COURSE DESCRIPTION
Ms. Mathews- Ricks' Band Courses
5th Grade
Freshman Band
"I love band, I want to take it every year!"
_J. Davis,
5th Grade Band
Fifth Grade Band is a course for students who want to learn how to play a traditional band instrument. All students will choose from the following band instruments: flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, saxophone and percussion (by audition). A representative from Music and Arts will introduce students interested in joining band to these instruments in the spring of the Fourth grade year. Students will be able to determine which instrument they want to play while watching the representative feature each instrument. After this presentation, students and parents will be able to come to an instrument ‘night’ to set up instrument rental/purchase and materials for class in the fall of the student’s fifth grade year. No prior musical experience is needed, however, if a student has prior musical knowledge or experience, further opportunities will be given to challenge the student. During the first year, this course will cover the basics of tone production and musical literacy. Elements of music are introduced through exercises of increasing difficulty that gives the students challenging and interesting problems to master through individual practice and class rehearsal. Students in Fifth Grade Band will perform a minimum of two required concerts, one per semester, during the school year. Select Fifth Grade Students will be allowed to perform in the county's Beginning Honors Band during the second semester.
6th Grade
Sophomore Band
Sixth Grade Band is a course designed to support the ideas learned in the student musician’s previous band experience. Students will be separated into a main class or pull out class so that students will enjoy instruction from both teachers. The goals, requirements, and grading criteria will stay the same for all classes, no matter who is teaching the course. Students will examine more complex features of music literacy and music notation, as well as musical vocabulary, with a concentration on performing as members of an ensemble. During the second year, this course will reinforce the fundamentals of tone production and musical literacy learned in Fifth Grade Band, while strengthening the overall understandings of each basic skill. Elements of music that were learned in Beginning Band will be reinforced and strengthened through exercises of increasing difficulty which present challenging and interesting problems for students to master through individual practice and class rehearsal. Students in Sixth Grade Band will perform a minimum of two required concerts with further chances to perform for the community (Parades). Students in Sixth Grade Band may also choose to participate in events such as All-County Band and All-District Band. Students in this grade level also have the chance to go on the Myrtle Beach Trip in the spring.
"I love it (flute)! Band is so fun, even though the music is more difficult this year, I still want to practice every night!"
_K. McQueen,
6th Grade Band
7th Grade Junior
Band
"Being in the concert was an experience I know I’ll never forget, as usual... We played some of the top hits, like Katy Perry's‘Dark Horse.' In the audience, I could see some of the people singing along as we played, and that made me feel really accomplished, and I’m sure it made the other students feel the same as well. "
-J. Guerrero,
7th Grade Band
Seventh Grade Junior Band is a course designed to strengthen the ideas learned in the musician’s previous two years in Band. Students will continue to examine progressively more complex aspects of music literacy and music notation, with emphasis on performing with musical artistry and expression as members of an ensemble. During the third year, students will use critical thinking skills to examine and describe musical pieces. Students will also apply the information discussed in class to the ensemble’s musical performances. Students will gain further understandings related to the relationships between music, the other arts disciplines, and the other academic disciplines. Students will also be challenged to understand music in relationship to the history and culture of our 21st Century society, preparing them to interact with today’s ever changing global society from a different view than traditional subjects. Students in Seventh Grade Band will perform a minimum of 2 required concerts with further opportunities to perform for the community (Parades). Students in Seventh Grade Band may also choose to participate in events such as All-County Band and All-District Band, and choose to perform in UNCP's Solo and Ensemble Concert. Seventh grade students can also participate in our school's pep band at all home football games (and if we make it into the play offs, we will travel to those games as well!). All Seventh Grade students are invited to join the band on the Myrtle Beach Trip in the spring.
8th Grade Senior
Band
"Being in 8th grade band gets us ready for high school. We have more opportunities to go out and perform on our own at All County, and some of us even get chosen to be in the UNC Pembroke Honors Band. That's a big deal!"
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-A.Clark
8th grade Band
Eighth Grade Senior Band is a course designed to strengthen all ideas learned throughout the last three years of Band classes. Students will be separated into a main class or pull out class so that students will enjoy instruction from both teachers. Students will continue to examine progressively more complex aspects of music literacy and music notation, with emphasis on performing with musical artistry and expression as members of an ensemble. During the fourth year, students will use what they have learned to describe and analyze musical pieces towards personal performance on solo and small ensemble pieces. Students will also apply the information discussed in class to the overall ensemble’s musical performances. Students will gain further understandings related to the relationships between music, the other arts disciplines, and the other academic disciplines. Students will also be challenged to understand music in relationship to the laws our country has designed to protect music and the musician. Students in the Eighth Grade Senior Band class may also be encouraged to compose personal works of music for themselves and others to play. Along with these aspects, this course will prepare students for the study of instrumental music in high school. Students in Eighth Grade Band will perform a minimum of 2 required concerts with further opportunities to perform for the community (Parades). Students in Eighth Grade Band may also choose to participate in events such as All-County Band and All-District Band, and choose to perform, if selected, in UNCP's Solo and Ensemble Concert. Eighth grade students can also participate in our school's pep band at all home football games (and if we make it into the playoffs, we will travel to those games as well!). All Eighth Grade students are invited to join the band on the Myrtle Beach Trip in the spring.