Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 2/28-3/4
Upcoming Events
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 10th - Concert Assessment (5:20pm performance time)
March 14th - Percussion Ensemble Concert @6:30pm at Arend Arts Center
Greetings Wildcat Band Family,
Welp, that winter storm was a bit disappointing for all the snow lovers out there. The short commute to class was sure nice for a couple of days but I would have MUCH rather been teaching students in person. I am incredibly proud of the students for showing up to the google meets Wednesday and Thursday. We had 97% attendance! From Friday, we currently have 70% of asynchronous assignments complete. Please remember that to be counted present for Friday, students must complete the assignment posted in google classroom no later than Monday.
The only assignment due from last week is the Friday asynchronous one. If students completed the practice record they are welcome to turn it in an and earn credit for it, but it will not be required due to the schedule last week.
This will be a happening week for 8th grade band students. I want to encourage all of our band family to be present Friday, March 4th to support the band in our pre-assessment performance at BHS. 8th Grade band will arrive at 6:00pm and will perform at 7. Feel free to arrive early to support our friends at Fulbright who will perform at 6:30pm. Additionally, our friends in the Lincoln JH 8th Grade Band will perform Wednesday night at 6:30. Come check out all the hard these amazing musicians have accomplished this quarter.
8th Grade Band - please remember that we will have a full band rehearsal on Tuesday 3:45-5:30pm. Because this is also parent teacher conferences, we will rehearse in the gym and invite families to watch the rehearsal from the bleachers if you so wish. Please be respectful of the process if you choose to watch and remain quiet as to not distract the students. :) I will only be available for conferences on Tuesday 6:00-7:30 due to the rehearsal and break down of the gym.
Percussion WILL have their weekly sectional Wednesday until 4:45.
8th Grade Band - please remember that we will have our Pre-Assessment Concert this Friday, March 4th. Concert Black. Family and friends are invited to attend!
Tuesday, March 1st - Parent Teacher Conferences - I will be available after 6:00pm due to the 8th Grade Band Rehearsal.
Thursday, March 3rd - Parent Teacher Conferences - I will be available 3:45-7:30.
Tuesday, March 8th - 8th Grade Band Rehearsal until 5:30
Thursday, March 10th - Concert Assessment (Everyone is invited to the 5:20 performance. We'd LOVE to see a lot of our band family in the audience!)
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)
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 g minor Scale and Arpeggio (Flutes= g minor; Saxophones = e minor; Trumpets = a minor; Horns = d minor)
Review Concert C, F, Bb 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 16th and syncopation rhythm review using this Blooket: https://www.blooket.com/play?hwId=621b7843d5afb4286ab8da2c
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
Tuning and consistency
Practice with a tuner
Record yourself in small chunks, listen back
Can you play every note of every measure? If not, work on it.
Listen to recording. How can you help make the ensemble sound more like this? https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&productID=10908046&type=audio
Blue Ridge Reel
Articulation consistency
Individual responsibility - can you play every note and every rhythm correctly every time? If no, practice until you can't get it wrong.
2nd trumpets - use a tuner and check starting notes. Practice to play stronger.
Listen to recording. How can you help make the ensemble sound more like this? https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&productID=10369931&type=audio
Hsien
Focus on tuning - every note in tune every time (USE A TUNER and get the entire note in tune)
Style consistency
2nd trumpet parts 100% accurate, in tune and with GREAT tone.
Listen to recording. How can you help make the ensemble sound more like this? https://www.jwpepper.com/sheet-music/media-player.jsp?&productID=10515874&type=audio
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 yourself.
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
Scale:
Concert g minor Scale and Arpeggio
Review Concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab and Db 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)