August 2021 Back to School!

 August 2021 - Back to School Edition

Welcome to the 2021/22 school year where we will be back to normal better in the music room! In this blog you will find all of the start up information for the music department. This is the same information that was presented at Back to School Night. Please reach out if you have any questions! I look forward to making lot's of music with your students this year!

Supplies - please have by Monday, August 9th

• Binder - black, 1.5" with "clearview" front and inside pockets
• Sheet protectors x 25
• Dividers x 4
• Pencil
• Highlighter

Performance Calendar**

• Winter Showcase: December 15th OR 16th - Please reserve both dates on your family calendar for now. We are hoping to all be able to perform on the 16th but will split our concert into smaller groups over two nights if current guidelines require it
• Roseville Music Festival: TBD March - Usually the first Saturday in March. Dates have not been released yet. Location is Woodcreek High School  for band and Brown Elementary School for choir/guitar. 
• Spring Trip April/May TBD - we will take a one day trip to a music competition and theme park in Vallejo or San Jose. 
• Spring Showcase: Thursday, May 16th

**All performances are subject to the health guidelines in effect at the time of the performance

Performance Uniform

Formal Uniform - for concerts and festivals/competition

• All Black "from toes to elbows"
• Black, closed toed shoes
• Black pants or skirt/dress with tights
• Black shirt with full length or 3/4 length sleeves

Informal Uniform - for school rallies, field trips or other community events

• Optional music department T-shirt - available for purchase soon
• Eich branded shirts 

Communication

Please feel free to reach out using whatever method you are most comfortable with. When you send a message it is helpful if you include your student's name and which class/ensemble they are in. 

Email: jaldridge@rcsdk8.org

School Phone: 916-771-1770 ext 23146

Facebook: @W.T. Eich Music Program

Twitter: @JennAldridge1

Instruments 

Guitar

Each student will be assigned a school guitar on Monday. 
Students may choose to use a personal guitar as long as it is an acoustic (non-electric) model.
Students may store guitars in the music room (even personal ones) or take them home. The music room is open at 8:45am every morning for instrument drop-off and until 3:30pm each day for pick-up. 

Band

Possible Band Instruments:
Flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone (alto, tenor, or bari), F horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone/euphonium, tuba, percussion (includes snare and xylophone.

• Large instruments available to borrow from the school:

• Oboe, Bass clarinet, tenor/bari saxophone, trombone, euphonium, tuba

• Small instruments that may need to be rented/purchased from a music store:

• Flutes, clarinets, alto saxophone, trumpet, snare/xylophone

• Very limited supply available for year-long classes. Most of our inventory is reserved for the Beginning Band Wheel classes

Rentals and Purchases

I will send out information on where you can potentially rent a band instrument next week, after we have explored all of the options in class. Our local music stores all offer great quality rental instruments beginning at $25/month. They also include a rent-to-own program. 

Week-at-a-Glance

The Week-at-a-Glance (WAG) document will be updated each Monday to include the weekly activities, assignments, and practice goals. The WAG is posted in OTUS on the announcements page and in the bookshelf. We will access and view this document daily in class. If a student is absent for any reason, they should access the WAG to keep up with the class. 

Assignments

All assignments will be posted and graded in OTUS. Parents can view the description and rubric for each assignment. You will not be able to view the student work if you are logged in as a parent. 

There are three types of assignments in music class:

1. Performance Tests - video recorded in OTUS
2. Composition Assignments - writing and composing original music using the "Noteflight" software program and submitted thru OTUS
3. Reflections - Written documents submitted through OTUS

Assignments and assessments fall under the four IB Criterion for Visual and Performing Arts. 

A: Knowing and Understanding

B: Developing Skills

C: Creating

D Reflecting

Assignment names will include the Criterion that are being assessed. Students will get a grade for each criterion assessed. Some assignments may have 1-2 grades, other may have 5-6 grades. OTUS will calculate an overall grade for each assignment. 

example assignment name: "Ai, Bii, Ci, Cii, Diii - What's in a Name Composition"

Grading

All assignments are graded on the school-wide 8 Point Rubric. 

• 7-8 Mastery = going above and beyond the expected 
• 5-6 Proficient = grade level work
• 3-4 Approaching = approaching grade level work
• 1-2 Beginning = below grade level work
• IE Insufficient Evidence = missing or incomplete assignment

Students may revise and resubmit any assignment for a higher score

Late or missing assignments are accepted until the end of the current trimester