CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS

revised 11/14/06

Included on this page are:


Term 2 Requirments

  • all winds - 1 skill lick and 2 scales. One of the scales should be the chromatic scale. Both should be memorized, know the key signature of the major or minor. (Students who did the chromatic scale as one of their scales last term should do two major or minor scales.)
  • percussion - 1 rudiment, chromatic scale & 2 skill licks -- one on mallet percussion and one on drums.
  • 2 workshops and 3 sectionals
  • exam
  • winter concert
  • After-Thoughts Paper for winter concert and Beginning-Thoughts for new music
  • of course, practice & come to rehearsals
  • Keep the chromatic scale under your fingers! Play it every day so you don't have to relearn it at the end of the year.

Everyone should be practicing at least 20 minutes, 5 days a week
30 minutes, 5 days a week is necessary to improve --
NOT including rehearsals & lessons.

Enrichment is encouraged & counts for 10 points. It is difficult to get an A without enrichment points.

(no one can get an A or A- without completing the term requirements
see Grading Triangle for more info on grades)

 


Every term, each band student must complete the following requirements:
 
  • Two new scales (or 1 rudiment & 1 scale for the drummers), any style or type (major, minor, dorian...). You may repeat scales that you did last year. Percussionists need to do one rudiment & one scale (on mallet percussion).
  • One (2 for percussion) skill lick. A skill lick is simply one exercise from a method book that will increase your skills on your instrument. (A "lick" in music is a short section of music.) When you were in elementary school, you prepared a whole page of these exercises every week; this is one exercise per term!! No big deal -- unless you wait until the last minute!! Don't put it off; grade out early. Must be completed by two weeks before the end of the term to count for full credit. Finish all skill licks on one page before going on and you may not repeat pages that you did last year. Perucssionists must do two skill licks per term, one of which is done on mallet percussion.
  • Occasional other written work. Occasionally you will have "Thoughts Sheets" to do; these are to get you thinking intellectually about the music. Mostly these are done in rehearsals (some Beginning Thoughts do need to be done at home as part of your practice time -- they count as part of the 20-30 minutes you do at home!). If you miss a rehearsal where we are doing a Thoughts Paper, you will have to make it up some time.
  • Mini-projects -- are optional this year -- they make good enrichment, though!

(no one can get an A or A- without completing the term requirements
see Grading Triangle for more info on grades)

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Enrichment reminder...

Enrichment is needed in order to get an A. You may receive up to 10 enrichment points per term. Get enrichment done early, too; then you don't have to think about it. Need ideas? You can always do extra scales (worth 2 points) or skill licks (worth 4 points) or bio sheets (worth 3 points). Or see the enrichment page for more ideas about article reviews, going to concerts, performances, church choir, piano lessons, lessons on your band instrument, Jazz Band, Stage Band or Wind Ensemble.

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Concert make-ups:

Ideally the student attends all concerts, but there are occasions where the musician must miss the concert (sickness, a death in the family or other unavoidable circumstances). If the absence is an excused absence, the student may do the concert make-up assignment and receive full credit for the concert and be eligible for the year end awards. (If it is an unexcused absence -- he had to go shopping or she forgot -- the student may do the make up and earn the points toward the grade, but will not be eligible for a year end responsibility award.)

For most concerts, the make-up assignment is twofold:

  • First, make a recording of yourself playing the pieces that we played on the concert.
  • Second, interview three other people & write a review of the concert. (Don't just turn in the interview notes, write a review!)

Before you start the interview, be sure to pick up the instructions because there are some specific requirements. See MsM.

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MARCHING BAND REQUIREMENTS

There will be a full rehearsal of the entire band at some point -- I am not yet sure if it will be after school, or if there will be a way to do it during school.

Marching band requirments and schedules are now posted. (2005-06)

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Memorial Day parade make-ups 

The make-up for the parade is a little different. Our participation in the Memorial Day parade is a community service, so your make up for the parade is:

  • First, make a recording of yourself playing the pieces that we played on the concert.
    • Record it once while standing or sitting still and try to get the best possible sound and performance
    • Record it again while marking time
  • Second, do an hour of community service. Pick up a make-up assignment sheet for ideas.

Be sure to pick up an assignment sheet to get the full information.

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EXAMS

Mid-year exams begin in January and include scales, a prepared selection of music assigned from our concert music that we are preparing for the band fest, and a sight-reading based on rhythms that we have been working on in workshops.

Year end exams will begin in May. Requirements are a bit different than the midyear and eighth graders will be doing their final sight-reading / rhythm reading assessment. The results of this assessment will be sent to Mr. O so he has some idea of your reading skills.

For all exams:

  • Chromatic scale (memorized) is a definite part of the exam; keep it under your fingers!
  • All assessment forms & requirement sheets are available on the stage.
  • Included on the exam pages are copies of the assessment forms - students should look them over to better know how to prepare for the performance. Mid-term exam sheets are different than final sheets.
  • And then there is the question, "Why Band Exams??"

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Visit the Wayland Public Schools site http://www.wayland.k12.ma.us

Go to WMS Band introduction page

MS Band Workshop schedule Concert Dates Tidbits Current assignments
Enrichment ideas WMS bands intro A suggested recording list Awards Camps
Announcements Ensemble Information Music Links Forms Jr. District
High School pages Local Concerts Grading Policies Private teachers Jazz Grps
Wayland Middle School Bands, Wayland, MA muffitt@bandnotes.info