Friday 19 September 2014

Posture, Embouchure, and Air!

Reminders:
-Reminder to those students who have are renting school instruments, to  please return your rental form 
-Jazz Band Starts this week!   

In Grade Six Band 

There are daily improvements happening in Grade 6 Band!   This week we discussed a practice routine.   This included finding a spot that was not prone to distractions.   Students are reminded that 15 minutes at a time is an excellent amount of practice time.     We spent the first week of band focusing on three notes.   This week we added a fourth note.    Students are also encouraged to experiment with some of the notes in the fingering charts.  (This is not an expectation to be able to play all of these notes.   This is so that students are familiar with their fingering charts.)      

In band classes this week we also began experimenting with some of the notes we know and finding familiar tunes.    Many of us figured out the notes for "In the Jungle".    We will be writing these notes in our composition books so that we will have some songs "just for fun".   Students were also asked to come up with a quick composition.   Their compositions were wonderful.   They experimented with new notes and sounds and used lots of air.    

The Grade 6's have impressed us with their eagerness to help each other as well as demonstrate some very nice playing.   We have asked them to take a look at Page 6.  We told Grade 6's that if they feel it is mastered already to please go on to the next page.    Our goals are - proper posture, correct embouchure, (or grip for percussionists) and using lots of air.   

In Grade Seven Band

The Grade 7's have been doing some very nice site reading.   We realize many students did not have their instruments over the summer and are starting to get back in to playing.    We have asked students to work on long tones, brass players to continue working on lip slurs, flute players octaves, saxophones lower long tones, and clarinets "low's to highs" (over the break notes).   This week we reviewed our Concert Bb, Concert Eb and Concert F Scales.     As well, we are using our fingering charts on Page 55 to work on our chromatic scale.    We will be working on dotted rhythms and have asked Grade 7's to work on the last line on Page 3.   The band music we have started includes Dance Celebration, Largo, Autumn Celebration, and In the Court of the King.   

In Grade 8 Band 

This week the Grade 8's continue to work through the Circle of Fourths.    We started playing this in harmony.   This is quite tricky and requires a lot of concentration.    The Grade 8's are working through some of their new music.   This includes Joy, Shadows Unleashed and a new piece - Furioso.   

THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

Monday Day 5 - Sept. 22
9:00 - Perry Grade 7's and 8
9:45 - Perry 8's
10:00 - RCS Grade 6's
10:45 - RCS 7's
10:45 - Grant Road Grade 8's
12:45 - Perry 6 flutes
1:30 - Perry 6 clarinets
2:30 - Perry 6 trumpets and euphoniums

Tues. Day 1 - Sept. 23
9:30 - Massey 7's
10:35 - Massey 8's
12:45 - McVeety Grade 8's
1:30 - McVeety Grade 7's
2:30 - McVeety Grade 6's
3:45 - Jazz Band

Wed. Day 2 - Sept. 24
9:30 - Perry, Grant Road, McVeety Grade 8's
10:35 - Perry, Grant Road, McVeety, RCs Grade 7's
12:45 - Massey Grade 6 saxophones and trumpets
1:30 - Massey Grade 6 flutes, french horns and low brass
2:30 - Massey Grade 6 clarinets and percussion 
3:45 - Jazz Band 

Thurs. Day 3 - Sept. 25
7:30 - Junior Winds
9:30 - Grant Road and Perry Grade 6 
10:35 - Massey, McVeety, RCS Grade 6
1:15 - Grant Road Grade 8 Percussion
1:30 - Grant Road Grade 7 Mr. Benjamin and Ms. Sklar
2:30- Grant Road Grade 7 Mr. Sweeney

Fri. Day 4 - Sept. 26
9:00 - Grade 8 percussion, horns, altos, and tenor, Grade 7 saxophones and trumpet
9:45 - Grade 8 trumpets, low brass, bass clarinets, and bari-sax, Grade 7 low brass and horns
10:45 - Grade 7 percussion, clarinets and flute, and Grade 8 low brass and low woodwinds
12:45 - Grant Road Grade 6 french horns and trumpets
1:30 - Grant Road Grade 6 low brass
2:30 - Grant Road Grade 6 woodwinds



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