BEGINNING BAND – Ninth Grade
Units of Credit:
.50 per semester – Full year course
Prerequisites:
Skill-Appropriate instrumental proficiency
Course Overview:
Students will review the basics of music theory, tone production, rhythmic skills, and rehearsal skills. Appropriate band literature will
be presented with consideration for performance. Pedagogical materials will be presented in order to improve music skills and
knowledge. Marching techniques may also be incorporated with regard to specific performance situations. Students will be assessed
through written work, individual playing tests, live performance, and post-performance evaluation.
Topics:
Instrumental pedagogy
Style periods
Presentation
Musical literacy
Cultural awareness
Aesthetic values
Standard #1: Students will sing alone and with others a varied repertoire of music.
Competency 1: Students will demonstrate ability to sing parts in a group situation to strengthen pitch awareness and
tonal concept.
Strategies
Resources
Assessment
a.
b.
c.
d.
vocal warm-ups
rehearsal of literature
vocal/tonal relationships
count singing
a. method books
b. instrumental literature
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
playing tests
written tests
daily rehearsal evaluations
performance participations
peer/self evaluations
Standard #2: Students will perform on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
Competency 1:
Competency 2:
Competency 3:
Competency 4:
Competency 5:
Students will demonstrate proper playing posture and playing position for their instrument.
Students will demonstrate correct assembly, care and maintenance of their instrument.
Students will demonstrate skill-appropriate technical proficiency on their chosen instrument .
Students will perform with skill level-appropriate artistic expression.
Students will demonstrate correct fingerings and alternate fingerings or stick/mallet techniques for
producing full range of notes on their instruments.
Strategies
Resources
Assessment
a. present advanced maintenance
techniques
b. teacher modeling and demonstration
c. student modeling and demonstration
d. buzzing techniques (brass)
e. focus on facial muscles continued
embouchure development
f. stick techniques presentations
g. recitation of note names while
fingering
h. teacher reintroduction of fingering
chart
i. teacher demonstration of alternate
fingerings and stickings
j. introduction of full chromatic scale
k. reiteration of practice techniques
l. time management, including
practice location
m. parent education
n. listening exercises
o. live performances/guest artists
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.
m.
n.
o.
p.
q.
r.
teacher
handouts
audio materials
recordings
video materials
visuals
visiting repair technician
flashcards
fingering charts
sticking charts
concert literature
method books
solo books
practice slips
breath control exercises
visiting artists
festivals
school instruments where appropriate
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
student demonstrations
playing tests
written assessments
peer assessments
performance critiques
adjudication at District Festival
video reviews
audio critiques
Standard #3: Students will improvise melodies, variations, and accompaniment.
Competency 1: Students will improvise style and skill-appropriate instrumental literature, including melodic and
harmonic structure and accompaniments.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Strategies
demonstration
experimentation
jazz band participation
call and response
a.
b.
c.
d.
Resources
audio/visual
guest artists
concert literature
computer technology
Assessment
a. rehearsal critiques
b. performances
c. adjudication critiques
Standard #4: Students will compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.
Competency 1: Students will be encouraged to compose and arrange music employing musical notation gained through
skills/theory program.
a.
b.
a.
b.
c.
Strategies
after-school assistance
computer-assisted instruction
transposition guides
tutorial programs
note writing
a.
b.
c.
d.
Resources
computer technology
video resources
manuscript paper
local composers
a.
b.
a.
b.
Assessment
completed composition/arrangement
critiques
written examples
performance critiques
rehearsal critiques
Standard #5: Students will read and notate music.
Competency 1: Students will be able to perform with a steady beat, employing simple, compound meter, and mixed
meter.
Competency 2: Students will identify and perform complex rhythmic figures, including notes and corresponding rests
from sixteenth through whole notes, the use of dotted figures and ties, and will apply the concepts of
duple and triple subdivision, augmentation, diminution and syncopation.
Competency 3: Students will identify and utilize the treble and bass clef, absolute pitch names of the grand staff,
enharmonics and the use of sharps, flats and naturals.
Competency 4: Students will also be able to recognize and perform chord sequences and arpeggios as well as perform
and identify chromatic passages and scales.
Competency 5: Students will identify and demonstrate use of musical terminology in the areas of tempo, articulation,
dynamics and style.
Competency 6: Students will be able to demonstrate the ability to sight read skill level-appropriate band literature.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Strategies
appropriate instrumental literature and
methods
written exercises, including dictation
and composition
rehearsal/performance
conducting
all major & minor scales
introduction to basic modes
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
a.
b.
c.
Resources
method books and skill sheets
computer technology
theory program
concert literature
handouts
worksheets
flashcards
guest artists
a.
b.
c.
d.
Assessment
rehearsals
performances
solo/ensemble adjudication
peer critiques
Standard #6: Students will listen to, analyze, and describe music.
Competency 1: Students will aurally identify and recognize stylistic characteristics, employing the elements of music.
Competency 2: Students will develop an appreciation of music through listening to a variety of recordings, live concerts,
and recitals and a variety of musical styles such as Classical, Baroque, Romantic, folk, jazz, rock and
contemporary.
Competency 3: Students will recognize form and musical repetition in music using sequence, repeating patterns, and 1 st
and 2nd endings, da capo and del segno markings, AB, ABA, rondo, theme and variations, and imitation
to improve their ability to understand musical form, learn their performance music, and better appreciate
the music to which they listen.
a.
b.
c.
d.
Strategies
rehearsal/performance
aural analysis
attendance at other performances
directed listening form
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Resources
performing groups
guest artists
recordings
computer software
skills/theory program
instrumental literature
a.
b.
c.
d.
Assessment
rehearsals
performances
peer critiques
written/oral exams
Standard #7: Students will evaluate music and music performances.
Competency 1: Students will demonstrate the ability to identify criteria that constitute a musical and stylistically
appropriate performance.
Competency 2: Through participation in instrumental performance and the evaluation thereof, students will develop selfdiscipline and demonstrate responsibility, respect, and empathy for others.
Strategies
Resources
Assessment
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
rehearsal
performance
directed aural analysis
rehearsal/performance etiquette
response to conductor
response to fellow performers
small ensemble playing
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
instrumental literature
audio/visual material
performance
rehearsal/performance guidelines
computer technology
a.
b.
a.
b.
rehearsals
performances
peer evaluations
written evaluations
Standard #8: Students will understand relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside
the arts.
Competency 1: Students will compare characteristics of two or more arts within a particular historical period or style.
Competency 2: Students will be exposed to and participate in projects outside the arts that identify and interrelate music
as a strand of the total concept of life, including career options in the arts.
Strategies
a. interdisciplinary units within the arts
b. career exploration
c. music as a life skill
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Resources
computer software
guest artist/lecturer
instrumental literature
audio/visual material
field trips
curricular documents
library
professional journals
presentations
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Assessment
rehearsals
performances
written assessments
discussions
peer evaluations
Standard #9: Students will understand music in relationship to history, culture, life and work.
Competency 1: Through instrumental literature and performance in a variety of styles, students will be able to
distinguish characteristics of representative music genres such as Native American, Latin American,
Asian, African, Jazz, European and other music of the world.
Competency 2: Students will compare functions that music serves, roles of musicians, and conditions under which music
is typically performed in a variety of world cultures.
Strategies
Resources
Assessment
a.
b.
c.
d.
interdisciplinary units within the arts
world music units
thematic concerts
concert literature
a.
b.
c.
d.
computer software
guest artist/lecturer
world instrumental literature
audio/visual material
a. rehearsals
b. performances
c. written assessment