MUSIC IN OUR LIVES

Syllabus, Course Description and Class Policies

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Music in Our Lives is a full year course that allows students to explore music and its influence
on the world around us. Students will create, perform, listen to, and analyze music from
diverse genres, and cover many social, cultural, and historical contexts from around the world.
Students will study how music says who we are as human beings and how we express
ourselves through music.

REQUIRED MATERIALS
Three Ring Binder

Pen / Pencil

GRADING POLICY
As illustrated in the pie chart,
there are three main criteria
that your grade will be based
on. 50% of your grade will be
based on classwork, 30% will
be based on participation
during class and 20% percent
will be based on any tests
given in class. It is important
to understand the importance
of each.

GRADING POLICY
Classwork (50%):
Students are responsible for completing and handing in all of their work.
All work should be kept in their binder until the teacher asks for it to be
handed in. Keeping your work in your binder will reduce the risk of it being
lost or misplaced.
All work must be handed in on time. This should not be an issue since we
complete all of our work in the classroom during class time. I DO NOT
ASSIGN HOMEWORK!
If a student has an excused absence, it is their responsibility to see the
teacher regarding any missed work.

GRADING POLICY
Participation (30%)
Students are expected to be in class every day. Attendance is the
responsibility of the student and his/her family and a key component to the
success of the student. The class discussions, activities and listening
activities are designed with the idea that students are in class. Students are
also responsible for being prepared for each class with the required supplies.

GRADING POLICY
Participation (30%)
Students will receive 5 points for participation each class day.
If a student has an unexcused absence, they will receive a zero as their participation
grade for that day.
Each day, every student enters the room starting with 5 points for their participation
grade for that day. Students WILL lose points for the following reasons.
Not participating or doing what you are supposed to do. This can include using your mobile
device, talking, sleeping, or eating. You are expected to follow the rules of the school and
classroom that you are in at the time.
Each time the teacher needs to speak with you about failure to follow rules or comply with
teacher requests and/or expectations, you will lose a point.
Sleeping will result in a zero for the day.
If a student is removed from the classroom by security or administration, their participation
grade for the day will be a zero.

GRADING POLICY
Participation (30%)
Any points lost due to an unexcused absence, tardy, failure to follow
classroom or school rules, or failure to comply with teacher requests and/or
expectations cannot be made up.
A tardy is defined as a student NOT being in their assigned seat when
attendance is being taken.

GRADING POLICY
Tests (20%):
Tests will be announced or unannounced as determined by the teacher.
There will be a test at the conclusion of each chapter and/or unit.
The tests given in this class will adhere to an open notes policy. Students will
be able to reference all notes and classwork completed during class while
taking a test. Only notes and assignments that have been provided by
the teacher in this class.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS
School Rules:
Students must keep their hands, feet and other objects to themselves at all
times.
Students must follow adult requests the first time they are given.
Food and drinks are not permitted in the classroom. Save them for the
cafeteria.
Students must leave all of their outerwear in their lockers. This includes and
is not limited to hoodies, hats, headphones and backpacks.

CLASS EXPECTATIONS
Classroom Expectations:
Hoodies, hats and/or any other outerwear are not permitted in class.
Electronic and/or mobile devices are permitted in class.
Students will treat the teacher and each other with respect at all times.
Students will treat the room and all materials with respect at all times.
Students will be on time for class.
Students must be prepared with their binder, writing implement, notes and
classwork.
Listen to the teacher at all times. Talking while the teacher is speaking or
giving instructions is NEVER appropriate.
No vulgarity

CLASS ROUTINE
When the bell rings, students must be sitting quietly in their assigned seat. Any
student who is not sitting in their assigned seat when the bell rings, is tardy.
The first three to five minutes of every class will be dedicated to listening. The
class will listen to a piece of music, selected by the teacher. Each student will fill
out a listening log. The listening log will be handed in after it has been completed.
If a student is absent, late or chooses not to complete their listening log at the
appropriate time, it will not be accepted.
The rest of the class will be dedicated to instruction, individual and group
assignments.

When the bell rings, students will be dismissed to their next class. Do NOT
leave anything behind. The teacher is not responsible for anything left
behind. It is likely that whatever you leave behind will not be there the next
day.

CONSEQUENCES
Each time the teacher needs to address the student regarding conduct,
they will lose a point off of their participation grade for the day.
Parents will be contacted if a student receives a zero participation grade
on a given day.
Students who are disrespectful or who create major disruptions will be
escorted out of the classroom by security or an administrator.
For repeat offenders a parent/teacher/administrator conference will be
requested.

NOTE FROM THE TEACHER

Each student at the Math, Science, and Technology Preparatory School is
required to have at least one art credit in order to graduate. Since you are
signed up for this class, it is my job to help you acquire that credit. I truly
do care about all of my students and look forward to seeing each and every
one of them walk across the stage on graduation day. You are all my
number one priority and I will do all that I can to insure that you
successfully acquire this art credit. In order for this to work, we must
understand that you and I are a team. I will do all that I can to help you
achieve success in this class, but you must meet me half way. If you are
absent from class regularly, fail to hand in assignments on time or behave
inappropriately, there is nothing that I can do to help you. I will help you,
but you must also help yourself. I look forward working with all of you.
Heres to an outstanding year!