Jared Jones
- Feb 12, 2022
- 5 min read

Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 2/14-2/18

Upcoming Events

Greetings Wildcat Band Family,

It was another terrific week of musical and personal growth in all of our classes. There were no assignments due in the 7th grade classes this week as we were finishing Blind Test #2 (graded and in HAC, but please know it is for reference only. The assignment is weighted to zero so it does not impact the grade. Just a reference to how students did playing a short excerpt of concepts taught between November and early January)

8th Grade band has an assignment due on Tuesday that is posted in google classroom.

Grades are 100% up to date with any assignment or practice record turned in by 9:00am Saturday, February 12th. If there is an "N" the student has not turned anything in. A "Z" means they turned something in but it was incomplete. Any assignment (except practice records) can be practiced, re recorded and turned back in for a higher grade before the end of the quarter.

8th Grade Band - please remember that we will have a full band rehearsal on Tuesday 3:45-5:30pm with special guest Mr. Chris Moore, Director of Bands at LJHS!

Percussion WILL have their weekly sectional Wednesday until 4:45.

Stay healthy, stay well and have a band-tastic week!

-Mr. Jones

Homework Assignments this Week

Click the arrow next to a class to expand the homework for the week. Not everything is required to record or turn in for a grade. This is simply a list of items students should be working on during their practice sessions throughout the week to continue growing on their instrument and to be prepared for class.

ALL CLASSES WEEKLY PRACTICE RECORD:

Student need to complete their weekly practice record consisting of 4 days of practice for 20 minutes each. It is important student complete it correctly and turn it in on time. Practice records will not be accepted more than 1 class day late for credit. Concept Checks and Sectional Assignments will not be accepted more than 2 weeks after the due date for credit. Students who are sick for multiple days are excused from band assignments with a doctor's note turned in to the school for the week they are out.

7th Grade High Winds (1st Period)

The focus of each practice item below is written next to it. For this to be fully effective, this is NOT a play it, check it off and move on. Your goal to move to the next item is to play with no more than 5 mistakes on day 1, no more than 4 mistakes on day 2, no more than 3 mistakes on day 3, no more than 2 mistakes on day 2 and no more than 1 mistake on day 4.

Mistakes include: Wrong rhythm, wrong note, wrong articulation, wrong dynamics, poor tone quality (closed, pinched, weak, unsteady), and not playing within the correct tempo range.

Practice the Following items WITH A METRONOME:

Breathing Exercises: (60bpm)

8 beats in, hold 8, out in 8 (repeat 2 times)
4 beats in, hold 4, out in 4 (repeat 4 times)
2 beats in, hold 2, out in 2 (repeat 4 times)
1 beat in, hold 1, out in 1 (repeat 4 times)
1 beat in, 1 out (repeat 7 times)
Large, SLOW breath in for 4 beats and out in 4 (3 times)
TIPS OF AWESOMENESS - Breathe using the "OH" syllable. COMPLETELY fill up your lungs on the inhale and COMPLETELY empty your lungs on the exhale. Use your blade check point. (example: https://youtu.be/ty5fbD0bvtQ?t=95)

Leveled Warm-Ups

Remington 2 Down (80bpm) use a tuner to work to stay right in tune. If you are sharp, open up; if you are flat firm up and blow faster air. Flutes, smaller aperture if you are playing flat and blow faster air; larger aperture and stronger air if you are sharp.)
Remington 2 Down without rests or whole notes at 100bpm
Remington 2 Down without playing the concert F's after the first one at 100bpm.
Remington 2 Up (80bpm) use a tuner to work to stay right in tune. If you are sharp, open up; if you are flat firm up and blow faster air. Flutes, smaller aperture if you are playing flat and blow faster air; larger aperture and stronger air if you are sharp.)
Articulation #2 - focus is to able to count and play all 4 lines as we have worked on in class last week (no slower than 90bpm)

EE2 (Essential Elements Book #2)

#47, 48, and 49 - Focus is on syncopation
Pg. 14 & 15 - playing 16th note melodies

Scale:

Concert F Major Scale and Arpeggio (Flutes= F Major; Saxophones = D Major; Trumpets = G Major; Horns = C Major)
Trumpets and French Horns, since this scale is 1 octave for you, you will focus on playing the first octave at 120bpm.
This will be the concept check this week that students will video record and turn in by Friday.

Music Note Review

Practice some note review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=61f6ad023c753153a2558812

We ALL have the time to practice for 20 minutes, 4 days a week. You MUST schedule your time accordingly to find the time to do your part to make our ensemble the BEST it can be. Priority time is an option to get your time in during the school day. With no sectionals during priority this semester, it is an EXCELLENT time to get your time in.

OPTIONAL WORK TO MAKE YOU BETTER

Got it already and want to challenge yourself? Here are some additional items out of our EE2 book for you to push your self.

Pg. 34 #160-162 (major focus on articulation and clear articulation) Metronome should be set no faster than 80bpm to begin with and work it up as fast as you can but with a focus on clear articulation and awesome tone. Increase tempo by only 4bpm each time you go quicker.
Pg. 40 #197 - count rhythms, go SLOW, use youtube to lookup a recording of the solo. Practice no more than 2-4 measures at a time.
Go to musescore.com or noteflight.com. Create a free account. Find music you may wish to play for fun. Alternatively, you can use musescore or noteflight to listen to a favorite song and try to write out the melody for you to be able to play along OR create your OWN ORIGINAL song. :)

8th Grade Band (2nd Period)

Mistakes include: Wrong rhythm, wrong note, wrong articulation, wrong dynamics, poor tone quality (closed, pinched, weak, unsteady), and not playing within the correct tempo range.

Practice the Following items WITH A METRONOME:

Breathing Exercises: (60bpm)

8 beats in, hold 8, out in 8 (repeat 2 times)
4 beats in, hold 4, out in 4 (repeat 4 times)
2 beats in, hold 2, out in 2 (repeat 4 times)
1 beat in, hold 1, out in 1 (repeat 4 times)
1 beat in, 1 out (repeat 7 times)
Large, SLOW breath in for 4 beats and out in 4 (3 times)
TIPS OF AWESOMENESS - Breathe using the "OH" syllable. COMPLETELY fill up your lungs on the inhale and COMPLETELY empty your lungs on the exhale. Use your blade check point. (example: https://youtu.be/ty5fbD0bvtQ?t=95)

Embouchure Boot Camp

Flutes - Pg. 8 head joint drills. Pg. 9 Stretch Drills. Pg. 14 Single tonguing (2nd exercise)
Oboes - Pg. 8 Stretch Drills (top). Pg. 9 Register Drills (both). Pg. 14. Single tonguing (2nd exercise)
Clarinets - Pg. 8 Stretch Drills (top). Pg. 9 Register Drills (both). Pg. 11. Single tonguing (2nd exercise)
Saxophones - Pg. 8 Stretch Drills (top). Pg. 9 Register Drills (both). Pg. 11. Single tonguing (2nd exercise)
Brass - Pg. 8 Mouthpiece Buzzing (buzz with attached audio file), Pg. 10 Stretch Drills (top), Pg. 11 Lip Slurs (use valve/positions as indicated), Pg. 14 Single Tonguing (bottom)
Percussion - Pg. 8 Sticking Drills (both) Aim to have both hands sound the same. Pg. 11 Roll Drills (top). Pg. 19 Technical Drills (mallets, both)

EE3 (Essential Elements Book #3)

Pg. 4 and 5

Cirque de Lestrange

Consistent focus from person to person
Balance (what is the MOST exciting part to hear?)

Blue Ridge Reel

Practice Ms. 113-end

Hsien

Focus on tuning for half notes and longer (USE A TUNER and get the entire note in tune)

Music Note Review

Practice some note review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=61f6ad023c753153a2558812

OPTIONAL WORK TO MAKE YOU BETTER

Got it already and want to challenge yourself? Here are some additional items out of our EE2 book for you to push your self.

Pg. 34 #160-162 (major focus on articulation and clear articulation) Metronome should be set no faster than 80bpm to begin with and work it up as fast as you can but with a focus on clear articulation and awesome tone. Increase tempo by only 4bpm each time you go quicker.
Pg. 40 #197 - count rhythms, go SLOW, use youtube to lookup a recording of the solo. Practice no more than 2-4 measures at a time.
Go to musescore.com or noteflight.com. Create a free account. Find music you may wish to play for fun. Alternatively, you can use musescore or noteflight to listen to a favorite song and try to write out the melody for you to be able to play along OR create your OWN ORIGINAL song. :)

7th Grade Low Brass (3rd Period)

Mistakes include: Wrong rhythm, wrong note, wrong articulation, wrong dynamics, poor tone quality (closed, pinched, weak, unsteady), and not playing within the correct tempo range.

Practice the Following items WITH A METRONOME:

Breathing Exercises: (60bpm)

8 beats in, hold 8, out in 8 (repeat 2 times)
4 beats in, hold 4, out in 4 (repeat 4 times)
2 beats in, hold 2, out in 2 (repeat 4 times)
1 beat in, hold 1, out in 1 (repeat 4 times)
1 beat in, 1 out (repeat 7 times)
Large, SLOW breath in for 4 beats and out in 4 (3 times)
TIPS OF AWESOMENESS - Breathe using the "OH" syllable. COMPLETELY fill up your lungs on the inhale and COMPLETELY empty your lungs on the exhale. Use your blade check point. (example: https://youtu.be/ty5fbD0bvtQ?t=95)

Bentonville Brass Warm-Ups

F Remington (80bpm) use a tuner to work to stay right in tune. If you are sharp, open up; if you are flat firm up and blow faster air.
Reverse Bb Remington (80bpm) use a tuner to work to stay right in tune. If you are sharp, open up; if you are flat firm up and blow faster air.
Overtone #2 (80bpm) focus is smooth transition from note to note. No bumps or stops.
5 Note Lip Slur (80bpm) start in 4th position low G, slur up a total of 5 notes. 1 measure of rest. Repeat in 3rd position. 1 measure of rest and repeat in 2nd position. 1 measure of rest and repeat in 1st position. As you get to the top 2 or 3 notes you may need to slur with the "EE" syllable rather than "OH"
6 Note Lip Slur (80bpm) start in 4th position low G, slur up a total of 5 notes. 1 measure of rest. Repeat in 3rd position. 1 measure of rest and repeat in 2nd position. 1 measure of rest and repeat in 1st position. As you get to the top 2 or 3 notes you may need to slur with the "EE" syllable rather than "OH"
Articulation #2 (screenshot attached) - focus is to able to count and play all 4 lines as we have worked on in class last week (no slower than 90bpm)

EE2 (Essential Elements Book #2)

#47, 48, and 49 - Focus is on syncopation
Pg. 14 & 15 - playing 16th note melodies

Scale:

Concert F Major Scale both octaves
This will be the concept check this week that students will video record and turn in by Friday.

Music Note Review

Practice some note review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=61f6ad023c753153a2558812

OPTIONAL WORK TO MAKE YOU BETTER

Got it already and want to challenge yourself? Here are some additional items out of our EE2 book for you to push your self.

Pg. 34 #160-162 (major focus on articulation and clear articulation) Metronome should be set no faster than 80bpm to begin with and work it up as fast as you can but with a focus on clear articulation and awesome tone. Increase tempo by only 4bpm each time you go quicker.
Pg. 40 #197 - count rhythms, go SLOW, use youtube to lookup a recording of the solo. Practice no more than 2-4 measures at a time.
Go to musescore.com or noteflight.com. Create a free account. Find music you may wish to play for fun. Alternatively, you can use musescore or noteflight to listen to a favorite song and try to write out the melody for you to be able to play along OR create your OWN ORIGINAL song. :)

This will be your total practice time January 10th-January 16th

Practice Record #2 will be Monday, January 17th-January 23rd

OPTIONAL WORK TO MAKE YOU BETTER

Got it already and want to challenge yourself? Here are some additional items out of our EE2 book for you to push your self.

Pg. 34 #160-162 (major focus on articulation and clear articulation) Metronome should be set no faster than 80bpm to begin with and work it up as fast as you can but with a focus on clear articulation and awesome tone. Increase tempo by only 4bpm each time you go quicker.
Pg. 40 #197 - count rhythms, go SLOW, use youtube to lookup a recording of the solo. Practice no more than 2-4 measures at a time.
Go to musescore.com or noteflight.com. Create a free account. Find music you may wish to play for fun. Alternatively, you can use musescore or noteflight to listen to a favorite song and try to write out the melody for you to be able to play along OR create your OWN ORIGINAL song. :)

7th Grade Clarinets (6th Period)