Information by Band

Beginning Instruments

   Musicianship:

      1) Time Signatures – 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, C
      2) Note Values – Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth and Sixteenth notes and rests
      3) Notes – Recognition of all notes on any keyboard instrument. Names of all notes in                                                                  
      the Treble Clef
      4) General – Recognition and understanding of repeat signs, 1st and 2nd endings,
      accents, Forte, Mezzo-Forte, Mezzo-Piano and Piano dynamic markings along with
      crescendos and decrescendos. Memorize – BEADGCF (order of the flats)
      5) Scales - Construction of Major scales

   Snare Drum:

Proper technique
Proper execution of all Strokes and Flams
5, 7 and 9 Stroke Rolls
Flam – Tap
Various groupings of Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth and Sixteenth notes and rests
Single and Double Stroke exercises
Double and Buzz Stroke exercises at 120 bpm
Tests in Red Book etc.

   Mallets:

      1) Basic Technique
2) Play C, F, Bb, Major Scales up and down one octave while reciting note names
3) Tests in Red Book, etc.

   Tympani:

Basic Technique
Basic Tuning
Basic Muffling
Single Stroke Roll
Tests in Red Book, etc.

   Auxiliary Percussion

Basic Techniques in Bass Drum, Crash and Suspended Cymbals, Tambourine, Triangle, Claves, Temple Blocks, Maracas, Wood Block, Sleigh Bells, etc.

Cadet Bands

Add the following to Beginning Instrument benchmarks

Musicianship:

Time Signature – 5/4, 6/4, Intro to Cut Time
Note Values – Dotted Notes, introduction to Triplets
General – Recognition and understanding of D.S., D.C., al coda, al fine, fp, sfz
Scales – Eb, Ab, Db, Gb and Cb Major scales
Intervals – Thirds (major) and fourths (cycle through flat keys)

Snare Drum:

All four Diddle Rudiments
6 and 10 Stroke Rolls
Flam Paradiddles, Flam Accents, Swiss Army Triplets
Introduction to syncopation
Tests in Red Book, etc.

Mallets:

     1) Play all flat key major scales up and down one octave while reciting note names
     2) Test in Red Book, etc.

Tympani:

Double sticking
Faster and more even single stroke roll
Tests in Red Book, etc.

Auxiliary Percussion:

      1) Introduction to Congas, Bongos and Timbales

Concert Bands

Add the following to the Beginning Instrument and Cadet Band benchmarks


Musicianship:

Time Signatures – 6/8, 9/8 and 12/8
Note Values – Note values in 6/8. Recognize, understand, count and perform all triplets
General - Recognize, understand, and perform all dynamics
Scales - G, D, A, E, B, F# and C# Major scales
Intervals – Thirds (major and minor) and fifths (cycle through sharp keys)

Snare Drum:

11, 13, 15 and 17 stroke rolls.
Drag rudiment, Single Ratamacue
Perform one Snare Drum solo
Test in Blue Book, etc.

Mallets:

Play all sharp keys up and down one octave while reciting names of notes
Test in Blue Book, etc.

Tympani:

Use all four drums
Tune during performance
Test in Blue Book, etc.

Auxiliary Percussion:

Introduction to percussion instruments from around the world


Ensemble Playing:

      1) Introduction to Percussion Ensemble performance

Symphonic Band

Add the following to all other band benchmarks

Musicianship:

Time Signatures – Play whatever time signature given
Note Values – Read whatever is put in front of you
General – Have a great time and perform at your peak at all times
Scales – All relative minor scales
Intervals – All major, minor, augmented, diminished and perfect intervals
Chords – Introduction to chord construction

Snare Drum:

The rest of the Forty International Drum Rudiments

Mallets:

Introduction to four mallet technique
Perform one mallet solo


Auxiliary Percussion:

Techniques of percussion instruments from around the world

Ensemble Playing:

Performance of at least one percussion ensemble