Symphonic Band Unit Plan - Holst's First Suite in E-Flat

Unit Plan – First Suite in E-flat

Long Range Goal: Form and Theme

Symphonic Band: Grades 9th-12th

10-hour long lessons (two weeks)

Introduction:

              This unit is centered around Holst’s First Suite in E-flat, designed to be a crash course in learning the piece in ten rehearsals. While it is centered around learning the piece and rehearsing it so it is performance ready by the final rehearsal, students will learn much through the classic repertoire. They should understand who Holst is and his impact on band music, as well as the importance of this piece. They will also be able to identify the form of each of the movements and how the use of a melodic theme draws them all together. They also should be able to self-evaluate and group-evaluate rehearsals and how to practice to be prepared for them. 

Goals:

• Students will be able to perform and understand the entirety of First Suite in E-flat, entering high levels of musicality
• Students will understand the form analysis of each of the movements; Theme and variation, Scherzo, and March
• Students will understand the use of musical themes in each movement, as well as how the movements are connected through theme

General Assessment:

              As a music class does not have typical homework, and instead depends on rehearsal time and performances, assessment will be completed as follows for the majority of lessons.

• Participation: During each rehearsal, the teacher will keep track of participation, looking for:
  • Preparation: instrument, pencil, music
  • Participation: playing and respecting rehearsal time without talking, following general class rules
  • Discussion Participation: seems engaged in discussion and adds to it
• General assessment: At the end of each rehearsal, the teacher will evaluate and notate what the ensemble needs to work on, anything that needs to be reviewed, and any adjustments to the lesson plans for the future.
• Practice Journal:
  • Time: Student practices for 100 minutes per week (20 min x 5 days)
  • Commentary: Student notates what they practice and several sentences on how it went
• Daily Assignment (10-15 minutes): fill out the Daily assignment, due the day as directed, collaborating with classmates as needed, for weekly key:
  • Monday: Scales (major, all three minors)
  • Tuesday: Modes
  • Wednesday: Melodic Dictation (in weekly key)
  • Thursday: Rhythmic recording
  • Friday: Playing test recording due (be working on this all week, related to the piece that is being rehearsed and unique for each section) and music vocabulary (two terms, typically related to piece)

Unit Outline:

1. Sight Reading
2. Chaconne
3. Chaconne Continued
4. Intermezzo
5. Intermezzo Continued
6. March
7. March Continued
8. Macro-Micro-Macro
9. Review and Recording
10. Sticky note