The Music Department will be using TeacherEase as our online grading program. Information regarding TeacherEase was included in your child's First Day Folder. Please check your child's academic progress throughout the school year. Please contact us if you are unable to access your child's grades online.

The requirements and expectations of the students in this program are derived directly from the National Standards for Arts Education. The Howard County performance curriculum is also based directly on these standards and presented in the form of goals and objectives.  Central to this program and to music education everywhere is the idea that music, like any other subject, can be taught to and assessed consistently for ALL students.
Grades on student report cards will use the following grading criteria:

         A – Highest Level of Performance
         B – High Level of Performance
         C – Acceptable Level of Performance
         D – Low Level of Performance

         E – Unsatisfactory Performance

        

Each student’s grade is based upon Performance, Participation, and Practice. 

 

Performance
         This category represents how well a student plays and sings compared to their ability.  Students will be assessed individually either in the large ensemble through the use of recordings or by live performance in sectionals. Evaluations that correspond to this area are for all students:  Note Reading, Theory, Articulation, Tone Quality, and Intonation.  For wind and percussion students they include: Hand and Body Posture, Embouchure (winds only), Overtones (brass only), Fingerings/Slide Positions (winds only), and stick control and rudiments (percussion only.)  For choir students they include:  Supported Tone, Consistent Vowel Production, Correct Singing Posture, Correct Vocal Breathing, and Part Independence.  For orchestra students they include: Left and Right Hand Positions and Bowing Techniques.  For more information about orchestra performance evaluation click here.

Rehearsals
Attitude is the single greatest factor that will determine the musical success of any individual.  In general an “A” student shows positive leadership and interest in assisting rehearsal procedures.  He or she is self-disciplined, punctual, dependable, and cooperative.  The “A” student has outstanding progress in self-improvement through constant individual practice and ensemble participation.  In summation, the "A" student cares deeply, wants to succeed, and demonstrates this through quality work. 

For Orchestra:

Grading for rehearsals is defined by two principles:

1) the idea that we have to work as a group to be successful.
2) I would like to reward positive behavior rather than give attention to behavior that detracts from our success.

Principle #1: Each day the orchestra starts out with 10 points, but for every moment we lose our focus as a group and are not trying to improve, we add one minute to the end of class to sit in rest position and practice our patience and we lose one point for the day.

Principle #2: Points, as well as verbal praises, are given individually to students who are models of correct behavior, correct posture, correct playing position, and display the attitude that it takes to improve.

The goal is to increase the number of students who are trying to achieve success and are successfully exhibiting the behavior required to achieve that success.

 

 Practice
A grade based on the quantity and quality of home practice each week.  150 min. or more is expected for an “A”, 120-150 min. for a “B”, and 105-120 min. for a “C”.  A letter grade will also be given for written homework, class work, and exams throughout the year.  It is crucial that students  regularly submit their playing charts in order to receive full credit for this portion of their grade.

Effort

Consistent effort is necessary to develop and maintain one's performance skills. It is only through consistent effort that musicians improve and continue to be contributing members of the ensemble. Effort is assessed by a direct proportion of the playing chart.