
performance opportunities, technical, theoretical, historical, cultural, and aesthetical instruction pertaining
to instrumental music.
The Band curriculum is based on the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Visual and
Performing Arts as well as the Music Educators National Conference Standards. The intent of the band
program is three-fold: first, to provide students with enough general knowledge and experience to
intelligently interpret and appreciate the various types of instrumental music they will encounter
throughout their life; second, to provide the students with sufficient technical knowledge to participate in
college and/or community bands after graduation; and, third, to instill a desire in the students to become
an active consumer of instrumental music in particular and the arts in general.
All activities and materials are suggested. It may prove feasible to substitute or add other materials and/or
activities as student interest and new publications warrant. Each unit contains fundamental curriculum
material. This material should be extended, simplified, and/or adapted to insure student interaction and
development at all levels of achievement.
II. STUDENT OUTCOMES (Linked to NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards)
Specific content standards addressed include:
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
Creative Process
History of Arts and Culture
Performance
Aesthetic Response and Critique Methodologies
1. The student will demonstrate knowledge of essential band literature.
(Standards 1.1/ 1.4)
2. The student will demonstrate knowledge of correct rehearsal techniques and behavior. (Standards
1.2/ 1.3)
3. The student will demonstrate an increased sensitivity to instrumental music as art. (Standards 1.1/
1.4)
4. The student will demonstrate appropriate technical skills on his/her instrument at each grade level.
(Standard 1.2)
5. The student will demonstrate knowledge of musical terms and theoretical/historical concepts
necessary to achieve artistic performance. (Standards 1.1/ 1.3)
6. The student will demonstrate the ability intelligently evaluate individual and ensemble
instrumental performances. (Standards 1.1/ 1.4)
7. The student will demonstrate knowledge of the proper care and maintenance of his/her
instrument. (Standard 1.2)
8. The student will demonstrate his/her ability to prepare and perform his/her specific part for
symphonic band and chamber performances. (Standards 1.2/ 1.3/ 1.4)
9. The student will demonstrate his/her ability to contribute positively toward the ensemble’s goals.
(Standard 1.2)
10. The student will demonstrate an awareness of the instrumental music of other cultures. (Standards
1.1)
11. Long-range goal; the student will become involved in college and/or community instrumental
ensembles and support the arts in general. (Standards 1.1/ 1.2)
III. ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS
Unit 1: Essential Band Literature
Objective: Expose students to band literature considered to be both standard repertoire and contemporary
band works of significance representing a variety of styles and genres.
Suggested Activities:
1. Listen to essential band literature critically.
2. Rehearse level appropriate band music as an ensemble.
3. Practice individually and in group lessons to prepare music being rehearsed in class.
4. Gradually increase the difficulty of the music
Unit 2: Technical Development
Objectives:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Students will develop the musical, technical, and theoretical skills necessary to perform their parts
in the band literature being rehearsed and sight-read in class.
Students will begin to develop the skills necessary to perform chamber music in group lessons.
Wind players will be able to play one octave major & minor scales in the concert keys of C, F, Bb,
Eb, Ab, G, and a Bb chromatic scale.
Percussionists will be able to exhibit ability to play basic rudiments and read level appropriate
snare parts.
Wind players will be able to play one octave major & minor scales in the concert keys of D, Db, A
and a two octave F chromatic scale.
Wind players will be able to play the major & minor arpeggios of concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and G.
Suggested Activities:
1. Portion of each rehearsal to focus on improving ensemble technique and sight-reading.
2. Use of rhythm sheets, short melodic sight-reading handouts, and chorales.
3. Scale sheets, etudes, and technical exercises presented in weekly small group lessons.
4. Chamber literature preparation in weekly small group lessons.
5. Weekly ensemble lessons.
6. Portion of each rehearsal and lesson used for mastery of scales.
7. Learn and develop skills with arpeggios as ensemble and in group lessons.
8. In rehearsal learn new major/minor scales D, Db, A, and two octave F chromatic.
Unit 3: Listening Skills and Ear Training
Objectives:
•
•
Students will develop the skills necessary to improve their critical and analytical listening abilities.
Students will demonstrate the ability to imitate simple step-wise melodies correctly.
Suggested Activities:
1. Exposure, on a regular basis, to quality recordings of all kinds of music, including the music of
other cultures.
2. Portion of each rehearsal to focus on ear-training including interval naming, scale & chord
identification, scale degree patterns, and learning melodies without printed music.
3. Weekly group lessons.
4. Introduce ‘call & response’ and imitative playing in rehearsals.
Unit 4: Theory, History and Terminology
Objectives:
•
•
•
•
Students will demonstrate the knowledge of musical terms necessary to perform effectively.
Students will demonstrate the knowledge of the musical theory necessary to perform effectively.
Students will begin to develop an awareness of music from an historical perspective.
Students will demonstrate more extensive knowledge of dynamic markings, tempo markings, and
interpretive markings.
Suggested Activities:
1. Rehearsal and lesson time given to the presentation and review of essential musical terms.
2. Rehearsal and lesson time given to the presentation and review of essential music theory.
3. Portion of some rehearsals and lessons given to putting the music being prepared into a relevant
historical framework.
Unit 5: Musicianship and Performance
Objectives:
• Students will demonstrate the ability to use effective practice techniques.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to care for and maintain their instruments, equipment, and
the facility.
• Students will demonstrate the ability to strive toward excellence by working together with respect
and cooperation.
• Students will exhibit the knowledge of, the ability to, and an awareness of the techniques,
concepts, and skills necessary to perform musically, listen critically, and to evaluate ensemble and
individual performances constructively.
Suggested Activities:
1. Lesson and rehearsal time given to modeling and teaching effective practice techniques.
2. Lesson and rehearsal time given to modeling and teaching proper care of instruments,
equipment, and facility.
3. Discussions in class and lessons about teamwork, pursuit of excellence, and respect.
4. Public performances: Winter and Spring concerts, Dessert and Jazz, Memorial Day Parade, etc.
IV. EVALUATION
Activities in Band will be carried out by the entire group, small groups, or on an individual basis in order
to vary the interaction level for the student, to the student’s individual needs, and to best utilize materials,
time, and facilities. Specific activities will include performances at school events, festivals, and scheduled
evening concerts.
Rehearsing and performing band music of a wide variety of styles will be ongoing throughout the course.
All students will be required to attend weekly small group lessons, scheduled rehearsals, school
performances, scheduled concerts, and any other scheduled band activity.
The following criteria contribute toward the Band student’s grade:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Attendance at scheduled rehearsals.
Effective and productive use of rehearsal time.
Attendance at weekly lessons.
Attendance at scheduled band events.
Progress of the individual’s technique and reading ability.
Homework and assignments.
Preparedness at all scheduled events.
20%
20%
10%
10%
20%
10%
10%
The percentage from the above will be converted into a letter grade. Students have the option to enroll in
Band on a pass/fail basis.
V. RESOURCES
Student texts:
Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Books for each band instrument. Published by RUBANK.
Intermediate and Advanced Studies and Etudes various publishers.
Scale and Arpeggio sheets for each instrument.
Chamber ensemble music (duets, trios, quartets, quintets) various publishers.
Band Literature
Music of various publishers for specific activities: scheduled concerts and events.
Music of various publishers for sight-reading: at level-appropriate progression.
Recordings
CDs of works being rehearsed, studied, and performed.
CDs representing a wide range of high-quality music performance, including the music of other cultures.
Software
Band-in-a-Box by PG Music.
Finale music writing software.
Internet
Variety of highly educational websites for ensemble, individual practice skills, and research for
assignments.
VI. SCOPE AND SEQUENCE
Band: September-December
Review fundamentals of music: band nomenclature & interpretive musical terminology.
Review proper care and maintenance of instruments, equipment, and facility.
Understand rehearsal procedures and expectations.
Begin developing aural analysis skills of individual and ensemble performance.
Begin chamber performance skill development.
Develop individual and ensemble technique.
Exposure to level appropriate band music in a variety of styles through performance and listening.
Exposure to World Music ; exploring the music of other cultures through listening.
Review basic sight-reading skills.
Prepare music in rehearsal and individual practice for December concert.
Begin ear-training development.
Provide instruction to prepare qualified students for Region/ All-State Band auditions.
Band: January-March
Continue development of musical vocabulary and terminology.
Continue development of aural analysis skills.
Further develop chamber music skills.
Introduction of band music with increased technical and musical demands.
Continued exposure to appropriate band music in a variety of styles through performance and
listening.
Develop more advanced sight-reading skills.
Begin rehearsing music in ensemble and individual practice for May concerts and/or festival.
Continue development of ear-training skills.
Continue exposure to the music of other cultures.
Band: April-June
Complete review of musical vocabulary and terminology previously learned.
Continue development of more advanced aural analysis skills.
Further development of chamber music skills.
Continued exposure to appropriate band music in a variety of styles through performance and
listening.
Continue developing sight-reading skills.
Rehearse music for May concerts and/or festival.
Increase complexity of ear-training skills.
Continued exposure to the music of other cultures.