Percussion Ensemble
See a video of the percussion ensemble
Percussion Ensemble Syllabus
Huntingtown High School
Fine Arts Department
MUSIC - 6470 Percussion Ensemble- 1 Credit
Professor: Donald R. Naumann
Office: B103 Fine Arts
Phone: 443-486-4002
Email: banddirector@canesband.org
A. Course Outline: Open through audition to interested percussion
students, the Percussion Ensemble is a small musical ensemble consisting of only
percussion instruments. Students study a wide variety of music literature and
perform on a wide range of percussion instruments. They increase their
individual sticking technique along with learning complex rhythms and ensemble
balance. It is expected that students will practice on a daily basis. Performing
usually without a conductor, each member of the ensemble is responsible for
maintaining the steady flow of the music. As members of the Percussion Ensemble,
Students play with the Percussion Ensemble and Symphonic Band for concerts,
assemblies, and other community and school events. Please place all rehearsals
and concerts on your home calendar. All performances are mandatory and required
concert attire must be worn.
B. Prerequisites: Students must provide their own medium general
timpani mallets, concert snare drum sticks with round - wooden tips, hard yarn
wrapped marimba mallets, hard rubber xylophone mallets, timpani pitch pipe,
stick bag, and drum pad. All sticks and mallets are available in The Innovative
Percussion FP2 Intermediate Mallet Pack, Model INN-FP2 available through Steve
Weiss Music. They can be reached online at www.steveweissmusic.com or by phone
at 1-877-582-2494. (Please keep in mind, though the mallet purchase might appear
expensive, all other band members are require to rent or buy their musical
instruments at a greater cost). All percussion instruments are available for use
during class. Students will provide a 2 inch - 3 ringed binder with plastic
sheets to hold concert music. A pencil and small metronome are required for
class. ALL STUDENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE TO CARRY AND STORE THEIR MALLETS IN A SAFE
LOCATION, AS THERE IS NO ROOM IN THE BAND ROOM TO SAFELY STORE THESE ITEMS.
C. Objectives: Students will be able to:
1. Perform music from the MBDA Grade II through Grade IV
2. Demonstrate proper playing position, mallet and sticking technique
3. Produce a quality and rich tone on their musical instrument
4. Recognize and be able to match changes in tempo and dynamics
5. Demonstrate ensemble skills including rehearsal etiquette and technique
6. Demonstrate performance ability on all percussion instruments
7. Become proficient on all major scales and chromatic scale
8. Perform music with good ensemble balance and proper phrasing
9. Demonstrate proper care and maintenance of all percussion instruments
D. Rehearsals:
" Percussion Ensemble meets during Period 6 each day
" Members of the Percussion Ensemble perform with both the Percussion
Ensemble and Symphonic Band
" Additional rehearsals will be scheduled prior to performances
E. Concert Dress:
" Women: long black dress, closed toe black shoes and stockings. (Order
forms can be obtained through http://www.tuxedowholesaler.com/)
" Men: black tuxedo: suite coat with notch collar, tuxedo pants with black
stripe, black cummerbund, black bow tie, white tuxedo shirt with winged collar
and flat pleats, black cufflinks and studs, black socks and black dress shoes.
(Order forms can be obtained through http://www.tuxedowholesaler.com/)
F. Grading:
Product: Performance Assessments, Concerts, Playing Tests, and Scale/Rudiment
Test - 70%
Process: Class Work, Homework, Practicing, Warm-Ups and Quizzes - 30%