Beginning Band

This page last updated 10/10/08 9pm

Welcome to the Beginning Band Page! I will use this page to provide updates on beginners progress and class requirements. So far this year, I am very pleased in general with the progress of all beginning classes.

All classes now have tests assigned and only 1 week left in the Quarter in which to pass them.

There are still a few students without books or not bringing them to class. Half of the band grade is based on students being responsible and showing up on every band day with instruments and music books, AND taking it home at night as required (Class Effort Grade). Also, a student still without a book is going to start falling behind because they can not practice at home!! The music book is the Yamaha Advantage. It is available at Stockdale Music or California Keyboards.

As mentioned above, beginners now have 3-5 playing tests assigned. (PLAYING TESTS are the other 50% of the grade) There may be additional tests assigned as well. Each quarter, the total number of tests assigned will increase. Except for 1st quarter, tests are assigned at the start of the quarter and students then have the whole quarter in which to complete all of the tests. They have to learn to plan ahead and set weekly goals in order to be able to complete all tests. If they do not pass tests every week, they will not have time to finish all of the tests. Every year, every quarter, I see students fail to complete the tests because they waited until the last minute and ran out of time.

Individual tests are done on a pass-fail basis. Students may attempt the tests as many times as needed. The over-all test grade is based on the total number of tests passed. For an "A", all tests must be passed. Students will have opportunities to pass tests in class, but they will also need to come in at lunch occasionally. Tuesday and Thursday mornings and Monday and Wednesday after school are also available. Students are also encouraged to work ahead.

• CB #9,18,22
• RG #9,18,22
• RK  #9,18,22
• CKe #9,18,22
• CKu #9,18
• SR * #18
• HR #9,18,22
• TR #18
• JR #18 ,22
• JS  #18

• KA #9,18,22,28
• AB #9,18,22,28,
• VB #9,18 ,22
• LC #9,18 ,22
• ZD #9,18 ,22,28
• DH #9,18,22
• JH #9,18,22,28
• MH *
• MK #9,18,22,28
• AK #9,18
• FL * #9,22
• SM #9,18,22
• SR #9,18,22,30
• DR #9,18,22,28
• MS #9,18
• RW #9,18,22
• AW  #9,18,22

5th Period 7-8th Grade BEGINNERS (8 tests assigned)

CA #9,18,22,28,29
MD #9,18,22,28,30,32,34,35 plus 

AL * #9,18,22,28,30
MM #9,18,22,28,30,32,34
DW #9,18,22,28,29,32,34,35

8th Period FLUTES (3 tests assigned 9/26 #9,18,22)

• AB #9,18,22
• JC *
• JF *#9
• DF  #18
• EF #9 ,18,22
• SL *
• SM *#18
• SS  ab *

 
8th Period PERC (4 tests assigned 10/3  #8,9,14,18)

• RB #8,9,14
• RC
• HG #8,9,14
• CM
• KP  #8,9,14
• AR #9
• WR #9
• GR #8
• ZS #9
• TT

9th Period CLARINETS (5 assigned as of 9/30... 9,18,22,28,30)

• AC #9,18,22,28
• DD #9,18,22
• MD #9,18 ,22,28,30 (plus 6)
• MF ab
• FF #9,18,22
• EF #9,18,22,28,30 (plus 10)
• AG * #9,18,22
• MH #9,18
• CH #9,18,22
• LL #9
• CM #9,18,22,28,30
• AP #9,18,22
• KR #9,18,22
• SR #9,18,22,28,30 (plus 9)
• HS #9,18 ,22
• CS * ab
• ST #9,18,22,28,30 (plus 13)
• HW #9,18,22,28,30 (plus 10) 
• MY #9,18,22
• CZ #9,18,22,28

• JA
• AB  #18,22
• AC #9,18,22
• CC *
• HC #9,18,22
• TG #9,18,22
• JH * #9,18,22
• JM
• KS  #18,22
• NV #9,18
• FV #9,18
• AW #9,18,22
  

* Class Effort Grade in danger due to excessive days in class without an instrument and/or a book... or not taking instruments home to practice
ab = absences also impacting progress