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Date Posted: 05:29:59 01/24/07 Wed
Author: Chad B
Subject: Band Homework?
I've heard of music programs that use band not only to play and learn through performance as an ensemble but to give homework and written tests as a part of the class. What do you think of that? Our program never did that in high school yet we were known throughout the state for our quality and championships won. Should band be a time for application of knowledge alone or is there room for written homework and tests also? Keep in mind that some schools have more music class types than others.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Amanda M., 08:47:24 01/25/07 Thu [1]
In high school, our program did not do much work out of class. Recently, however, the program acquired a new director who gave occasional assignments to the elementary and jr. high students. My old school was very small and did not offer any music theory classes, so I think that it is a good plan to hand out worksheets to the students. The younger students at the school now have a better understanding of music than I or any of my other classmates had at the their ages. The only assignments I had to do in band were reflections on concerts, competitions, and how the band could improve. I think this is productive too, because as a band we could share ideas and work towards a common goal: to become better players.
For schools that have additional music classes, I am not sure if worksheets would be necessary in band. I still think, though, that the members should do reflections and study their pieces' backgrounds and histories.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Nickie, 12:03:05 01/25/07 Thu [1]
I don't think assignments are a bad idea. I think they could even be incorporated into the repertoire that the band is studying. Perhaps a brief historical analysis or something would be appropriate? I agree with Amanda that reflections and backgrounds of the pieces are great ways for students to think more academically about the pieces the ensemble is playing.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Beth G., 17:39:26 01/25/07 Thu [1]
I think that there should be written homework and tests in band class. The only way to fully understand the music played in band is to understand the theory behind it. From my own personal experience, I had seen in my band in high school that people who had not learned any theory seemed to have a harder time at learning the music. In contrast, those who did have theory had excelled much more in the music program.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Emma, 07:21:43 02/06/07 Tue [1]
Our school did not have homework in band, but I think some written work would be good. You can test what else they have learned about the composer, history, or cultural things which all are important to teaching music. It is important to teach musical things and non musical things ni the classroom.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Jessica, 15:28:01 02/17/07 Sat [1]
All through my music education I have had homework to do for both band and choir and I feel like it really helped some of the students in the ensembles especially at the high school level. In choir we has sol feg homework and tests to make sure everyone was learning how to read music not just sing along. Also all of our mid terms and finals in band and choir were written as well. I think it helped me to stay focused on everything my directors said throughout a rehersal since I knew I could be tested on any information given.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Honoree Pouly, 16:37:59 02/18/07 Sun [1]
I think that it is a good idea to have assignments in band. I don’t know if they should be specifically worksheets. As Nickie said I think that the information covered should pertain to the pieces being performed. Some theory that is specific to the pieces could be taught. For example secondary dominants could be theoretically taught to the students when it is included in one of the pieces. I also agree that it would be great to cover the background and history of the pieces as well. This will help the students to be more musical, and to have a more full understanding on the pieces. Another suggestion would be to show the students a full score so that they know how their part fits into the whole.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Nickie, 20:15:20 02/18/07 Sun [1]
I think tests and homework assignments are all right to an extent. It's important to assess our students, but we must also remember that it's possible to do that through "assessment vehicles" other than graded papers.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Hayley Pletcher, 05:09:26 03/02/07 Fri [1]
My middle school band had a weekly homework assignment that focused on rhythm and theory. They would start out easy and then get harder as the year would go by. Although I thought it was a pain to do, I think it helped me and many others in the long run.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Amanda Jasko, 17:00:00 05/08/07 Tue [1]
I think that outside assignments are a really good idea. Giving those can really help students learn and start to understand more complicated rhythm. I know that my high doesn't do anything like that, but I wish that it was something that was done. I think that directors need to make sure that they don't over assess through assignments like that.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Brian B, 18:25:34 05/08/07 Tue [1]
In my High school, we didnt have to do anything for band. This was also reflective in the attitude of many of the people in the band; nobody cared about it more than they had to. I understand the need to not scare off some students with actual work in music classes but I think Amanda M mentioned a great idea in the reflecting on concerts that her band had done. We reflected on our concerts, but it was usually never in a positive manner due to the lack of dedication to the work of the ensemble. The next day of classes we would always spend the period watching the video of the performance and making our comments about it then, but it would have benefitted the ensemble greatly had our teacher done something along the lines of hosting a discussion of each piece. Just forcing us to reflect positively but realistically would have helped expand the knowledge of music of the ensemble and instill a good sense of pride, which would result in an increase in quality and participation the next year around.
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Re: Band Homework? -- John Weber, 05:24:32 02/04/08 Mon [1]
Another thing to be taken into account is whether or not the school offers any music theory classes or not. If the school doesn't offer said courses, then some written assignments MIGHT be a good idea. I say this with extreme caution however; during my senior year, the concert band was assigned homework by the conductor, who only recieved a large amount of hate in return. I should also mention that all of us here on this forum are passionate about music, a trait that is not always found in band members. The members of that concert band were players who didn't really care about what they did in band and actually ahted thier time there. When I asked one boy why he was still in band if he hated it so much and only dragged everyone else done, he gave me a look as though the answer were obvious and said, "Because it's an easy A." My point is that some students don't care about the music they're playing, and wouldn't benefit from written homework.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Tasia B, 08:50:14 02/06/08 Wed [1]
We didn't have homework assignments in band, we did in choir. We actually had workbooks in choir. But we did have midterms and finals in band. Usually playing music, but every now an then we would have to write a paper about an experience we had at a marching band activity or something. I think homework like that is good for the students and for the teacher to see what their students are getting out of the experiences.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Chris Beach, 20:22:10 02/11/08 Mon [1]
I feel that homework in every course, not just Math or History or English is needed. It helps the students to reinforce what they are learning, and to show that they know what they are learning, and that they are progressing in it. In High School for me, we did nothing except a final at the end of the year, which asked questions such as:
"What is the correct position to be sitting while playing an instrument?"
a) sitting on edge of seat, with feet flat on the floor
b) laying on your stomach
c) not playing anything at all
d) doing the electric slide while playing
I mean, come on! We all know this. Give us something that we do not know, and help us learn from it...
All homework I think would be beneficial in some form or another. If not to one person, individually, it definitely will to the whole group.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Ashley Diemer, 08:42:51 02/12/08 Tue [1]
Our school did not do any written work or tests. I don't think schools should start too fast with the written work, because if they rush into it, people won't be ready, and it will be a shock, but if they inch into a program with learning and understanding and written work, then it may work and help music to grow!
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Re: Band Homework? -- Nikki M., 15:29:45 02/14/08 Thu [1]
I think written assignments and tests are a great idea. I agree with what most people said, it would definately help students learn more about music and the pieces they are playing.
I also think that it would benefit the band as a whole for several reasons. One reason is that it would prevent some students who HATE band or choir from joining just to get an easy A, only to come to class and never participate or do anything productive for the ensemble. If there is written work that is graded, they would probably have to pay much more attention and take it more seriously.
However, I don't think it should be worth great deals of points, because there are some students who love music and love playing music but find it very difficult to understand the theory, and for some, even to play well. And in these cases, I don't think these students should do poorly in the class overall if they do have motivation and passion and enthusiastically attend all practices and performances.
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Re: Band Homework? -- Lynsey Cook, 09:32:44 02/26/08 Tue [1]
I personally think written assignments and tests in band are a great idea. When I was in band in high school we never did anything like that. If we would have I'd personally be a lot farther ahead than I am now. I think the understanding of what's behind the pieces you're playing and basically what is involved in music in general can be very beneficial. But I do agree with Nikki that they should not be a huge grade factor. The whole grading system honestly depends on the type of school you teach for and the effort the teacher and the students are willing to put into it.
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