Name:___________________________________ Grade:___ Class Period:____

Penquis Valley School

2010 - 2011
Music Class Syllabus
Welcome to music class! In music class, you will learn all sorts of things about music. You will
continue to learn how to read music, how to play various instruments, and learn about the
history of music.

Table of Contents:

i - Welcome to Music Class, Table of Contents, Website, Contact Information

1 - Materials Needed, Curriculum
2 - Grading Policy, Participation and Conduct in Class
3 - Assignments, Quizzes, Tests, and Projects, Extra Credit Opportunities, Classroom rules
4 - Signature Page - to be signed and returned as soon as possible

Website: <msad41.us/music>
This website will be updated regularly with a list of homework or in-class assignments, with
due dates, as well as the dates of quizzes (except unannounced quizzes) and tests.

Contact Information:
Mr. Michael Venti - Music Teacher
Penquis Valley School
207.943.7346 ext.141
[email protected]
 Syllabus for Music Class

Materials Needed:
a Pen or pencil to write with
a Folder to keep handouts
a Notebook for note-taking

Curriculum:
Unit 1 - Reading Music: In this unit, you will continue where you left off last year learning how to read music.
We will focus on rhythms, treble and bass clef notes, sharps and flats, key signatures, time signatures, and
expression markings. You will have a final project where you will need to write in note names and count out
the rhythms in a piece of music.

Unit 2 - The Science and History of Instruments and the Human Voice: In this unit, you will learn about the
science of how instruments in each of the 5 instrument families (woodwind, brass, string, percussion &
electronic) work, as well as how the human voice works. You will also learn the history of how the
instruments you see today, in orchestras, concert bands, and rock bands, developed. This unit will conclude
with a written test where you will need to correctly identify instruments, place instruments in the correct
family, and answer questions about the science and history of the instruments and voice.

Unit 3 - Instrumental Performance: In this unit, you will learn, or continue to learn how to play a musical
instrument. Band students can use their band instrument, students who own their own guitar can bring it in
to play, and everyone else can learn to play piano, or keyboard. You will put your music reading skills to use
and learn to play several pieces of music, as well as some scales and exercises. There will be no final test for
this unit; you will be given a grade for each piece of music you learn, and those will be averaged.

Unit 4 - GarageBand: In this unit, you will learn how to compose electronic music using GarageBand. You
will learn how to create new beats, how to mix audio recordings, and how to play melodies on a MIDI
keyboard for use in GarageBand. For this unit you will have a final project where you must compose a written
melody, play it into GarageBand using the keyboard, and mix it into a song using various loops and at least
one audio recording.

Unit 5 - Jazz: In this unit, you will learn about what jazz is, what different types of jazz there are, who the most
famous jazz musicians were, and the history of how jazz developed. You will listen to a lot of great jazz, and
you’ll even get to play some! This unit will end with a written test.

Unit 6 - World Music: In this unit, you will learn about all types of music from around the world. This will
include all music that doesn’t fall into classical or popular categories. This unit will end with a test based on
the material covered in class.

Unit 7 - The History of Western Music Before 1600: In this unit, you will learn about how music developed
in Europe before the Baroque period began around the year 1600. This will cover the Medieval and
Renaissance periods in music history. This unit will end with a written test based on the material covered in
class.

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Grading Policy
30% - Participation and Conduct in Class
70% - Assignments, Quizzes, Tests, and Projects

Participation and Conduct in Class - 30% of grade

This portion of your grade covers 3 things: Attendance, Participation, and Conduct

Attendance: It is impossible to participate if you aren’t present, so attendance is a key portion of your
participation grade. You are allowed up to 3 excused absences from band, but after 3, your grade will be
lowered whether or not the absences are excused! Exceptions to this rule can be made on an individual
basis.

It is Your responsibility to make up missed work from an absence. If you are absent, see me as soon as you
are back to get caught up.

Participation: This covers your active participation and contribution to each class. To participate well, you
need to have all your required materials each class, and you need to be involved in whatever it is that the
class is doing, whether it is note-taking, a discussion, listening to music, or playing instruments.

Conduct: This covers your behavior and attitude each class. You are expected to remain on task, follow all
directions, and follow all classroom rules.

This is the rubric that will be used for your Participation and Conduct grade. The three individual grades will
be averaged together.
100 80-99 60-79 40-59 20-39 1-19

Attendance No more than No more No more than 7 No more than No more than 9 No more than
3 excused than 5 total total absences 8 total total absences 10 total
absences, absences absences absences
and no
unexcused
absences

Participation Student has With one or Student has Student has Student has Student has
all materials two materials needed materials materials materials
needed, and exceptions, and makes a needed and needed and needed and
actively student has generally positive participates in participates in participates in
contributes to all materials contribution at class at least class at least class at least
each class and actively least 80% of the 60% of the 40% of the time 20% of the
contributes time time time
to each class

Conduct Student is Student is on Student is on Student is on Student is on Student is on

always on task, and task, and follows task, and task, and follows task, and
task, follows follows directions at least follows directions at follows
directions, directions at 60% of the time directions at least 20% of the directions at
and least 80% of least 40% of time least 1% of
demonstrates the time the time the time
leadership

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Assignments, Quizzes, Tests, and Projects - 70% of grade
This portion covers all the the work done in class. Everything done in class will be graded on completeness
and correctness. Grades will be weighted as follows:
1x - In class assignments and homework.
2x - Quizzes and small projects
4x - Tests and final projects

Once these grades are weighted, they will be averaged together.

Extra Credit Opportunities

Concert Review: To earn credit for this, you can go to any concert or recital held at PVS that you are not a
part of (if you’re in band or chorus), or an approved concert elsewhere, and write up a review. In this review,
you will need to write several paragraphs about what you think was performed well, what you think could have
been better, and things you personally liked about the performance. You will need to cite specific examples in
the music, talking about various elements of the music (rhythm, melody, harmony etc...). This review should
maintain a respectful tone (constructive criticism), and should not include the names of performers. Your
grade on this will be weighted as a quiz grade.

Listening Analysis: For this, you will listen to an example of music, selected by me, and you will write down a
description of the different musical elements (rhythm, melody, harmony etc...), and describe specific events in
the music. These will be weighted as an assignment grade

Other: At various times throughout the year, I may present additional opportunities. Additionally, if you have
an idea for an extra credit assignment, feel free to suggest it.

If you are interested in earning some extra credit, see me for details on any of these options.

Classroom Rules
1. No talking while the teacher is talking
2. No talking when the class is playing instruments, singing, or listening to music
3. If you have a question, raise your hand
4. Any instruments or materials used in class must be put away at the end of class
5. You must be prepared for each class with a pen or pencil, your notebook, and folder
6. You must be in your seat and ready to learn when the bell rings
7. Have Fun!

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Signature Page for Music Class Syllabus 2010 - 2011
Parents/Guardians: Please sign and date this page, the detach it, and have it returned to me
once both you and your child have read through and understood this handbook. You child
should then keep this syllabus in their folder. If you have any questions, my contact
information is at the beginning of this book, please feel free to contact me.

I ________________________________ have read through this syllabus with my son/

Name of Parent/Guardian

daughter _____________________________ .
Name of Student

Signature of Parent/Guardian Date

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