In Grade 6 Band This Week
Grade Six band students are amazing. They learn so many things so quickly. This week we began studying the differences between whole, half, and quarter notes and how they relate to a time signature. Brass students began the first steps in developing their embouchures to play more than one pitch with the same fingering. Woodwind students began working on covering even more wholes on their instruments. Clarinet players were reminded to keep left hand on the top, right hand on the bottom and both hands in a "c" shape. We are keeping a watchful eye on our flute players. The flute takes up a lot of air and many students are up against the first major flute obstacle. This is playing C-D. This involves taking all of their fingers off the keys to putting them back on while holding the flute in its proper position. It is a challenge! Percussionists are working through paradiddles and flams and exploring the other rudiments on Page 54 and 55. They have been reminded to keep their wrists relaxed as they play. Besides all of this Grade 6 students have begun the basics of musical notation. The Grade 6's were challenged to write their own composition at the end of Page 4. (For this students may use note names instead of musical notation.)
Since all of the instruments are still at very much different stages, we have been circling in their books the exact lines to practice. Not all students will have exactly the same things to practice. Several students have asked if they can use their composition books to write their own songs - yes, please do! We look forward to hearing your new song. As well, students are encouraged to use the cd's in our book to listen to and play along with. We are looking forward to what next will bring in Grade 6 Band!
In Grade 7 Band This Week
We celebrated in Grade 7 Band this week. The Grade 7's were the winner of a contest they entered last year as Grade 6's. We had submitted a soundclip after their December Concert and found out just before the end of the school year that hey won. Their prize was a Long and McQuade gift card which was used to restock our treasure box. Congratulations Grade 7's! This week also marked the first time we were able to use the wheel chair lift into the band room. This was a very special week!
Grade 7's are working on blend and balance. We are discovering that this is easier said than done. We have been working on a few exercises where students have to pick out the part that someone else is playing while they are playing a different part. The bigger the group, the harder it is. There are many amazing sets of ears in Grade 7 and the students are beginning to pick out these musical lines. Students are working on Incantation and Ritual by Brian Balmages, Spirit of the Wolf by Michael Oare, and Song of Peace by James Swearingen. As well, we are reviewing Concert Bb, Concert, Eb, and Concert F Scales. We will be working out of our Blue Measures of Success Book this week, please make sure it is in your folder. This week we asked students to look at their sheet music. Next week we will go back to circling lines in their books to practice.
In Grade 8 Band This Week
Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Wiest were away at their internship seminar this week. In Mr. Wilkinson's place we had Mr. Crawford with us. Mr. Crawford teaches percussion and drums in the city and also plays with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. All of our percussionists were treated to a special master class by Mr. Crawford. Here they worked on percussion technique and specifically they worked on some of the auxillary instruments.
The Grade 8's are continuing to work through the Circle of Fourths. The sheet music they worked on included Spain, Amen, and Chant and Tribal Dance. Grade 8 students are asked to take a look at all of these.
As well...
Take a look at our "Week at a Glance" page for sectional schedules. As well we have added some more "you tube" video links.
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