Friday 17 January 2014

Back into the Routine!

Things To Remember
-Jazz Students, please bring $5 for our Jazz night at Balfour
-Please make sure your name is on all band books.  (We have found a couple and do not know whose they are!)  

Jazz Students
Schedule for Wed. Jan. 22
4:00 - Meet at Balfour
4:00-5:30 - Master classes
5:30-6:00 - Pizza
6:00-7:00 - Big Band
7:30 - Concert

Grade 6 Band
The Grade 6's this week continued to work on different types of articulations, and continued to work on 3/4 time.    We have discussed musical form and how this helps with practicing.   Many Grade 6's were quite surprised to learn that after we had learned measures 1-27 in Courtly Dance and Procession, we also basically knew measures 43 to the end.   This is because this piece is written in an ABA form.   We began a little work on measures 27-43.   Students were asked to practice these measures.    In Gently winds, we continued to work on the musical jumpstarts at the the bottom of the page.   We also had a little fun creating the sound effect of a "gentle wind."  

This week we also learned a little about dynamics.   Students demonstrated piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, and forte.   The majority of students agreed it is more difficult to play soft than loud.   We tried playing some "pick up" notes as well this week.  (This is when a piece does not start with beat one.)    We again circled in books a few practice lines.   Most students were asked to practice the first two lines of page 14.   The first line on this page includes a new note.   We have played it before, but not named it.

Grade 7 Band
The Grade 7's this week continued their work on articulations.   All students have been playing out of the orange book.   If you have had difficulty getting the orange book please let me know.    Grade 7's have also been reviewing dotted rhythms.   In our review of these rhythms we seem to have been a little stuck on specifically dotted quarter notes.   We practiced by playing, clapping and counting  this rhythm with a metronome.    In our book we will be moving on to page 4 next week.

In our sheet music we have worked on measures 49 - end of Prelude and Celebration.   We will begin work on measures 1-27 next week of this piece.  (This is the tricky part!)    Students also have worked on measures 29-end of Cathedral.   We will be working more on this piece next week.    Students also received the piece Pandora.   Many are anxious to begin this as it has several sound effects that are quite fun to play.   We will begin some work with this next week.  

Grade 8 Band
The Grade 8's have begun their playing tests on the circle of 4ths for memory as well as the first 9 measures of Amen.  Those who have finished the playing test now have measures 10-42 of Amen to practice for their next playing test.  Practicing is essential for this piece to work and students are quickly realizing that they need to put in some time to learn their parts.  Remember to practice smartly...don't just play something over and over again without a goal.  Your time is valuable so set achievable goals and make small improvements.  These small improvements will add up in the long run.  Have a good weekend!

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