SYLLABUS

Jordan Ballenger, Director

Beginning Concert Band
PRE: MWF IHE: M-W PLE: Th

INSTRUCTIONAL GOALS

Course Description: Concert band will focus on the performance of a variety of wind band repertoire
that challenges students to gain skills in artistry, musicianship, performance etiquette, technique, music
history, music theory, and ear training.

Learning Targets: Students will focus on the goals of the National Standards for Music Education.
These standards emphasize conceptual understanding in areas that reflect the actual processes in which
musicians engage. They cultivate a student’s artistic ability to create, perform, respond to music, as well
as connect through music to their selves and their societies.

 Creating
o Imagine – How do musicians generate creative ideas?
o Plan & Make – How do musicians make creative decisions?
o Evaluate & Refine – How do musicians improve the quality of their creative work?
o Present – When is creative work ready to share?
 Performing
o Select – How do performers select repertoire?
o Analyze – How does understanding the structure and context of musical works inform
performance?
o Interpret – How do performers interpret musical works?
o Rehearse, Evaluate & Refine – How do musicians improve the quality of their
performance?
o Present – When is a performance judged ready to present?
 Responding
o Select – How do individuals choose music to experience?
o Analyze – How does understanding the structure and context of music inform a response?
o Interpret – How do we discern musical creators’ and performers’ expressive intent?
o Evaluate – How do we judge the quality of musical work(s) and performance(s)?
 Connecting
o How do musicians make meaningful connections to creating, performing, and responding?
o How do the other arts, other disciplines, contexts, and daily life inform creating, performing,
and responding to music?
 NEEDS AND RESOURCES

Required Background: To successfully complete this course, you must:

 Be willing and ready to learn

 Be responsible and organized
 Have a desire to play music
 Make a commitment to excellence

Required Materials: To successfully complete this course, you will need:

All musicians need DAILY:

 Your instrument in good working condition

 A 3-ring binder with page protectors for music
 Your technique book – Sound Innovations, book 1
 A #2 pencil for marking the music
 Your agenda, so you may mark important dates

Beginning Band students may choose the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, baritone, or
percussion.

Flute
 Cleaning rod
 Soft cotton cleaning cloth (handkerchief works)

Clarinet, Saxophone
 3 playable reeds in reed guards, minimum at all times*
 Cork grease
 Cleaning swab
 Neck strap (sax)

Trumpet, Baritone
 Valve oil (Blue Juice)
 Slide grease
 Cleaning swab/cloth

Trombone
 Slide cream
 Travel-size spray bottle
 Slide grease
 Cleaning swab

Percussion
 2 pairs of size 5A sticks with your name on them
 Practice pad

*A good starting place are Rico reeds, strength 2 or 2.5.  Can move up to 3s in LaVoz or Vandoren in 7th
or 8th grade.
 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

General Expectations: To develop a positive culture within the band, all students will:
1. Give your very best
2. Contribute positively to class and fellow musicians
3. Show respect to fellow musicians, instruments, equipment, and music
4. Work to improve yourself and the band
5. Treat others as you would like them to treat you

Classroom Rules: To cultivate good student citizenship, all students will:

1. Follow directions the first time
2. Raise hand and wait to be called on before speaking
3. Keep hands, feet, objects, and negative remarks to yourself
4. Participate in all class activities

Classroom Procedure: To maximize playing time and ensemble improvement, all students will
adhere to these procedures during class:

1. Get out your instrument, music, and stand set up BEFORE the bell
2. Warm up your instrument on long tones
3. Start ensemble-building exercises AT THE BELL
Ensemble-Building Possibilities
 Long Tones
 Warm Up Sets
 Tune
 Technique Scales
 Chorales and Ensemble Tuning
 Rhythm Studies
 Sight Reading
4. Literature Rehearsal
 New/difficult literature
 Familiar/fun literature
5. Put away your chairs, stands, and instruments in their proper place

 When the director steps on the podium, all talking and playing stops
 When the baton goes up, so do instruments
 Talking is kept minimal and hushed during transitions

Dress Standards: All students will wear proper performance attire during performances.
Concert Band: All Black. Black, long-sleeve dress shirts, black dress pants, and black dress shoes,
socks, and belt. Women may choose to wear a sleeved black dress or skirt and blouse. Please talk to
me well in advance of performances if you do not have reasonable access to these items.
Grading Policies: Grades for this ensemble will be broken up into four categories:
Grading Scale Percentage of Total
A = 4 = 90-100% 30% Daily Rehearsal
B = 3 = 80-89% 20% Practice (Homework)
C = 2 = 70-79% 10% Playing Tests
D = 1 = 60-69% 40% Performance
F = 0 = 59% and below 100% Total

Daily Rehearsal: 5 points per day. Students must follow the rules and expectations to earn points. The
classroom rules and expectations cultivate proper student citizenship and develop a positive culture within
the band. Negative actions will result in a certain loss of points, depending on the severity of the
infraction. If a student loses all points for the day, the following disciplinary actions will result:

1. Verbal warning (a short conversation about classroom behavior)

2. Written warning (student will write about their behavior and how it affects the classroom)
3. Lunch detention and a phone call/email home to the parent(s)
4. Sent to the office and a phone call/email home to the parent(s)
5. Student will be sent to the office with a referral, and a meeting will be scheduled with the student,
parents, principal, the director, and the counselor to determine the student’s future in band
Severe behavior: Sent to office, parents called immediately

Practice (Homework): Every 6 minutes of practicing equals 1 point, up to a maximum of 10 points (60
minutes) per week. You will have the opportunity to turn in practice logs at the end of every week.

Practice logs must be filled out properly and have a parent signature to earn points. I may be calling and
checking in with parents for verification. Good practicing is about what and how you practice, not just the
amount of time you spend on your instrument.

Playing Tests: 30 points per test.  There will be one to three playing tests per semester. Tests will
consist of a prepared exercise and/or a section from a piece we are playing. Tests will be graded on level
of preparedness and musicality.

Performance: 360 points per performance. There will be one concert performance per semester. These
performances are like finals and should be treated accordingly. Concerts will be graded on musicianship
and professionalism.

Absences: Absences from class or concerts will result in a complete loss of points for the day or
performance. I cannot give you points if you are not here to earn them.

Missing a concert means a lot of time and effort goes to waste. If you know you will not be able to make a
performance, you must give me a written note from your parent(s) excusing you from the performance as
soon as possible. This note will allow you to make up points by submitting a 1-2 page Missed a Concert
Essay. Do not wait until last minute to tell me! Failure to turn in a note at least 3 days prior to the concert
will forfeit your ability to make up the points. I may be calling and checking in with parents for verification.

Emergencies such as getting stuck in a ditch or going to the hospital may be excused with a parent note
after the performance. Injuries that directly affect your ability to play (broken arm, for example) will be
excused and homework may be done/assigned.
Practice Agreement:

I, (Parent/Guardian) _____________________________, agree to allow

my band student a set amount of time (suggested 20-60 minutes) every
day to practice their instrument in a distraction-free environment to fulfill
their homework requirements for band class.

Student Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ______

Parent Signature: _____________________________________ Date: ______

Contact Information:

Jordan Ballenger
District Band Director
Priest River Lamanna High School
596 Highway 57
Priest River, ID 83856
JordanBallenger@sd83.org
BallengersBands.weebly.com
208-448-1211 Ext. 7164