Elementary Band
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ELEMENTARY BAND

 

FIFTH GRADE BAND

The elementary band experience begins in the fifth grade for the students at Fairfax Elementary School, Terrace Park Elementary School, and Mariemont Elementary School. When the students reach the fifth grade, they can choose to begin instruction on a band instrument or a string orchestra instrument, or to remain in general music.

Recruiting for the fifth grade band takes place beginning in March or April when the students are in the fourth grade. Students may choose from among the following band instruments:

  1. Flute                             

  2. Clarinet                         

  3. Alto Saxophone               

  4. Tenor Saxophone             

  5. Trumpet

  6. Trombone

  7. Baritone Horn

  8. Tuba

  9. Percussion

While the oboe, bassoon, and French horn are also very important instruments in the band, they are considerably more difficult than the above instruments and can be extremely frustrating for young musicians. Because the fifth grade band members meet in classes of mixed instruments, the individual attention and instruction necessary for the student to achieve success on the oboe, bassoon, and French horn are not readily available. If the student and her/his parents are willing to supplement the class instruction with private lessons, the oboe, bassoon, and French horn are also possible instrument choices. Private lessons are also very strongly encouraged on all of the other band instruments as well.

The main purpose of the recruiting process is to match each individual student to the instrument that will afford the student the greatest opportunity for success. While it does not happen often, occasionally a student will express a desire to play an instrument that is not a good match because of a physical limitation. Students are encouraged to have a choice of at least three instruments. Every effort is made to honor the student's first choice of instruments, but it is very important to make sure that it is a good match. Proper instrumentation is also a consideration. There are some instruments, especially alto saxophone and percussion, that can overpower the other instruments in the band when there are too many band members playing those instruments. For more information about the recruitment and instrument selection process, point to the following link:

Band Program Overview

Fifth Grade Band members at Mariemont Elementary School meet on Day 1 and Day 4, Day 2 and Day 5, or Day 3 and Day 6, depending upon which days of the six day rotation their homeroom is scheduled for music; those at Terrace Park Elementary meet on Day 2 and Day 5; Fairfax Elementary Fifth Grade Band members meet on Day 3 and Day 6.

All Fifth Grade Band members have one performance opportunity - the District Wide Elementary Band Concert. This concert combines all of the Fifth and Sixth Grade Band members from the three elementary schools in the district. It is held each year in the gymnasium at Mariemont Elementary School, usually in late ;May. The District Wide Elementary Band Con cert provides all of the band members with the opportunity to show off what they have accomplished throughout the year, and it is the highlight of the school year for the band members.

SIXTH GRADE BAND

The second year of instruction on a band instrument is a continuation of the first. All concepts and skills learned during the fifth grade year are reviewed and reinforced throughout the sixth grade year. New playing techniques, new notes, new rhythmic patterns, new musical terminology, and new music theory and music history concepts are learned and reinforced as well.

The daily schedule for Sixth Grade Band is the same as that of Fifth Grade Band: Mariemont Elementary - Day 1 and Day 4, Day 2 and Day 5, or Day 3 and Day 6, depending upon homeroom assignment; Terrace Park Elementary - Day 2 and Day 5; Fairfax Elementary - Day 3 and Day 6.

Sixth Grade Band members are encouraged to continue the same amount of practice at home outside of class time - twenty minutes five days per week - in addition to class instruction time. Private lessons are also very strongly encouraged throughout the sixth grade year.

Sixth Grade Band members perform at the annual Holiday Program at their respective elementary school during the month of December, as well as at the District Wide Elementary Band Concert in late May.

GRADING POLICY

Music grades in Fifth and Sixth Grade Band are reported eight times per year - an interim report midway through each quarter to indicate progress at that point of the quarter, and a final grade at the end of each quarter. Several different areas are taken into consideration when determining grades for the Fifth and Sixth Grade Band members:

  1. Class Participation - each class that we meet is assigned a value of 10 (ten) points. In order to earn all ten points, band members must have their instrument, their music book, any supplemental music sheets, and a pencil (I suggest putting a pencil in the instrument case and leaving it there). We usually meet approximately 15 - 16 times per quarter, so this area of the grade is assigned a value of 150 - 160 points.

  2. Preparation for Class - this area of the grade is worth a total of 100 (one hundred) points each quarter. While I do not require the band members to fill out practice records and have them signed by their parents, it is very obvious whether or not they are practicing outside of class time. This portion of the grade reflects the effort put forth between classes.

  3. Proper Posture and Playing Position - this area of the grade is worth a total of 100 (one hundred) points each quarter. In order to develop sufficient breath support and a good tone quality, a band member must start with proper posture and playing position. In the case of percussionists, proper grip of the sticks/mallets and proper stroke is necessary to produce the proper sound on any percussion instrument.

  4. Self-Discipline/Self-Control - this area of the grade is worth a total of 100 (one hundred) points each quarter. In order for a band rehearsal to run smoothly and produce any tangible results, it is extremely important that the band members and the band director cooperate with one another, not compete with one another. A band rehearsal can deteriorate into utter chaos very quickly if the band members do not pay attention to their self-discipline/self-control. Band members are expected to not talk or play their instruments while the band director is talking, or to be distracting when the director is working with a group of band members or individual band members.

  5. Written Assignments - from time to time there are short written assignments in the band book that are a part of the band member's assignment for the following class. Also, from time to time there may be separate music theory/music history worksheets assigned as homework. The written assignments in the book are each assigned a point value of 10 (ten) points, and worksheets are usually assigned a point value of 25 (twenty-five) points since they are somewhat longer.

  6. Concert Attendance - all band members are expected to attend all concerts and performances. The concerts are the fun part of being a band member, and everyone in the band relies on one another to make her/his important contribution to the success of our concert. Absences from a concert/performance are handled on an individual basis.