Course Overview |
This year, Pacific Trails Middle School will offer 2 levels of Band- Concert Band and Symphonic Band. Students can audition to try to make it into the Symphonic Band. Auditions are graded on tone, intonation, articulation, and dynamics. We’ll be covering basic fundamentals such as proper breathing, note and rhythm reading, instrument position and performance techniques. For the experienced players, we will continue advanced performance techniques and musicality through the use of method books, appropriate concert band pieces, and other selected etudes. We’ll also be using a program called Smart Music, which our district has graciously purchased for all music students. With Smart Music, students can access method books and concert pieces to practice at home. Advanced students will also be given the opportunity to audition for honor groups, such as the All State and All Southern Honor Bands. The Band will be participating in multiple public performances, including Padre’s Band Night, Arts Night school concerts, Elementary school concerts, and a Forums Music Festival and Disneyland trip. Some of our public performances are mandatory, like our Arts Night concerts. Conflicts in schedules should be worked out 2 weeks before a performance to allow time to have specific parts covered by other students.
Uniforms are required for each public concert and consist of black dress pants, black shoes, and a white polo shirt with our school’s music logo on it. The polo shirts are $25. The polo shirts are available for purchase at https://ptmsmusicfoundation.weebly.com/payments-orders--donations.html. If you are unable to purchase a polo shirt, the PTMS Music Foundation will be available to financially assist you. Students are required to have their own instruments for band class. Some instruments are available to borrow from the school based off of availability (all percussion equipment, drums, oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, tenor saxophone, bari saxophone, French horn, euphonium, and Tuba.) Instruments may be rented through your local music stores (Bertrand’s Music, Nick Rail Music, etc.) Please check out our PTMS Music website at (http://ptmsmusicfoundation.weebly.com/) for a calendar of events, forms, and more information. If you’d like to be involved with our PTMS Music Foundation, please send me an email and come to our monthly meetings to help support our music program. Students can also log onto Google Classroom for copies of their music, recordings, and other forms. |
Class Rules |
Respect each other
Don’t tease or call out other’s mistakes. Don’t use the meeting chat inappropriately. Help each other. Be positive. Respect your school Pick up trash. Put things where they go. No eating food, gum or candy in class. You are only allowed to drink water in class. Be presentable out in public at concerts and other events. Use electronic devices responsibly Don’t have your cell phones or tablets out during class. Electronic devices must remain in your backpack at all times. |