Band Assignment due 11/13/14

Wow!  So thankful God put it all together today.  All the groups sounded great!  Can't wait to hear how well it will sound at our Fall Concert next week!  Be sure to invite friends and family....

Please keep up the practicing on the concert pieces- we will be playing all four tunes.  Also, time to get working on those Christmas Carols we passed out during rehearsal today.  We will be rehearsing Nov. 20 at 1pm on those.

Please check your email this week for more updates on next week's concert.  We will have afternoon rehearsal as usual on Nov. 13.

Blessings,

Mrs. Karen


Practice each of these exercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.4&5 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder
    (Be sure to work on this excercise with the metronome- especially woodwinds and mallets)

*  Scales
            Percussion   Technique and Musicianship book p.43 #1-4  stick control
            -rudiments (F scale-flam taps, Bb-5 stroke roll, Eb-flam, Ab-7 stroke roll)
            Winds and Mallets  GMEA Middle School scale sheet

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.20 #4-6 Articulation and Technique etude

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn- all  *be sure to practice fp  *work with your metronome!!!
                           -Frozen
                                 Flutes- m.51-62/m.77-80/m.89-98 for rhythmic accuracy/all
                                 Clarinets- m.43-55/m.73-76/all
                                 Alto Sax and Horn- m.114-end/all
                                 All other instruments- work on finding and playing melody parts accurately
                           -Star Spangled Banner- all
                           -Somewhere Over the Rainbow- all

     WORK ON ALL PIECES WITH A METRONOME, ESPECIALLY FROZEN AND AFTERBURN.

Band Assignment due 11/6/14

Hello Everyone!

I'm feeling better about our upcoming performances but we can still use individual practice of parts at home.  Great work in class today with tempos!

With that said, I stated this last week in my post and I'm going to say it again....
Be prepared for a surprise pass off on anything in Afterburn or Frozen. Our band in only as good as its individuals.  Are you practicing regularly and efficiently in order to do your part?

Don't forget our rehearsal on Nov. 6 at noon.  Be sure to wear your blue polo and khaki pants.  Please bring your music stand as well.  Parents should be ready to transport their student to Iris place by 12:45pm.

Have a blessed week!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.4&5 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder
    (Be sure to work on this excercise with the metronome- especially woodwinds and mallets)

*  Scales
            Percussion   Technique and Musicianship book p.43 #1-4  stick control
            -rudiments (F scale-flam taps, Bb-5 stroke roll, Eb-flam, Ab-7 stroke roll)
            Winds and Mallets  GMEA Middle School scale sheet

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.20 #4 & #6 Articulation and Technique etude

*  Pass off on any part of Afterburn or Frozen on 11-6-14 

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn- all  *be sure to practice fp
                           -Frozen
                                 Flutes- m.51-62/m.77-80/m.89-98 for rhythmic accuracy/all
                                 Clarinets- m.43-55/m.73-76/all
                                 Alto Sax and Horn- m.114-end/all
                                 All other instruments- work on finding and playing melody parts accurately
                           -Star Spangled Banner- all
                           -Somewhere Over the Rainbow- all

     WORK ON ALL PIECES WITH A METRONOME, ESPECIALLY FROZEN AND AFTERBURN.

Band Assignment due 10/30/14

Hello Everyone!

Okay...we got some great metronome work in class today on Afterburn and Frozen.  Are you working as diligently at home?  Hmmmmmm.....

This coming week we will be working in sectionals the first part of rehearsal on Frozen and Afterburn.  Be prepared for a surprise pass off on anything in each of those pieces.  Our band in only as good as its individuals.  Are you practicing regularly and efficiently in order to do your part?

Heads up on group pictures to be taken Oct. 30 at 2pm for all students.  Be sure to wear your blue polo and jeans (Adv and Int Bands) and white shirts with jeans (Jam Session and Beginning Band).

Have a blessed week!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.4&5 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder
    (Be sure to work on this excercise with the metronome- especially woodwinds and mallets)

*  Scales
            Percussion   Technique and Musicianship book p.43 #1-4  stick control
            -rudiments (F scale-flam taps, Bb-5 stroke roll, Eb-flam, Ab-7 stroke roll)
            Winds and Mallets  GMEA Middle School scale sheet

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.20 #4 & #6 Articulation and Technique etude

*  Pass off on any part of Afterburn or Frozen on 10-30-14 

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn- all
                           -Frozen
                                 Flutes- m.51-62/m.77-80/m.89-98 for rhythmic accuracy/all
                                 Clarinets- m.43-55/m.73-76/all
                                 Alto Sax and Horn- m.114-end/all
                                 All other instruments- work on finding and playing melody parts accurately
                           -Star Spangled Banner- all
                           -Somewhere Over the Rainbow- all

     WORK ON ALL PIECES WITH A METRONOME, ESPECIALLY FROZEN.

Band Assignment due 10/23/14

Hello Everyone!

Great rehearsal today.  Time to really dig in and practice our concert pieces with a metronome!

Please practice diligently and efficiently on your sheet music this week- especially on Frozen. We will be playing this piece on the Fall concert.  Pick out problem spots, isolate them and work on them until they are correct. Then, incorporate them into larger segments of the piece.  Please don't hesitate to ask me questions about the music both inside and outside of class.  That is what I'm here for!  =-)

Don't forget to be prepared for your memorized pass-off this week also.

Heads up on group pictures to be taken Oct. 30 at 2pm for all students.  Be sure to wear your blue polo and jeans (Adv and Int Bands) and white shirts with jeans (Jam Session and Beginning Band).

Have a blessed week!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.4&5 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder
    (Be sure to work on this excercise with the metronome- especially woodwinds and mallets)

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.43
                                                              Percussion #1-4  stick control
                                                                                        rudiments (F scale-flam taps, Bb-5 stroke roll, Eb-flam, Ab-7 stroke roll)
                                                              Winds and Mallets  GMEA Middle School scale sheet

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.16 #4 Articulation and Technique etude

*  Essential Elements book lines #50-55

*  Pass off on Concert F scale (2 octaves) memorized on 10-23-14

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn- all
                           -Frozen
                                 Flutes- m.51-62/m.77-80/m.89-98 for rhythmic accuracy/all
                                 Clarinets- m.43-55/m.73-76/all
                                 Alto Sax and Horn- m.114-end/all
                                 All other instruments- work on finding and playing melody parts accurately
                           -Star Spangled Banner- all
                           -Somewhere Over the Rainbow- all

     WORK ON ALL PIECES WITH A METRONOME, ESPECIALLY FROZEN.


Advanced Band:

You will get a "free pass-off" if you attend the Athens Flute Choir Concert on Sunday, October 19, 2pm, State Botanical Garden of Georgia Conservatory.

Please practice and learn all of the sheet music for Intermediate Band. Their assignment is also yours, except for the pass-offs.

Practice with metronome: Serenade, The Thunderer, and Eternal Father. Continue to practice For the Beauty of the Earth although it's unclear if we will perform this.

11th and 12th grade scales from the GMEA scale sheet.

Chromatic scale complete range.

GMEA etude for your school grade

Pass-offs on any of the above. Pass-offs will be done with metronome.

Practice everything with metronome!

Band Assignment due 10/9/14

Hello Everyone!

Great rehearsal today.  I love the way all of you are so attentive and ready to play each rehearsal.  Our time together is definitely one of the best parts of my week!

Please practice diligently and efficiently on your sheet music this week- especially on Frozen. Remember, I decide on whether we perform Frozen this Fall based on the amount of practice progress I hear you making as a group.  Pick out problem spots, isolate them and work on them until they are correct. Then, incorporate them into larger segments of the piece.  Please don't hesitate to ask me questions about the music both inside and outside of class.  That is what I'm here for!  =-)

Don't forget to be prepared for your memorized pass-off this week also.

Have a blessed week!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.4&5 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.43  Winds&Mallets #1-4  scales (Don't forget to work on the 2 octave Concert F scale!)
                                                              Percussion #1-4  stick control
 Technique and Musicianship book p.20 #4 Articulation and Technique etude

*  Essential Elements book lines #39-43

*  Pass off on memorized Bb chromatic scale (T&M p.3) on 10-9-14

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn- all
                           -Frozen
                                 Flutes- m.51-62/m.77-80/m.89-98 for rhythmic accuracy
                                 Clarinets- m.43-55/m.73-76
                                 All other instruments- work on finding and playing melody parts accurately
                           -Star Spangled Banner- all
                           -Somewhere Over the Rainbow
                           -Winchester March


Advanced Band:

Please practice and learn all of the sheet music for Intermediate Band.

Practice with metronome: Serenade, The Thunderer, For the Beauty of the Earth, and Eternal Father.

11th and 12th grade scales from the GMEA scale sheet.

Chromatic scale complete range.

GMEA etude for your school grade

Pass-offs on any of the above.

Practice everything with metronome!

Band Assignment due 10/2/14

Hello Everyone!

Little by little we are getting there!  Frozen is going to be our challenging piece but I know we are up to it.  Please practice diligently and ask questions about what you don't know or understand.  Be sure to practice for upcoming pass off on 10-9-14.  I am so proud and honored to teach such a terrific group of students!  =-)

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.4&5 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.43  Winds&Mallets #1-4  scales (Don't forget to work on the 2 octave Concert F scale!)
                                                              Percussion #1-4  stick control

*  Essential Elements book lines #32-#38

*  Pass off on memorized Bb chromatic scale (T&M p.3) on 10-9-14

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn- all
                            Frozen
                                 Flutes- m.51-62/m.77-80/m.89-98 for rhythmic accuracy
                                 Clarinets- m.43-55/m.73-76
                                 All other instruments- work on finding and playing melody parts accurately
                            Star Spangled Banner- all

Advanced Band:

Please practice and learn all of the above music for Intermediate Band. You are the senior musicians in our groups and we depend on you to play your parts accurately.

Also, practice sheet music: Serenade, The Thunderer, For the Beauty of the Earth, and Eternal Father.

11th and 12th grade scales from the GMEA scale sheet.

Chromatic scale complete range.

GMEA etude for your school grade

Pass-offs on any of the above.

Band Assignment due 9/25/14

Hello Everyone!
Once again, thanks for everyone's attentiveness during class.  I absolutely love making music with you all! Please be just as diligent with your practice time at home- it will pay off big in rewards!  We will have a pass off on the Eb scale on Sept. 25.  Be ready!  Percussion will need  to do both the Ab and the Eb.  Have a blessed week!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.2&3 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.43  Winds #1-4  scales
                                                              Percussion #1-4  stick control

*  Essential Elements book lines #20-#31

*  Pass off on Ab & Eb scale in class 9-25-14

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn
                            Frozen
                            Stars and Stripes Forever

Advanced Band Assignment:

Pass-offs each week on 11th-12th grade GMEA major scales as well as chromatic scale. We will keep doing this until everyone has passed off all the scales.

Practice the Intermediate Band assignment.

Sheet music:
Eternal Father, Strong to Save
For the Beauty of the Earth
Be Thou my Vision
Serenade

Bring your GMEA etude each week.

Band Assignment due 9/18/14

Hello Everyone!
The last two rehearsals have really gone by fast!  Each of you are doing a such great job participating in class that I get "lost in the music".  Please keep up the excellent work ethic in class.  No new pass off this week but percussion and those not passing last week will play the concert Ab scale on September 18.  Don't be surprised if I call on individuals to play for everyone in class though.  Perfect practice makes perfect!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.2&3 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.43  Winds #1-4  scales
                                                              Percussion #1-4  stick control

*  Essential Elements book lines #15-19

*  Pass off on Ab scale in class 9-11-14 (percussion & make-ups)

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn and Frozen

Advanced Band Assignment:

12 Major scales and arpeggios. See the gmea.org website to print your scales.  Everyone should work on 11th-12th grade scales. Plan to play two scales of your choice from the 11th-12th scales during class. You will play with metronome so practice with metronome. Nothing else will assist you so well in improving your technique.

Print and practice the gmea.org All-State etude for your grade and instrument.  These will be performed during class this semester.
Practice full-range of your instrument chromatic scale.Sheet music:Eternal FatherFor the Beauty of the EarthIntermediate Band piecesNate: perform 2 rudiments with metronome each week for class. Also, perform scales, see above.

Band Assignment, due on 9/11/14

Great first rehearsal!  I am so excited to see each of you again and get to know new members as well. Thanks for checking our Facebook page and please do so regularly each week for assignments, updates, messages, etc.  Looking forward to a great new academic year with AAHB!

Mrs. Karen

Practice each of these excercises daily or at least five days of this week:

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.2&3 lines A&B Slurs and Lip Slurs/Technique Builder

*  Technique and Musicianship book p.43  Winds #1-4  scales
                                                              Percussion #1-4  stick control

*  Essential Elements book lines #6-14

*  Pass off on Ab scale in class 9-11-14 (winds and percussion)

*  Work on pieces- Afterburn and Frozen

Advanced Band Assignment:

See the above assignment for lip slurs. Use these for warming up.

Scales: 12 Major scales 2 octaves if possible

Practice the Intermediate Band assignment since you'll be playing these pieces.

Practice all the sheet music I gave you

Chromatic scale for you GMEA level.

More music coming next week!

Nate: Practice the rudiments daily with metronome.

Everyone: Practice a minimum of 45 minutes per day.

2014-2015 Band Registeration Forms

   Registration Packet 2014-2015

Summer Band Camp

Band Camp

Dates:  August 18-21, 2014 (M-Th)

Time:  9am-noon (M-W) and 9am-11am (Th)
Concert at 10:00am on the 21st

Location:  Central Presbyterian Church, Athens

Ages:  5-18

Cost $35.00

Summer Camp Registration Packet

Band Assighment due 3/27/14

Beginning Band Assignment:
Keep practicing!  Let's do #48 again.  And:
#53, "Aura Lee"--learn all of parts A and B
Scale #1, page 40....STOP after measure 5.
We will also begin working on #103.
 See you next week!! 

Intermediate Band Assignment:

Much progress in rehearsal today!  Please continue to practice your music diligently, especially sheet music for our upcoming Spring Concert.  Last chance to pass off on C scale will be March 27- BE PREPARED, if you have not already done so.

Mrs. Karen

Practice:
- Long Tones in White Book, p 10-11 #9-12. Check intonation with a tuner (they are free apps on smartphones!)
- Flexibility in White book, p18-21 #1-5.
- Scales: Concert Bb, Ab, Eb, F. Db, C Also practice these scales from White book beginning on p24. The major scales for you to practice are at the tops of the pages. Remember to rotate through the first 5 articulations as shown on p23.  * Be prepared to play C or Db scale for a pass-off this week! This is your last chance...
Work on Bb Chromatic Scale p.60-61 #1 
- Rhythmic Counting: Maxwell book Ex. 10.  Be sure to practice all lines.
- Percussionists: Practice rudiments on snare drum p24-31 in white book with metronome.
Also practice scales on bells.  Be sure to follow the new percussion assignment chart for our pieces.
- Essential Elements 2: #50-66. Work on understanding and mastering sixteenth notes.
- Sheet music: The Chimes of Liberty March- remember to subdivide the beat into eighth notes.
                      Fanfare and Fourishes- work on marcato style and dynamics, especially forte-piano. Count all
                         long notes and ties carefully.
                      Scooby Doo. Have fun with this one!  Watch those syncopations...
                      American Folk Trilogy

Advanced Band Assignment:

Nothing new has been added to your assignment.  Just continue to practice daily, covering everything described below each day. Pay attention to the Intermediate assignment. We depend on you to play these pieces accurately.  
  
 Continue to warm-up carefully and thoughtfully. Nate, practice the rudiments mentioned above in the Intermediate Band assignment.

Hilliard book:  10-15 minutes with metronome of arpeggios, and scales in thirds.

12 major scales, 2 octaves when possible. Spend 10-15 minutes per day on scales.

Chromatic scale entire range of your instrument. 2x-3x per day

All sheet music mentioned above, plus Processional, Nimrod, and Baby Elephant Walk.

March pass-off is a composition assignment:  In the Rhythm and Beyond book, select one of the lines that we have played in class.  Using a major or minor key, write an 8 bar composition using the rhythm including the repeat, or add on another line.  Select and specify a descriptive tempo (Largo, allegro, etc.) and metronome setting, and indicate articulation, dynamics, and at least one expression indication (i.e. dolce).  Be sure to end your melody on tonic. You can write more bars for extra credit. Perform your composition for the class at the tempo you selected.We don't have time in our one-hour weekly rehearsal to teach you proper notation, so copy key signatures and notating examples from published music. That's how you learn, by copywork. Write in pencil so you can erase mistakes. Pay attention to spacing of notes within the bar.

Questions?  Ask me in an email message.

Band Assignment due 1/16/14

Hello, beginners!
Don't forget:
*page 42, label the rhythm (counting) for #21-24
*page 5, #7-10 (review)
*pages 5-6, #11-15

Intermediate Band:

Great class today during which much was accomplished!  Looking forward to making lots of great music together in the months to come.  Remember... practice makes perfect- and an awesome musician!   =-)

WARM UP
*  long tones (White bk) p.14 #1, #2
*  flexibility (White bk) p.18 #1

SCALES
Bb, Ab, Eb, F

RHYTHM
*  Rhythmic Counting (White bk) p.85 #1-15

ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS BK. 2
*  #1-10

PIECE
*  The Chimes of Liberty march


Advanced Band Assignment
Due January 16, 2013
Welcome to Advanced Band second semester!
Pass-off for January: Baby Elephant Walk. I will need three people to pass-off on Jan. 16. Please email or message me if you’d like to pass-off next week. Everyone else will pass-off on Jan. 23 or 30.
 Practice:
1.Do squats or knee bends to get the oxygen flowing! Shoulder rolls, also. Then do Breathing Gym exercises like we did in class.
2. Warm-up: Nothing is more important than a good warm-up session before beginning your practice.  Brass should rotate through all the lip flexibility exercises in Hilliard. Katie, regular warm-up. Andrew and Skylar, continue to rotate through the Chromatic Warm-ups on p14 of Hilliard. Play in whole notes slurring the two notes of each bar and breathing at the bar line.
3. Scales: Begin to learn 12 major scales (2 octaves when possible). Play everyday with metronome.
4. Practice chromatic scale 2 or 3 times a day with metronome.
5. Pick a set of technical exercises in Hilliard to practice each day such as Scales in Thirds, breath control exercises, etc. Rotate through them spending 10 minutes a day with metronome.

6.  Baby Elephant Walk, Chimes of Liberty March.  More music to be passed out on Thursday!

. Link for scales and etudes (print out): http://www.gmea.org.php53-10.dfw1-2.websitetestlink.com/band/all-state-band/

  Below is a link to a fantastic marching band video. Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNe0ZUD19EE&feature=youtube_gdata_player