Welcome Back!

Dear Grade 7 and 8 Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year!  We hope everyone had a good summer and are excited about the upcoming school year.  We are really looking forward to working with our Campbell area students.

 

Band Startup

Band classes will be starting Tuesday, September 12 (Day 1).  Students will receive band twice a cycle.  One band time will be a sectional at the students’ home school and the second will be a full band class at Campbell.  We will be visiting students prior to this to make sure they are organized for our band year.  September 12th is the first time students will need their instruments.  Students who have rented instruments from the school can pick them up on their first full band day.  If a student would like their school instrument before this, please let us know.  

Band Times

Massey Grade 7 – Day 1 morning and Day 4 morning

Massey Grade 8 – Day 1 and   Day 4 afternoon or morning

Grant Road Grade 7 – Day 2 morning and Day 3 afternoon

Grant Road Grade 8 – Day 1 morning and Day 5 morning

McVeety Grade 7 – Day 1 morning and Day 5 afternoon

McVeety Grade 8 – Day 1 morning and Day 5 afternoon

Perry Grade 7 – Day 2 morning and Day 5 morning

Perry Grade 8 – Day 1 morning and Day 3 afternoon   

 

Instruments

Students need to make sure they have made arrangements for instruments.  Flutes, clarinets, alto and tenor saxophones, trumpets, trombones, and percussion kits are rented from either St. John’s Music (757-7272) or Long and McQuade Music (569-8501).  French horns, euphoniums, oboes, bassoons, bass clarinets, bari saxophones, and tubas are rented through the school.  If we knew your child was planning on playing a school instrument (from June registration forms) we have one reserved.  If your child is planning on playing a school instrument and registration form was not handed in, please let us know so we can make the appropriate arrangements.  If you are planning on purchasing a new or used instrument, or borrowing an instrument, please have your instrument checked either by an instrument repair technician or by one of us.  In order to ensure success for your child it is important to have a properly functioning instrument.  Please let us know if you need help in getting an instrument.    

Method Book

Grade 7 students will be starting by reviewing the Measures of Success Book 1.  They will begin the Orange Measures of Success Book 2 by approximately November.  They do NOT need to purchase these.   We will be lending these to students.    Grade 8 students will be starting with the Orange Measures of Success Book (This is the same as last year).  The school owns these, there is no need to purchase.  They will be handed in at the end of the school year.  

 

Jazz Band

Jazz band is a wonderful opportunity for students to play in another style and as a smaller group.  All students are invited to join jazz band.  THERE ARE NO AUDITONS.  Jazz band runs on Tuesdays from 4-5 at Campbell and Wednesdays from 4-5 at Campbell.  Our new Jazz Room is Room 126.  Students should pick the day that works best for their schedule to attend.  If students would like to attend both they are welcome to.  Jazz band will begin on September 26 and September 27.  

 

 

Junior Winds

We are pleased to offer students a concert band group designed for those students wishing to have another group to play in and a little more challenging music in a chamber music setting.  Students who are interested should ask Ms. Anderson.  Students will be asked to practice something to play first before they join this group.  This group will rehearse Thursday mornings from 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Campbell.  We will begin Thurs. Sept. 14. 

 

Curiosity Club

We have many curious students!  We will be starting a curiosity club for those students who were “just curious” about some of the other instruments.  This will allow students an opportunity to try another instrument out – just for fun.  We will meet on Mondays at Campbell from 3:45-4:30 p.m. beginning Oct.16.    

 

Grade 8 Band Retreat – Oct. 18

This is a retreat day for Grade 8 Band.  The purpose of the retreat is so students can develop skills and relationships they will need for the upcoming band year.  Please be watching for permission forms and more information. 

 

Instrument Switching

It is preferable students stay on the same instrument they were on last year.  If there are special circumstances or if a student has made arrangements to switch instruments, students are asked to attend the Grade 6 Headstart Clinic (Sept. 8, 6:00-8:00p.m. and Sept 9, 9:30a.m.-12:30 p.m.) at Campbell.  

School Instrument Rental

If your child is renting a French horn, euphonium, oboe, bassoon, bass clarinet, bari saxophone, or tuba from the school, we will be sending home a rental contract.  Please fill this in, keep the back copy and return the rest of the form to us.  The $150 rental fee will appear on your online account.  If it is not possible to pay for this online please let us know.      

 

Regina Board of Education Band Transportation Fee

The $50 band transportation fee will appear on your Regina Public online account.  Please pay this online.  If this is not possible please let us know. (Please note:  Since Massey students walk to band at Campbell they will not need to pay the $50 transportation fee)

 

T-shirts 

Our band t-shirt will again be designed by our students.  Students are invited to submit their design ideas to us by Sept. 30.  From these designs, a graphic artist will create the t-shirt that we will use for our 2017-2018 band year.  We will be sending home a t-shirt form.  The $15 payment will appear in each student’s online payment.  

 

Blog

We will be updating our Campbell Area Blog regularly.  On our blog you will find schedules, dates, weekly updates, and sound clips.  We will continue to send home notes and update you via e-mail, however, you may find some of the answers to questions on this blog.  The address is: http://campbellareaband.blogspot.ca/.  

 

If at any time you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.   

Sincerely,

Kathy Anderson                                                    Travis Wilkinson

katherine.anderson@rbe.sk.ca                       travis.wilkinson@rbe.sk.ca    

Happy New Year!

Reminders:

- Junior Select is next week starting at 12:30 on Thursday.  Concert is at 1 p.m. on Saturday.

This Week in Grade 6 Band
This past week we had a guest visit Grade 6 Full Band.   Mr. Donny Kennedy, a Campbell Grad and professional Montreal based jazz musician was in town and came to talk to students and play a little.   The Grade 6's had many questions and we quite enjoyed Mr. Kennedy's playing. 


We are working hard at getting ready for our Optimist performance.    Grade 6's were asked to practice 35 to the end of Castles and Kings, and 9 to 17 of Midnight Sky.   Some of the Grade 6's tried out solos this week, and some began playing our concert Bb scale up and down.



This Week in Grade 7 Band
The Grade 7's have been working very hard at figuring out cut time.   It has taken us a little time to get a handle on it, but it is starting to come.    Students were asked to practice beginning to 34 in In Quiet Times (in cut time).   Our second Optimist festival piece is called Prelude et Celebration.   We have been working quite hard at figuring out key signatures in this piece.    The composer of this piece will be one of the clinicians at Optimist Festival.   Students were asked to practice measures 28-65.  



This Week in Grade 8 Band

For the last couple of weeks we worked on the ends of both Resplendent Light and Amen.  Now we are working again from the beginning and focusing on the middle sections.  We have also begun warming up with Chorale #3.

Overall, we are looking at giving every note importance or finding the purpose of every note.  Always moving and changing dynamics so that we give more shape to our phrases.

Congratulations!

Congratulations!   


Congratulations to all band students on two very nice nights of concerts.   Thank you to all family and friends who came to listen. 


The next couple of weeks there are several things happening in classrooms and so it might be confusing as to the band schedule.  
 




This is our schedule for the next two weeks:




Monday Dec. 12 (Day 2)

-Grant Road and Perry (with McVeety Grade 8's joining) Grade 8 band - bus pickup 9:15

- Grant Road and Perry Grade 7 Band - Bus pickups 10:15

-Massey Grade 6 sectionals in the afternoon

Tuesday Dec. 13 (Day 3)

- Grade 6 Full band is regular

- Grant Road Grade 7 sectionals are Regular

- Perry Grade 8 sectionals are regular

- Jazz Band 4-5 p.m.

Wednesday Dec. 14 (Day 4)

- Morning - Massey Grade 8's away

- Massey Grade 7 sectionals are regular

- Massey Grade 8 sectionals in afternoon

- Jazz Band 4-5p.m.

 Thursday Dec. 15 (Day 5)

- *No Perry Grade 7 Sectionals

- *No McVeety Grade 7 sectionals

-Grant Road Grade 8 sectionals are regular

- McVeety Grade 6 and 8 sectionals are regular

- No Junior Winds

 

Friday Dec. 16 (Day 1)

- Massey and  McVeety Grade 7 Band is regular

- Massey Grade 8's away (McVeety Gr. 8's coming on Day 2) 

- No Perry Grade 6 sectionals (school dance)

 

Monday Dec. 19 (Day 2)

- Perry and Grant Road Gr. 8 band regular - McVeety Grade 8's joining - bus pickup at 9:15

- Perry and Grant Road Gr. 7 band regular

- Massey Grade 6 sectionals regular

 

Tues. Dec. 20 (Day 3)

- Grade 6 full band normal -( except Jade's Grade 6's away)

- Grant Road Grade 7 sectionals normal

- Perry Grade 8 sectionals normal

- Grant Road - carnival in evening - groups of band students to play

- No Jazz Band  

 

Wed. Dec. 21 (Day 4)

- Massey Grade 7 sectionals normal

- no Grant Road Grade 6 sectionals in the afternoon and no Massey Grade 8 sectionals in the afternoon

- No Jazz Band

Thurs. Jan. 5 (Day 5)

- Perry Grade 7 Sectionals

- Grant Road Grade 8 Sectionals

- McVeety Grade 6, 7, and 8 Sectionals

- Junior Winds at 7:30-8:30a.m.

Fri. Jan. 6 (Day 1)

- McVeety, Massey Grade 7 Band

- Grant Road and Perry Grade 7 Band

-Perry Grade 6 sectionals

 

One Week Before Concerts!

Congratulations!
Congratulations to all Junior Winds and Jazz Band students on a very nice concert.    Thank you for all your time and thank you to all who came to listen. 


Reminders
- Grade 7 and 8 Concert - Monday Dec. 5 - 7:00p.m.   Students are asked to meet at Campbell at 6:30p.m.  
- Grade 6 Concert - Tuesday Dec. 6 - 7:00p.m.   Students are asked to meet at Campbell at 6:30p.m.  


In Grade 6 Band
We are in final concert preparations.    Grade 6's have been asked to practice our pieces that we will be performing at the concert.   These include:
-Theme From Beethoven's Ninth
- Let's Go Band
- From our book - Jingle Bells (Page 120, Old MacDonald (p.11), Shark (p.11), and Star Search (p.12)
- The twelve bar blues and the "head" to C Jam Blues

In Grade 7 Band
The Grade 7's are working on final concert preparations.    They have been asked to practice:
- Starry Night - measures 25 - end
- Argosy - flutes and clarinets - beginning, everyone else 51 -end
- Frosty - measures 15-23


In Grade 8 Band

We've worked on Amen up to measure 58 and now we have to work on 58-82.  We've also brought back Canticum for our December concert and are putting the finishing touches on A Quiet Song and Sleigh Ride.  In addition to the pieces, we've practiced our chromatic scale up to 16th notes.  We'll keep working on this to increase our speed.

Concert Coming!

Thank you
- Thank you to all the students who participated in the Dr. Tim Lautzeinheiser clinic


Reminders
- Band room Concert - Nov. 23 - Jazz Band and Junior Winds.  Students are asked to meet at 6:30p.m. The concert will begin at 7:00p.m.   The concert will be held in the band room.   All parents and friends are welcome.   Students are asked to wear their band t-shirt, dark pants, dark shoes and dark socks.    Students are asked to bring one dozen treats to share after the concert.


This Week in Grade 6 Band
We are now into concert preparation.   Students learned a Concert E natural and have been working on slurs.     We are continuing to work on playing with lots of air and be careful of keeping fingers close to the keys when playing.    We listened As the weather changes brass players are reminded to make sure they are putting slide grease on their tuning slides and oil on their valves.   At this time of the year instruments will dry out more quickly.    Reed players are reminded to be putting cork grease on their corks and to make sure they have a few reeds on the go.  


Students were asked to practice:
1.   Beethoven's 9th - measures 13-21 mesures 21-29 and measures 33-37
2.   In our book some students moved on to Page 13 - 2.11
3.   Students are encouraged to continue experimenting with their compositions


This Week in Grade 7 Band
We are continuing to work on our chromatic scale at the same time as expanding our range.   Students are encouraged to use their fingering charts and work their way up and down.   Many students have been surprised at the notes they did not realize they could play.    We worked at Starry Night measures 25 - end.   This is in the key signature of Concert Eb.  This piece has two key signatures and so we worked on making sure we knew where it changed.   We also worked on 51-end of Argosy.   Students have been surprised with how at first it looked hard, but with all the repetition it is becoming easier than they originally thought.   In Frosty we have been working on first and second endings.   


Students were asked to practice:
1.  Starry Night - they will be tested on measures 25 - end
2.  Argosy 51 - end
3.   Some students were asked to practice assigned lines in their orange book.  

Short Week

Reminders
- Junior Winds and Jazz Band Room Concert Wed. Nov. 23
- Grade 7 and 8 Concert - Mon. Dec. 5 - 7:00p.m.
- Grade 6 Concert - Dec. 6 - 7:00p.m.


This Week In Grade 6 Band
With this week being a short week we did not see all the Grade 6's.   For those that we did see, we learned a new note   (Concert E)  and began working on Let's Go Band.   Students continued to compose duets.   We asked students to think about "major" and "minor" sounds and added the word "cluster" to their musical vocabulary.   We continued to work on our Concert Bb scale and did this at various speeds.    Grade 6's are reminded that the first day back after the long weekend is a Day 3 and so they should have their instruments at school.
Grade 6 's were asked to Practice:
1.  2.11
2.  Beethoven's Ninth
3.  Let's Go Band - for those who started it. 


This Week In Grade 7 Band
We have begun preparation for our Dec. 5 concert.   We worked on Argosy from 15-51.   After doing this section we discovered we will basically know the entire piece.    Students were asked to practice 51-end.     We also were given the music to Frosty the Snowman.    We read it through and were reminded of first and second endings.    Starry Night is our third piece we will be performing.   In this piece there are many accidentals and so we worked on this immediately after working on our chromatic scale.   Many of the grade 7's are stretching their ranges by not just playing the chromatic scale in one octave, but by playing the entire fingering chart.   
Grade 7's were asked to Practice:
1.   Argosy 51-end
2.  Starry Night - all
3.   Chromatic Scale (using the fingering chart)  

Congratulations!

Congratulations!
- Congratulations to all Grade 7 and 8 band students on a very nice concert.   Thank you for your work! 


Reminders
- Winter Concerts are quickly approaching
Dec. 5 - Grade 6 Concert - 7:00p.m. at Campbell
Dec. 6 - Grade 7 and 8 Concert - 7:00p.m. at Campbell


This Week In Grade 6 Band
This week in Grade 6 Band, we put our first seven notes together to create our Concert Bb scale.  As we did this we talked about as our notes go higher how our air gets faster.   As we go lower our air is slower.    We also worked on sustaining our notes for full value.   To do this we wind patterned Ode to Joy and made sure we always felt the wind on our hands.   We listened to the difference between major and minor.   We learned that when we put notes 1, 3, and 5 together we get a major sounding chord and when we put notes 2, 4, and 6 together the chord sounds minor.   We began experimenting with these combinations as some of us began composing a duet.   As well this week we received our first piece of sheet music.  
Students were asked to practice:
1.  Jingle Bells (both parts) - P. 12
2. In their book the first line of P. 13
3.   Compose a four measure duet. 


 This Week In Grade 7 Band
This week was the first time all the Grade 7's played together.    We were quite excited to hear everyone and we are looking forward to our next opportunity to have everyone together at once.   After our concert we began handing out holiday music.   Students received a copy of Frosty the Snowman.   As students receive it, we will be figuring out the form first and then practicing the "A" sections.    Students also played Starry Night beginning to end and worked on measures 15 -51 of Argosy.   Students were asked to practice:
1.   Starry Night - all
2. Argosy - 15-51.  

This Week in Grade 8 Band
This week we started working on Amen up to measure 58.  We also are bringing A Quiet Song back into our repertoire.  Next week we'll be getting one more piece for our December concert.  We also are working on the chromatic scale in eighth notes.