Grade 7 Band

Avon Lake City Schools 

Curriculum Framework

7TH GRADE BAND

Course Overview:

7th Grade Band focuses on continuing content instruction for students from the Grade 6 Band level, engaging students in a wide variety of experiences in musical performance, musical literature, and musical concepts commonly used at the middle school level.

Textbook (Title and Publishing Company): 

  • Method Book: Measures of Success - A Comprehensive Musicianship Band Method, Book 1 by Deborah A. Sheldon, Brian Balmages, Timothy Loest, and Robert Sheldon. Percussion written and edited by David Collier. The FJH Publishing Company, Inc.

  • Scale and Rhythm Chunks - Rhythm and Scale-Based Technical Exercises for the Beginning Band Student by Richard Canter. Focus On Music Publication

  • Various musical compositions from classical standard band literature to current modern musical compositions 

 

Online/Supplemental Materials:

  • Google Classroom

  • Flip (formerly FlipGrid)

  • MusicRacer.com 

  • Sightreading Factory

  • EdPuzzle

 

Assessments: 

  • Quarterly Scale and Rhythm Assessments

  • Weekly Playing Check-Ups

Content/Topics/Learning Goals

Subject to Pacing and Schedules

1st Quarter- 

  • Developing appropriate tone quality for the individual instrument

  • Development of proper instrument-specific technique - instrument position, stick/mallet grips

  • Proper breathing technique and articulation technique

  • Comprehension and application of the different parts of a time signature/meter

  • Reading/performing music in simple meters

  • Reading/writing/performing music notation: whole, half, quarter, eighth dotted quarter, dotted half notes and rests

  • Subdivided 8th note counting 

  • Identifying and performing the first five notes of the Concert Bb, Eb, and Ab major scales

2nd Quarter- 

  • Continued review and refining of the first quarter goals

  • reading/writing/comprehension of music symbols commonly found in middle school level band literature

  • Comprehension and technique development of the various dynamic levels, crescendo and decrescendo

  • Development of quarter/8th note rhythmic combinations

  • historical background of musical selections, the composer’s thoughts and intents in creating a musical work

  • Identifying and performing the first five notes of the Concert F, C, and G major scales

3rd Quarter- 

  • Continued review and refining of the first and second quarter goals

  • Reading/writing/performing music notation: 16th notes and rests, 8th/16th note and rest combinations

  • Developing proper tone control for phrasing and proper ensemble balance and blending

  • Exploring form/structure of a variety of musical styles, including but not limited to marches, overtures, ternary form, etc.

  • Subdivided counting with shifting patterns from down beats to off beats

  • Participate in solo or small ensemble music performances to learn the concepts of communication and musical concepts within a smaller context

  • Identifying and performing the of the Concert Bb, Eb, and Ab major scales-full scales

4th Quarter -  

  • Continued review and refining of the first, second, and third quarter goals

  • Introduction to rhythmic motifs and patterns commonly found in instrumental middle school music literature.

  • Participate in OMEA Middle School Large Group Adjudicated Event

  • Identifying and performing the of the Concert F, C, and G major scales-full scales

 

Last Updated:

September, 2023