Star
Valley
High
School
Band
&
Choir
Class
Syllabus




Instructor:
Kurt
Sand

Email:
ksand@lscsd2.org

Phone:
885
–
7847
ext.
7215



Course
Description:



Students
will
learn
techniques
and
skill
to
create
and
perform
while
collaborating

with
others
in
a
band
and/or
choir
setting.
They
will
connect
music
with
history,

cultures,
and
society.
All
Band
and
Choir
classes
are
PERFORMANCE‐BASED

courses.



Practices
and
Performances
held
outside
of
the
school
day
are
REQUIRED
TO

PASS
THESE
CLASSES.



Students
unable
to
participate
in
class
or
at
the
performance
will
lose
points
and
it

will
affect
their
grade
earned.



Concert/Performance
Dress
Code:



It
is
vitally
important
that
the
music
groups
of
Star
Valley
maintain
the
high

standard
of
performance
and
appearance
that
our
schools
and
community
expect.

Therefore,
the
following
is
a
list
of
acceptable
performance
attire
for
the
various

groups
at
Star
Valley
High
School.



ALL
BAND
AND
CHOIR
CLASSES
WILL
DRESS
NICE
on
the
day
of
a
major

performance
when
they
come
to
school.
This
will
serve
as
a
reminder
for

themselves
as
well
as
others
of
the
importance
of
that
day.
As
a
general
rule,
NO

JEANS,
or
denim‐like
fabric
and
NO‐T‐SHIRTS
on
the
day
of
the
performance.



CONCERT
BAND
will
perform
in
dressed
up
“Black
and
White”
clothes.
This

generally
means
black
on
the
bottom
and
white
tops.
NO
SANDALS
OR
“FLIP‐
FLOPS”!!!!



JAZZ
BAND
will
perform
in
the
agreed
upon
Jazz
Band
uniform
for
the
year.
The

students
will
need
to
purchase
these
items.
Typically,
these
cost
between
$35
and

$50.

NO
SANDALS
OR
“FLIP‐FLOPS”!!!!
Some
concerts
may
have
a
theme
or
a

particular
look
and
we
will
adjust
performance
attire
accordingly.



MIXED
CHOIR
will
perform
in
dressed
up
“Black
and
White”
clothes.
This
generally

means
black
on
the
bottom
and
white
tops.
NO
SANDALS
OR
“FLIP‐FLOPS”!!!!
Some

concerts
may
have
a
theme
or
a
particular
look
and
we
will
adjust
performance

attire
accordingly.



CONCERT
CHORALE
will
perform
in
the
Choir
Robes.
Students
should
still
dress
nice

for
the
concert
and
be
especially
mindful
of
the
shoes
the
audience
will
see
during

the
performance.
NO
SANDALS
OR
“FLIP‐FLOPS”!!!!
Some
concerts
may
have
a

theme
or
a
particular
look
and
we
will
adjust
performance
attire
accordingly.



TREBLE
TONES
will
perform
in
the
agreed
upon
Treble
Tones
uniform
for
the
year.

The
students
will
need
to
purchase
these
items.
Typically,
these
cost
between
$35

and
$70.
NO
SANDALS
OR
“FLIP‐FLOPS”!!!!
Some
concerts
may
have
a
theme
or
a

particular
look
and
we
will
adjust
performance
attire
accordingly.



SINGCOPATION
will
perform
in
the
agreed
upon
Singcopation
uniform
for
the
year.

The
students
will
need
to
purchase
these
items.
Typically,
these
cost
between
$35

and
$70.
NO
SANDALS
OR
“FLIP‐FLOPS”!!!!
Some
concerts
may
have
a
theme
or
a

particular
look
and
we
will
adjust
performance
attire
accordingly.



Grading
Policy:



Students
are
constantly
“being
graded”
in
music
classes.
Your
grade
in
Band
and

Choir
will
be
made
up
of
two
components.
The
first
is
your
“Daily
Grade”
which
will

be
called
REHEARSAL
TECHNIQUE.
The
second
is
your
four
“Common
Assessments”

which
will
be
called
OBSERVATIONS.



REHEARSAL
TECHNIQUE
will
be
your
grade
based
on
daily
activity
including:
1.

Attendance
and
On‐task
behavior.
2.
Preparedness
to
fully
participate
in
rehearsal.

3.
Exhibit
appropriate
technique
for
rehearsing
music
in
a
group
setting
to
prepare

for
performance.
4.
Display
responsible
musicianship
(i.e.
attendance
of
dress

rehearsals
and
concerts)



OBSERVATIONS
will
be
your
grade
based
on
larger
events
and/or
projects

including:
1.
Major
Performances
outside
of
class.
2.
Minor
Performances
in
and
out

of
class.

3.
Observable
progress
in
musical
concepts
such
as:
musical
skill/technical

facility
appropriate
to
age
and
experience,
musicianship
and
musicality,
preparation

and
practice
efforts.



ALTERNATE
ASSESSMENTS
may
be
arranged
on
an
individual
basis.
An
example
of

a
possible
alternate
assessment
for
missing
a
Major
Performance
could
be

researching
a
famous
composer
and
writing
a
substantial
term
paper
detailing
the

composer’s
life
and
contributions
to
the
history
of
music.
Another
example
could
be

for
the
student
to
individually
perform
the
entire
concert
music
for
the
teacher.

NOTE:
Nothing
can
truly
substitute
for
the
experience
of
the
live
Major
Performance.

Consequently,
these
Alternate
Assessments
will
not
be
eligible
for
full
credit.



Wyoming
State
Fine
&
Performing
Arts
Content
Standards:

1.
Students
create,
perform,
exhibit,
or
participate
in
the
Arts.

2.
Students
process,
analyze,
respond
to,
and
make
informed
judgments
about
the

Arts.

3.
Students
demonstrate
and
understanding
of
the
Arts
in
relation
to
history,
culture

and
contemporary
society.

4.
Students
connect
and
relate
the
Arts
to
other
disciplines
and
to
society.



Wyoming
State
Fine
&
Performing
Arts
Performance
Standards:

1.
Students
will
frequently
demonstrate
acceptable
performance,
collaborating
with

other
students,
using
a
variety
of
skills
and
techniques.

2.
Students
effectively
analyze
and
communicate
how
technical,
organizational,
and

aesthetic
elements
contribute
to
the
ideas,
emotions,
and
overall
impact
of
artistic

works.

3.
Students
correctly
classify
and
discuss
specific
artistic
works
belonging
to

particular
cultures,
times
and
places.

4.
Students
consistently
demonstrate
appropriate
behavior
for
the
context
of
the

style
of
art
presented.
Students
correctly
identify
and
explain
interrelated
concepts

among
the
Arts,
other
disciplines,
and
society.
Students
identify
skills
used
in

vocational,
cultural
and
recreational
opportunities
in
the
Arts.



Unit
 Standards
 Benchmarks
 Assessments

Fall
&
Winter
 1,2,3,4
 1.1,1.2,1.3
 Rehearsal


Events
 2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4
 Techniques
&

3.1,3.2
 Observations

4.1,4.2,4.3

District
Festival
 1,2,3,4
 1.1,1.2,1.3,1.4
 Rehearsal


&
Spring

 2.1,2.2,2.3,2.4
 Techniques
&

Performances
 3.1,3.2
 Observations

4.1,4.2,4.3



Policies
&
Procedures,
aka
“Rules
of
Thumb”:

I.
Personal
Conduct


 A.
Follow
Directions/Instructions
with
a
good
attitude.


 B.
Do
not
“chat”
or
“visit”
when
the
director
is
speaking.


 C.
Raise
your
hand,
not
your
voice,
when
you
wish
to
speak.


 D.
Respect
others
and
their
property.


 E.
Do
not
be
tardy.
Get
ready
to
rehearse
quickly.


 F.
PAY
ATTENTION
to
announcements,
plans,
calendars,
notes
on
the
board,



 
 schedules,
handouts,
etc.
so
you
can
be
where
you
are
supposed
to
be,



 
 when
you
are
supposed
to
be
there.

II.
Equipment


 A.
If
it
is
not
yours,
DO
NOT
TOUCH
IT!


 B.
YOU
are
responsible
for
having
your
instrument,
music,
book,
and
any



 
 other
items
we
may
use
in
class.


 C.
Be
sure
everything
is
put
away
properly
at
the
end
of
every
rehearsal
and



 
 performance.
We
rehearse
as
a
group,
we
perform
as
a
group,
we
set



 
 up
as
a
group,
and
we
take
down
as
a
group.


 D.
YOU
are
responsible
to
keep
your
instrument
and
equipment
in
working



 
 order.
If
you
need
repairs
let
me
know
immediately,
and
we
will
get
it



 
 taken
care
of.


 E.
BE
PREPARED
to
contribute
to
a
successful
rehearsal
every
time
you
come



 
 to
class.

III.
Music


 A.
It
is
a
good
idea
to
write
your
name
in
pencil
on
the
upper
right
corner
of



 
 your
music,
books,
and
folders.


 B.
When
you
are
given
instructions/directions
for
performance,
write
them



 
 in
pencil
on
your
music
so
you
will
remember
to
do
that
thing
the
next


 
 time
you
rehearse.


 C.
Store
your
instrument
and
music
properly
at
the
end
of
every
rehearsal.


 D.
YOU
have
a
financial
responsibility
for
any
school‐own
property
you
have



 
 the
privilege
of
using.



A
Note
from
your
Director:



Our
music
program
here
at
Star
Valley
High
School
is
truly
incredible.
We
perform

on
a
very
high
level.
That
is
the
tradition
and
expectation.
Anything
less
is

unacceptable.
I
want
the
music
program
to
be
successful
and
fun.
I
offer
a
lifetime
of

experience
and
commitment
to
music.
I
believe
strongly
in
student
ownership
and

leadership
of
every
music
group.
This
is
not
my
music
program.
It
is
yours.
Make
it

better
every
year,
every
concert,
every
performance
and
every
rehearsal.



Your
Director,



Mr.
Sand