BVMS 6th Grade Band

Class Guidelines

Ms. Kirby, Band Director

Welcome to 6th grade band at BuckeyeValleyMiddle School!! Most of you are now in your 2nd year of playing an instrument, and you are all getting ready to continue your education as a performer. This class will help prepare you for the next level of musicianship that you will be facing, and hopefully we will have a little fun along the way!

Course Description

In 6th grade band, students will be continuing their study of music performance. Some of the following topics will be included in daily instruction:

•The importance of good posture and breathing

•Reading notes on a music staff and playing those notes on their instrument

•Counting and performing various rhythms in different time signatures

•Learning to read different musical symbols (i.e. key signatures, dynamics, tempo markings, etc.)

•Understanding and responding to the cues of a conductor

•The importance of individuals working toward a group goal

There are two 6th grade band classes at BVMS, alternating on an A-day, B-day rotation. Brass and percussion students meet on A-days, and woodwind students meet on B-days. Band members also have the option of taking a band/choir combination class or a band-only class. Students who choose the band/choir option will go to choir when they are not scheduled to play, and band-only members will be either asked to rehearse as a group, practice their instrument in a practice room, or do silent work.

Daily Practice

Students who are participating in band at the middle school level are expected to practice as much as time allows. The recommended practice time for students at this age is a half-hour per day. Assignments are given daily throughout most of the year, and in order for our band to progress at an acceptable rate, students must complete these homework assignments.

Assessment

Preparation and Participation – 15 points each ~ Preparation means always coming to band with your instrument, music,and a pencil. Participation means that you are doing what the entire group is doing and not doing homework, listening to CDs, talking, etc.

Homework– 10 points ~ There will be homework assignments every day; however, some homework assignments will be graded and some will not. For graded homework, students will have some time to prepare the assignment, and then they will play it, either by themselves or in a small group, for a grade during class.

Playing quizzes – variable points~ We will have 4 playing quizzes this year – one at the end of each 9-week period. Students will prepare some music and perform it individually for a grade. These will range anywhere from 15-40 points. Occasionally, students will be asked to play some music that should have already been prepared for a pop quiz. Band members should practice as if there will be a pop quiz everyday.

Citizenship – 10 points ~ Good citizenship and mutual respect is essential for a band to function as a group and to perform well together. Students who frequently break the rules or are generally disrespectful will lose citizenship points.

Performances – 50 points ~ We have 2 required performances for6th grade band: the Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 18, 2013, and the Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. These will count as 50 points of each student’s grade. Students who miss a concert performance have very little chance of receiving a passing grade in band.

Extra Credit – variable points ~ Students can receive extra credit by attending live music performances, participating in a performance outside of school (i.e. Solo & Ensemble Festival), or completing music-related work (available upon request). Check with Ms. Kirby to see if a certain activity can be counted as extra credit.

Discipline

In order for band to be an educational and enjoyable experience for everyone, the students must adhere to certain rules. Here is a list of the band classroom rules and possible disciplinary actions:

Rules

Always come prepared to band with your instrument, music, and a pencil.

NO gum, food, candy, and drinks other than plain water (no added flavors) in the band room.

Please show respect to everyone in the room, including other students, your director, yourself, and anyone else who enters.

Please show respect to the BVMS band room and all of our equipment. None of it was cheap, and we want it to last a long, long time!!

Please do not talk while someone else is talking, whether it is your director, another student, or anyone else.

Please do not play your instrument while someone else is talking, whether it is your director, another student, or anyone else.

Throwing any object across the band room or in the practice rooms is prohibited.

Doing other homework, listening to CDs, or any other activity that is not band-related or approved by your director is prohibited during class.

Any behavior that disrupts the class will result in a violation mark.

Violations

Band works on a “Three strikes and you’re out” policy. Students will receive two verbal warnings, and after that, he/she will receive a lunch detention.

After three detentions, the student will have a conference with Ms. Kirby and his/her citizenship grade will be affected.

If the behaviors continue, the student will be referred to the office and parents will be notified.

Any behavior that is overly disruptive, vulgar, or threatening will result in the student being sent to the office immediately and the student will be written up.

Behavior that continues for too long or that is too disruptive may result in the student be removed from band permanently.

Ohio Academic Content Standards for Music

In 2005, the State Board of Education in OhioimplementedAcademic Content Standards for K-12 Fine Arts, similar to those followed in other subjects such as math, language arts, social studies, and science. These standards are based on the National Standards for Arts Education, which were introduced in 1994 and were sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the National Endowment for the Humanities:

  1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
  2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music.
  3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments.
  4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines.
  5. Reading and notating music.
  6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music.
  7. Evaluating music and music performances.
  8. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

In music, we focus on 5 benchmarks:

  1. Historical, Cultural, and Social Contexts
  2. Creative Expression and Communication
  3. Analyzing and Responding
  4. Valuing Music/Aesthetic Reflection
  5. Connections, Relationships, and Applications

We will be focusing on some specific areas related to these benchmarks. By the end of their time in band at BVMS, each student should be able to…

  1. Identify composers and classify them according to chronological historical periods.
  2. Identify and recognize in a piece of music the following: clef, key signature, time signature, tempo and dynamic markings, and note values (rhythm).
  3. Perform a piece of music, independently or in a group, with technical accuracy and expression.
  4. Improvise or compose a short melody that includes key signature and time signature with proper notation in treble clef or bass clef.
  5. Describe and evaluate a piece of music using developed criteria based on elements of music and music vocabulary.
  6. Apply appropriate criteria to support personal preferences for music choice and evaluate the quality and effectiveness of a music performance.
  7. Reflect on why others may have different music preferences, and justify one’s personal music choice using music vocabulary.
  8. Demonstrate ways that subject matter of other disciplines is interrelated with that of music.

To further explore the Ohio Academic Content Standards for Music, visit the Ohio Dept. of Education’s website at click on the tab titled “Teaching,” and then choose “Instruction.” They have provided links to the standards for all subjects. Music is included in “Fine Arts.”
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About Miss Kirby

Jennifer Kirby is a native of Morgantown, WV, and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and a Master’s Degree in Music Performance from West VirginiaUniversity. She has lived in Ohio since August 1999 and worked at BuckeyeValley since 2000. At BV, she formerly taught general music and 5th grade band at BV North and currently teaches 5th, 6th & 8th grade band and 7th grade general music at BVMS. She is also the Assistant Director of the BVHS Marching Band and the Pit Orchestra Director for the spring musical. Outside of Buckeye Valley, Ms. Kirby is a freelance horn player and has performed with the Disneyland Collegiate All-Star Band, Central Ohio Brass Band, Dublin Silver Band, Heisey Wind Ensemble, Columbus Horn Group, Central Ohio Symphony, Southeastern Ohio Symphony, Capital City Chamber Players,and the newly formed McConnell Arts Center Chamber Orchestra.

This year could be a great one for the BVMS 6th grade band. With a lot of cooperation and hard work, we can have a lot of fun together. I am looking forward to working with you all!!

FYI – We are rebuilding our MS band website, and we’ll let you know when it is up and running!

Please sign and have your parents sign below and return ONLY THE BOTTOM PORTION OF THIS PAGE to me by Friday, August 23, 2013, so that I know that both students and parents have read and understand the rules and expectations for this year.

Thanks!

Jennifer Kirby

BVMS 6th Grade Band Director

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