Although band and orchestra are pull-out classes in 5th grade, they are still important and graded parts of your child's education. The following is a comprehensive explanation of what is expected of each student who is involved in band and orchestra with me, and how they will be graded.
Students will get a grade at each lesson for attendance and each of the four standards on the report card. Those standards are:
Students are expected to attend all of their lessons, which are twice a week for a half hour each. Students need to bring their instrument (including supplies such as reeds, valve oil, rosin, etc.), their book/music, and a pencil (not a pen) to each lesson. I grade attendance out of four points: one point for each material brought to a lesson, and one point for attending. This is important, because even if a student has forgotten his/her instrument, he/she should still attend the lesson.
To get a 3 in the first standard, students should sit up tall with their feet on the floor, fingers/hands should be in the correct position, and students should breathe through their mouths, not noses. A couple reminders for these are acceptable. To get a 4, students should be able to successfully perform with these expectations with no reminders. A grade of a 2 means a student is struggling with one or more of these expectations.
To get a 3 in the second standard, students should be able to read and play notes that we have learned in class and understand and apply the concepts we have learned in class. To get a 4, students should be able to read and/or play notes we have not yet learned in class and/or understand/apply concepts that we haven't gone over in class. A grade of a 2 means a student has difficulty reading notes and applying concepts we have learned.
To get a 3 in the third standard, students should be able to describe the concepts we have worked on in class. A 4 means a student can apply those concepts to things beyond classwork or understand additional ideas/concepts. A 2 means a student has difficulty understanding concepts we have worked on.
To get a 3 in the fourth standard, a student should be able to successfully play the songs we are working on in class with good tone quality. A 4 means a student can play songs we haven't worked on in class. A 2 means a student has difficulty with songs we have worked on in class or cannot produce an accurate tone on his/her instrument.
Students should be practicing 100 minutes each week. Ideally this is 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week; however, I understand that sometimes things come up and practicing can't be spread as evenly through the week. Students should write down their practice times on their practice log after each practice session so they don't forget. The night before or the morning of their first lesson of the week, a parent or guardian should sign their practice log. It is important to form this habit right away at the beginning of the year. Each student will get a weekly grade for practicing out of 100 points--one point for each minute practiced. Because the parent signature is required, students will lose 10 points if there is not one on their practice log for the correct week.
Students will also be working in a music theory packet for much of the school year. There will usually be one page due each week. These give students extra practice in note reading, rhythms, and other musical concepts we work on. Students can apply up to 20 minutes of theory packet work towards their practicing total.
Students will get a grade at each lesson for attendance and each of the four standards on the report card. Those standards are:
- Performs with good posture, good playing position, and good breath or stick control
- Reads and performs using standard notation symbols
- Describes specific music events using appropriate terminology
- Demonstrates the elements of music on an instrument
Students are expected to attend all of their lessons, which are twice a week for a half hour each. Students need to bring their instrument (including supplies such as reeds, valve oil, rosin, etc.), their book/music, and a pencil (not a pen) to each lesson. I grade attendance out of four points: one point for each material brought to a lesson, and one point for attending. This is important, because even if a student has forgotten his/her instrument, he/she should still attend the lesson.
To get a 3 in the first standard, students should sit up tall with their feet on the floor, fingers/hands should be in the correct position, and students should breathe through their mouths, not noses. A couple reminders for these are acceptable. To get a 4, students should be able to successfully perform with these expectations with no reminders. A grade of a 2 means a student is struggling with one or more of these expectations.
To get a 3 in the second standard, students should be able to read and play notes that we have learned in class and understand and apply the concepts we have learned in class. To get a 4, students should be able to read and/or play notes we have not yet learned in class and/or understand/apply concepts that we haven't gone over in class. A grade of a 2 means a student has difficulty reading notes and applying concepts we have learned.
To get a 3 in the third standard, students should be able to describe the concepts we have worked on in class. A 4 means a student can apply those concepts to things beyond classwork or understand additional ideas/concepts. A 2 means a student has difficulty understanding concepts we have worked on.
To get a 3 in the fourth standard, a student should be able to successfully play the songs we are working on in class with good tone quality. A 4 means a student can play songs we haven't worked on in class. A 2 means a student has difficulty with songs we have worked on in class or cannot produce an accurate tone on his/her instrument.
Students should be practicing 100 minutes each week. Ideally this is 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week; however, I understand that sometimes things come up and practicing can't be spread as evenly through the week. Students should write down their practice times on their practice log after each practice session so they don't forget. The night before or the morning of their first lesson of the week, a parent or guardian should sign their practice log. It is important to form this habit right away at the beginning of the year. Each student will get a weekly grade for practicing out of 100 points--one point for each minute practiced. Because the parent signature is required, students will lose 10 points if there is not one on their practice log for the correct week.
Students will also be working in a music theory packet for much of the school year. There will usually be one page due each week. These give students extra practice in note reading, rhythms, and other musical concepts we work on. Students can apply up to 20 minutes of theory packet work towards their practicing total.