SIXTH GRADE       BAND
Course Description:  This is an elective for 6th grade students.  The class focuses on band fundamentals through contests, concerts, honor bands, and other performances.  We provide entertainment for middle school activities, as well as a Winter and Spring concert.

Resources:  Essential Elements Book I, Various Sheet Music

I.   Sixth Grade Band ­ First Nine Weeks
     A.   Practice Counting Method
     B.   Practice Foot-tapping Method
     C.   Begin Using Musical Terminology
     D.   Start Magazine Fund-Raiser
II.  Sixth Grade Band ­ Second Nine Weeks
     A.   Continue Counting & Foot-tapping Emphasis
     B.  Emphasize Proper Concert Behavior
     C.   Prepare for Winter Concert
III.  Sixth Grade Band ­ Third Nine Weeks
      A.   Introduce Honor Band Information
      B.   Begin concept of tone and timbre
IV.  Sixth Grade Band ­ Fourth Nine Weeks
       A.  Prepare for Spring Concert

SEVENTH GRADE       BAND
Course Description:  This is an elective for 7th grade students.  The class focuses on continuing band fundamentals through contests, concerts, honor bands, and other performances.  We provide entertainment for middle school activities, as well as a Winter and Spring concert.

Resources:  Essential Elements Book II, Various Sheet Music

I.   Seventh Grade Band ­ First Nine Weeks
     A. Prepare for 9th grade football games
     B. Review Musical Terminology
     C.   Begin Sight-Reading Techniques
     D.   Start Magazine Fund-Raiser

II.  Seventh Grade Band ­ Second Nine Weeks
     A. Prepare for District Contest
 1.  Use proper tone, timbre, dynamics, phrasing.
 2.  Continue work on sight-reading
     B. Emphasize Proper Concert Behavior
     C.   Prepare for Winter Concert

III.  Seventh Grade Band ­ Third Nine Weeks
     A.  Introduce Honor Band Information
     B.  Prepare for District Contest
 1.  Use proper tone, timbre, dynamics, phrasing
 2.  Continue work on sight-reading
     C.  Go to District Contest
 1.   Review judges’ critique sheets aloud

IV.  Seventh Grade Band ­ Fourth Nine Weeks
     A.  Prepare for Spring Concert
 

EIGHTH GRADE       BAND

Course Description:  This is an elective for 8th grade students.  The class focuses on continuing band fundamentals through contests, concerts, honor bands, and other performances.  We provide entertainment for middle school activities, as well as a Winter and Spring concert.

Resources:  Essential Elements Book III, Various Sheet Music
I.   Eighth Grade Band ­ First Nine Weeks
     A. Prepare for 9th grade football games
     B. Review Musical Terminology
     C.   Begin Sight-Reading Techniques
     D.   Start Magazine Fund-Raiser

II.  Eighth Grade Band ­ Second Nine Weeks
     A. Prepare for District Contest
 1.  Use proper tone, timbre, dynamics, phrasing.
 2.  Continue work on sight-reading
     B. Emphasize Proper Concert Behavior
     C.   Prepare for Winter Concert

III.  Eighth Grade Band ­ Third Nine Weeks
     A.  Introduce Honor Band Information
     B.  Prepare for District Contest
 1.  Use proper tone, timbre, dynamics, phrasing
 2.  Continue work on sight-reading
     C.  Go to District Contest
 1.   Review judges’ critique sheets aloud

IV.  Eighth Grade Band ­ Fourth Nine Weeks
     A.  Prepare for Spring Concert
     B.  Begin Marching Fundamentals
 
 

VOCAL MUSIC

SIXTH GRADE    GENERAL MUSIC

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  General Music Classes consists of all Weatherford 6th graders.  These classes focus on music fundamentals, which provides the students with the knowledge to better understand and perform music.  Main objectives for this class are to sing with appropriate tone quality, to develop music reading skills, to play pitched and unpitched instruments and to sing a variety of musical styles and songs.  Sixth graders will participate in two concerts. (Winter and Spring)
 

RESOURCES:  Various folk song books, Share the Music textbooks, Orff and Kodaly method books and materials from various workshops
I. General Music ­ First Nine Weeks
 A.  Review Rhythms
  1.  quarter note and rest
  2.  half note and rest
  3.  whole note and rest
  4.  eighth notes, eighth note and rest
  5.  dotted half note
  6.  sixteenth notes
 B.  Music reading skills
  1.  bar line
  2.  measure
  3.  double bar line
  4.  repeat sign
  5.  time signature
 C.  Change counting from syllables to numbers
 D.  Teach anacrusis
 E.  Practice rhythmic dictation
 F.  Review of Pentatonic Scale
  1.  So ­ Mi
  2.  So ­ Mi ­ La
  3.  So ­ Mi ­ La ­ Do
  4.  Mi ­ Re ­ Do
  5.  Do ­ Re ­ Mi ­ So ­ La

 G.  Practice melodic dictation

II. General Music ­ Second Nine Weeks
 A.  Sight read pentatonic scale on staff
 B.  Review dynamics
 C.  Identify music symbols and definitions
 D.  Teach partner songs
 E.  Teach cannon form
 F.  Emphasize proper concert behavior
 G.  Work on Winter concert

III. General Music ­ Third Nine Weeks
 A.  Teach Fa and Ti
 B.  Review Treble Clef line and space letter names
 C.  Teach Bass Clef line and space letter names
 D.  Teach absolute pitch
 E.  Begin study of Key Signatures
  1.  Key of C
  2.  Key of G
  3.  Key of F
 F.  Teach entire scale including low La
 G.  Teach dotted quarter note ­ eighth note pattern

IV. General Music ­ Fourth Nine Weeks
 A.  Review beat vs. Rhythm
 B.  Teach form
 C.  Compose simple melodies and rhythms
 D.  Conducting patterns
  1.  2/4  meter
  2.  3/4  meter
  3.  4/4  meter
 E.  Prepare for Spring Concert

7TH & 8TH GRADE    MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Weatherford Middle School 7th and 8th Grade Choir is an elective course.  This class provides the opportunity for students to participate in a mixed choral setting.  The class focuses on continuing music fundamentals, proper tone quality, and music reading skills using the Kodaly method and knowledge to better understand choral music.  Music skills are displayed through concerts given throughout the year.  Each student has the opportunity to participate in various vocal competitions within the school year.

RESOURCES; Choral music selections.  Sight Reading material from various books and material gathered from workshop
I.  Middle School Choir ­ First Nine Weeks
 A.  Review Sight Reading
  1.  Rhythms
  2.  Pitches
 B.  Use solfegio
  1.  Introduce handsigns
  2.  Use handsigns while singing
 C.  Prepare music for Fall Concert
  1.  Incorporate sight reading into concert music
  2.  Work on proper tone
  3.  Work on uniform vowels
 D.  Prepare students for vocal competitions
  1.  Western Oklahoma Honor choir
  2.  American Choral Directors Association Junior High All ­ State
  3.  Oklahoma Music Educators Association Children’s All ­ State

II.  Middle School Choir ­ Second Nine Weeks
 A.  Continue sight reading exercises
 B.  Prepare for Winter concert
  1.  Incorporate sight reading into concert music
  2.  Work on proper tone
  3.  Work on uniform vowels
 C.  Participate in vocal competitions for individual students

III.  Middle School Choir ­ Third Nine Weeks
 A.  Prepare for District Choir Contest
  1.  7th grade mixed chorus, concert and sight reading
  2.  8th grade mixed chorus, concert and sight reading
  3.  7tb and 8th grade men’s chorus, concert and sight reading
  4.  7th and 8th grade women’s chorus, concert and sight reading
 B.  Prepare students for individual solo and ensemble contest

IV.  Middle School Choir ­ Fourth Nine Weeks
 A.  Prepare music for Spring Concert
  1.  Incorporate sight reading into concert music
  2.  Work on proper tone
  3.  Work on uniform vowels
 B.  Prepare for Tri ­ State contest
  1.  7th grade mixed chorus
  2.  8th grade mixed chorus
  3.  7th and 8th grade men’s chorus
  4.  7th and 8th grade women’s chorus
 C.  Prepare music for 8th grade graduation