Credits: ½

SDE Course Code: 0996

MNPS Course Code: MUS2331

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

· Nuances

o Dynamic Control

o Intermediate Tempo Variations

o Phrase Shapings

· Intonation

o Listening Responsibilities as an Individual Performer

o Intonation development within sections

o Intonation development and implementation within the full ensemble

· Movement Skills

o Proper posture and instrument/equipment carriage

o Basic fundamental marching training

· Physical/Aerobic Responsibilities

o Physically demanding rehearsal

o 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