Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 2/21-2/25
Upcoming Events
February 22nd - 8th Grade Band Full Rehearsal 3:45-5:30pm
February 28th - BPS Percussion Ensemble Concert
March 1st - 8th Grade Band Full Rehearsal 3:45-5:30pm
March 4th - 8th Grade Band Pre-Assessment Concert
March 8th - 8th Grade Band Full Rehearsal 3:45-5:30pm
March 9th - 8th Grade Band Full Rehearsal 3:45-5:00pm
March 10th, 11th, or 12 - Concert Assessment (we will have an exact date mid-February)
Greetings Wildcat Band Family,
Students continue to amaze me with their diligence, hard work and weekly growth. The main things parents and guardians can do to help your young musician to be more successful is to help them to establish regular practices time (at least 4 days per week for 20 minutes) and to remind them to complete their practice records so that their grade reflects what they are fully capable of. The practice records, when completed correctly, helps students to make goals for each practice session, utilize specific techniques to get better and to reflect on their progress. A process that can be highly beneficial to students in all parts of their life and personal growth.
7th Grade Brass and Woodwind Classes have W25 Concept Check due which is a video recording of a scale and arpeggio. Students were given 10 minute of class this week to record it or to play it live for me to have it done before the weekend. :)
8th Grade band has an assignment due on Monday that is posted in google classroom as well as several missing assignments that were due last week.
Monday, February 21st, come to Tiger Arena to see some the BPS Band Directors take on the Harlem Wizards! It is sure to be a FUNNY....I mean FUN time!
8th Grade Band - please remember that we will have a full band rehearsal on Tuesday 3:45-5:30pm.
Percussion WILL have their weekly sectional Wednesday until 4:45.
8th Grade Band - please remember that we will have a Pre-Assessment Concert on Friday, March 4th
Also, please remember that there is no schools for Bentonville Schools students on Monday, February 21st as staff have a professional development day.
Stay healthy, stay well and have a band-tastic week!
-Mr. Jones
CONGRATULATIONS on an excellent week of music making at the Arkansas All-State Conference in Hot Springs!! Bentonville Schools placed more than 50 students in the All-State Bands, more than any other district in the state! Here are some highlights from the weekend:
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.
7th Grade classes will not have a new recording due this week. Instead, it will be a catch up week for students to:
Turn in missing assignments
Re-do assignments for a higher grade based on the feedback left in google classroom.
Practice record will still be due next week.
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)
Warm-Up Book in Google Classroom
Long Tones 1 and 2 (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 1 and 2 (75bpm)
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.
Revicew Concert Bb, C and Ab Major Scales
Concert Music
"High Voltage" - 8th note accent patterns
"Jungle Dance" - Ms. 1-49 (focus is all right notes. USE a tuner to check)
Rhythm Review
Practice some rhythm review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=6212853122a2226c449168a1
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)
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)
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. 6 and 7
Cirque de Lestrange
Consistent focus from person to person
Balance (what is the MOST exciting part to hear?)
Blue Ridge Reel
Articulation
Individual responsibility - can you play every note and every rhythm correctly every time? If no, practice until you can't get it wrong.
Hsien
Focus on tuning for half notes and longer (USE A TUNER and get the entire note in tune)
Rhythm Review
Practice some rhythm review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=6212853122a2226c449168a1
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. :)
7th Grade Low Brass (3rd 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)
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
Scales
Review Concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db Major Scales
Work to memorize
Concert Music
"High Voltage" - 8th note accent patterns
"Jungle Dance" - Ms. 1-49 (focus is all right notes. USE a tuner to check)
Rhythm Review
Practice some rhythm review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=6212853122a2226c449168a1
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.