Tanque Verde Bands Syllabus

TVUSD Elementary Instrumental Music

Requirements and Grading Policy

Participation Expectations

All TVUSD Elementary Instrumental Music students are expected to arrive on time to class with their instrument, a pencil, and a notebook. Students should follow all of the instrumental music room rules and demonstrate positive, mature behavior.

Overall participation and a demonstration of respectful behavior will constitute 40% of the student’s grade.

Since the TVUSD Elementary Bands and Orchestras are performing classes, all Band and Orchestra students are expected to be at both the Winter and Spring performances. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and make-up work will be required of those students with excused concert absences. Unexcused concert absences cannot be made up and the student’s grade will be affected.

Concert attendance and performance will constitute a significant portion of the student’s semester grade. The attendance and performance may substitute for the second quarter playing test grade (see below).

Assessment

An assigned playing test will be given each quarter. (Each student is required to perform their playing test before the rest of the class, and every student is required to demonstrate the utmost respect for the student performing their test.) Notification is usually one week prior, giving the student adequate time to prepare their best performance.

Assigned playing tests will constitute 30% of the student’s quarter grade.

All Band and Orchestra Students have homework. Each student will be responsible to practice, at home, at least three half-hours per week. A parent will need to sign/initial the practice record for each week, and the practice records will be collected every three weeks (three practice logs per quarter).
Practicing AND turning in the practice logs will constitute 30% of the student’s grade. Please see the "Homework" link for a printable Practice Record."

Each quarter, students may opt to do a written project for extra credit. This project will involve research work in the area of music, but will not necessarily be limited to instrumental music only. Each student will decide on a topic and have it approved by the instrumental music director before starting their project. The student may also opt instead to do a "WebQuest." This is a guided, online written assignment.

Written Projects, done for extra credit, can help the student achieve a higher grade when there are shortcomings in other graded areas. Up to 10% credit may be given, allowing the student as much as a full letter grade boost. Please see the "Homework" link for Research Paper instructions.

Emily Gray Advanced Band, Cadet Band, and String Orchestra

Requirements and Grading Policy

Participation Expectations

All Bobcat Instrumental Music students are expected to arrive on time to class with their instrument, a pencil, and a notebook. Students have a full minute after the tardy bell to get their instrument and take their seat, are expected to follow all of the instrumental music room rules, and demonstrate positive, mature behavior.

Overall participation and behavior will constitute 30% of the student’s grade.

Since the Bobcat Band and Orchesta are performing classes, all Band and Orchestra students are expected to be at both the Winter and Spring performances. Exceptions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, and make-up work will be required of those students with excused concert absences. Unexcused concert absences cannot be made up and the student’s grade will be affected.

Concert attendance and performance will serve in the place of the second playing test for the student's second and fourth quarter grades. (See "...playing tests..." below)

Assessment

All Band and Orchesra Students have homework. Each student will be responsible to practice, at home, at least three half-hours per week. A parent will need to sign/initial the practice record for each week, and the practice records will be collected every three weeks (three practice logs per quarter).

Practicing AND turning in the practice logs will constitute 10% of the student’s grade. Please see the "Homework" link for a printable Practice Record."

Two assigned playing tests will be given each quarter. (Each student is required to perform their playing test before the rest of the class, and every student is required to demonstrate the utmost respect for the student performing their test.) Notification is usually one week prior, giving the student adequate time to prepare their best performance.

Assigned playing tests will constitute 50% of the student’s quarter grade.

Each quarter, all students will be assigned a written project. This project will involve research work in the area of music, but will not necessarily be limited to instrumental music only. Each student will decide on a topic and have it approved by the instrumental music director before starting their project. These written assignments are due one week before the end of each quarter. The student may also opt instead to do a "WebQuest." This is a guided, online written assignment.

Written Projects will constitute 10% of the student's quarter grade.

Please see the "Homework" link for Research Paper instructions.