Beginning Band
Experience: None
Demonstration of various band instruments will occur the first week of school. Students then have the option to choose from a variety of instruments to play: flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone, percussion. Time will be spent on proper posture and breathing from the diaphragm. Students will learn how to put their instruments together correctly; they will also learn the correct way to hold their instruments.
Correct embouchure will be taught for all wind instruments. Percussionists will learn proper ways of holding sticks/mallets. Time will be spent just making sounds on mouthpieces. Finally, mouthpieces will be placed on instruments, and the group will start to read out of the Essential Elements Book One.
Attention will be spent on learning fingerings of notes, reading simple rhythms, reading notes on the musical staff and hearing the correct pitches. Also, percussionists will learn basic rudiments as well as reading their specific parts on the staff according to snare drum, bass drum and misc. percussion. Musical terminology and history will also be introduced to the group.
Intermediate Band
Experience: 1 year
Diving right into Essential Elements Book Two, students will spend the first week or so reviewing basics from Beginning Band: rhythm, notes, time and key signatures. The group will continue on with more intricate theory and musical concepts. Accidentals and enharmonics will be introduced; they will have more opportunities to play harmonically with duets throughout the second book...working on blend and balance.
Intermediate Band will waste no time in sight reading sheet music. By the first month, they will have at least three pieces which will be rehearsed to performance level. Students will learn the important musical concept of listening within a group for melodic lines and for the pyramid of sound. Blend and balance will be a necessity.
The group will join with Advanced Band to form the Sellwood Middle School Marching Band. Marching techniques will be learned indoors as well as out in the community. Along with performing in the Winter and Spring Concerts, students will march in a few parades towards the end of the school year: St. Patrick's, Community Appreciation, St. John's and Jr. Rose.
Advanced Band
Experience: At least 2 years
Advanced Band uses the third book in the Essential Elements series: Essential Technique. The book immediately deals with blend and balance focusing on chorales and listening to chords within a particular key. There are at least eight key signatures explored along with corresponding chorales within the text. The group will have many opportunities to work on the full sound of the band.
Grade level 2, 2 1/2 and 3 band literature will be rehearsed. Students will be sight reading many pieces throughout the year. Marching/pep band music will also be a part of the curriculum.
The group will perform much throughout the school year from marching in the Moreland Monster March in October to playing at the MS Band Festival in April and the Spring Concert in May. Another opportunity Advanced Band students have is participating in the district Solo and Ensemble Festival; band members can perform solos, duets or trios at this event.
Jazz Band
Experience: At least 2 years
This is an auditioned group which meets twice a week before school. Students will need to be at a level where sight reading is fairly easy for them. All forms of jazz from swing, blues, Latin and ballads will be explored.
Time will be spent working on improvisation. Using a particular scale along with listening to the chord progression set in the rhythm section will be discussed and used in practice. Everyone will practice improvising during rehearsal; most charts will call for a number of improvised solos.
Performances will include the Winter and Spring Concerts along with a few others throughout the year. The Jazz Band is always invited to play at the Westmoreland Union Manor as well as the Cullly Providence Elderplace in NE Portland. Many school events call for the group to perform, as well. No doubt, students in the Sellwood Jazz Band will be ready to move on to a high school jazz ensemble with confidence and ability in their musical career.
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Experience: None
Demonstration of various band instruments will occur the first week of school. Students then have the option to choose from a variety of instruments to play: flute, clarinet, sax, trumpet, trombone, baritone, percussion. Time will be spent on proper posture and breathing from the diaphragm. Students will learn how to put their instruments together correctly; they will also learn the correct way to hold their instruments.
Correct embouchure will be taught for all wind instruments. Percussionists will learn proper ways of holding sticks/mallets. Time will be spent just making sounds on mouthpieces. Finally, mouthpieces will be placed on instruments, and the group will start to read out of the Essential Elements Book One.
Attention will be spent on learning fingerings of notes, reading simple rhythms, reading notes on the musical staff and hearing the correct pitches. Also, percussionists will learn basic rudiments as well as reading their specific parts on the staff according to snare drum, bass drum and misc. percussion. Musical terminology and history will also be introduced to the group.
Intermediate Band
Experience: 1 year
Diving right into Essential Elements Book Two, students will spend the first week or so reviewing basics from Beginning Band: rhythm, notes, time and key signatures. The group will continue on with more intricate theory and musical concepts. Accidentals and enharmonics will be introduced; they will have more opportunities to play harmonically with duets throughout the second book...working on blend and balance.
Intermediate Band will waste no time in sight reading sheet music. By the first month, they will have at least three pieces which will be rehearsed to performance level. Students will learn the important musical concept of listening within a group for melodic lines and for the pyramid of sound. Blend and balance will be a necessity.
The group will join with Advanced Band to form the Sellwood Middle School Marching Band. Marching techniques will be learned indoors as well as out in the community. Along with performing in the Winter and Spring Concerts, students will march in a few parades towards the end of the school year: St. Patrick's, Community Appreciation, St. John's and Jr. Rose.
Advanced Band
Experience: At least 2 years
Advanced Band uses the third book in the Essential Elements series: Essential Technique. The book immediately deals with blend and balance focusing on chorales and listening to chords within a particular key. There are at least eight key signatures explored along with corresponding chorales within the text. The group will have many opportunities to work on the full sound of the band.
Grade level 2, 2 1/2 and 3 band literature will be rehearsed. Students will be sight reading many pieces throughout the year. Marching/pep band music will also be a part of the curriculum.
The group will perform much throughout the school year from marching in the Moreland Monster March in October to playing at the MS Band Festival in April and the Spring Concert in May. Another opportunity Advanced Band students have is participating in the district Solo and Ensemble Festival; band members can perform solos, duets or trios at this event.
Jazz Band
Experience: At least 2 years
This is an auditioned group which meets twice a week before school. Students will need to be at a level where sight reading is fairly easy for them. All forms of jazz from swing, blues, Latin and ballads will be explored.
Time will be spent working on improvisation. Using a particular scale along with listening to the chord progression set in the rhythm section will be discussed and used in practice. Everyone will practice improvising during rehearsal; most charts will call for a number of improvised solos.
Performances will include the Winter and Spring Concerts along with a few others throughout the year. The Jazz Band is always invited to play at the Westmoreland Union Manor as well as the Cullly Providence Elderplace in NE Portland. Many school events call for the group to perform, as well. No doubt, students in the Sellwood Jazz Band will be ready to move on to a high school jazz ensemble with confidence and ability in their musical career.
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