Marching Band I
Recommended Prerequisite: Prior Instrumental Experience
Grades Offered: 9 – 12
Credits: ½
SDE Course Code: 0996
MNPS Course Code: MUS2131
Course Description
This course is designed to prepare quality music of various styles and then interpret that music through the idiom of the visual performing arts. An emphasis will be placed on both musical and marching fundamental techniques. Students should expect to develop enhanced technical skills musically in tandem with fine motor skills associated with intermediate to advanced marching fundamental techniques. Students should also expect to perform a vast repertoire of visual maneuvers matching the style and pacing of the musical selections. This is both and entertainment and competitive performance-based course and will require students to participate in after school and/or evening rehearsals, various weekly performances, and weekend competitions and/or festival assessments.
Course of Study
- Ensemble Tonal Development
o Reinforcement of proper breath control for outdoor musical impact
o Maturity and Control of Qualities of Sound
o Balance of those Qualities of Sound within the ensemble
· Technical Development
o Intermediate Major Scale/Rudiment exercises
o Intermediate Minor Scale exercises
o Chordal Studies
o Articulations
o Dynamic Control
o Intermediate Tempo Variations
o Phrase Shapings
o Listening Responsibilities as an Individual Performer
o Intonation development within sections
o Intonation development and implementation within the full ensemble
o Proper posture and instrument/equipment carriage
o Basic fundamental marching training
- Physical/Aerobic Responsibilities
- Physically demanding rehearsals
- Physically demanding performance expectations
Standards
MNPS Music Department Standards
http://www.mnps.org
TN State Department of Education Standards
http://www.state.tn.us/education/ci/standards
Textbooks
Richard Williams and Jeff King, Foundations For Superior Performance
San Diego, California: Neil A. Kjos Music Company, 1997.
Recommended and/or required resources
Various Chorale Studies
Various Technical Exercises
Various Marching Band Literature
CD, VHS, and/or DVD recordings of successful visual arts programs
· Bands of AmericaGrand Nationals
· Local, District, and/or State Level Competitions
· Drum Corp International World Championships
TV with DVD or VCR
Educational and/or Motivational Videos
Chromatic Tuner
Metronome
Whenever possible, classrooms should have computers that are web accessible
Outside Rehearsal facilities, minimum (100 yards) X (52 yards)
Observation Tower for outside rehearsal instruction, minimum 20 feet high