Lower Dauphin School District

Lower Dauphin School District

Curriculum Guide

Synopsis of Curriculum

The focus of the 7/8^th grade band is to continue building upon the skills and talents that were developed in the 6^th grade band in order to reach a higher level of musical performance and to begin to relate the non-musical skills that are being developed in the band room to real world situations. As a performance ensemble, one of the biggest goals is to foster a connection with the community. In order to do so, the band will perform on different occasions throughout the year for our community and attendance at all performances is mandatory (see below).  The 7/8^th Grade Band meets as a full class twice a cycle.  Students who sign up for this course are responsible for attending all rehearsals and the sectionals that each student has been assigned to.  There are NO after-school requirements for students in the 7/8^th Grade Band other than these four performances.

Units of Study Titles

In our 7^th/8th grade band curriculum, we will cover the following concepts (note that they are not covered in a linear manner, but are taught comprehensively throughout the year and are expanded upon as the students’ skills grow):

Characteristic Sound (Continued)

Rhythm: Duple and Triple Meters

Major Scales in the Circle of 4ths

Intermediate Musical Notation for Dynamics, Tempo, Articulation, and Style

Sightreading Skills

Performance and Ensemble Skills