MUSP 285: Competitive Collegiate Wind Band

Citrus College Course Outline of Record

Citrus College Course Outline of Record
Heading Value
Effective Term: Summer 2021
Credits: 4
Total Contact Hours: 144
Lecture Hours : 36
Lab Hours: 0
Hours Arranged: 108
Outside of Class Hours: 72
Prerequisite: Audition.
Transferable to CSU: Yes
Transferable to UC: Yes - Approved
Grading Method: Standard Letter

Catalog Course Description

The preparation and performance of professional wind band literature with the primary goal of maximizing adjudication consideration and reward at wind band competitions and festivals. Participation in public wind band competitions and festivals is required. This course may be taken four times. 36 lecture hours, 108 lab hours arranged.

Course Objectives

  • Maximize adjudication consideration and reward by successfully preparing and performing professional wind band literature at wind band competitions and festivals.
  • Recognize and correctly translate, interpret and respond to music notation terms and symbols found in professional (grade 6) level wind band literature, as well as the idiomatic jargon typically used in large instrumental ensemble rehearsal
  • Respond to verbal and gestural commands of the conductor in rehearsal and performance of professional (grade 6) level wind band literature
  • Produce an professional level characteristic instrumental tone quality on their instrument, control and adjust intonation through an professional range of their primary instrument's tessitura, correctly interpret and accurately project professional (grade 6) level musical rhythm on their instrument, project their individual part with an professional level control of balance and blend, and recognize and critique the achievement of these instrumental performance parameters by other members of the ensemble
  • Embody the principles of correct wind band performance etiquette
  • Interpret musical style and select the appropriate performance approach for professional (grade 6) level wind band literature

Major Course Content

  1. Assessment of individual students' entry instrumental proficiency
  2. Introduction to and a brief history of the Wind Band and Wind Band competitions and festivals
  3. Introduction to Wind Band adjudication evaluation:
    1. Adjudication and adjudicators
    2. Various performance evaluation rubrics and criteria reference systems
    3. Variuos Wind Band classification systems
    4. Various philosophies regarding music performance competition
  4. Review of professional rehearsal and performance etiquette
  5. Review and development of professional level characteristic and tone production techniques
  6. Review and development of professional level intonation adjustment techniques
  7. Review and development of professional level articulation techniques
  8. Introduction to professional level notation terminology
  9. Introduction to professional level technical velocity development strategies
  10. Review and development of a professional level personal practice regimen
  11. Introduction to professional level conductor gestural commands
  12. Review of the concert key concept for all transposing instruments and review of the interrelations between C, Bb, A, Eb, F, G and C-octavation instruments
  13. Review of advanced musical rhythm concepts
  14. Introduction to professional level individual, sectional and ensemble balance and blend concepts
  15. Review and development of professional level phrasing, expression and dynamics techniques
  16. Review and development of professional level sight-reading skills
  17. Ongoing presentation of the historical, cultural, stylistic, theoretical, interactional, structural and formal elements of the professional (Grade 6) level wind band literature rehearsed and performed.
  18. Preparation and performance of professional (Grade 6) level wind band literature focusing on maximizing adjudication consideration

Hours Arranged Content

  1. In addition to the lecture led portion of full ensemble rehearsals, instrument sections and section groupings meet weekly to review, develop and assess:
    1. Tone production techniques
    2. Intonation adjustment techniques
    3. Articulation techniques
    4. Technical velocity and tone flexibility skills
    5. Musical rhythm reading skills
    6. Musical rhythm execution and precision
    7. Phrasing, expression and dynamics techniques
    8. Individual, sectional and ensemble balance and blend
    9. Concert key transposition skills
    10. Observe and evaluate live and recorded wind band competition and festival performances
    11. Prepare assigned wind band literature for competition and festival performance
  2. Additional full ensemble and sectional rehearsals are arranged, especially during the weeks approaching competition and festival performances.
  3. Competition and festival performances are scheduled.

Suggested Reading Other Than Required Textbook

Internet and/or library research (composer; historical era; stylistic, structural and formal elements; wind band history; wind band competitions; etc.) including listening, of wind band literature rehearsed and performed.

Examples of Required Writing Assignments

1. Written evaluation of live and recorded wind band performances using competition and festival music adjudication forms.
2. Essays evaluating live and recorded wind band competition and festival performances.

Examples of Outside Assignments

Individual practice of instrumental skills. Study, mark and prepare individual parts. Study and evaluate reference recordings. Write performance evaluation essays.

Instruction Type(s)

Lecture, Lab, Online Education Lecture, Online Education Lab