Skip to main content

MUSC 346

MUSC 346
METHODS AND LITERATURE FOR SCHOOL BANDS

Catalog Entry

MUSC 346. Methods and Literature for School Bands

Three Hours lecture/laboratory.

Prerequisites:   Completion of Music 220 with a minimum grade of “C”

Completion of Music 354 with a minimum grade of “C” 

A survey of instructional methods and literature for beginning, intermediate and advanced school bands.  Includes curriculum planning, rehearsal techniques, performance practices for various style periods and cultures.  At least 6 hours of observation/participation in public school music classes and participation in Lab Band as conductor-teacher and performer is required.

 

Detailed Description of Content of Course

 

1.         Methods

                        a.         Standards

                                    i.          National Standards for Arts Education (Music)

                                    ii.         Virginia Standards of Learning (SOLs) for Music and for other subjects

                                    iii.        Other published curricula for instrumental music

                        b.         Teaching musicianship

                                    i.          Tonal concept/quality of sound

                                    ii.         Teaching instrumental technique

                                    iii.        Teaching sight reading

                                    iv.        Assessment of student learning

                        c.         Rehearsal techniques

                                    i.          Warm-up procedures

                                    ii.         Full ensemble rehearsals

                                    iii.        Sectional rehearsals

                                    iv.        Small ensembles

                                    v.         Group lessons

                                    vi.        Individual instruction

                                    vii.       Accompanying

                                    viii.      Working with voices

                        d.         Personnel matters

                                    i.          Motivation, classroom management, and discipline

                                    ii.         Recruitment and retention

                                    iii.        Auditions and placement

                                    iv.        Participation/inclusion

                                    v.         Ensemble balance

                                    vi.        Seating plans

                                    vii.       Individual differences among children (economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, physical, and mental)

                        e.         Scheduling concerns

                                    i.          Rehearsals

                                    ii.         Sectionals

                                    iii.        Lessons

                                    iv.        Performances

                                    v.         Summer music programs

                        f.          Material concerns

                                    i.          Floor plan

                                    ii.         Risers

                                    iii.        Storage

                                    iv.        Office equipment

                                    v.         Technology

                                    vi.        Supplies

                                    vii.       Music

                                    viii.      Folders

                                    ix.        Performance attire

                        g.         General acoustics and instrumental acoustics

                        h.         Instructional technology and other teaching aids

                        i.          Legal and ethical issues

                                    i.          Copyright law

                                    ii.         Uses of technology

 


 

                                    iii.        Identifying values (historical, philosophical, sociological) that guide educational choices

                                    iv.        Equal access issues (economic, social, racial, ethnic, religious, physical, and mental)

                                    v.         Other

            2.         Literature for school bands

                        a..        Method books

                        b.         Materials for sight reading

                        c.         Literature resources

                                    i.          State graded lists and other published lists of literature

                                    ii.         Publisher’s catalogs and promotional recordings

                                    iii.        Internet resources

                                    iv.        Professional journal reviews

                                    v.         Workshops, clinics, and conventions

                                    vi.        Recommendations of colleagues

                                    vii.       Concert programs

                                    viii.      Other

                        d          Analyzing and selecting music for instrumental solos, small and large ensembles.

                                    i.          Age/experience level

                                    ii.         Technical requirements.

                                    iii.        Quality

                                    iv.        Historical genres

                                                (a)        Original works

                                                (b)        Transcriptions

                                    v.         Styles and style periods

                                    vi.        Forms (ABA, sonata, theme and variations, etc.)

                                    vii.       Music of diverse cultures, both Western and non-Western

                        e.         Non-performance curricular criteria (theoretical/historical concepts, etc.).

                        f.          Non-curricular factors (programming, cost, etc.)

                        g.         Sequencing of music and pedagogical materials

                                    i.          Beginning ensembles

                                    ii.         Intermediate ensembles

                                    iii.        Advanced ensembles

 

Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course includes reading and listening assignments, discussion, lecture, papers, score analysis, projects, student presentations, construction of a database of instrumental music literature, performance of basic level piano accompaniments to instrumental solos,  exams, and peer teaching exercises.

 

Goals and Objectives of the Course.

 

At the conclusion of the course, the student will:        

            1.  Describe and/or demonstrate effective instrumental instruction methods for students in Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced bands including:

                        a          Addressing state and national standards in rehearsal

 

 

                        b          Teaching musicianship through tonal concepts, instrumental technique, and sight reading

                        c          Rehearsal techniques

                        d          Personnel matters, such as auditions and placement, motivation, recruitment and retention, balance, seating plans, and individual differences among children

                        e          Scheduling concerns for rehearsals, sectionals, lessons, performances and summer music programs

                        f           Material concerns, such as risers, storage, music folders, and performance attire

                        g          General and instrumental acoustics

                        h          Instructional technology and other teaching aids

 

 

                        i           Legal and ethical issues

 

 

 

            2.  Describe and demonstrate ways to

                        a          Locate and purchase instrumental music literature

                        b          Assemble a database of instrumental music literature in a wide range of genres, styles, historical periods, and cultures (Western and non-Western) appropriate for use in school band programs at beginning and intermediate levels

 

                        c          Evaluate and select program materials which meet curricular and non-curricular performance for instrumental music

 

Assessment Measures

Assessment will include written tests, peer teaching, projects and presentations, assembly of a reference notebook, and construction of a database of instrumental music literature.

 

Other Course Information

 

Approval and Subsequent Reviews

DATE ACTION APPROVED BY
Revised February, 2009