Credits: ½ - 1

SDE Course Code: 0996

MNPS Course Code: MUS2130

Course Description

This course is designed for those students who wish to learn to play a wind or percussion instrument and have had no previous instrumental instruction or have not had enough instrumental experience to qualify for Marching Band I or Concert Band I. Basic Music Theory and Music History will be incorporated into daily lessons and students will be assessed in both written and performance format. This is a performance-based course and may require students to participate in after school and/or evening performances. Students will be administered end of course exams, which will count as a percentage of the student’s grade.

Course of Study

Basic Fundamentals

· Proper posture and breathing

· Proper embouchure formation

· Proper assembly of the instrument

· Proper hand position

Tonal Development

· Characteristic Qualities of Sound

· Fine muscle development for increasing endurance

Technical Development

· Beginning Note/Rest Values and Notation

· Beginning Major Scale/Rudiment exercises

· Articulations

Nuances

· Basic Dynamic Notation and control

· Beginning Tempo Variations

Intonation

· Beginning Listening Responsibilities as an Individual Performer

· Beginning Intonation exercises

Standards

MNPS Music Department Standards

http://www.mnps.org

TN State Department of Education Standards

http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/standards

Textbooks

Bruce Pearson, Standards of Excellence

San Diego, California: Neil A. Kjos, 1997.

Recommended and/or required resources

Metronome

Interactive recording equipment and accompanying software

CD recordings of soloists, chamber music and large ensembles

TV with DVD or VCR

Educational Videos

Chromatic Tuner

Whenever possible, classrooms should have computers that are web accessible

Adequate Beginning Wind Band Music library

Various Chorale Studies

Various Technical Exercises

Various Beginning Wind Band Literature