Friday 1 November 2013

Practice Strategies

Things to Remember:
-Instrument Rental Forms need to be returned.
-T-shirt Forms - we are still missing a few.   Please get them in.   We need to place our order.
- Grey Cup Parade forms are due back.  If anyone is interested in playing in the Grey Cup parade, they should make sure we know about it.

In Grade 6 Band

Grade 6's will be beginning the second chapter of their Blue Book this coming up week.   The second chapter begins on Page 11 and introduces two new notes.   For Grade 6's who missed seeing Ms. Anderson this week, please go ahead and practice lines 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3.  If Grade 6's have already practiced these, they may move on to the next numbers in their book.

This week in Grade 6 band we practiced using different practice strategies.   To do this we tried as a Group - Jingle Bells.   Strategies that we used to help us were breaking the music down in chunks, clapping rhythms, using our fingering charts, and airing it.   We practiced these strategies in preparation for some of the longer "sheet music" students will be receiving this week.    Students are encouraged to try some of these strategies at home during their practice sessions.

Grade 6 students this week also did some experimenting with a Concert E.    This is a new note needed for one of the pieces of sheet music that we will be playing.    Grade 6's who we did get to see in sectionals this week also figured out the notes for the opening of Harry Potter.

In Grade 7 Band

The Grade 7's made some excellent progress this week.   We have been working extremely hard at learning how to control our big sound and it is starting to pay off.    Grade 7's are beginning to use their controlled sound to create some very crescendos and decrescendos.  

This week, as well Grade 7's began working on their Concert F Scale and their chromatic scale.   Many were pleasantly surprised at how the chromatic scale was not nearly as tricky as they thought it was.    Students are still encouraged to use their fingering charts on Page 55 to help figure out their chromatic scale.

We are starting the move to the second book.  Students with the second book, we have begun circling lines to be practiced.    Students without, you will need it soon.   Please call ahead to St. John's, Long and McQuade, or Cobb and Swanson.   All of these stores are stocking in, but a had a shortage a couple of weeks ago.   They were getting more books in.

In Grade 8 Band

In Grade 8 we are working on combining our circle of 4ths with a chromatic scale to give us dominant 7 chords.  It's coming along very nicely.  This challenges the students to really work on their intonation and confidence.

For this weeks playing test we are doing measures 58-74 in Amen.  This is a very tricky piece and these measures are definitely the most difficult.  However, the piece is lots of fun and getting these measures under control will make it possible to get through the entire piece.


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