DSA Bands Class Syllabi
Concert Band
This class is offered as a major in the Bands Department at the Denver School of the Arts and is open only to students accepted by audition into the Instrumental Music Department. At the end of the school year, all students of the class will either receive an audition waiver or be required to re-audition for admittance back into the department as a major.
Purpose
The purpose of this class is to provide a forum and venue to those who love making music and to provide a deep foundation for future study in music, band, performance and art.
Goals
The class will emphasize the following areas of music instruction:
• Beginning to Intermediate levels of Music Theory – Music Notation, Ear Training and Composition are all taught within the department by all the music staff. The student understands that they may have a different music instructor for music theory who will grade their ability and progress in music theory. This becomes part of the student’s overall band grade.
• Leadership and Competition – Friendly competition among classmates is also part of the class curriculum as well through chair auditions, juries and other ability based assessments. Spoken, written and musical communication is assessed throughout the class curriculum and becomes imperative for leadership development.
• Artistic and Collaborative Responsibility – The students are expected to work collaboratively and maturely with each other in sectionals and when working with all instructors.
• Music/Styles History and Ethnicity Description
• Self and Group Critique Skills
Class Materials
• Musical instrument must be brought to school at all times in a well-maintained working order. If a DPS or DSA instrument is used the maintenance of the instrument is up to the student!
• Theory text or materials: These are passed out in class.
• Theory and history notebooks. Please have both lined notebook paper and music manuscript paper at all class meetings!
• A mechanical pencil (lead = 0.9) and soft eraser are requested for music notation, a pencil is required at all times in rehearsal.
Performance
Chair assignments will be determined through an audition process at the beginning of each semester or as determined by the director. The material used for these auditions will be given with ample preparation time. The director retains the right to move students in sections as he sees fit throughout the semester if changes need to be made.
It is imperative that the students of the Concert Band take private lessons. We recommend those younger players in the department study privately with older students at the school as well as with an outside professional. This will enhance students’ abilities and introduce them to an older “buddy.”
Grades are based on the following:
• Participation in the ensembles and musical
• Musical and artistic growth in rehearsals and concerts
• Music Theory progress
• Research papers and special assignments
• Participation, contribution to each class and promptness
• Professional student attitude and behavior
PROGRESS MONITORING:
• Grades in Infinite Campus will be updated once a week.
• Every 3 weeks prog/elig grades will be used to help identifying struggling students for interventions including tutoring.
• Every week, IC Messenger will send notices regarding failing assignments. These are notices of assignments that earned a failing grade (less than 59%). To verify a student’s class grade, you will need to check IC in more detail. Please keep in mind the grading policies as stated in the syllabus above. IC Messenger will also send out a message if the student has missed an assignment. Failing grades will be sent once per week, missing grades may be sent multiple times over a nine-week period.
Participation in all performances is mandatory and an essential culmination of instruction. Please make all DSA Band rehearsals, activities, trips and performances a priority in your schedule.
Wind Ensemble
This class is offered as a major in the Bands Department at the Denver School of the Arts and is open only to students accepted by audition into the Instrumental Music Department. At the end of the school year, all students of the class will either receive an audition waiver or be required to re-audition for admittance back into the department as a major.
Purpose
The purpose of this class is to provide a forum and venue to those who love making music and continued growth upon a basic foundation in music, band, performance and art.
Goals
The class will emphasize the following areas of music instruction:
• Intermediate to Advanced levels of Music Theory, Music Notation, Ear Training and Composition -
and Music History – Music Theory encompassing aural skills, rhythmic reading, composition, harmonic analysis and music history is a mandatory, companion course to Wind Ensemble. The student understands that they will have different music instructors for various components of the music theory curriculum who will grade their ability and progress. This is reflected on the transcript as a separate Music Theory Honors grade.
• Advanced Leadership – Friendly competition among classmates is part of the class curriculum through chair auditions, juries and other ability based assessments. Advanced spoken, written and musical communication is assessed throughout the class curriculum and becomes imperative for leadership development.• Advanced Artistic and Collaborative Responsibility – Students of the Wind Ensemble are expected to collaborate professionally and positively with all instructors conductors, guest conductors, visiting and resident artists. Students of the Wind Ensemble are also expected to work with each other in a professional, courteous, respectful manner to produce the highest result artistically.
• Advanced Music/Styles History and Ethnicity Description
• Advanced Self and Group Critique Skills
It is the intention of the department that the DSA Wind Ensemble be a premiere performance ensemble of the school. Participation in local and national competitions and performances is mandatory.
Class Materials
• Music: Students will be issued a music folder to protect the music handed out for performance. All music must be returned to the director when requested.
• Musical instrument must be brought to school at all times in a well maintained working order. If a DPS or DSA instrument is used the maintenance of the instrument is up to the student!
• Theory text or materials: These are passed out in class.
• Theory and history notebooks. Please have both lined notebook paper and music manuscript paper at all class meetings!
• A mechanical pencil (lead = 0.9) and soft eraser are requested for music notation, a pencil is required at all times in rehearsal.
Performance
Chair assignments will be determined through an audition process at the beginning of each semester or as determined by the director. The material used for these auditions will be given with ample preparation time. Members of the Wind Ensemble will be expected to mentor other less experienced students within the program and outside the school.
Participants of the Wind Ensemble may be asked to travel as part of a tour or competition. It is understood that the students give this ensemble priority in their personal schedules.
Grades are based on the following:
• Participation in the ensembles and musical
• Musical and artistic growth in rehearsals and concerts
• Music Theory progress
• Research papers and special assignments
• Participation, contribution to each class and promptness
• Professional student attitude and behavior
PROGRESS MONITORING:
• Grades in Infinite Campus will be updated once a week.
• Every 3 weeks prog/elig grades will be used to help identifying struggling students for interventions including tutoring.
• Every week, IC Messenger will send notices regarding failing assignments. These are notices of assignments that earned a failing grade (less than 59%). To verify a student’s class grade, you will need to check IC in more detail. Please keep in mind the grading policies as stated in the syllabus above. IC Messenger will also send out a message if the student has missed an assignment. Failing grades will be sent once per week, missing grades may be sent multiple times over a nine-week period.
Participation in all performances is mandatory and an essential culmination of instruction. Please make all DSA Band rehearsals, activities, trips and performances a priority in your schedule.
Senior Projects and Internships
All band seniors are required to complete a final senior project in order to graduate with full band credit and to receive director approval for an Arts Endorsed Diploma from DSA. The student must follow the time-line of performances and other details given by Mr. Hammond. Details of the project requirements can be obtained from Mr. Hammond. Get more information on the requirements for the Arts Endorsed Diploma from the Assistant Principals.
This class is a music minor offered by the Instrumental Music Department and is open to all students at the school by audition only. There may be an enrollment cap on the class due to instrumentation and groups.
Purpose
The purpose of this class is to provide a forum and venue to those who love making music and to provide a deep foundation, love and respect for America’s art form: jazz.
Goals
This class will concentrate on the following areas of music curriculum:
• Beginning to intermediate jazz performance in big band and small group setting
• Beginning to intermediate improvisation skills
• Beginning to intermediate jazz composition
Local competitions and performances will be a part of this class.
Materials
• Music: Students will be issued a music folder to protect the music handed out for performance. All music must be handed back in.
• Musical Instrument must be brought to school at all times
• Pencil at all times in rehearsal.
Performance
Chair assignments will be determined through an audition process at the beginning of each semester. The material used for these auditions will be given in the first week of classes.
PROGRESS MONITORING:
• Grades in Infinite Campus will be updated once a week.
• Every 3 weeks prog/elig grades will be used to help identifying struggling students for interventions including tutoring.
• Every week, IC Messenger will send notices regarding failing assignments. These are notices of assignments that earned a failing grade (less than 59%). To verify a student’s class grade, you will need to check IC in more detail. Please keep in mind the grading policies as stated in the syllabus above. IC Messenger will also send out a message if the student has missed an assignment. Failing grades will be sent once per week, missing grades may be sent multiple times over a nine-week period.
Participation in all performances is mandatory and an essential culmination of instruction.
This ensemble is taught during the major Wind Ensemble time and meets opposite of DSA Full Orchestra. Students are enrolled in either of these ensembles meeting simultaneously.
Purpose:
The purpose of this class is to provide a forum and venue to those who love making music and continued growth on a foundation of jazz knowledge.
Goals:
This class will concentrate on the following areas of music curriculum:
• Intermediate to advanced jazz performance in big band and small group setting
• Intermediate to advanced improvisation skills
• Intermediate to advanced jazz composition
• Intermediate to advanced transcription skills
It is the intention of the Instrumental Music department that the DSA Jazz Workshop Orchestra is a premiere performance ensemble of the school. Competitions and performances locally and nationally will be a part of this class.
Materials:
• Music: Students will be issued a music folder to protect the music handed out for performance. All music must be handed back in.
• Musical Instrument must be brought to school at all times
• Pencil is required at all times in rehearsal.
Performance
Chair assignments will be determined through an audition process at the beginning of each semester. The material used for these auditions will be given in the first week of classes.
Participants of the Jazz Workshop Orchestra may be asked to travel as part of a tour or competition. It is understood that the students give this ensemble priority in their personal schedules.
Participants of the Jazz Workshop Orchestra may be asked to teach other less experienced students within the program and outside the school.
PROGRESS MONITORING:
• Grades in Infinite Campus will be updated once a week.
• Every 3 weeks prog/elig grades will be used to help identifying struggling students for interventions including tutoring.
• Every week, IC Messenger will send notices regarding failing assignments. These are notices of assignments that earned a failing grade (less than 59%). To verify a student’s class grade, you will need to check IC in more detail. Please keep in mind the grading policies as stated in the syllabus above. IC Messenger will also send out a message if the student has missed an assignment. Failing grades will be sent once per week, missing grades may be sent multiple times over a nine-week period.
Participation in all performances is mandatory and an essential culmination of instruction. Please make all DSA Band rehearsals, activities, trips and performances a priority in your schedule.