Our grading system is broken down into Rehearsals (Minor 40%) and Performances (Major 60%)
All classes use the same guidelines.
Rehearsal Grades include the following:
Weekly Classroom Rehearsal (worth 100 points total) - Each day of active engagement within a lesson is assigned 20 points. An actively engaged student is attentive, playing his/her instrument, taking notes on music, answering questions, working independently when a director is off the podium to assist another group in the room, and attends class with all supplies needed to allow engagement. Activities and many daily informal assessments makeup the bulk of daily grades. The vast majority of students are able to maintain an average of 100 in this area. The only major hindrance to a student completion of this daily assignment is when an instrument is not brought to class due to negligence. In this case, the student loses 10 points for the day provided that they still show effort to engage. If not, then it is considered not possible to complete the assignment and a 0 will be given for the day.
Weekly Marching Rehearsal - First Semester, Only (worth 100 points total) - Each day of active engagement within a lesson is assigned as follows: Monday 60 pts, Tuesday 20 pts, Thursday 20 pts. An actively engaged student is attentive, counting during set repetitions, playing his/her instrument, answering questions, working with others to complete sets, supportive of peers, and attends rehearsal with all supplies needed to allow engagement. Activities and many daily informal assessments makeup the bulk of daily grades. The vast majority of students are able to maintain an average of 100 in this area. There are two major hindrances to completion of these assignments. First, when an instrument is not brought to rehearsal due to negligence. In this case, the student loses 1/4 points (15 Monday, 5 T/Th) for the rehearsal provided that they still show effort to engage. If not, then it is considered not possible to complete the assignment and a 0 will be given for the rehearsal. Secondly, and most important, the assignment cannot be completed and a 0 will be given if the student is not in attendance. If the directors are provided with previous notice at least 24 hours in advance, the student will be excused from that portion of the assignment. Of course, last minute notification and emergencies will receive special consideration.
Weekly Concert Rehearsal - Second Semester, Only (worth 100 points total) - Each day of active engagement within a lesson is assigned 100 points. Concert Rehearsal include Weekly Section Rehearsals and Weekly Clinician Rehearsals. An actively engaged student is attentive, playing his/her instrument, taking notes on music, answering questions, working independently when a director is assisting another student, works cohesively with other members of the group to attain understanding, and attends class with all supplies needed to allow engagement. The vast majority of students are able to maintain an average of 100 in this area. There are two major hindrances to completion of these assignments. First, when an instrument is not brought to rehearsal due to negligence. In this case, the student loses 1/4 points (25 pts) for the rehearsal provided that they still show effort to engage. If not, then it is considered not possible to complete the assignment and a 0 will be given for the rehearsal. Secondly, and most important, the assignment cannot be completed and a 0 will be given if the student is not in attendance. If the directors are provided with previous notice at least 24 hours in advance, the student will be excused from that portion of the assignment. Of course, last minute notification and emergencies will receive special consideration.
Performance Grades include the following:
Playing Assessments - Playing assessments may be used as both formal and informal assessments. Playing assessments may include the following: Chair tests, demonstration during class, All-Region auditions, Solo Assignments, Small Ensemble Assignments, etc. For chair tests (formal assessments), students submit self-recordings using the Charms Program. After listening, the grading director is able to leave immediate feedback for the student. This information is stored within the student's Charms account throughout the years so that a performance portfolio is collected which allows directors, students, and parents to continually evaluate student growth and development. Class demonstrations (informal) help directors to quickly identify and monitor student progress, provide students the opportunity to self- and peer-analyze performance, build awareness, and provide immediate feedback regarding performance. At the directors' discretion, these performance assessments may be used to award extra-credit points to students toward Rehearsal Assignments. A grade is assigned based on the student's ability to perform a musical selection with correct tone, technique, pitch recognition, rhythm, articulation, and style. Specific grades are given for the purposes of section placement and are recorded by a director with the student's Charms Assessment submission. As for the entry into Gradebook, if a student completes the assessment by the given due date then they are awarded a grade of 100. An assessment that is submitted up to three days late is awarded a 70. An assessment that is submitted up to one week late is awarded a 50. No assessments will be taken after that point and will receive a 0.
Concert Assessments - (worth 100 points) - Performances are the major area of formal assessment. Concert performances may include the following assignments: Game Performances, Summer Band Concert, Homecoming Parade, Marching Festivals, Marching UIL Assessments (Region and Area), Winter Band Concert, Midwinter Concert, UIL Assessments, etc. The vast majority of students are able to maintain a 100 average in this area. The only major hindrances to a student's completion of these assessments includes attendance and lack of instrument and/or music. In these cases, it is considered not possible to complete the assessment and a 0 will be given.