SHS Staff Pages: Gerdes, Shelly

Stage Band Syllabus

Course Syllabus

By Ms.Gerdes

August 20, 2004

Stage Band Syllabus

Class Description

Styles of music studied in stage band are: traditional and contemporary jazz including swing, blues and various kinds of jazz, as well as rock-n-roll from its origins to popular artists, and also latin styles. Students will learn improvisational skills associated in the various styles. A main goal of this class is to expose students to many styles and the composers and arrangers who provide the music. A historical perspective will be given on the styles the students are playing. Musical styles require various instrumental techniques and this information will be taught in this class.

Class Attendance & Membership

Stage band meets twice a week in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters. It is a class offered to students in grades 9-12. If positions in the band are vacant then junior high students will be offered the opportunity to be in stage band. Stage band music requires individual part reading which means each student has their own part. Band parts are: 1st and 2nd alto sax, 1st and 2nd tenor sax, bari sax, trumpet and trombone parts divided into 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th parts; and a rhythm section consisting of electric bass, piano, trap set and percussion accessories.

Veteran students of stage band are welcome to join the band each year unless they received a grade lower than a �C.� When positions come available students will be informed before 2nd quarter so that the band membership can be filled. If more than one student wants a particular position, a try-out audition will be conducted.

Participation & Performance Requirements

Students will perform on three concerts at the high school in December, March and May. Each concert will show the growth of the band from easy to moderate graded music and in some years, moderately hard music. The difficulty of the music is determined by the membership abilities as well as the instructors perceptions of their playing ability. Students will earn their grade through the rehearsals, performances, and attendance. Approximately 12-16 songs will be studied. More performances may come available through community requests. The band will also perform and be graded on their performance at music districts if the director chooses to enter the band in the contest. This decision will occur at the beginning of 3rd quarter. District music contest occurs in the last half of April. Presume the band is going to districts with a formal announcement in 3rd quarter.

Students can also earn part of their participation grade through individual lessons and sectionals. At times sectionals and lessons will be mandatory in order to improve the musical quality of the group, Students can voluntarily take lessons which can enhance their grade.

Personal Practice & Class Preparation

Students will rehearse as a group approximately 1 hour and 35 minutes. Students will need to practice their individual parts on their own time. The instructor will announce expectations at each rehearsal. The goal is to show steady improvement at each rehearsal through the mastery of technique, style, rhythm, and solo preparation.

Uniform

Stage band members will need be picking a new uniform at their first few practices. Ms. Gerdes has contacted the Dawgs Hut in Beatrice to get a polo designed for the stage band and will present it to the group at the first meeting. We are looking at a red polo shirt with school or music symbols for a screen, and wearing kaki pants and shoes still need to be decided. Students will need to purchase the polo.

Stage Band Grade Requirements

(revised 10/05)

50% Class Participation and Preparation

Learn and Perfect The Music

Music must show continual improvement at each rehearsal, which means your practice outside of class is extremely important for your grade as well as the band�s musical excellence. After an initial site reading of a selection, you should then practice it between rehearsals. The 2 rehearsals a week will not be a practice session, but a rehearsal. Bring back a better musical product so our rehearsals are productive. Every week a stage band member should increase their ability to follow key signs, accidentals, rhythms, articulations, style, and dynamics. Soloists should continually improve on written and improvisational solos. Stage band music is assigned in individual parts, and there are no extra parts. You are responsible for remembering your music for rehearsals as well as any equipment you may need. Each lesson or rehearsal is worth 100 points.

Lessons/Sectional Rehearsals

Lessons and sectionals outside of class may become necessary depending on the student�s ability, level of music difficulty, and needs of the student as well as the band. Lessons and sectionals will be a part of your participation and preparation grade. Lessons and sectionals are not mandatory unless the teacher informs you that you need to have a one. If you volunteer to have a lesson or sectional, they are also graded. Your volunteerism will certainly boost your grade! Lessons and sectionals will not count more than 20% of your participation grade. Our goal is to learn the music. As long as you are trying, and you are practicing, then you should have a good lesson or sectional grade.

Responsibility/Behavior/Cooperation

You should be cooperative, professional and prepared to rehearse. This is an optional class outside of the normal school day, so it is assumed you want to be in this class. Treat band equipment and instruments with care and respect and do the same with your instructor and classmates. Being negative, irresponsible, and uncooperative can cause you to lose participation points. One verbal warning will be given to the student(s) causing the problems and if the irresponsibility, wrong behavior, or lack of cooperation continues, the instructor will lower the grade for that rehearsal. It is hoped the students avoid this. We want to have a great stage band and enjoy the effort of working together.

30% Attendance

Class meets twice a week. One hour rehearsals are on Mondays nights usually around 7:30 pm. We do adjust the rehearsal schedule when needed depending on days off, student�s schedules (especially Monday night events), and holidays. Depending on our band�s progress, we will have sectionals on Monday nights starting before or after the full band rehearsal. If the instructor schedules a sectional, it is mandatory.

If you miss more than two excused rehearsals in a quarter, you must take a lesson for each additional absence or forfeit the attendance points and participation points. Make up lessons must happen within 2 weeks of an absence. Inform the instructor if f you are going to be absent for any school event. Work is not an excuse. If you are ill the day of a rehearsal we will see that in the student announcements daily attendance. You will not have to inform the instructor. If you are ill later in the day and will be missing a rehearsal, please inform the instructor.

Each attendance is worth 100 points. If you are tardy, 20 points are deducted. Unexcused absences are a zero. If you miss 30 minutes or more on an hour long rehearsal or 20 minutes or more on a 40 minute rehearsal, it will be counted as an absence. Remember there is a big difference in grading an excused absence or tardy compared to an unexcused one.

20% Concerts/Performances

Our class goal is to perform. You need to be at the performances. We perform at least once a quarter, and possibly up to 4 times a quarter. We have concerts in December, March and May. We usually perform at the District Music Contest in April. We also try to perform for social functions.

Performances are graded on musicality, stage presence, appearance of uniform, being on time for warm up and performance, and having the music and instrument for the performance.

Performances are worth 100 points.

Uniform Requirement

You need the stage band polo shirt which is to be selected in the next couple weeks from the Dawg�s Hut. We are also deciding pant, shoe, and sock colors. Be sure your clothes are ironed for the concert !!!! Look stylish and neat

You can have a great grade in stage band

and a really great sounding stage band if:

1. You come to rehearsal knowing your music better than the last rehearsal.

You practice your part!!

2. You work with a positive attitude and a desire to play well.

You can take suggestion, and have a willingness to learn and improve the music.

You motivate yourself, and you motivate your classmates to do well on the music

3. You attend most rehearsals and are prompt to class. You make up the absences in lessons within 2 weeks of the absence.

4. You have your horn, music, and a pencil!