6th Grade Concert Band Curriculum

Course Description
The Concert Band is designed to provide students with an advancing experience on band instruments. Curriculum for this course is an extension of the skills and concepts studied during the Cadet Band experience. Concert Band is comprised of all sixth grade students. Prior instrumental music experience is not required.  Although students entering 6th grade have at least one year of experience, students who would like to start a band instrument may do so at this time.  Please contact Mr. Tedeschi (630.783.5124) at your convenience to discuss the possibility of starting band.

Course Goals - The course goals of Concert Band are:

• To heighten each student's aesthetic awareness through the musical arts;
  
• To further develop the fundamental musical and technical skills involved in playing a musical instrument;
  
• To reinforce and develop the fundamentals of music theory and listening skills; 
  
• To provide students with an ensemble performance experience.
  

Course Objectives

• To produce a characteristic tone on individual instruments;
  
• To identify and demonstrate a knowledge of musical notation;
  
• To demonstrate fingerings, posture, and positions for the practical range of individual instruments;
  
• To develop good individual practice habits;
  
• To demonstrate a basic understanding of the elements of music. These include:timbre, dynamics, articulation, rhythm, melody / pitch, harmony, texture, form, expression and style;
  
• To demonstrate a basic understanding of and ability to perform ensemble playing skills and techniques;
  
• To develop problem-solving and evaluation skills applicable to music;
  
• To develop an aesthetic sensitivity to music;
  
• To demonstrate knowledge of music as a creative art form of man in an historical context.
  

Learner Outcomes
Tone Production - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Model specialist demonstration of posture, hand position, breath support and embouchure control
  
  

Musical Notation - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Speak note names aloud while reading music;
  
• Speak note names aloud and finger along; 
  
• Know and demonstrate how to write counting for melodic and rhythm patterns appropriate for this level;
  
• Demonstrate the ability to perform simple and complex rhythm patterns;
  
• Identify and perform rhythm/melodic patterns in the time signatures of 4/4, 3/4, 2/4, Cut Time;
  
• Know and perform a chromatic scale in an appropriate range for their instrument at the tempo set by the director;
  
• Identify key signatures and the sharps and flats contained within their own instrument keys of C, F, G, B-flat, D, and E-flat;
  
• Know and perform 6 major scales in quarter notes at the tempo set by the director.
  

Practice Habits - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Develop and document an organized, weekly practice routine;
  
• Discuss appropriate practice methods / techniques.
  
• Demonstrate progress from week to week.
  

Elements of Music - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Recognize the difference in timbre of all band instruments.
  
• Identify the dynamic marking of pp, p, mp, mf, f, and ff;
  
• Demonstrate loud and soft dynamics;
  
• Demonstrate gradual increase and decrease in volume (Crescendo and Decrescendo);
  
• Demonstrate legato, staccato, marcato, accented, and slurred articulations;
• Demonstrate an understanding of pulse and beat division;
• Demonstrate the ability to perform with a metronome, and/or a music track;
  
• Counting and playing whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth note patterns and rests, dotted quarter notes, dotted half notes and dotted eighth notes;
  
• Recognize syncopation and be able to demonstrate syncopated rhythms using quarter notes and eighth-notes;
  
• Recognize and play downbeats and upbeats;
  
• Recognize and play songs in cut time.
  

Melody, Pitch, Harmony - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Identify melody, counter melody, and harmony in the music they perform;
  
• Compare pitches and identify pitch inconsistencies.
  

Texture - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Perform music in monophonic, homophonic and polyphonic textures;
  
• Identify the difference between melody and accompaniment;
  
• Identify, describe and evaluate the “pyramid of sound” (Balance).
  

Form - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Perform and recognize the forms of March, Binary and Ternary form, and Theme and Variation;
  
• Perform music that modulates key signatures and uses rhythmic transformation.
  

Expressive Elements - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Discuss the musical affect of the combined musical elements.
  

Style - Upon completion of Concert Band, students will be able to:

• Explore tempo, interpretive, and articulation styles standard to specific genres;
  
• Describe the historical background of a composition and biographical information of selected composers.
  

Units of Instruction
The band program is set up in a series of three concert cycles that meet the developmental needs of the student band population.

Instructional Materials
Tradition of Excellence, Bruce Pearson and Ryan Nowlin,Vol. 1, Kjos Music Co.
Sound Innovations, Sheldon, Boonshaft, Black, and Phillips, Book 2

Programs are customized to the specific needs of each ensemble.  Each student will have performed at least one piece from each of the following genres by the completion of Concert Band:
March
Overture
Ballad
Folk Medley
Popular

Evaluation Methods and Assessments
Evaluation methods and assessments for Concert Band are:

• Objective performance tests
  
• Subjective performance tests
  
• Objective written worksheets and tests
  
• Subjective written responses
  
• Oral responses
  
• Portfolio assessment (written and taped work)

Grading Standard
The grading standard for the Sixth Grade Concert Band on objective material is the scale adopted by District 66.
A  90-100
B  80-89
C  70-79
D  60-69
F  59 and below

The grading standard for the Sixth Grade Concert Band on subjective material will be based on a set of rubrics developed by the band staff.

Extension of Enrichment activities for special populations of students
Because all students learn in a variety of ways, student ability is very diverse. Activities are geared for auditory, visual, and kinesthetic-tactile learners.  All students participate in the District 66 Solo and Festival as well as all scheduled public performances.  The Band Directors are available for individual help of students who need extra attention. 

All students are encouraged to study with a specialist on the student’s particular instrument.  Information can be found on the band website.

Method of Instruction               
A variety of instructional methods are used in Concert Band.  Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic-tactile experiences are found through:

• Cooperative learning in large groups;
  
• Cooperative learning in small groups;
  
• Individual work.
  

Student Materials and Handouts
Hand outs and student materials that are used in Concert Band include the following: 

• Band Individual and Ensemble Method Books;
  
• Rhythm, Scale, and Fingering/Position Sheets;
  
• Rhythmic and Melodic supplemental materials;
• Chorales;
• Music Theory Worksheets;
  
• Study, listening, and practice guides for individual pieces of music.

References/Bibliography
Teaching Music in the 21st Century
The Creative Director; Alternative Rehearsal Techniques, E. Lisk, Meredith Music Publications, 1991
Blueprint For Band, R. Garofalo, Meredith Music Publications, 1983
Intangibles of Musical Performance, E. Lisk, Merideth Music Publications, 1997
Teaching Music Through Band Performance, Ed. R. Miles, GIA Publications, 1996
Teaching Wind and Percussion Instruments, D. Corbett, Music Educators National Conference, 1991
The Instrumentalist, J.T. Rohner,Publisher, The Instrumentalist Co.  A monthly publication for band and 
orchestra directors that presents articles, interviews, and  research on the current trends in instrumental music education.
Band Director’s Guide, T. Ryon, Publisher, BDGuide.  A bimonthly publication for band directors that presents article, interviews and research on the current trends in instrumental music education.
Teaching Music, Music Educators National Conference.  A monthly publication for music educators that presents classroom ideas and research in the field  of music education.
Getting Started with Middle Level Band, D. Reul, Music Educators National Conference, 1994