School District of Marshfield

Course Syllabus

Course Name: Band/Wind Ensemble

Length of Course: Year
Credits: 1 Credit
Course Description:
Band/Wind Ensemble is centered around a challenging level of music. Students will
perform music for concerts, marching field shows, parades, solo & ensemble festival,
musical pit opportunity, madrigal trumpets, orchestra winds and support of home
athletic events. All students (grades 9-12) audition and are placed in either the
Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble which rehearse separately. This course may only
be dropped during the first 4 weeks of the school year.
Prerequisites:
By audition only, with freshman through senior standing.
Learning Targets:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
Demonstrate an open, resonant, full tone in most registers and ranges.
Demonstrate improving accuracy in breathing and embouchure skills.
Demonstrate accurate intonation in all ranges and registers. Pitch
adjustments are made with help from director.
Demonstrate high level of accuracy with all notes and rhythms being
performed accurately with correct pulse throughout.
Demonstrate consistently appropriate posture and articulation.
Demonstrate high level of expression with accurate style elements,
interpretation, phrasing, dynamics and tempo.
Demonstrate the ability to watch and respond to the director throughout
the performance.
Demonstrate that they understand and can implement the importance of:
respect for others and rules; being prepared for class and performances;
being an active participant in rehearsals and performances; seeking
improvement through independent practice.
Demonstrate their ability to move in a rhythmically accurate manner.
Demonstrate knowledge spatial relationships and how the individual fits
into the whole.
Demonstrate their ability to dress, carry themselves and their instruments,
play, and move in a precise and deliberate manner

Topic Outline
First Quarter
I. Marching/Pep Band, Weeks 1-6
A. Homecoming/Parent Performance
1. Learn and rehearse homecoming and parent performance music
2. Sight reading
3. Learn and rehearse field marching formations and movements
a. Glide step
b. 8 to 5, 22 inch step
c. 6 to 5, 30 inch step
d. Instrument carriage
e. Alignment
f. Float
g. Rotate
h. Step 2
i. Follow the leader
4. Lessons pertaining to performances
B. Pep Band
1. Learn and rehearse music for pep band
2. Sight reading
3. Perform at home football games
II. Concert Band Preparation, Weeks 7-9
A. Prepare audition music for concert group audition
1. Etude
2. Scales
3. Students Choice
B. Perform audition material for placement in concert groups
1. If students audition does not result in placement in Wind Ensemble,
student is moved from honors credit to regular.
III. Solo and Ensemble, Weeks 7-9
A. Solo Literature (performance optional)
1. Research and choose Class A or B (college level) solo piece from
WSMA list
2. Work with director to confirm choice
3. Independent practice
4. Lessons pertaining to solo literature
Formative Assessments:

Lessons Parent performance & Homecoming music

Audition for concert group placement

Summative Assessments: Homecoming performance

Football Pep band performances

Second Quarter
I. Winter Concert, Weeks 1-9
A. Chair Placement
1. Prepare audition music for chair placement in Wind Ensemble
2. Perform audition material for chair placement
3. Challenges for shifting chair placement
a. Etude
b. Choice
c. Sight reading
B. Concert Music
1. Sight read college and professional level concert band music
2. Discuss literature and composers
3. Lessons pertaining to concert performance music
II. Pep Band, Weeks 1-9
A. Sight read and choose music for performances at athletic events
1. Research titles online
2. Divide into smaller performance groups
B. Performances at football games
1. Remaining home games
2. Home playoff games
3. State football game
C. Performances at winter athletic events
1. Boys basketball
2. Girls basketball
3. Boys hockey
4. Girls hockey
5. Wrestling
III. Solo and Ensemble, Weeks 5-9
A. Small Ensemble Literature (performance optional)
1. Research and choose Class A or B (college level) ensemble piece
from WSMA list
2. Work with director to confirm choice
3. Independent practice alone and with the ensemble
4. Lessons pertaining to ensemble literature
Formative Assessments:

Lessons Concert music & Solo/ensemble

Audition for concert group chair placement
Challenges

Summative Assessments: Football Pep band performances

Winter athletics Pep band performances

Third Quarter
I. Winter Concert, Weeks 1-2
A. Concert Music
1. Final preparations for concert
2. Lessons pertaining to concert music
B. Concert Performance
1. Perform concert
2. Discuss performance
II. Pep Band, Weeks 1-7
A. Performances at winter athletic events
1. Boys basketball
2. Girls basketball
3. Boys hockey
4. Girls hockey
5. Wrestling
6. Basketball home playoff games
III. District Solo and Ensemble, Weeks 1-9
A. Solo Literature Preparation
1. Independent practice
2. Lesson done during accompanist rehearsal
3. Work with accompanist
B. Solo Literature Performance
1. Performance for WSMA accredited adjudicator and audience of adults
and peers for written and verbal critique using WSMA rubric.
C. Small Ensemble Literature Preparation
1. Work with accompanist if part of ensemble
2. Independent practice alone and with the ensemble
3. Lessons pertaining to ensemble literature
D. Small Ensemble Literature Performance
2. Performance for WSMA accredited adjudicator and audience of adults
and peers for written and verbal critique using WSMA rubric.
E. Continuation of rehearsal if event receives *1 rating
IV. Spring Concert, Weeks 3-9
A. Concert Music
1. Sight read college level concert band music
2. Discuss literature and composers
3. Challenges for shifting chair placement
a. Etude
b. Choice
c. Sight reading
4. Lessons pertaining to concert performance music
Formative Assessments:

Lessons Concert music & Solo/ensemble

Accompanist rehearsals
Challenges

Summative Assessments: Winter Concert

District Solo and Ensemble Festival
Winter athletics Pep band performances
Fourth Quarter
I. State Solo and Ensemble, Weeks 1-5
A. Solo Literature Preparation
1. Work with accompanist
2. Independent practice
3. Lesson done during accompanist rehearsal
B. Solo Literature Performance
1. Performance for WSMA accredited adjudicator and audience of adults
and peers
C. Small Ensemble Literature Preparation
1. Work with accompanist if provided
2. Independent practice alone and with the ensemble
3. Lessons pertaining to ensemble literature
D. Small Ensemble Literature Performance
1. Performance for WSMA accredited adjudicator and audience of adults
and peers
II. Spring Concert, Weeks 1-7
A. Concert Music
1. Final preparations for concert
2. Challenges for shifting chair placement
a. Etude
b. Choice
c. Sight reading
3. Lessons pertaining to concert music
B. Concert Performance
1. Perform concert
2. Discuss performance
III. Marching Band, Weeks 7-9
A. Street Parade Performance
1. Learn and rehearse street parade performance music
2. Sight reading
3. Learn and rehearse street marching
a. Glide step
b. 8 to 5, 22 inch step
c. 6 to 5, 30 inch step
d. Instrument carriage
e. Row alignment
f. Percussion cadence
g. Cover down
4. Lessons pertaining to parade performance

Formative Assessments:

Lessons Concert music, Marching music & Solo/ensemble

literature
Accompanist rehearsals
Challenges

Summative Assessments: State Solo and Ensemble Festival

Spring Concert
Dairyfest Parade
Required Core Resources:
1st Quarter
a. Music Library - Marching Band Music
b. Music Library - Pep Band Music
c. Music Library Concert Band Music
d. Uniforms
e. Musical Equipment (Instruments, sticks, mallets)
f. Half-time show preparation and performance equipment and supplies
g. Field show information sheet
h. Materials and supplies for Homecoming
2nd Quarter
a. Music Library - Concert Music
b. Music Library - Pep Band Music
c. Music Library - Solo & Ensemble Music
d. Musical Equipment (Instruments, sticks, mallets)
3rd Quarter
a. Music Library - Concert Music
b. Music Library - Pep Band Music
c. Music Library - Solo & Ensemble Music
d. Musical Equipment (Instruments, sticks, mallets)
e. Materials and Supplies for Solo and Ensemble
f. Materials and Supplies for winter concert
4th Quarter
a. Uniforms
b. Musical Equipment (Instruments, sticks, mallets)
c. Music Library - Concert Music
d. Music Library - Pep Band Music
e. Music Library - Solo & Ensemble Music
Additional Materials:
a. Transportation to Football field, Hockey Arena, Parade
b. Possible Guest Artist
c. Marching show materials (Computer program, paint, paper etc)
d. Transportation to State Solo & Ensemble
e. Materials and supplies for Spring Concert

f. Materials and supplies for parade

g. WSMA registration
h. District Solo & Ensemble Entry Fees
i. State Solo & Ensemble Entry Fees
j. Solo & Ensemble Medals