lucerne Valley MS/HS

Intro to music
Mr. welch
welchmusiclvsd@gmail.com


Overview
This course will focus on working with students to build the music program at Lucerne
Valley Middle/High School. With focus and commitment, the students will form three
core performing groups that comprise a high school music program: Choir, Band, and
String Orchestra. In this process, the students will discover their musical talents and
embark on a musical journey of which group they should join. Also, the students will
learn musical concepts, fundamentals, technique, appreciation, and terminology to
ensure that they become successful musicians.
Materials Needed
Pencil preferred (Pen allowed for non-sheet music related assignments)
A folder or binder for all handouts.
Paper for in-class work.
Personal Copy of music.
Course Themes
Learning about and having a hands-on experience with the various instrumental families -
Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, etc.
Music Listening Skills - Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Tempo, Texture, Form, Expression,
Timbre, and Style.
Singing - Vocal Production, Proper Technique, Style, and Part-singing.
Music - Past, Present, and Future.
Course Objectives
Students will develop fundamental music skills and proper technique with the various
instrument families.
Students will enhance their musical aptitude and music listening skills.
Students will enhance their appreciation for music and the music culture as a whole.
Students will learn how to sing in parts and work as a group to create an enriching
musical experience
Students will become acquainted with how to read sheet music and understand music
terminology.
Students will participate in a music concert and showcase their musical ability in a
concert setting.
Grading
Various assessments and homework assignments will occur throughout the school year.
Students will be assessed on their playing ability, musicianship, and class participation.
Homework assignments will vary and pop-quizzes may occur on any given days.
In-class assignments will be expected to turn in on that day, unless specified otherwise.


lucerne Valley MS/HS
Intro to music
Mr. welch
welchmusiclvsd@gmail.com


These assessments will calculate into their final grading percentage overall. The
Performance Rubric will look as follows:
40 30 20 10
*Posture Sits or stands tall
in good stance
Sits or stands tall
in good stance
most of the time
Sometimes slouches
when playing
Of ten slouches when
playing
*Melodic
Accuracy
Perf orms the
melody line exactly
how it is written
Perf orms the
melody line how it
is written most of
the time
Perf orms the melody
line how it is written
sometimes
Does not play the melody
line correctly at all
*Pitch and
Intonation
Achieves
outstanding pitch
and is almost
always in tune
Achieves very
good pitch and is
in tune most of the
time
Achieves descent pitch
and is somewhat in
tune.
Lacks understanding of
pitch and is usually not in
tune.
*Tone Quality Plays with a very
pleasant tone
quality
Plays with a
pleasant tone
quality most of the
time
Is developing tone
quality
Lacks tone clarity
Rhythmic
Accuracy
Has excellent
rhythm
Plays most
rhythms
accurately
Has dif f iculty playing
the correct rhythms
and is somewhat
accurate
Plays rhythms inaccurately
*Dynamics Observes marked
dynamics
consistently
Observes marked
dynamics most of
the time
Rarely observes most
of the marked
dynamics
Does not observe marked
dynamics

Participation/Behavior - Students will need to demonstrate proper behavior in the
classroom and in rehearsals. Failure to follow the school and classroom rules will effect
their overall grade average. Students are expected to attend all scheduled performances
and concerts. Students will not be excused from a performance unless the director is
given written notification from a parent or guardian two weeks prior to the scheduled
performance. The only exception to this rule is in an extreme situation in which case a
written note must accompany the student to the next rehearsal. One letter grade will be
removed from a student's quarterly average for any performances missed. Three or
more unexcused absences will result in failure for the quarter.




lucerne Valley MS/HS
Intro to music
Mr. welch
welchmusiclvsd@gmail.com


Participation Rubric is as follows:
40 30 20 10
Excellent Good/Satisfactory Needs
Improvement
Unsatisfactory
*Punctuality Is always on
time for class
Is usually on time for
class
Is frequently late
for class
Is never on time
for class
*Assigned Seat Is always in
assigned seat
Is usually in
assigned seat
Is frequently out of
assigned seat
Is never in
assigned seat
*Food/drink/gum Never has food,
drink (sans
water) or gum
Usually does not
have food, drink
(sans water) or gum
Frequently has
food, drink (sans
water) or gum
Always has food,
drink (sans water)
or gum
*Folder/Music Always has
instrument and
folder with all
music
Usually has
instrument and
folder with all music
Is frequently
without instrument
and folder/music
Never has
instrument and
folder/music
*Attentive Is always
attentive during
rehearsals
Is usually attentive
during rehearsals
Is frequently
distracted during
rehearsals
Is never attentive
during rehearsals
*Talking Always listens
while other
sections are
working
Usually listens while
other sections are
working
Seldom listens
and carries on
conversation while
others are working
Is continuously
talking while
others are working
*Effort Always puts forth
best effort in
rehearsals
Usually puts forth
best effort in
rehearsals
Needs to put forth
more effort in
rehearsals
Very little effort is
put forth during
rehearsals

Point System Per Quarter - In-Class Work = 40 pts, Homework = 60 pts, Musicianship
Exam = 150-250 pts, Performance Exam = 240 Pts, Participation = 280 pts
Pop-Quizzes 15-30 pts. Points Possible = 785 - 900 pts.
Final Grade = Points Earned / Points Possible = Final Grade Percentage
Final Grading is: 90 - 100% = A, 80 - 89% = B, 70 - 79% = C, 60 - 69% = D, 0 - 59% = F





lucerne Valley MS/HS
Intro to music
Mr. welch
welchmusiclvsd@gmail.com


Course Rules & Expectations
Be prepared - Please come prepared to every class with the proper materials (see
materials section above.)
Attendance - Woody Allen once remarked that 80% of success is showing up. Im not
sure how accurate that percentage is, but theres no question that youll get a lot more
out of this class by being here. Take note that you are graded on class participation, so
in order to participate, you need to show up. If you accumulate a good number of
unexcused absences, your quarterly grade will result in an F.
Missed/late assignments - Points will be taken off each assignment that is turned in late.
Some points are better than no points. So try to get all of your worked turned in. Missing
assignments will result in a 0 for the gradebook. Students must make up tests as a 0
in the gradebook will impact their final grade if they do not make-up their tests. Students
must see Mr. Welch to arrange a make-up time. It may require the student to come
during lunch or after school.
Tolerance/Respect Treat others in the class as you wish to be treated. There will be a
some class discussion, and everyone should be made to feel comfortable divulging their
thoughts and feelings in class. The other day I saw on a game show that the #1 answer
for the thing that everyone wants most in life is RESPECT. The school policies for
bullying, cell phone use, and behavior are clear, the tolerance for most of that is slim and
will result in disciplinary actions enforced by school administrators. Do not try to
challenge the teacher or the system, the better you behave and that I have your attention,
the more you learn. This class can be fun and exciting as long as you allow it to be that
way.






______________________________________________________________________________

Please sign and return this portion to Mr. Welch by Friday Aug, 22nd.
I (print students name) ______________________ have read the syllabus for Intro to Music and
understand what is expected of me and the commitment needed to be a productive member in
the class.
_____________________________ _____________________________
(Student signature) (Parent signature)