The Advanced Band Curriculum is designed as a final stage preparatory class for high school band.  This class will spend 90 per cent of their time on orchestrated music.  The eighth grade players are encouraged to audition for the IMEA district festival.  For specific information, ask your child or e-mail the staff. 

All Junior High band students are required to attend four lessons per grading period.  Please see the grading requirements.

 We use "Methods for Superior Performance" and supplementary materials.  This book works well for us at this level because it provides useful warm-ups as well as comprehensive scales.  Scores from skill evaluations are used for grading as well as chair placements. 

   State Goal #25:  Know the language of the arts.

•     Perform a variety of instrumental music with appropriate expression, following all musical signs and symbols. 
•     To play F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, C, G, and D concert major scales with parallel natural, harmonic, melodic minor scale clusters, and two-octave arpeggio. 
•     Chromatic scale is to be played--two-octave from memory.
•     Compare and contrast two works of art from the same or from different art forms.

   State Goal #26:  Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are

                               produced.

•      Describe the processes involved in performing music.
•      Play with expression and accuracy a variety of music of various genres and cultures appropriate to the advanced junior high musician.

   State Goal #27:  Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present.

•      Identify and describe various careers and jobs in the arts.
•      Understand the societal function of a particular performance piece (i.e. entertainment, ceremony).
•      Know and describe how music of a particular period reflects its historical and cultural importance.

        70 %  tests, quizzes, and evaluations

        10 %  practice log with 90 min/wk and signed by a parent

        10 %  attending prescribed number of lessons/quarter

        10 %  attending the performance (concert) that is required

      100 %

        Students are encouraged  to seek help from the instructors when needed.  Please

        ask for help.

                                                                                                                       see grading

   The band will play at two concerts and one parade.  The performance dates are listed on the Intermediate Band Index.  Performance dates will steer many of the class projects and performances should be viewed as a final assessment for large units of material.  All performances are mandatory, please view the grading section of this page.  The Memorial Day Parade is the event that suffers the most from absent musicians.