General Information
Welcome back to band!! This week was super short due to the snow days at the start of the week, but I am excited to be back in class and working with your students this semester. Since this week was so short with only one class period per group, we did not work on too much new music. We reviewed exercises from last semester and discussed what the upcoming semester will look like for each group. Just like last semester, if students are interested in taking private lessons please feel free to reach out. I am more than willing to help you connect with some of the amazing private instructors here in the area.
Student Recordings: To submit a video or audio recording to me, students should ask to use a parent’s device such as a phone, iPad, computer etc. to record the asked for music. This can then be sent in an email to Miss Beumer.
Announcement: none
Advanced Band
Thursday’s class this week was mostly focused on review and warming the instruments back up after the break. We worked through book exercises on pages 8 and 9. If students wish to continue working on the concepts from class at home, these are good pages to start with. At the tops of their pages are explanation boxes for any of the new topics covered in class so they have reminders or a way to learn a new concept on their own at home if they wish to work ahead. We reviewed the various types of minor scales in the key of Concert G minor. This was something we introduced briefly last semester and will be something they continue to learn about this semester. We also looked at the idea of syncopation in music today. This is something they will possibly see more of in their music as they increase their skills. Bb, Eb and F major scales are still open to turn in for the scale challenge. Students can submit a video by email of the full scale through the thirds to be added to the leaderboard. 3 hours overall for each week is a good goal with any of the music.
Beginning Band
Wednesday’s class this week was all about remembering the skills and notes we learned last semester. We reviewed and played through exercises on page 10 in the red books. I would like for them to continue to review their newer of A or B depending on their instrument. This should be located in exercise no. 37. I plan to have them play through this one on Monday in class. Another helpful thing for them to practice at home is long tones. Long tones means picking a note and playing it for as long as they can with a good sound. It may start as only a few seconds, but with time it can grow to multiple measures of music at a time. As their confidence grows on remembering how to play each note, long tones work on their breath support. Breath support is vital in helping them sustain sound longer, louder, and cleaner. By playing long tones at home, they are exercising their muscles just like they would in PE to help build support. Keep encouraging them to clean out their instruments after a practice session. This helps keep their instruments in the best working order.
Upcoming Events
03/14- A AND B BAND- GRANDPARENTS DAY PROGRAM
05/15- A AND B BAND- FINE ARTS NIGHT AT 6:30 PM