Students will form a concert band consisting of flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, bassoons, trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, tubas, string bass and percussion. The instructor will teach the material and will conduct the rehearsals and concerts. In addition, the use of mechanical and/or electronic aids such as the TAP rhythm machine, recordings, tuning devices, metronomes, and others may be assigned and evaluated.
Music to be rehearsed and performed will include original compositions for band and selected transcriptions of orchestral and keyboard works. Sample repertoire for one semester could include:
J.S. Bach - Fantasia and Fugue in C minor
W.A. Mozart - First movement from Symphony #40
Rossini/Britten - Soirées musicales
Percy Grainger - Molly on the Shore
Dmitri Shostakovich - Festival overture
J.P. Sousa - The Thunderer
Clifton Williams - Concertino for Percussion
In addition to performance repertoire, students will work on technical studies and ensemble drills. Sight reading and rhythmic accuracy will be developed using the TAP rhythm system.
The successful student should be able to demonstrate:
1. Ensemble skills including intonation, blend and technical facility
2. The proper phrasing and interpretation of various styles of concert band music
3. Rhythmic accuracy, subdivision and sight reading skills
It is expected that students in third and fourth years will demonstrate a higher level of ensemble skills and musicianship than students in first and second years. They will be assessed using the same criteria but evaluated by a higher standard. No single assessment will be weighted at more than 40% of the final course grade. The following is a sample grade breakdown:
| Midterm TAP test | 15% |
| Midterm playing test and/or in-class assessment | 20% |
| Final TAP test | 15% |
| Final playing test | 30% |
| Ensemble skills (including performance at dress rehearsals and concerts) | 20% |
| TOTAL: | 100% |
*NB. In a performing group, regular attendance is vital to the learning of ensemble skills and the achievement of high performance standards. Absences affect every member of the ensemble; therefore 5% of the final mark will be deducted for each unexcused absence, to a maximum of 30%. Excused absences will include illness and urgent family or personal matters.
Unexcused absence from a dress rehearsal or a concert will result in a failing grade.
All music and study materials will be provided by ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ.
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