About The Kellam Winds. . .
The Kellam Wind Ensemble is the premiere Concert Band at Kellam High School and is made up of Advanced and Intermediate level instrumentalists (Winds and Percussion). This ensemble and the student’s placement in the Advanced or Intermediate level is determined based upon teacher recommendation and student achievement.
The Wind Ensemble is a performance-based class and will perform extensively over the course of the school year. ALL PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSALS ARE REQUIRED. Students in this class are expected to achieve highly at the VBODA ALL Musical Grade levels, though most performances will consist of grade levels 4, 5, and 6.
• Students will learn and perform a varied repertoire of music within the advanced guidelines set forth by the Virginia Standard Course of Study for Music.
• Students will continue to grow and learn as they further expand upon their musicianship skills within their concentrated discipline.
• Students will expand upon their music literacy and instrumental pedagogy while demonstrating growth through instrumental performance as set forth by both VBCPS and VA Standards of Learning.
The Wind Ensemble is a performance-based class and will perform extensively over the course of the school year. ALL PERFORMANCES AND REHEARSALS ARE REQUIRED. Students in this class are expected to achieve highly at the VBODA ALL Musical Grade levels, though most performances will consist of grade levels 4, 5, and 6.
• Students will learn and perform a varied repertoire of music within the advanced guidelines set forth by the Virginia Standard Course of Study for Music.
• Students will continue to grow and learn as they further expand upon their musicianship skills within their concentrated discipline.
• Students will expand upon their music literacy and instrumental pedagogy while demonstrating growth through instrumental performance as set forth by both VBCPS and VA Standards of Learning.
Required Materials
- Student Instrument(s), including reeds, mouthpieces, sticks, mallets, etc.
- Pencil (must be available at all times)
- Music and Technique Book, in folder at all times.
- Metronome/Tuner (Tonal Energy App Preferred)
- Schoology Access (F28J7-JVM9X)
- MusicFirst Software (provided by VBCPS)
- Chromebook (provided by VBCPS)
Classroom Procedure
MOST days, standard classroom procedure will occur as follows:
- Students will have access to the band room prior to the start of the school day to drop off their instruments, and at the end of the school day to pick up their instruments. (Students are expected to take their instruments home to practice)
- Instruments will be stored in the student’s specific identified storage locker during the school day.
- Instrument lockers may only contain a student’s instrument and/or music. All other items found in a student’s locker may be removed and discarded.
- Students must be in their seats with instruments/equipment needed for class at the sound of the bell.
- Students may not eat food/chew gum in class.
- Students may bring water only into class.
- Announcements will be made at the start of each class. Students may also look to the board outside of class for the upcoming schedule in addition to regularly checking the BAND WEBSITE for weekly updates of our (k)Nightly News.
- Students will continue class with the daily assignments -- usually, a heavy focus of student technique development and music theory/literacy, followed by concert literature rehearsal and development.
- Students will be expected to complete weekly assignments outside of class time through the use of the provided software, MusicFirst.
- Students will end class with a wrap up discussion and will be given the final five minutes to pack and prepare for their next class.
Grading for Assignments and Assessments
Grades for all students will be categorized as the following:
- Performance/Rehearsal Skills = 40%
- Music Theory/Literacy = 30%
- Analysis, Evaluation, Aesthetics, & Critique = 20%
- History/Cultural Context = 10%
*Per the Virginia Standards of Learning and our Virginia Beach Objectives, After-school rehearsals and performances are a required component of our curriculum. While this is not the only component graded under this category, it is imperative for each student’s success to attend all scheduled after-school performances and rehearsals.
*Students who do NOT attend rehearsals may not be allowed to participate in a concert performance at the Director’s discretion.
