Sunday, February 10, 2013

Band Assignment 2-14-13


Beginning Band:
*Warm up using the five-note scale, first playing each pitch on whole notes, then half notes, then quarter notes.
*Practice tapping foot to steady beat and subdividing eighth notes in your head.
*Rhythm studies #9 through #16, page 42.
*Practice number 45 (page 10) and numbers 46 through 51 (page 11).
*Continue working on your solo.
Have a great weekend! See you on Valentine's Day!

Intermediate Band:
Warm 5-10 minutes. This will help you have a more productive practice session. Lip flexibility exercises in Hilliard, p 19 rotating through #3-6.

Scales: Keep up and maintain the scales you know by playing them everyday. (Hilliard beginning on p 24) Additional scales to learn:Concert C major, G major, and D major. Always practice slowly at first. Alternate practicing scales with the different articulations shown on p 23.

Chromatic scales: p 60 and 62 #1-#4. Play 2 per day.

Rhythm studies p 62, follow the printed instructions at the top of the page practicing #1-#3.

New terms to memorize: Da capo (D.C.), Dal segno (D.S.), subito, sforzando (sfz.), divisi (div.). Review these terms: Marcato, staccato, legato, ritardando, fermata.

Your solo is the February pass-off. Be ready to play a short excerpt this week.

Amazing Grace Chorale, This is my Country, God Bless America, Calypso Bay.

Keep up the good work! If you haven't been doing good work (not practicing) please get started today! : )

Advanced Band
Warm-up:
- Hilliard, Lip Flexibility p.19.  Rotate through #1-#6. Play 3 a day.

Scales:
- Practice all 12 major scales the range of your instrument.  If in question about # of octaves per scale,consult GMEA All-State Band scales Grade 11-12.

* Play chromatic scale the full range for your instrument in class as a pass-off.

Book:
* Play Ployhar p. 26 #10 with pitch and rhythmic accuracy

Pieces:
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik (be sure to subdivide the beat with a metronome while you practice)
- March Grandioso
- your solo (be prepared to play excerpt in class)

Jazz:
- Jammin With Charlie m.43-55 work on improvising
- p.16-19 work all exercises related to "Buffalo Head"

Thank you for your hardwork and dedication to our band.  Keep it up!  =-)

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Band Assignment due 2-7-13

Beginning Band:
*Number 39, page 9
*Numbers 40-45, page 10
*Solo, solo, solo.... :-)
Have a great weekend!!

Intermediate Band:
Warm 5-10 minutes. This will help you have a more productive practice session. Lip flexibility exercises in Hilliard, p 19 rotating through #3-6.
 Scales: Keep up and maintain the scales you know by playing them everyday. (Hilliard beginning on p 24) Great progress has been made on the January pass-off. We will aim to complete these this week. New scales to learn: Concert C major, G major, and D major. Begin work on these. Alternate practicing scales with the different articulations shown on p 23.
Chromatic scales: p 60 and 62 #1-#4. Play 2 per day.

Rhythm studies p 62, follow the printed instructions at the top of the page practicing #1-#3.

New terms to define and memorize: pianissimo (pp), piano (p), forte (f), fortissimo (ff), mezzo piano (mp), mezzo forte (mf), larghetto, andantino, adagietto, and pizzeria (pizzeria). Make sure you know ALL of these terms. : )
 Your solo is the February pass-off. Be ready to play a short excerpt this week.
 Sheet music; Calypso Bay, Amazing Grace Chorale. We will pass-out music for Capitol Day this week.


Advanced Band
Warm-up:
- Hilliard, Lip Flexibility p.19.  Rotate through #1-#6. Play 3 a day.

Scales:
- Practice all 12 major scales the range of your instrument.  If in question about # of octaves per scale,    consult GMEA All-State Band scales Grade 11-12.

- Play chromatic scale the full range for your instrument.  Again, consult GMEA website if unsure.

Pieces:
- Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
- March Grandioso
- your solo (be prepared to play excerpt in class)

Jazz:
- Jammin With Charlie m.43-55 work on improvising
- p.16-19 work all excercises related to "Buffalo Head"

Thank you for your hardwork and dedication to our band.  We are so blessed to work with each of you!

Monday, January 28, 2013

Band Assignment due 1/31/13

Beginning Band:
*practice #33 through #39....NOT #37.
*practice your solo
*continue working on the pitches of the concert Bb scale that you know so far
Have a great weekend!!

Intermediate:
Warmup: Hilliard, Lip Flexibility p 19. Rotate through #1-#6. Intermediate should play 1 or 2 each day, Advanced should play 3 each day

Scales: Intermediate practice p. 18 same scales as before except expand to two octaves WHEN POSSIBLE. Advanced band members should be learning all 12 major scales the range of your instrument: 1, 2, or 3 octaves as the case may be.

Chromatic Scales: Intermediate p 60 #1 and #2. Advanced play chromatic scale entire range of your instrument. Work up to this a little at a time.

Intermediate terms to define and memorize: Adagio, Allegro, Andante, Grave, Largo, Presto, Vivace, Stringendo, Morendo, Allegretto.

Intermediate: Calypso Bay, Amazing Grace Chorale. Work on your solo. We will listen to solos during class.

The next pass-off (February) is your solo!

Advanced:
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, March Grandioso.
Jazz ensemble: Practice the licks WITH the CD on p 2; the blues scale "A" on p 3; memorize the intervals between each note of the blues scale (top of p 3); Listen and play all of the B, C, and D exercises with your CD. On "D" improvise your own solo using notes of the concert Bb blues scale.

Work on your solos. We will hear each person's solo in class starting next week.

Monday, January 21, 2013

Band Assignment due 1/24/13

Intermediate Band:
Great work yesterday, band! Here is your assignment:
Warm-up, Hilliard book, p. 18, #1-#4. Rotate these playing 2 each day.
Scales: Hilliard book, p. 24 #1, #3, #5, #7, #9.
Chromatic scales, Hilliard book, p. 60 #1-#4.

Next week you need to pass-off on the major scales mentioned above.
Calypso Bay with your metronome set at quarter =88
Spend an extra 15 minutes a day on your new solo.

Define the following terms and memorize:
staccato, legato, marcato, sostenuto, espressivo, crescendo, decrescendo, fermata, ritardando, accelerando.

Remember to practice 6 days this week for at least 45 minutes per session. Consistent practice will make a huge difference in your ability to play the assignments! Trust me!

Have a great week!
Rachel S.

Advanced Band:
I absolutely love working with this class!  Thankful for the privilege of doing so.  I know you will enjoy working with Mrs. Rachel and Mrs. Jennifer next week- they are so awesome!

As for practicing this week...
- work on practicing all scales within the Circle of Fifths
- practice Rhythm Studies #9-10 in I Recommend Book
- work on Rhythm Studies and Improv Excercises in Jazz Ensemble Book relating to "Jamming With Charlie"
- practice "March Grandioso"

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Band Assignment due 1-17-13


Beginning Band:
Hey, Beginning Band! What a great class yesterday. Keep practicing! Here you go:
*Practice the concert Bflat scale pitches you know so far (the first five), up and down the scale without stopping.
*NUMBERS (not pages) 18, then 20-25.
Have a great weekend!!

Intermediate Band:
Good job with our rehearsal! This is going to be a fruitful and challenging semester!
Warmup: Hilliard book, page 18 #1 and 2.
Scales: Hilliard book, beginning on p.24 #1,#3, #5, #7, and #9.
Chromatic Scales: Hilliard Book, page 60 #1 and #2.
Pass-off for January 31 is the major scales mentioned above.
Calypso Bay with metronome set at quarter note =88

Advanced Band:
Really enjoyed our class yesterday!  I think we are going to learn much together...I can't wait!!!
* Be sure to use your jazz CD as you practice this week!  It is absolutely essential in learning to play jazz well...

- Work on all scales within the Circle of Fifths
- Practice Rhythm Study (I Rec Bk) p.25 #7& #8
- Say articulations then play RSVP Workshop #3 (* Be sure to number all measures of the Workshop beginning with m.1 at beginning of each style section.)
- Practice Rhythm and Improvisation Studies (Jazz Ens. Method) p. 2-4  USE YOUR CD!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Happy New Year!

All classes resumes January 10th.
Classes are moved to the gym building.
Jam Session 12-12:45pm (still have opens)
Beginning Band 1-2pm
Intermediate Band 1-2pm
Advanced Band 2-3pm
Please follow signs to your new rooms.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Band Assignment due 11/8/12


Beginning Band:

We really packed in a great deal of work this past rehearsal- pics, recorders, instruments...wow!   You all are off to a great start!  Don't get discouraged if you don't sound so great in the beginning.  I promise it all gets better with practice- 30 minutes at least 5 days a week.  Here is what you need to continue working on:

- Watch instrument DVD if you have one
- Read p.2-3 of your Essential Elements book- I will quiz you in class!
- Buzz/crow your mouthpiece on p. 42 lines 1-12 (Gabe- practice these rhythms alternating hands on the bell set)
- work on EE bk. #1-14 with your CD
- buzz/crow your mouthpiece every chance you get- we have to build up your embouchure (facial muscles used in playing your instrument)!
- Gabe- learn note names on bell set


We will meet this week at Iris Place Retirement Home (on Epps Bridge Road) at 1:25pm.  We are going to have a great Veteran's Day concert!  =-)
Don't forget to bring your recorders and music!  Keep practicing them...

Advanced Band:

Start memorizing the 12 major scales and arpeggios.
Chromatic scale
Syncopated Swing:  Practice with your metronome!
Joyful, Joyful:  Practice phrasing while maintaining correct pitch.
Salute to the Armed Forces: Be certain of your entrances
Marche Militaire: Practice with your metronome
Winchester March: Articulation (marcato)
God Bless America