Students may be interested in the following educational information and opportunities:
Krista Millard Listening Guide / Reference Sheet
Students -- click here to download a great discography of artists playing various instruments. For example, if you play trumpet, you can look at the pdf and find some great players to listen to. This is a great resource! (Used by permission of Krista Millard)
Click here for Intonation charts from the Garofalo Book.
Link for downloadable fingering charts for each instrument:
SMARTMUSIC Visit smartmusic.com and enter your code (obtained from the NCHS band directors) to purchase a subscription for $25. (This subscription gives you access to the entire accompaniment library and all of SmartMusic's features for one year from your date of purchase). RENEWING Students Make sure you log into your existing account with your e-mail address and password instead of setting up a new account.
DISTRICT 203 MUSIC SELECTION GUIDELINES
The music department of the Naperville Community School District strongly believes in educating our
students in support of our Mission , Beliefs, and Philosophy.
• Mission:
...to educate students to be self-directed learners, collaborative workers, complex thinkers,
quality producers and community contributors using music study and performance as a framework to
experience, understand and demonstrate these ideals.
• We believe:
• that the study and performance of music develops and reinforces the cognitive skills and
learning strategies that are universal in all fields of academic study.
• that the performance music experience engenders the social values and behaviors necessary to
meet the district beliefs of dignity, individuality, responsible citizenship, and a collaborative
relationship with our community.
• that through participation in music performance students are exposed to a unique and powerful
method of developing an aesthetic sense and opinion that has positive lasting implications beyond
music participation.
• Philosophy: Music is known as the universal language capable of bridging both time and culture
through a unique and wonderful experience for both the creators and the consumers of the art form.
Music is a discipline that combines literacy skills with physical development and creative thought
with convention. It is an endeavor steeped in tradition yet its survival and testament is born of
creativity and multifarious practice. Music is an integral component of all cultures core fabric
regardless of time and development and offers a perspective on most societies that is as
illuminating as it is entertaining.
District 203 will provide a comprehensive and cohesive program of study that develops the necessary
skills for music performance. Moreover, the student experience will be saturated with opportunities
designed to develop their own individual aesthetic and creative abilities.
Our goals are:
• To develop students who can successfully perform music in a variety of styles for a variety of
audiences.
• For students to be able to articulate the emotional and cognitive impact of music.
• That all students develop the skills necessary to judge the quality and social and cultural
impact of music.
• All participating students will acquire a comprehensive foundation of music literacy.
Student Performance is an essential component of the District's curriculum. It allows students to
demonstrate mastery not only of individual skills but also the ability to collaborate through
participation in ensembles.
When selecting music for study or performance, the following criteria are considered:
Students can master national and state content standards.
National Standard 8: Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines
outside the arts.
National Standard 9: Understanding music in relation to history and culture.
State Fine Arts Goal 27: Understand the role of the arts in civilization, past and present.
The music is selected solely on the basis of musical and artistic merits and includes literature
spanning a wide variety of eras and genres.
The music selected neither promotes nor inhibits religious practices. In fact, the selection of the
music is consistent with the guidelines of the MENC (Music Educator's National Conference, 1996)
It is the position of MENC: The National Association for Music Education that the study and
performance of religious music within an educational context is a vital and appropriate part of a
comprehensive music education. The omission of sacred music from the school curriculum would result
in an incomplete educational experience.
With this volatile topic, music educators should exercise caution and good judgment in selecting
sacred music for study and programming for public performances. During the planning phase of each
program, the following guidelines will assist the teacher in determining if the program is, indeed,
religiously neutral:
• The literature is selected to focus on musical, artistic, stylistic, historical, and cultural
considerations.
• The neutral role, neither promoting nor inhibiting religious views, is emphasized in both
rehearsals and performances.
• The use of religious symbols or scenery and performances in devotional settings are both
limited.
• The traditions of diverse people and cultures are shared and respected.
• The various religious beliefs and sensitivities represented in the community are understood.
Teachers in District 203 believe that it is important to communicate that music learning, not
religious indoctrination, is the motivation in choosing repertoire. One way we reinforce this is
when we have conversations with students as they are learning the music. It is equally important to
share these musical concepts with the people assembled to witness the performance. These comments
may be shared informally with the audience or if the director prefers, it would be appropriate to
list the music concepts/skills associated with each song in the printed program.
If students or parents have a question about the selected repertoire, we would encourage them to
contact the teacher and or building administrator to discuss their concerns.
