Practice

Things to Remember this Week
-Grade 8's going to the University on Wed. Oct. 16
-T-shirt forms need to be returned

In Grade 6 Band 

The grade 6's are progressing quite nicely, however, this week we needed to have a few reminders as to make sure that practice is staying regular.   We have again circled in everyone's book exactly what to practice.   Most students are practicing around lines 1.21 -1.24.   In these lines two new notes are introduced.   We are doing our best to make sure the first three notes are good, before we move on.  To check this we have been seeing, playing, and writing these notes in various ways.  Some students have moved ahead as they have found some interesting songs and they were determined to figure them out.

We have continued to work at long tones, rudiments, posture, and using lots of air.    These are the fundamentals to getting a good solid tone.  In order to do this we have figured out a few "fun" songs.   These songs have students extending the range of their instruments.   Students have been writing notes down for these songs in their composition books.  

This week we have also explored slurs.   Slurs are when two notes are connected as close as possible.  Wind players do not tongue, except for trombones.  Trombone players discovered that if they try to slur they get a really cool sound effect and so they always must tongue!

We are looking forward to next week moving on and learning two more new notes.


In Grade 7 Band

This week in Grade 7 band we have learned the order of sharps and flats and how this relates to our scales.   We will beginning working on the Circle of Fourths and the Circle of Fifths.  We will be also moving towards working on our chromatic scale.   In our books, students have been assigned lines 1.13 and 1.14 to practice.

In full band we have been working on creating an inner pulse.    We have a habit of playing everything at the same tempo and are working hard to change this.   One of the things we have worked on is subdividing.   This is where students have been "hissing" eighth notes to make sure everything stays in time.    This week was pretty exciting as we played through all of our pieces beginning to end.  We are not performance ready, but it was a major accomplishment.   Congratulations Grade 7's!

In Grade 8 Band

Grade 8's are getting ready for their trip to the university this week.   They will be working with Brent Ghiglione.   Please see the side bar for the Grade 8 University trip information.  We look forward to a wonderful day on Oct. 16.