Sherwood Middle School Band Syllabus

Objective:  Once you leave this classroom you will be able to perform on your musical instrument of choice, read and learn how to notate music, learn about composers, and music history, you will also learn music theory and what makes it work.  These are essential tasks for all musicians.  You will perform at various functions throughout the year.  You will have the opportunity to perform in the Sherwood Middle School Traveling Band and the Sherwood Middle School Orchestra.

Classroom Rules
1.  When a person steps into the room you treat them with the most respect that you possibly can.  (This applies to both students and adults.)

2. Give 110% at all times.

3. Leave all music cases in the storage room.

4. No Food, Drink, or gum chewing allowed

Discipline
 First offense : Warning
 Second Offense : Detention
 Third Offense 190 discipline form with phone call home
 Fourth offense Phone Call Home and meeting with administrator.

Grading system:
 

The Winter Concert will be _________________
The Spring concert Will be _________________

Please mark your calender now so that no problems or conflicts will arise

Bringing your Instrument
Students are responsible to bring their instrument every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, unless otherwise told. The consequences for forgetting their instrument are as follows:
 First time student forgets their instrument   Warning
 Second time ì ì ì ì      Letter home to parents
 Third       ì ì ì ì ì               After School  Detention  (190)
 Fourth  ì ì ì ì     Grade is dropped one letter grade.
 Fifth   ì ì ì ì     One Day Peak will be recommended
 Sixth                       Grade is dropped two letter grades
 Seventh         Grade is dropped three letter grades
 Eighth          Grade is dropped four letter grades
 

The reasoning behind the grading scale:
 Why I grade you for every day that you bring your instrument?
In order to become a fine musician it requires that you work on your instrument every day.  Unfortunately our class does not get the chance to meet every day, so when we do it is very important that you have your instrument and music.  (Understand that if you have your instrument and do not play I can not give you the points because it is not fair for the students who are bringing their instruments and playing every day.

I also do a check off system for testing,
    The check off system is a test over items in the book which will be given the second week of school. Students will select a number that they want to play and are allowed to miss three notes or rhythms the entire exercise.  If the student makes the three mistakes, I will stop them and they will get another opportunity next time. Upon completion of the exercise I will let the student know whether or not they Checked off (passed).  I do check off's at least one time a week  and sometimes twice.
NOTE:  I DO NOT MAKE STUDENTS CHECK OFF, IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THESE FINISHED   !!!!!!!
 

What to do if your instrument does not play?
 At this time there are about 95% of the problems on the instrument that I can repair at the school.  It is a known fact that if you take an instrument to a music store repair shop they are very busy and can have your instrument up to four weeks.  My goal is to have the instrument back to you the very next day unless there is a part that I need to order or pick up.  there will be no charge for my services unless I need to pick up a part or pad in which I will charge you for the part.  I am not doing this to make money.  I am doing this to save you money and to keep the instrument in the childís hand.  If there is a problem with your instrument, I can most likely fix the problem myself, if not I will refer you to the best possible repair shop that I know of.

Traveling Band and Orchestra
 Students will have the opportunity to perform with the Traveling Band and Orchestra, these groups meet on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. All students are eligible to try out for the Extra Bands, but not every one will make it.  In order to try out the student must show exceptional work towards bettering themselves on their instrument.  They must have exemplary behavior not only in my class but in other classes.  Student must have at least a 2.0 Grade Point Average, and they must maintain an A or B in Band.
 I want students that can behave themselves in the classroom as well in public when we go on extra activities as well.
 A Student may be dismissed at any time from the traveling band or orchestra, as well for PEAK, or two after school detentions.
 

Materials
 

As a sixth grader you will need the book:  Essential Elements Book 1 (It is a purple book)
 There are two options that can be taken towards getting this book.  The first option will be to get to the music store as soon as possible and purchase this book (The reason behind this is that Essential Elements is one of the best selling books in the United States, and is used around Columbus quite a bit and most stores will sell out of them and will need to order them.)  The cost for buying the book new is between $5.50 - $6.00.
 The second option is renting the books from the Sherwood Music Department.  We have quite a few music books that the students have donated bake to the Band, and we rent these books for Two Dollars.  Upon completion of this book we ask for the book back.
 Please Note:Supply of the books are limited and are handed out on a first come first serve basis.
 Students starting in the Seventh and Eighth Grade bands the same options are available to you as well.  7th Grade students  will be using the Essential Elements Book Two, and Eighth Graders will be using Essential Technique.