General Information
Week 4 of band classes is now complete! This week we continued to build on our momentum from last week in A band and I handed out a new, highly requested, pep band song. 4th and 5th grade started to make sounds on their full instruments this week. If they practice at home, please make sure to watch them put their instruments together as they are still learning how to do so safely.
Instruments: If you are new to the band program or a 4th-5th grade parent, your student will need an instrument. The school has a handful of instruments on hand, but not enough for the entirety of both grade levels. I do not have any more trumpets, clarinets, or flutes to give out. We are able to share percussion equipment for now, but if your student wants to practice at home, a practice pad or some type of snare/bell kit is encouraged. I still have students without instruments, please make this a priority! Please reach out to me if you have financial concerns so we can find an alternative option aside from renting.
Announcement: PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR STUDENT HAS AN INSTRUMENT FOR NEXT WEEK!!
Advanced Band
This week our primary focus was American Declaration and our new pep band piece. The new pep band piece the group requested is Crazy Train. This will not be played at the pep rally today, but is something fun they can work on for later pep rallies. This is also a common piece high school groups do, so if your student intends to play in high school, they will encounter this piece. We also started to put together the last couple themes in the Armed Forces Salute so they are almost ready for full run practices next week. The scales we worked on this week are Eb, and Ab major. These scales provide the added challenge of playing higher notes. If your student is wanting to play higher, reading it up an octave if it is not already written into their music is a great way to start. Scales move step wise so it will help your student reach those higher notes easier before they try to leap between them. For my new students in this group, reviewing exercises towards the middle or end of their red books will be good help to prepare them for the music in advanced band.
4/5 Grade Band
This week was all about learning how to put together our full instruments. Each group was patient in class as I explained to each individual group how to safely put their instruments together. For brass instruments and percussion, this is fairly easy, however, woodwinds like flutes and clarinets have very delicate parts they need to be mindful of so they do not accidentally break their instruments. If they are wanting to practice at home, please supervise to make sure they put them together gently. They also should still practice on small instruments to help build up their breath support. In general, they should not be practicing for more than 10 minutes at a time as they are still brand new to their instruments. Some students still do not have an instrument for class. They are listed below. If you send me an email, I can send you a list of stores to look at or links to websites with affordable priced instruments to buy. Most music stores will have you rent to own. Please let me know any way I can help you with this!
5th grade- Owen (trumpet), Isaiah (trumpet), Nahom (needs sticks), Gabby (needs sticks)
4th grade- Yair (trumpet)
Upcoming Events
9/11- PEP ASSEMBLY- A BAND ONLY
11/11- VETERANS DAY ASSEMBLY AT 8:30AM- A BAND ONLY
DECEMBER 5-7TH- BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT- A BAND ONLY
DECEMBER 7TH AT 8AM-PRELUDE FOR CHURCH SERVICE- A BAND ONLY
DECEMBER 7TH AT 10:30 AM-PRELUDE FOR CHURCH SERVICE- 4/5 GRADE BAND ONLY
DECEMBER 17TH AT 4PM- PRELUDE FOR CHURCH- A BAND ONLY
DECEMBER 19TH AT 9AM- SCHOOL SING-A-LONG- BOTH GROUPS
DECEMEBER TBD- CROWN CENTER PERFORMANCE- BOTH GROUPS