Bands Department | DSA Bands Class Syllabi

Bands Department Syllabi – 2017-18

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DSA Bands Class SyllabiFall2017-18

Concert Band (Grades 6-8) – Period 1/2

Class Syllabus

Band Room 136
Instructor – Dave Hammond, (720)424-1744
dave_hammond@dpsk12.org

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.

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:

Intermediate to Advanced Music Performance – The make up of the class is large classical band style, however, Jazz and Improvisation, chamber and solo requirements may also be given. Scales, arpeggios, excerpts, exercises, performance pieces and other performance tools are utilized and assessed.
•   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 encouraged as part of the class performance curriculum 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. Students are expected to give the utmost respect to all Practicing and Visiting Artists and instructors.
•   Music Styles, History and Ethnicity training is a part of the curriculum.
•   Self and Group Critique Skills

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. This will be graded as part of a Readiness grade.

Performance Proficiency Curriculum Guide 2014-15

Introduction

All band students at the Denver School of the Arts will be given every opportunity to increase their musical abilities on their major instrument. This is accomplished by every student’s involvement in 3 areas:

Regular private instruction: It is absolutely imperative that all band students are seeing a professional private instructor either every week or every other week. This is an essential part of growth and your student will fall behind without the help of a private teacher.

Regular weekly attendance with a Practicing Artist at DSA: Practicing Artists are supplied by the department every Monday for 90 minutes. This does NOT take the place of a private instructor!

Regular and productive attendance to all classes and rehearsals. All classes and rehearsals in the band department at DSA are MANDATORY.

Ensembles

All ensembles and all spots in the ensembles in the Department of Bands at the Denver School of the Arts are auditioned for and based solely on performance ability. Students in the 6 and 7th grade will only have Concert Band and other ensembles associated with that major. Students in the 8-12th grades should be either taking Jazz Workshop Orchestra or Chamber Ensemble as an elective. Failure to do this might result in the student not getting the performance time needed in order to advance proficiently.

Practicing Artists Assessment

All Students will receive a weekly Practicing Artist Assessment grade throughout the year. The grade will indicate:

student preparation
student has a good professional relationship with the Practicing Artist
student is participating in a positive way and contributing to their section
individual performance progress is being made

Remember, this weekly session with the DSA Bands Practicing Artist does not take the place of a qualified private instructor.

Grade 6

Overview

Students come in to the DSA Bands Department equipped with different abilities of performance with limited knowledge of scales, repertoire, articulation, range and tonal abilities, music theory and history knowledge. The goal this first year is to bring all student musicians toward an intermediate level of performance with an emphasis on a positive self-view that helps to work successfully within a section of the band and to work professionally with all teachers, practicing artists and the director. Other imperative skills are taught as well: consistency in attendance and punctuality, instrument maintenance, rehearsal techniques and requirements, performance etiquette, music theory level 1 and basic music notation. Students should be practicing an hour a day with supplemental private lessons.

6th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major scales by the end of the school year (1 octave with arpeggio)
Performance proficiency band music grade level 1.5 to 3.5
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.
Band: DSA Concert Band

Grade 7

Overview

Students now work from a solid scale foundation and minor scales are introduced. Working within a section as a leader is very important. Being able to articulate musical styles and characteristics using appropriate language is explained and worked on. By 7th grade the student should have developed an appropriate and characteristic tone on their instrument. This is very important as it effects intonation and articulation efforts. Working in common instrument sections or multi-instrumental groups in a successful manner, helping others that are less experienced are priorities in 7th grade. Performance level should be reflected in a high chair in the section and a level of proficiency on the band music. Student should be performing small solos (assigned by private instructor), and able to perform section music and scales with ease in front of the band. Student should be practicing an hour a day with supplemental private lessons.

7th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major and minor scales (harmonic and natural forms, 1 octave with arpeggio)
High level performance proficiency band music grade level 1.5 to 3.5
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.
Bands: DSA Concert Band or Wind Ensemble, Chamber and/or JWO

Grade 8

Overview

The 8th grade year can be pivotal for the DSA band student. Students with a high performance proficiency will be asked to hone leadership skills and mature their individual music skills in the Concert Band to prepare for the move into the Wind Ensemble the next year. 8th grade students must be performing on their instrument at a high level. In Concert Band the student should be occupying a section leader chair (1st or 2nd) and be a mentor to the 7th and 6th graders in the section. Student should be working on an advanced tone and an intermediate or better command of technique and range. Students are expected to know basic Music Theory (the majority of Alfred’s Music Theory Method Books 1-3). Students in 8th grade should be showing a level of maturity attributed to high school age. Maintaining professional relationships with instructors and other students is mandatory for 8th graders.

8th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major and minor scales (harmonic and natural forms, 2 octaves with arpeggio at given speed)
High level performance proficiency band music grade level 1.5 to 3.5 (Concert Band)
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.
Bands: DSA Concert Band or Wind Ensemble, Chamber and/or JWO

Grades are based on the following:

Participation in the ensembles
•   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
•    Music Performance Assessments based on the DPS Music Standards

PROGRESS MONITORING:
•    Grades in Infinite Campus will be updated regularly.
•    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.

Private instruction with a qualified, professional musician is highly recommended. All Band students need to study privately in order to keep pace with the ensemble as a whole.

Wind Ensemble – Period 7/8

Class Syllabus

Band Room 136
Instructor – Dave Hammond, (720)424-1744
dave_hammond@dpsk12.org

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 Music Performance – The make up of the class supports Wind Ensemble/Concert Band instrumentation. Scales, arpeggios and other academic tools are taught and assessed. Performance styles include classical wind band and chamber literature as well as solo, and chamber works.
• Intermediate to Advanced levels of Music Theory, Music Notation, Ear Training, 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 to produce the highest result artistically. Students are expected to give the utmost respect to all Practicing and Visiting Artists and instructors.
• Advanced Music/Styles History and Ethnicity Description
• Advanced Self and Group Critique Skills
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 to produce the highest result artistically. Students are expected to give the utmost respect to all Practicing and Visiting Artists and instructors.

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
•    Music Performance Assessments based on the DPS Music Standards

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.

Private instruction with a qualified, professional musician is highly recommended. All Band students need to study privately in order to keep pace with the ensemble as a whole.

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.

Performance Proficiency Curriculum Guide 2014-15

Introduction

Regular private instruction. It is absolutely imperative that all band students are seeing a professional private instructor either every week or every other week. This is an essential part of growth and your student will fall behind without the help of a private teacher.

Regular weekly attendance with a Practicing Artist at DSA. Practicing Artists are supplied by the department every Monday for 90 minutes. This does NOT take the place of a private instructor!

Regular and productive attendance to all classes and rehearsals. All classes and rehearsals in the band department at DSA are MANDATORY.

Ensembles

Practicing Artists Assessment

All Students will receive a weekly Practicing Artist Assessment grade throughout the year. The grade will indicate:

student preparation
student has a good professional relationship with the Practicing Artist
student is participating in a positive way and contributing to their section
individual performance progress is being made

Remember, this weekly session with the DSA Bands Practicing Artist does not take the place of a qualified private instructor.

Grade 9

Overview

All 9^th graders accepted into the Band Department at DSA go directly into Wind Ensemble as their major. Students will learn intermediate to advanced band music repertoire (band music level 3-6+) as well as take advanced level Music Theory courses as part of the major. The Wind Ensemble is known as an elite ensemble that represents the quality of DSA in outside performances. Because of this, all students who enter the ensemble have to display:

Approaching a solid semi-professional or better tone quality
Knowledge and facility of all major and minor scales
A personal practice schedule of 90 minutes or more per day
An intermediate to advanced sight reading capacity
An intermediate to advanced knowledge of music theory

Student should be set up with an outside professional for supplemental private lessons (students will have to give the name of their private instructor at the beginning of the year). This is imperative because the student will need the help with ever demanding band music, to increase soloistic tone production and for exposure to solo and chamber works for their instrument. The weekly sessions with DSA Practicing Artists are NOT intended to replace weekly sessions with a private teacher. Students will be enrolled in an appropriate level Music Theory Class (Level I, II or III). The Music Theory class appears on the student transcript as a separate grade.

9^th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major and minor scales (harmonic and natural forms, 2 octaves with arpeggio at given speed), assessment may come 1^st
Given solo performed for the ensemble, 1st semester.
Performance proficiency band music grade level 3-6+
Maintaining a B or A in Music Theory
Bands: DSA Wind Ensemble plus Chamber and/or JWO
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.
Students will be able to begin learning to self evaluate their performance in a positive constructive manner.
Students will be able to demonstrate the protocols and practices of an organized rehearsal and be able to replicate these conditions in a rehearsal without an adult.

10^th Grade

Overview

All 10^th graders accepted into the Band Department at DSA go directly into Wind Ensemble as their major. Students will learn intermediate to advanced band music repertoire (band music level 3-6+) as well as take advanced level Music Theory courses as part of the major. The Wind Ensemble is known as an elite ensemble that represents the quality of DSA in outside performances. Because of this, all students who enter the ensemble have to display:

A semi-professional or better tone quality
Knowledge and facility of all major and minor scales
A personal practice schedule of 120 minutes or more per day
An advanced sight reading capacity
An intermediate to advanced knowledge of music theory

Student should be set up with an outside professional for supplemental private lessons (students will have to give the name of their private instructor at the beginning of the year). This is imperative because the student will need the help with ever demanding band music, to increase soloistic tone production and for exposure to solo and chamber works for their instrument. The weekly sessions with DSA Practicing Artists are NOT intended to replace weekly sessions with a private teacher. Student will be enrolled in an appropriate level Music Theory Class (Level I, II or III). The Music Theory class appears on the student transcript as a separate grade.

10^th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major and minor scales (harmonic and natural forms, 2 octaves with arpeggio at given speed), assessment may come 1^st semester
Given solo performed for the ensemble, 2nd semester
Student has to prove residency in an ongoing, outside band organization (Colorado Honor Band, DYAO, CYAO, CCJA, Citywide Jazz or Marching Band, and/or any honor band All States, CU, Western State Honor Band)
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.
Performance proficiency band music grade level 3-6+
Maintaining a B or A in Music Theory
Bands: DSA Wind Ensemble plus Chamber and/or JWO
Students will be able to critically self-evaluate their own performances with honesty to know how to better future performances.
Students will be able to critically critique auditory performances using appropriate language with depth

11^th Grade

Overview

All 11^th graders accepted into the Band Department at DSA go directly into Wind Ensemble as their major. Students will learn intermediate to advanced band music repertoire (band music level 3-6+) as well as take advanced level Music Theory courses (History/Ethnomusicology) as part of the major. The Wind Ensemble is known as an elite ensemble that represents the quality of DSA in outside performances. Because of this, all students who enter the ensemble have to display:

A professional tone quality
Knowledge and facility of all major and minor scales
A personal practice schedule of 120 minutes or more per day
An advanced sight reading capacity
An advanced knowledge of music theory and the ability to apply that knowledge

Student should be set up with an outside professional for supplemental private lessons (students will have to give the name of their private instructor at the beginning of the year). This is imperative because the student will need the help with ever demanding band music, to increase soloistic tone production and for exposure to solo and chamber works for their instrument and to prepare for their Junior Jury. The weekly sessions with DSA Practicing Artists are NOT intended to replace weekly sessions with a private teacher. Student will be enrolled in an appropriate level Music Theory Class (Level I, II or III). The Music Theory class appears on the student transcript as a separate grade.

11^th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major and minor scales (harmonic and natural forms, 2 octaves with arpeggio at given speed), assessment may come 1^st semester
Junior Juries will be given 2^nd semester to all enrolled 11^th The jury will consist of an appropriate level solo piece, scales and interview. The jury panel will consist of Mr. Hammond, specific area Practicing Artist and other music professionals.
Student has to prove residency in an ongoing, outside band organization (Colorado Honor Band, DYAO, CYAO, CCJA, Citywide Jazz or Marching Band, and/or any honor band All States, CU, Western State Honor Band)
Performance proficiency band music grade level 3-6+
Maintaining a B or A in Music Theory
Bands: DSA Wind Ensemble plus Chamber and/or JWO
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.
Students will be able to critically self-evaluate their own performances with honesty to know how to better future performances.
Students will be able to critically critique auditory performances using appropriate language with depth

12^th Grade

Overview

The 12^th grade year is the culmination of all training up to this point. The 12^th grade band student should be confident in performance abilities, displaying a solid professional sound, advanced fluidity and technicality, and should occupy top chairs of all the ensembles they perform in. Seniors of the department are mentors to all younger students and should serve as role models for all other students in the department and be active in helping those students to be successful. Band seniors show maturity beyond their age in decision-making and will be actively putting together a senior recital or project that reflects their love of music, love of school and love of service to community. Senior recitals and projects will be graded accordingly. The Wind Ensemble is known as an elite ensemble that represents the quality of DSA in outside performances. Because of this, all students who enter the ensemble have to display:

A professional tone quality
Knowledge and facility of all major and minor scales
A personal practice schedule of 150 minutes or more per day
An advanced sight reading capacity
An advanced knowledge of music theory and the ability to apply that knowledge

Student should be set up with an outside professional for supplemental private lessons (students will have to give the name of their private instructor at the beginning of the year). This is imperative because the student will need the help with ever demanding band music, to increase soloistic tone production, for exposure to solo and chamber works for their instrument and to prepare for their Senior Recital or Project. The weekly sessions with DSA Practicing Artists are NOT intended to replace weekly sessions with a private teacher. Students in the 12^th grade may be asked to take remedial music theory, Ethnomusicology and/or Music History. However, many Seniors will be given the opportunity to spend this time preparing for college entrance, preparing for their recital and other readiness requirements.

Senior Recital/Project

All band seniors are required to complete a final senior project in order to graduate with full band credit. This project, its rehearsals and all preparation is up to the student. The project should reflect a part of music that the student is passionate about: performance, production, composition, teaching or any other area that the student may be passionate about. The senior project should end in a culminative event such a concert, or a show of some sort.

12^th Grade Performance Proficiency:

All major and minor scales (harmonic and natural forms, 2 octaves with arpeggio at given speed), assessment may come 1^st semester
All Seniors must present a recital and/or project as a culminating event of their DSA experience and that describes what part music will play after graduation for them. The senior recital and/or project must be achieved from September – April the senior year. All seniors that have fulfilled a given quota of Music Theory will be able to be exempt from Music Theory classes in order to work on recital, project and college entrance requirements.
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.
Student has to prove residency in an ongoing, outside band organization (Colorado Honor Band, DYAO, CYAO, CCJA, Citywide Jazz or Marching Band, and/or any honor band All States, CU, Western State Honor Band)
Performance proficiency band music grade level 3-6+
Bands: DSA Wind Ensemble plus Chamber and/or JWO

Chamber Ensemble – Period 4

Band Room 136 and Jazz Room – Class Syllabus
Instructor – Dave Hammond, (720)424-1744
dave_hammond@dpsk12.org

This class is a music ellective 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 wind and percussion chamber music.

Goals
This class will concentrate on the following areas of music curriculum:

Intermediate to advanced performance in chamber music ensemble.
•    Intermediate to advanced orchestra performance.
•    Intermediate to advanced small ensemble composition.
•   Advanced Artistic and Collaborative Responsibility – Students In the Chamber Class are expected to collaborate professionally and positively with all instructors conductors, guest conductors, visiting and resident artists to produce the highest result artistically. Students are expected to give the utmost respect to all Practicing and Visiting Artists and instructors.

Local 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/Ensemble 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. Please make all DSA Band rehearsals, activities, trips and performances a priority in your schedule.

Private instruction with a qualified, professional musician is highly recommended. All Band students need to study privately in order to keep pace with the ensemble as a whole.

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.

Jazz Workshop Orchestra (JWO) – Period 3

Jazz Room 136 and Jazz Room – Class Syllabus
Instructor – Dave Hammond, (720)424-1744
dave_hammond@dpsk12.org

This class is a music elective 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 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.
•   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 to produce the highest result artistically. Students are expected to give the utmost respect to all Practicing and Visiting Artists and instructors.

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.

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.

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.

Private instruction with a qualified, professional musician is highly recommended. All Band students need to study privately in order to keep pace with the ensemble as a whole.