BAND, CHOIR, AND STEEL DRUMS

Mr. Marcus J. Pimpleton

Course: Band, Choir, Steel Drums
Email mjpimpleton@seattleschools.org
Phone: (206) 252-8993
Office Hour: 7:45-8:40 and by appointment

About the Instructor
Music Director Marcus Pimpleton is in his 6th year of teaching and his 6th year at Denny Middle School. Mr. Pimpleton received his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Music degrees from the University of Washington in August of 2002. At the University, Pimpleton served as drum major of the famed Husky Marching Band and president of the Gamma Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity. In addition to his work at Denny, Mr. Pimpleton serves as director of both the Seattle Public Schools and Federal Way Public Schools All-City Marching Bands. He is also the youth ministry leader and minister of music at Zion United House of Prayer. in Seattle’s central district. As an alumnus of Denny Middle School and Chief Sealth High School, Mr. Pimpleton is very excited about the opportunity to give back to a school that blessed him immensely as a young person.

Standards Taught In This Class
Standard 2. Performing on instruments, alone and with others, a varied repertoire of music; Standard 3. Improvising melodies, variations, and accompaniments; Standard 5. Reading and notating music.; Standard 6 Listening to, analyzing, and describing music; Standard 7 Evaluating music and music performances; Standard 8 Understanding relationships between music, the other arts, and disciplines outside the arts; Standard 9 Understanding music in relation to history and culture.

Course Description
Music classes double as the performing ensembles for the school. Participants will be developing music reading abilities, while preparing pieces for performance in school and community events. Emphasis will be placed on developing good musicianship and rehearsal habits. Participation in this class requires participation in two evening concert performances each semester. The dates of the required engagements are provided at the beginning of the term. As a result of this class students will develop musicianship , team building skills, work ethic, and improved perception of self. Additionally studies have demonstrated a connection between the study of music and improvement in other academic areas.

Grading
Category Percentage Points
Classwork— Daily Participation 50% 200 points (20 points per week)
Performances—Concerts/Evening Events 25% 100 points (1-2 events per qtr)
Tests/Quizzes – playing/written tests 12.5% 50 points (2-4 pts per qtr)
*Practice Sheets - homework 12.5% 50 points (5 points per week)

Daily Participation consists of actively participating and demonstrating good rehearsal habits. Students are expected to practice 20-30 minutes daily and to submit a weekly practice sheet signed by a parent or guardian. Practice sheets should be turned in to the inbox on the front table every Monday at the start of class. Practice sheets will not be accepted more than one week late. Practice sheets are not required as a part of the steel drum or choir classes. For those groups, Daily Participation is 50% of the grading with performances and tests accounting for 25% each.