Middle School Instrumental Music (Grade 6)

Student Learnings: What students should know and be able to do 

Pre Performance Assembly and Maintenance

• Properly maintain instrument at an intermediate level.

Performance Skill

• Demonstrate correct tongue placement (tee, ta, tu) specific to instrument.
• Produce a free, open tone with good air support.
• Maintain the tonal concept throughout the envelope of sound.
• Refine finger and tongue coordination.
• Adjust embouchure to accommodate extended ranges on instruments where applicable.
• Consistently perform the correct partial (brass).
• Produce pitch in the following ranges:
  • flute: low C to high G
  • oboe: low C to high C
  • clarinet: low E to high D
  • saxophone: low C to high F
  • bassoon: low E to high C
  • develop a legato style tongue (woodwinds)
• Be sensitive to the concept of sharp and flat as related to intonation.

Reading Skills and Practice Habits

• Demonstrate basic alternate fingerings specific to the instrument in the chromatic scale.
• Correctly count, finger and tap as rhythmic development dictates.
• Correctly name, finger and tap notes, locate bell notes in rhythm while tapping the foot.

Mallets

• Accurately locate notes on mallet percussion instruments.

Rudiments

• Interpret the correct length and counting of measure rolls.
• Execute the following: six stroke, thirteen stroke roll, seventeen stroke roll, multi bounce, single paradiddles, flam accent, flam paradiddle, single drag tap and drags.
• Student will execute written musical direction at an intermediate level.

Timpani

• Tune timpani to a given pitch.
• Identify notes in bass clef.

Other

• Play in the correct playing area of all percussion instruments with proper stick/mallet height.
• Prepare exercises using a logical method of sticking.
• Read music using peripheral vision and kinesthetic sense .
• Apply correct technique for accessory instruments.
• Understand and follow the conductor's gestures and visual cues.
• Play concert Bb, Eb, Ab, F and major chromatic scales.
• Perform music with vertical precision.
• Understand the "pyramid of sound" concept and other concepts relating to ensemble balance.
• Understand the concept of form at a basic level.
• Identify the style of the literature performed (march, chorale, pop and ballad).

Key Signatures

• Understand and demonstrate knowledge of key signatures.

Musical Literacy

• Understand and demonstrate an extended range of dynamics.
• Understand and demonstrate: D.C., D.C. coda, all repeat signs, first and second endings.

Rhythm and Meter

• Understand and demonstrate rhythmic values of the following notes and rests: eighth and 16th note combinations, dotted rhythms, syncopation.
• Understand and demonstrate 6/8 and 2/2.