Scholastic Band Curriculum

The Scholastic Band Curriculum is designed to equip teachers with a clear and direct path to music instruction for the elementary through secondary scholastic music program. It is designed to give faculty clear direction towards specific skills and development, while allowing faculty the flexibility of arriving at these skills independently. This performance based curriculum is further enhanced by taking into account student’s diverse talent (and interest levels) and provides development for both the ”participating” student and the serious student. The Scholastic Band Curriculum is designed not as a replacement for a philosophical based curriculum, but as an enhancement. The Scholastic Band Curriculum and Diatonic Compendium is in no way a replacement for talented, innovative, enthusiastic teaching but is designed to be a guide, and checklist, for the instructor to realize success.

It is further recommended that the instructor realize that the true curriculum is ultimately the Music selected for the ensemble and that the instructor is diligent in regards to coordinating the Scholastic Band Curriculum with specific Band Literature.The Scholastic Band Curriculum has purposely avoided scripted lessons.

The goal of this performance based curriculum was to design a curriculum that will address two facets a program, 1.) Large Ensemble Instruction and 2.) Lesson Component.
To create a curriculum that provides faculty with clear, precise and attainable curriculum and allows the students to progress vertically and laterally. To create a curriculum that provides attainable objectives for all students while recognizing and accommodating students individual talents, abilities and rate of progression. To create a curriculum that addresses instrument specific issues. To create a curriculum that addresses the principles of music and allows the
incorporation of the most innovative methods, skills, strategies and assessments.
To create a curriculum that incorporates the national standards. To create a curriculum that incorporates all student desires of attainment from the learned listener to students who wish to attain a career in music. To create a curriculum that incorporates and utilizes all 12 semi-tones from grades 4-12. To create a curriculum that will incorporate and utilize technology and music technology.

The Scholastic Band Curriculum divides the secondary ensemble component into 3 bands; a wind ensemble, concert band and introductory band. The Scholastic Band Curriculum divides the middle school ensemble component into 2 bands; advanced and introductory and the elementary ensemble into 1 band. The Curriculum is based upon National Standards. This curriculum, when utilized with the Scholastic Band Lesson Curriculum, is tried and true, in which I have seen both the increase of numbers as well as student levels. The Scholastic Band Curriculum is presented in 2 forms; 1.) Word and 2.) Bullet.