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ELANCO Elementary Band |
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Standards and Philosophy for Instrumental Music In the ELANCO School District Standards The Instrumental Music Program provides students with the resources and opportunities to gain experience and express themselves in music. This is done through the process of meeting the following standards:
For a reference here is a list of the National Standards and the Standards for Pennsylvania: National Standards for Music Education 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
Pennsylvania Standards for Arts and Humanities 9.1 Production, Performance and Exhibition of dance, music theatre and visual arts 9.2 Historical and Cultural Contexts 9.3 Critical Response 9.4 Aesthetic Response The following is a comparison chart between our standards and how they compare to the National Standards and Pennsylvania standards for the Arts and Humanities:
Philosophy The citizens of Eastern Lancaster County value the importance of the arts in realizing human potential. Research has shown that music is biologically programmed into the human brain and is a global form of human expression. Music education is fundamental to intellectual growth because it strengthens the synapses between nerve cells and enhances skills such as reading and math. Music education, specifically instrumental education, has been proven to have a positive impact on a student’s career. The Instrumental Program is available to all students at the elementary level who are interested and follows public school guidelines for providing a free and appropriate education. The middle school and high school may require an audition for students who are entering the program at those levels. Numerous studies have proven that studying music can:
Description of the Elementary Band
Program
Elementary Concert Band The Instrumental Music Program in the Eastern Lancaster County School District offers class instruction in various symphonic band instruments to interested fourth, fifth and sixth grade students. Classes meet once in a six-day cycle for twenty minutes or a half an hour depending on class size and needs of the student. The student is released from classroom activities to participate in the instrumental music program. Instruction is offered in flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet (cornet), “French” horn, trombone, baritone horn, tuba, and percussion. Other symphonic band instruments may be accepted into the program at the sole discretion of the instrumental instructors. The parent or guardian is responsible for furnishing the instrument and all method book/s used in the program. Periodic maintenance and/or supplies for the instrument are also to be furnished by the parent or guardian. In isolated cases school-owned instruments are available to students for a rental fee. Instruments may be obtained through leasing/renting agreements of a music store of the parent’s/guardian’s choice. Currently the primary music retailer of the Eastern Lancaster County School District is Zeswitz Music Mall of Reading, Pennsylvania. Parents are strongly encouraged not to buy the instrument outright but lease/rent the instrument for a trial period of one semester. Parents will be notified of their student’s progress on a periodic basis through a written evaluation, that the instructor completes. Recommending Private Study at all Levels Private Lessons are not within the realm of public school instruction. This is because the term “Private Instructor” commonly signifies an individual who requires payment for their instruction. Private study is encouraged but it is not mandatory. Students undergoing private study should receive no academic advantage over students not taking private lessons, however their musical advantage and progress is obvious. Instructors can provide a list of qualified private teachers in the area to those students that are interested in private study. Performing
Ensembles
Elementary Performing Ensembles Cadet Band is a culminating experience for the instrumentalist during their first year of instruction. This is a band comprised entirely of first year students from the school district who have been selected by the instructors. Students are selected based on musicianship and their ability to be responsible. This band meets on Friday afternoons starting in March, at Garden Spot High School, to receive large group instruction. A special performance is arranged for the Cadet Band to include them in the annual winter concert in conjunction with the Elementary Spartan Band. Other performances include the Elementary Spring Concert and a district-wide tour also in the spring. Spartan Band is a select large-group instruction ensemble involving all students who have reached “Book 2” or above in their lesson book series. It is expected that all students involved in the instrumental lesson program will participate in the year-round Thursday after-school rehearsals, if the instructors notify the student of his/her awarded membership. Performances include a Winter Concert, Elementary Spring Concert, district-wide tour, and a voluntary Memorial Day concert at Caernarvon Elementary School. Tootin Kahunas (pep band) is a small ensemble of hand-selected instrumental players who perform at a football game and at the New Holland Baby parade. The purpose of this ensemble is to challenge its members with varied repertoire of popular music in a small ensemble setting. This ensemble also provides additional experience in a public performance setting. Elementary Jazz Band is a select ensemble of approximately forty advanced students. In order to be qualified as “Advanced” for this ensemble students must be in their third method book or higher. In addition some students will audition if the numbers of students willing to participate in the Jazz Band exceeds the standard instrumentation allowed. This ensemble meets on Thursdays after Spartan Band rehearsal beginning in January. The purpose of this ensemble is to allow its members to perform and study repertoire in the field of jazz. Memorial Day Band is a volunteer ensemble that rehearses three times during May. They then perform with the New Holland Band in a combined Memorial Day Lawn Concert at Caernarvon Elementary in Churchtown, Pennsylvania. The Memorial Day Band Concert is a long-standing tradition in the community. Administration of the Program Elementary School Assignment and Scheduling at Schools Student participation in the program will dictate how much of an instructor’s schedule is required at any given school. Currently the following schools are involved in the instrumental program at Eastern Lancaster School District: Blue Ball Elementary, Brecknock Elementary, Caernarvon Elementary and Summit Valley (New Holland Area) Elementary. A master list of students enrolling in the instrumental program will be compiled before the first day of school. During the first week of school the instructors will sort the list according to location, instrument and experience. A first draft of the schedule is compiled taking into account teacher’s specials schedules as well as the student’s involvement in other programs such as the Garden Spot Gifted Program (GSGS). The first draft is distributed to all teachers who in turn notify the instructors of any scheduling conflicts. Once this process is complete a master copy of the instructors’ schedules is complied and redistributed.
The Process of
Recruitment
General Considerations
Recruitment is the primary process in which students become aware and knowledgeable of the Instrumental Program. The Instrumental Program follows school guidelines for providing a free and appropriate education to all interested students. Thus recruitment is for all interested and qualified students. This process primarily takes place in the spring. Elementary
Recruitment Procedures
Multi-class assemblies include the following: · A demonstration of the instruments · Information on how to learn more about the program · Answers to students questions at the time of the assembly · A description of the how the instrumental program functions Beginner Band Night includes the following: · Explanation of rehearsal/concert calendar · Talks about the enrollment forms and deadlines · Open forum to answer parents’ questions and concerns · Discusses options for obtaining a good quality instrument · Discusses the books and accessories needed for instruction · Discusses how the instrumental program functions in the school system Handouts will contain: · Information on obtaining an instrument · Information on how to enroll in the program · A handout (brochure) is available at each school · Expectations of the students and parents in the program Instrument Supply and/or Maintenance The following is a list of basic maintenance supplies needed for each family of instruments. In addition the following to the maintenance items are some auxiliary supplies. These items are not provided at the expense of the school. The parent or guardian of the student is responsible for obtaining these supplies. Elementary Supplies Woodwind Supplies
Brass Supplies
Percussion Supplies
Student Evaluation
Overview
No standardized testing is used as assessment in the Instrumental Music program at ELANCO School District. All forms of assessment are of the design of the instructors. The majority of the evaluators used in the lessons are performance or skill based. Students also actively apply self-assessment through the use of performance rubrics. Issuing Progress Reports
The Eastern Lancaster County School District requires that students receive periodic evaluation. The Instrumental Program distributes a rubric on a periodic basis. The rubric is filled out under the guidance of the instructor. This evaluation is sent home and signed by the parent/guardian of the student. The Instrumental Program does not use a traditional letter grade system for grading. After every lesson all elementary band students receive one of four numbers, which stand for the following: 4 = Advanced, 3 = Proficient, 2 = Basic, 1 = Below Basic. This grade is then recorded on the student’s lesson slips at the conclusion of each lesson. The slip also contains the current assignment and a practice log that gets signed by the parent/guardian before every lesson. Record Keeping
Instructors keep a lesson log for every lesson at every building. This log is used to track progress as well as the evaluation of the lesson. Student’s attendance is also tracked in this log. This log will also serve as the primary resource for a substitute teacher to use in the absence of the instructor. All second and third year players have their practice slips collected and filed after each of their lessons. All second and third year players have an individual file in which these slips are stored. Student Responsibility Students are expected to come prepared to every lesson and rehearsal. They are to bring their instrument, method book, and pencil/highlighter. Students are expected to practice an average of thirty minutes a day. The elementary instrumental program complies with the district policy regarding attendance. Any unapproved absences will be recorded and require the student to provide an instructor with a written explanation from a parent/guardian. All absences are recorded and after three absences the parents of the student will be notified. General Succession of Method Books at the Elementary Level(Furnished by
Parent/Guardian not the school)
Brz.
Easy = Breeze
Easy Method R.E. = Rubank
Elementary Sueta = Ed
Sueta Band Method A.O.A.
= Accent
on Achievement, Book 1 L.T.P.L.O. = Learn to
play the Oboe by James McBeth, Pub. By Alfred Peters = Mitchell Peters Snare Drum Method, Pub. By Mitchell Peters B.M. = Belwin Mills Student Instrumental Method/Tunes for Technique Whly = “Musical Studies for the Intermediate Snare Drummer” by Garwood Whal
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