IHMCS Curriculum Overview

Link to Band by Grades Grade Five Grade Six Grade Seven Grade Eight

Band (Optional)

Grade 5 (Band)

Instrumental Technique

• Wind instruments:
• Assembly, disassembly, cleaning and maintenance of all instrument parts
• Proper performance position of body frame, hands and embouchure
• Proper air support, sound production and tonguing techniques
• Proper clef/notes for instrument
• Pitch and rhythm awareness while fingering notes
• Foundational articulation studies
   
• Percussion instruments:
• Proper instrument adjustment
• Performance posture and stick/mallet grip
• Proper Stroke, rebound and fundamental rudiments
• Treble clef note names/position and proper playing technique of keyboard mallet instruments

Musical Elements

• Note values: whole through eighth
• Time Signatures
• Subdivision
• Key Signatures, accidentals, enharmonics and the Circle of Keys
• Dynamics

Ensemble Development

• Basic conducting patterns and signals
• Ensemble etiquette for rehearsal and performance
• Instrumental techniques

Grade 6 (Band)

Instrumental Technique

• Wind instruments:
• Well supported sound with a consistent tonal center
• Proper performance position of body frame, hands and embouchure
• Proper and consistent embouchure, range embouchure adjustment, tongue placement,  articulation types and tongue/finger coordination
• Consistent performance of the correct partials in the overtone series: brass
• Developing range
• Manipulation of instrument intonation and pitch matching
   
• Percussion instruments:
• Proper instrument adjustment
• Proper performance posture and stick/mallet grip and position
• Differential sound locations on each instrument
• Measured rolls and six rudiments
• Basic mallet skills on various keyboard mallet instruments
• Peripheral vision

Musical Elements

• Note values: whole through sixteenth
• Time Signatures to 6/8 and cut time
• Subdivision to sixteenth notes, dotted notes and syncopation
• Key Signatures, accidentals, enharmonics and the Circle of Keys
• Dynamic extremes
• Music mapping

Ensemble Development

• Conducting patterns and musical gestures
• Rhythmic precision
• Musical styles and forms of band literature
• Ensemble etiquette for rehearsal and performance
• Instrumental techniques

Grade 7 (Band)

Instrumental Technique

• Wind instruments:
• Well supported sound with a consistent tonal center
• Proper performance position of body frame, hands and embouchure
• Proper and consistent embouchure, range embouchure adjustment, tongue placement, articulation types and tongue/finger coordination
• Consistent performance of the correct partials in the overtone series: brass
• Developing range
• Pitch matching through manipulation of instrument and embouchure to correct intonation
• Practical use of alternate slide/finger positions
   
• Percussion instruments:
• Proper instrument adjustment
• Proper performance posture and stick/mallet grip and position
• Differential sound locations on each instrument
• Measured rolls and 10 rudiments
• Performance of basic mallet skills on various keyboard mallet instruments
• Peripheral vision

Musical Elements

• Note values: whole through sixteenth and demonstrate use of subdivision in combinations, dotted rhythms and tied groupings
• Major and minor key Signatures, accidentals, enharmonics and the Circle of Keys
• Extended dynamic range
• Basic musical terms
• Different articulations: legato, staccato, marcato, accents, etc.

Ensemble Development

• Conducting patterns and musical gestures
• Rhythmic precision
• Musical styles and forms of band literature
• Adjustment of intonation while playing with other instruments
• Musical styles and compositional elements
• Ensemble etiquette for rehearsal and performance
• Instrumental techniques

Grade 8 (Band)

Instrumental Technique

• Wind instruments:
• Well supported sound with a consistent tonal center
• Refinement of pitch matching through manipulation of instrument and embouchure to  adjust intonation
• Development of range
• Tone color shading
• Vibrato
   
• Percussion instruments:
• Patterns, dynamics and open/closed rolls
• Simple melodies on the keyboard mallet instruments
• Tuning changes on the timpani
• 18 rudiments and rolls in 6/8

Musical Elements

• Note values: whole through sixteenth, subdivision in combinations, dotted rhythms and  tied groupings
• Major and minor key signatures, accidentals, enharmonics and the Circle of Keys
• Extended dynamic range
• Basic musical terms
• Different articulations: legato, staccato, marcato, accents, etc.
• Music from other cultures
• Basic areas of technology in music performance

Ensemble Development

• Conducting patterns including mixed meter and musical gestures
• Rhythmic precision
• Musical styles and forms of band literature
• Adjustment of intonation while playing with other instruments
• Musical styles and compositional elements
• Ensemble etiquette for rehearsal and performance
• Instrumental techniques