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Oakfield 6th Grade Band Syllabus
Welcome to Oakfield Band. I’m excited to share a year of music learning and performing with you as your skills continue to improve and you impress the community with our great sounds!
Course Evaluation/Grading:
Each student’s band letter grade will be based on knowledge and performance of the music standards. Students will also receive feedback regarding lesson preparedness and attendance for lessons, band, and performances.
Students must attend lessons, attend performances, and turn work in on time. Missing lessons, performances, and assignments will warrant a ZERO in the gradebook and may result in specific requests for OakRichment and/or loss of privileges (including co-curricular athletics and activities) until they are complete.
*POWER SCHOOL NOTE: I post events and assignments in advance to help families plan. If a grade/score is blue, that means I have left a message regarding that grade/score.
Lessons
Lessons include graded skills and/or knowledge work. This is a required part of band since students receive some instruction based on their instrument choice and abilities. Students will be in a small group lesson once per week. LESSON CALENDARS will be given every month.
Concert Band
Concert Band will meet on “B” days. We will use our band books and full band music. The 6th Grade Band will hopefully perform one to three songs for the Winter and Spring Concerts. Concerts are mandatory – I suggest you treat them like a test that you cannot make-up. We expect students to wear dressy clothing for the concerts, so please plan ahead! Our concerts are Wednesday, December 18th at 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, May 28th at 7:00 p.m.
Assignments
Brief assignments and playing quizzes will be given during lessons and full band. These will frequently be completed during class time so that only practicing will be expected outside of school. Formal playing tests will also be given 2-4 times a year. The test will be played individually during lessons. Playing tests will serve as a tool to evaluate progress and select next steps for improvement.
Practicing
Practicing is a skill that needs to be built upon and should be considered a daily assignment. I encourage all students to practice 15 minutes per day, four days per week on his or her band instrument (IN ADDITION TO BAND TIME IN SCHOOL). Tips for practicing:
- Reserve a space away from distractions (television, phone, food, pets).
- Use a straight chair, music stand, pencil for making notes, and an instrument that works well.
- Schedule the same time every day (just like practices for a team sport).
The students and I will mark dates in his/her band book to help keep track of what should be practiced.
I have always understood the “pain” of practicing since I still perform regularly on instruments. I continue to practice and sometimes it’s not fun, but I am still improving. I understand the struggles of getting a child to practice both as a teacher and a parent. Please know your effort, understanding, nagging, planning some rewards, etc. is worth the work and students are typically thankful for it (later on)!
Contact Info:
Oakfield Band Department
250 Church Street
Oakfield, WI 53065
(920) 583-3141 ext.2402
bmohr@oakfield.k12.wi.us
WEBSITE: http://www.oakfield.k12.wi.us/faculty/bmohr/
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