Grade+6,+7+Syllabus


 * Grade 6,7**
 * __General Music Syllabus__**

This syllabus contains information regarding the Middle School General Music course. Students and parents please read carefully. Keep the syllabus for your records. **Sign the signature page and return to Ms. Sullivan by** **September 8, 2010** **(Green) and September 7, 2010 (Blue).**

General music for 6th and 7th grade is an introduction to musicianship. The introduction includes basic musical knowledge, skills, and competencies for playing descant recorder and/or singing in a music ensemble; basic music reading and theory; music listening; and music history. Skills learned in this course prepare the student for further musicianship studies at BA.


 * REQUIRED MATERIALS:**

§ //Do It: Play Recorder!// **Book One** ** OR BOOK TWO ** **, CD & Descant Recorder**. Author: John Froseth o Purchase as a set; found on BA book purchase list. **The set can also be purchased directly from GIA Publishing at 1.800.442.1358 or at online giamusic.com.** § Highlighter § Mechanical pencil (with lead) § pen § ½” Looseleaf binder with 8 1/2 x 11 with divider tabs and ruled, three-hole paper § Small tote o Inexpensive “Green Bag” from Publix is excellent for organizing all music materials into one “music bag.” Students need only remember to “grab the music bag” to arrive prepared. **__Failure to arrive with materials in hand can lower a student’s daily grade for participation.__**

=OPTIONAL: $1=

This donation is completely optional but is much appreciated! It helps purchase useful supplies (such as erasers, pencils, toys…etc) for the weekly drawing, which is a great motivational/behavioral tool that helps keep students interested and focused on making healthy behavior choices! Research shows that implementing a reward system through positive reinforcement encourages and reinforces a desired behavior. The desired behavior for this class is participation and good behavior. = = =AREAS OF FOCUS=

This course is designed to meet Music Education National Conference (MENC) National Content Standards 1-3, 5-9: 1. Singing, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music. 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments. 4. Composing and arranging music within specified guidelines. 5. Reading and notating music. 6. Listening to, analyzing, and describing music. 7. Evaluating music and music performances. 8. Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts. 9. Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

=Performance Skill Development=

§ **Introduction to Musicianship as an Instrumental Music Player and/or Singer.** The student will train toward musicianship through achievement of musicianship skills on the soprano recorder and/or through interpretation and skills with the Kodaly system (do, re, mi…)

o **Audiation training.** Audiation is a learned pre-reading skill that is prerequisite to comprehending standard music notation. Audiation is the ability to mentally hear and comprehend music, even when no sound is being heard. Students will train to comprehend musical sound prior to reading it by learning to audiate many tonal and rhythm sound patterns. Once audiated, these patterns form a neural sound library. This process is used by the brain to give meaning to music and to predict what will happen next. Audiation is to music learning what Thinking is to language learning. Audiation training is the cornerstone of music skill building.

§ **Musical Identity**: Identifying, comparing & sharing our musical identities through discussion in class § **Student Journal**: Student journals are active learning places reflecting work accomplished. Students should revisit ideas present in class //away// from class. Reflection by writing or sketching in the Journal is an excellent way to assimilate information. Journals should record “aha” discoveries, brainstorming, project notes, class __and homework__ assignments. Parents: Please read Journals and dialogue with students about how music relates to your family and to individuals within your family. Students: record reflective thoughts. Journal entries should be orderly and readable. Content should reflect student’s thinking, not simply be lists of notes or verbatim summaries of others.

=ENSEMBLE BEHAVIOR=

__Class Goal__ **Become a cohesive musical //ensemble//: Listening, Thinking,** **Attentive**.

__Class Motto__ **Think and Act with Intention.** Self-discipline is not optional: It is required. The actions of one help or hinder everyone. = = =CLASS RULES=


 * 1) Arrive On Time
 * 2) Arrive Prepared (all materials in hand)
 * 3) Act Appropriate (quality of participation is expected to be excellent)
 * 4) Be Attentive (listen first; think before doing)
 * 5) Be Respectful (monitor your behavior in relation to others)
 * 6) **__No gum, food or sugary drinks inside the classroom__**
 * 7) Student safety first (no leaving class except in emergency)


 * DISCIPLINE**
 * 1st offense: Verbal warning, 5 point deduction from daily participation grade**
 * 2nd offense: disqualifies student from weekly drawing; teacher communication to parent; 10 point deduction from daily participation grade**
 * 3rd offense: Disqualifies student from weekly drawing; student conference with Ms. Difabio or Dr, Wall; 20 point deduction from daily participation grade**

=GRADING=

Grades are earned by assessing student’s //__knowledge__// (classroom assignments, homework, quizzes and exams), //__skills__// (instrument-playing, singing, audiating and social skills assessments), and //__performance__//.

Online Blog/Listening **20 Percent** Handouts/projects **20 Percent** Practice Minutes **20 Percent** Participation **40 Percent**


 * Final exam: Participation** in the performances held at BA throughout the year.

I will be available M/W/F from 12:00-1:00 pm and T/Th from 1:00-2:00 pm. This is the best time to call my classroom. If the student desires extra instruction after school an appointment MUST be made by email at ssullivan@beaufortacademy.org. This is the only way to ensure the best time for both student and teacher.

Please read and discuss this entire packet with your child.

Sign and return the signature page.