Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MUSE 355
Dr. Palmer
24 November 2016
Course Description:
The band program at Kooksville Middle School consists of two separate classes. The
fourth and fifth grade beginning band class meets for one hour on Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays. During this class, students will be gaining the introductory executive and
musical skills necessary to build a solid foundation for future music experiences. The
curriculum for this class includes concepts ranging from how to put the instrument
together, proper playing techniques, and the introduction of music notation to personal
interpretation of music, relationships between music and history and culture, and the way
in which music connects to daily life. Much of the class is be devoted to assessing and
enriching musical readiness skills through exercises that include movement, singing,
clapping, and playing instruments. The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade class meets every
day for forty-five minutes. The primary goal of this class is to expand upon those skills the
students gained in fourth and fifth grade. Students are expected to demonstrate their
ability to perform basic executive skills learned in previous band and music classes, and
will be challenged with increasingly difficult musical repertoire in accordance with their
playing abilities. Students will continue to work on their executive skills, advancing in their
musical reading abilities and monitoring good playing posture and mechanics. This class,
however, will also motivate students to think more independently and critically about the
musical selections they play. Homework assignments will be given to both classes in order
to supplement concepts discussed in class.
Objectives:
During their time in the Kooksville Middle School Band Program students will:
1. learn the necessary executive skills to play their instruments properly and read
standard music notation.
2. cultivate their own emotional interpretation of musical ideas as they develop the
basic vocabulary needed in order to discuss music in an intelligent manner.
3. understand the importance of music as it relates to history and culture.
4. learn how to work as part of a team, understanding that music is both an individual
and a group activity in which every person is important.
5. develop a life-long love of music by forming meaningful connections between music
and their personal lives.
Class Expectations
Discipline Plan
Failure to follow classroom expectations, procedures, and rules will result in the following
consequences. The teacher may deem it appropriate to skip steps depending on the
severity or frequency of the issue.
1. Verbal warning
2. Reduction of participation grade
3. Conference with teacher after class
4. Detention
5. Phone call to parents
6. Conference with parents
7. School referral
Grading System/Assessments
Classroom assessments will be made both informally and formally. The teacher will
monitor students progress as they participate in daily classroom activities, and she will
make formative assessments in order to gauge future lessons and modify any material for
review. Summative assessments, including worksheets, short papers, playing tests, written
tests, pass-off cards, and oral exams will also be used to evaluate students knowledge at
various points throughout the semester and will be included as a part of their formal grade.
Tests: 25%
Similar to homework assignments, a variety of tests will be given throughout the school
year to assess student learning and progress. Some of these tests will be written and cover
any material discussed in class. Other tests will include playing exams over a previously
determined piece of music or section of repertoire. Oral/demonstration exams may be
given so that students have the opportunity to show the teacher their skills.
Concert Attire
The band program will sponsor various concerts throughout the academic year, and it is
important that students dress appropriately for these performances. The goal of our attire
policy is to minimize distractions that detract from the musical performance by making the
members of the bands look as uniform as possible.
Concert attire:
Black dress (at least knee length when sitting and with length sleeves), black
pantyhose, black closed-toed dress shoes
Black pants, black shirt (at least length sleeves and with no logos or designs),
black socks or pantyhose, black closed-toed dress shoes
Minimal jewelry and makeup, no finger-nail polish
If there are any issues that inhibit a students ability to acquire and/or wear the
appropriate concert attire, please contact Miss Ollestad directly.
Junior All State-Band and All-Region Band
The Indiana Junior All-State Band is an ensemble made up of the top musicians from
each middle school in Indiana that meets and rehearses for one weekend before giving a
concert. Students must submit an application as well as a $10 entry fee along with a
recording of audition material in order to be eligible to be selected for the group. This is a
wonderful way to allow students to play with other talented musicians from all over the
state.
The All-Region band is similar to All-State except that students are only selected
from the surrounding regional areas. This application does not require a recorded audition,
but students must submit a letter of recommendation from Miss Ollestad. Both of these
events would help to improve the musicality of every student who attends. It allows
students to learn from new instructors, meet other musicians from all over the state, and
form friendships with students from other schools.
Important Information:
Students have the enriching opportunity to participate in Indiana State School Music
Associations annual Solo and Ensemble competition. This event is a competition in which
students of any skill level perform a piece of music in front of a qualified judge to receive
feedback and a medal or ribbon. Students who perform in the most advanced category will
advance to the state competition later in the year and will perform for a different judge.
There are two different main categories available for students to choose. They can perform
solo pieces or can form small ensembles to perform chamber music in front of a judge.
While students are not required to participate in Solo and Ensemble, they will be
required to prepare a solo piece of music or take part in some kind of chamber ensemble.
Students will play their pieces for Miss Ollestad and discuss whether or not they wish to
submit an entry form for Solo and Ensemble. Solo and Ensemble is a wonderful way for
students to get out of their comfort zone and perform for a judge in order to receive
feedback on ways to improve as a musician. Parents should discuss this opportunity with
their children and encourage them to seize this chance to become better musicians!
Solo and Ensemble Important Information:
Kooksville Bands will participate in one ISSMA judged performance per academic year to
receive constructive feedback regarding their ability to play as a cohesive ensemble. There
will be no excused absences granted for this performance.
Oboe, Trumpet, French Horn, Tuba, Euphonium, Trombone (we will need a fair
number of these instruments)
Flute, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Percussion (fewer of these instruments are
needed)
I hope to see you and your student in the Kooksville Middle School band room at
7:00pm in the band room. Some light refreshments will be served and we will also have
some performances from the current beginning, middle, and high school ensembles!
If you or your student has questions, please dont hesitate to contact me by email or
phone.
Sincerely yours,
Miss Rachel Ollestad
Band Director
Kooksville Middle School
reollestad@exosc.k12.in.us
(314)159-2654