Hillgrove Band Program Syllabus

2011-2012 School Year

Mission:

It is the mission of the Hillgrove High School Band Program to create functionally literate, independent musicians, who continually exhibit the highest level of character as school citizens.  This education shall take place through traditional concert band classes, as well as through extra-curricular activities, i.e. marching band, jazz band, small ensembles, solos, auditions, etc.

 

Class Offerings:

The Hillgrove Band program is a tiered program, meaning that students are grouped by skill level rather than age.  It is through this structure that students are best served and are able to see steady improvement for their four-year involvement in the Band.  The classes are structure as follows:

 

Wind Symphony (Mastery Band): The Hillgrove Wind Symphony is made up of those students who display a level of musicianship appropriate for GMEA Grade 6 music.  Admission is by audition only and may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the directors.  It is in this ensemble that students will experience the preparation of music of the highest level of difficulty.  Students will be required to participate in Concert Band Camp in February and GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation in March.  The students in Wind Ensemble will also be required to prepare an audition for GMEA District and All-State (with attendance at said audition being at the discretion of the directors).

 

Symphonic Band (Advanced Band): The Hillgrove Symphonic Band is made up of those students who display a level of musicianship appropriate for GMEA Grade 4, 5, and some Grade 6 music.  Admission is by audition only and may be revoked at any time at the discretion of the directors.  It is in this ensemble that students will experience the preparation of music of an intermediate level of difficulty.  Students in Symphonic Band will be required to participate in Concert Band Camp in February and GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation in March.  It is highly recommended that students in Symphonic also prepare an audition for GMEA District and All-State (with attendance at said audition being at the discretion of the directors).

 

Concert Band (Intermediate Band): The Hillgrove Concert Band is made up of those students who display a level of musicianship appropriate for GMEA Grade 3 or 4 music.. Admission into the Concert Band(s) is by audition only.  Students in Concert Band(s) will be required to participate in Concert Band Camp in February and GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation.

 

Concerts:

 

Members of the Concert Bands will present between 1 and 4 concerts a semester.  Concerts are required, formal events for all band students, and are free, open events to the public.  It is the nature of this subject that materials are presented in a professional, public format, which is unique to the arts classes.  Students may not be excused from concerts for any reasons not predetermined by the Band Directors.  Concerts are generally held on Tuesdays at 7pm in the Joseph B Boland Theater at Hillgrove High School, with one notable exception being GMEA Large Group Performance Evaluation at McEachern HS in March.  Students will be required to dress appropriately for their concerts (as outlined in the parent handbook) and must stay for the duration of the entire concert.  Being an educated concert go-er is a part of the curriculum at Hillgrove High School.

 

 

Character:

 

It is required of all Hillgrove Band Members to present themselves as students of the highest character.  Students will be continually educated on what it means to be good school citizens and band members.  Students who continually display a lack of necessary character may be removed from the band program at the discretion of the Directors.

 

Standard-Based Grading

Click Here to View the Georgia Performance Standards for Music

 

In an effort to provide a more comprehensive approach to our students’ music education, the Band Program has adopted the Standard Based Grading system.  This method will make more of an effort to tie our grading procedures into the State Mandated Standards for Instrumental Music.  The categories listed below reflect the content and weight necessary to meet the state mandated standards:

 

Grading Categories:

 

Performance Practices

50%

Vocabulary and Theory

15%

Aesthetic and Critical Analysis

15%

Historical and Cultural Context

15%

Creation and Communication

5%

 

Final Exam

 

The final exam will be reported and graded in each category, rather than having it as a category to itself.  Each section of the exam will be placed within its appropriate category.

 

Assessments

 

Each assessment will appear in Pinnacle, as well as the standard to which each assessment is related.  For Example, a Bb Scale Test will appear as follows:

              

MHSAB.2: Summative Assessment – Bb Scale

 

It will also have the standard attached in Pinnacle (note – these are minimum standards, we may elevate difficulty as we see fit):

 

b. Formulate proper warm-up techniques through the use of long-tone, lip slurs, chorales, and technical exercises within two octave ranges.

 

 

Rehearsal Preparation Guidelines

 

Purpose:

 

Part of the musical education each student receives as a member of the Hillgrove Bands is how to be properly prepared for rehearsal and how to properly rehearse.  It is our mission to give each student a comprehensive musical education of the highest quality.  In order to do so, each student must follow one simple rule:

 

Be Prepared, In Place, On Time.

 

Expectations:

 

It is our expectation that all Hillgrove Band students attend all rehearsals and bring all materials to each rehearsal.  Of course, we recognize that conflicts arise, and, given the proper notification and documentation, excused absences will never count against a student.  The following is a list of what each student needs to bring to any and all rehearsals:

 

·        Specific to each instrument (valve oil, key oil, slide grease, etc…)

 

To be on time:

Being on time is paramount for our bands to run efficiently and to maximize the time we’re given to rehearse.  During class, students are given until 4 minutes after the final bell rings to be in place, warming up, getting “ready to play”.  For all other rehearsals, it is expected that the students will be in place and warming up at the time the rehearsal begins.  This, of course, means they will need to arrive prior to the rehearsal beginning.

 

Remember: Everyday is an Audition

 

Rehearsal Etiquette

 

Students are continually educated on the proper way to rehearse.  In order for the Hillgrove Bands to flourish, we must understand that each minute of each rehearsal is of the utmost importance.  Students are expected to be respectful of one another and the directors.  We do not speak unless spoken to during rehearsal.  Any reasonable instruction given by the directors must be followed to insure success.  This includes writing instructions into the music as directed, numbering of measures, sitting properly, holding the instrument properly, and any other non-musical aspect of being in the Hillgrove Bands that we feel is pertinent to our success.  

 

“Excellence in music is one of the most enjoyable experiences you’ll ever have. Becoming an excellent musician can be one of the least enjoyable experiences you’ll ever have.”

 

By this we mean that some of the things we ask of the students can be perceived as ‘no fun’ or boring, however, we would never require ANYTHING of a Hillgrove Band Student that we did not feel was absolutely essential to their musical and overall success.

 

 

Musically,

 

Christopher M Ferrell                                                                                             Patrick M Erwin

Director of Bands                                                                                                    Assistant Director of Bands

Christopher.ferrell@cobbk12.org                                                                       patrick.erwin@cobbk12.org

 

Please detach, sign, and return the following page:

 

 

By signing below, I attest that I have read and understand the Hillgrove Bands’ Program Syllabus.  By applying my signature below, I am agreeing that I will do my part to insure the continuing success of the Hillgrove Bands.  I also understand that failure to return this form, signed, in a timely manner may result in band class being removed from my schedule.

 

Student Name:_________________________

 

 

Student Signature:______________________                          Date:_________________

 

 

Parent/Guardian Name:__________________________

 

 

Parent/Guardian Signature:_______________________      Date:_________________