Big Growth Already!!

I sent students home with an informational handout to keep on the fridge.  It has the lesson schedule, important dates, and information about the method book they need (Tradition of Excellence).  If they didn't give you one, please check the documents page to download a pdf of it.

We have split the band up into 1st year band and 2nd year band.  Students who are in 1st year band receive one 25 minute instrument specific lesson per week and one band rehearsal.  Students who are in 2nd year band receive one 30 minute lesson with students from their general classroom and one band rehearsal.  Larry Williams, the band director at the middle school and high school, is assisting in 2nd year lessons on Thursdays.  A student can be in 2nd year band if he or she is in 6th grade and this his his or her 2nd year playing their instrument.

Here is what the lesson/rehearsal schedule looks like:

Band Schedule

Monday:
    8:55-9:20        1st year Clarinet Lessons
    9:20-9:45        1st year Flute Lessons

Tuesday:
    8:55-9:20        1st year Saxophone Lessons
    9:20-9:45        1st year Trumpet Lessons

Wednesday:
    8:55-9:20        1st year Trombone Lessons
    9:20-9:45        1st year Percussion Lessons
    11:30-12:15        2nd year Band Rehearsal

Thursday:
    1:00-1:30        2nd years in Mrs. Mason’s Class Lessons
    1:30-2:00        2nd years in Mrs. Mathieu’s Class Lessons
    2:00-2:30        2nd years in Mrs. Fox’s Class Lessons

Friday
    11:30-12:15        1st year Band Rehearsal

Here's what we worked on in rehearsal this week:

First Year Band-

1. Dynamics...
   What does "dynamics" mean (how loud or soft music is) and what are some terms that have to do with dynamics... forte, piano, crescendo, decrescendo, subito
2. Reading music...
   a.  The lines in treble clef (EGBDF) can be remembered by "Ernie Gave Bert Dead Frogs".  The spaces in
        treble clef (FACE) can be remembered by spelling "face" from bottom to the top.
   b.  The lines in bass clef (GBDFA) can be remembered by "Granny Boogies Down Fifth Avenue".  The spaces
        in treble clef (ACEG) can be remembered by spelling "All Cows Eat Grass" from bottom to the top.
3. Listening...
       Night on Bare Mountain-
   a.  How does the piece make you feel?  What is the "mood"?
   b.  What instruments do you hear?
   c.  What dynamics do you hear?

Second Year Band-

1.    First Five Notes...
       a.  Revisited first five notes and did various exercises to develop a sense of pattern.
       b.  Double checked fingering
2.    Articulation-
       a.  the meaning- how we begin and end notes using our tongue.  Use the tip of your tongue to interupt your air
            streem.  Say "too" or "doo" NOT "Hoooo".
3.    Rhythm Reading...
        a.  Learning a uniform way of counting rhythms.
        b.  Reading the rhythms out loud.
        c.  Playing the rhythms using our first five notes.




On a lighter note... I know a lot of students are in love with the song "All About That Bass".  Here is a more appropriate and musically useful version (especially for the trombones!)   :)