Ms Lani Sommers
lani.sommers@yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Grade 9
Instrumental Music
AMI 1O1
Course Rationale
This
course is intended to develop in students an understanding and appreciation of
music through practical skills and creative work. Through this program they will not only find
in music a source of enjoyment and personal satisfaction, but also gain
creative problem-solving skills, individual and cooperative work habits, knowledge
of themselves and others, a sense of personal responsibility, and connections
to their future careers.
Assessment and
Evaluation
Assessment
is the ongoing process of collecting information about student
achievement. The Music department
strongly believes that assessment and evaluation is an extremely important tool
in diagnosing level and checking the progress of students during a course
(formative) as well as providing a measure of material and skills retained in
order to determine the readiness for the next level at the conclusion of a
course (summative). A variety of
assessment tools will be used.
Assessment may be diagnostic, formative or summative. Diagnostic and formative assessments do not
carry a mark weight. Summative
assessments count towards final mark.
Seventy
percent of the grade will be based on evaluations conducted throughout the
course; thirty percent will be based on a final evaluation administered towards
the end of the course.
The
evaluation of Learning Skills (independent work, teamwork, organization, work habits,
and initiative) will be reported on with a letter grade. Students will find that concentrating on
these skills will result in a high level of success in meeting the course
expectations.
Course Evaluation
Daily Course Work……………………………………………………………70%
Creation/Application/Communication………………………………..35%
♫
Practical
tests based on Method book, technical exercises, scales and studies
♫
Practical
tests based on repertoire
♫
Practice
Charts
Theory/Knowledge and
Understanding………………………………..15%
♫
Assignments
♫
Class
Tests
♫
Composition
♫
History
Analysis/Thinking/Inquiry………………………………………………..10%
♫
Musical
Analysis
♫
Listening
I.S.U………………………………………………………………………………10%
♫
Written
and Oral Components
Final Evaluation……………………………………………………………..30%
Final Practical
Exam………………………………….…….20%
Final Written
Exam……………………………………….…10%
Course Materials/Texts
Textbook:
Various, supplemented with
handouts
Instrument: A quality instrument will be assigned to
each student. Students must purchase
their own mouthpiece (where required).
Students may provide their own instruments where possible.
Course Fee: $25.00
Other: Contract signed by parents and/or
guardian, 3-ring binder with note paper, pencil, pencil crayons, ruler
Practice Packages
It
is extremely important that individual practice takes place outside of
class time. As such, it is a requirement
for each student to practice a minimum 20 minutes a day, 5 times per week. This will maintain the current level of
achievement; anything above and beyond will only enhance the student’s ability. Please see the separate Home Practice Letter
for more information. Practice logs will
be due when indicated on the chart.
Late and/or Missed
Assessment Tasks
If
a student is unable to attend a class, arrangements should be made, where
possible, with the teacher before the
class is missed. It is a student’s
responsibility to make up for missed work before
the beginning of the first class back.
Students
must respect due dates set by teachers.
Students must hand in all assignments on the dates scheduled. If a student is unable to meet a deadline, he
or she must approach the teacher well in advance of that day. Students who approach the teacher the day
before or the day of a deadline will not be granted an extension.
Once
an assignment is marked and returned to the rest of the class, any student
having not completed the assignment will be assigned a mark of zero. There will be no opportunity to complete the
assignment once it has been returned.
Some
due dates cannot be changed (e.g. end of unit, exam date). If the assessment tasks are not completed,
course expectations cannot be evaluated, and a mark of zero will be assigned.
Tests
are to be written on the day scheduled.
If a student misses a test, they must bring a note from a doctor, parent
or guardian, stating that the adult is aware that the student missed a
test. The note must be handed in on the
date of the student’s return. The test
must also be written on the date of the student’s return.
Presentations
and culminating tasks must be delivered on the date assigned. A mark of zero will be assigned to any
student failing to show up on his or her presentation date without a prior
arrangement having been made.
Plagiarism and/or
Cheating
Plagiarism
and cheating will not be
tolerated. A mark of zero will be
assigned for cheating and plagiarism and the student will be referred to an
administrator. Parents/guardians will be
informed of the situation and the incident will be recorded. Repeated offences of plagiarism or cheating
may result in suspensions or expulsions.
Availability
Ms
Sommers is available both before
and after school, as well as during most Period 4 lunch hours for extra help or
questions in her office inside the music room.
Students have an opportunity to re-test all Performance Assignments
(with the exception of the culminating task) and may do so up to one week after
the first test. Students may re-test a
piece only once.