Bryant Woods Elementary School Band & Strings
Grading Policy
The Instrumental Music Report Card grades will be included on your child’s academic report card each quarter. It is important that you and your child review the grade and/or comments so that you can identify areas where your child may need some additional support. Your child will be assessed and graded in the following areas:
Creativity and Composition - 15%
Students will complete composition assignments to further their understanding of music theory and creative processes.
Musicianship - 15%
Students will complete assignments that explore musical works performed in the class to further their understanding of performance practice. Assignments may include listening to personal, ensemble, and professional recordings and researching musical works to understand cultural and historical context.
Applied Skills & Technical Development - 50%
Students will receive graded performance assessments and skills tests throughout the year. These tests may be video and/or audio recorded.
Procedures and Practices - (Learning Behaviors)
Students are not just learning to perform on their instruments, but they are also learning to conduct themselves in a large ensemble rehearsal. This class will put the student in the role of a professional instrumental musician. As such, students will be asked to show their understanding of rehearsal and performance behavior. Students are observed and assessed on their instrumental performance and rehearsal conduct on a daily basis.
Reflection - 20%
Students will receive written or aural reflection assignments over the course of the year. Students will evaluate their performances and performances by other groups in the following categories: tone, technique, intonation, musicality, balance, interpretation, musical effect, and other factors.
All Band and Strings students are required to participate in 2 concerts per year - our Winter and Spring concerts. Concerts are not only a valuable musical learning experience for our students, but are also an opportunity for them to present their hard work. In addition, as an ensemble, each member relies on the other members to perform their parts. So a missing member of the ensemble not only loses the opportunity for a valuable and enjoyable experience, but also places added burden on his or her fellow ensemble members. Any student who cannot participate for any reason must submit a written note from a parent/guardian to excuse his or her absence. County policy states that an excused absence for a performance includes illness, death in the family or religious reasons.
Grading Policy
The Instrumental Music Report Card grades will be included on your child’s academic report card each quarter. It is important that you and your child review the grade and/or comments so that you can identify areas where your child may need some additional support. Your child will be assessed and graded in the following areas:
Creativity and Composition - 15%
Students will complete composition assignments to further their understanding of music theory and creative processes.
Musicianship - 15%
Students will complete assignments that explore musical works performed in the class to further their understanding of performance practice. Assignments may include listening to personal, ensemble, and professional recordings and researching musical works to understand cultural and historical context.
Applied Skills & Technical Development - 50%
Students will receive graded performance assessments and skills tests throughout the year. These tests may be video and/or audio recorded.
Procedures and Practices - (Learning Behaviors)
Students are not just learning to perform on their instruments, but they are also learning to conduct themselves in a large ensemble rehearsal. This class will put the student in the role of a professional instrumental musician. As such, students will be asked to show their understanding of rehearsal and performance behavior. Students are observed and assessed on their instrumental performance and rehearsal conduct on a daily basis.
Reflection - 20%
Students will receive written or aural reflection assignments over the course of the year. Students will evaluate their performances and performances by other groups in the following categories: tone, technique, intonation, musicality, balance, interpretation, musical effect, and other factors.
All Band and Strings students are required to participate in 2 concerts per year - our Winter and Spring concerts. Concerts are not only a valuable musical learning experience for our students, but are also an opportunity for them to present their hard work. In addition, as an ensemble, each member relies on the other members to perform their parts. So a missing member of the ensemble not only loses the opportunity for a valuable and enjoyable experience, but also places added burden on his or her fellow ensemble members. Any student who cannot participate for any reason must submit a written note from a parent/guardian to excuse his or her absence. County policy states that an excused absence for a performance includes illness, death in the family or religious reasons.