Apr. 26-30 Happenings

Congratulations to all the middle and high school students that performed for solo/ensemble contest last week. You all did a wonderful job, and should be proud of all you have accomplished over the course of the school year.

MS

5th Band

• Concert Bb Exercises, Chromatic Scale, Possilby add Concert Eb
• Perform runs of Power Rock
• Rehearse Creepy Crawlies, continuing to refine the articulation length, work trumpet parts when playing with alto sax, and performing full runs
• Rehearse Companions in the Quest, focusing on the middle sections and the cantable section

6th Band

• Concert Bb, Eb, F, Ab, and Chromatic Scales
• Rehearse Forward March, continuing to work with the percussion at measure 19, working with clarinets at 23, and incorporating appropriate dynamics
• Rehearse African Folk Trilogy #2, continuing to rehearse rhythms from the final movement, and rehearsing transitions between the three sections
• Rehearse The Tempest, continuing to reinforce dynamics, low brass parts, trumpets at 45, and accuracy from all in the closing measures

7/8th Band

• Concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, D, A, E, Chromatic, 3rds, and Relative Minors
• Rehearse Jefferson County Overture, brining out trumpet parts, fixing percussion at the coda, refining dynamic contrast
• Rehearse Funiculi, Funicula, improving overall 6/8 feel, refining dynamic contrast, improving overall articulation accuracy
• Rehearse Tribute and Triumph, continuing to rehearse the slow sections for clarinets, sax, and flute, improving the syncopation in the low voices, working for more accuracy in the timpani part

HS

• Concert Scales, Chromatic, 3rds, Relative Natural and Harmonic Minors
• Encanto, rehearse opening measures for accuracy, rehearse rit. going into the CODA, reheasre woodinds at 53 and the slow section, rehearse ensemble runs, perform full runs
• Air for Band, continue performing full runs, finalize the desired dynamics, continue to refine intonation
• Valdres, perform full runs, work for contrast among sections, bring out percussion in appropriate places with dynamics, work with flute and clarinet 1 throughout
• Perform final prep for Fine Arts Concert and Large Group Contest

Apr. 19-23 Happenings

MS

5th Band

• Solo Performance Night Tuesday, beginning at 5:00 in Terril. Please check the schedule posted in the GT Band Website (available through link on this blog) for specific performance times.
• Rehearse Concert and Chromatic Scales
• Perform runs of Power Rock
• Rehearse Creepy Crawlies, working on short articulations and accurate playing of unison alto sax/trumpet parts
• Rehearse Companions in the Quest, working on the cantable section with everyone

6th Band

• Solo Performance Night Monday, beginning at 5:00
• Rehearse Concert and Chromatic Scales
• Rehearse The Tempest, working on more dynamic contrast and steady tempo
• Rehearse Forward March, working on percussion cadence parts and the final 16 measures
• Rehearse African Folk Trilogy, working on reading through the final section and practicing the 3/4 middle section

7/8th Band

• Solo Performance Night Monday, beginning at 5:00
• Rehearse Concert and Chromatic Scales
• Play through Jefferson County Overture
• Rehearse Funiculi, Funicula, working on reinforcing the 6/8 feel, accuracy in percussion parts, and bringing out inner-voices
• Rehearse Tribute and Triumph, running through the first half and continuing to work individual parts in the slow section

HS

• Rehearse Concert Scales
• Encanto, continue working clarinets at 15 for speed and articulation accuracy, work all woodwinds on 16th note runs, work on fanfares at the beginning and end with everyone, and perform full runs
• Air for Band, work with clarinet and flute at D to bring out eighth notes, rehearse the measure before E with clarinets and flutes to fix the rhythm, and perform full runs monitoring intonation, balance, and blend
• Valdres, work on unison trumpet and alto sax rhythms in the trio to improve trumpets, and perform full runs working for stylistic accuracy and to develop a feel for the flow of the piece

Apr. 12-16 Happenings

ATTN. STUDENTS AND PARENTS!!!!!! The middle school solo contest is only one week away so please be sure to check the GT Band Website, via the link on this blog, to check the performance schedule so you can be there on time and ready to perform on your respective evening. Performances are scheduled to take only 8 minutes which includes several moments for the judge to speak with the student after they play. Doors to each performance center will be closed when each performer starts and will not be opened again until after the performance is finished to please plan accordingly. Students need to be dressed nicely for their performance.

MS

5th Band

• Continue with Concert Bb scale and chromatic
• Power Rock, continue full runs
• Creepy Crawlies, begin playing full runs in band and increasing tempo as well as brining out clarinet and flute parts
• Companions in the Quest, perform full runs of the first half of the song and continue working through the second half in small sections

6th Band

• Continue with Concert Scales and chromatic
• The Tempest, peform full runs isolating the trumpets at 45, working with the saxes for a controlled sound, and incorporating more dynamics into the performance
• Forward March, begin playing full runs of this piece, continue working with percussion and clarinets at 25 and work the last few measures after section 31
• Discuss playing three pieces and continue to work on African Folk Trilogy #2 continuing to read through the piece

7/8th Band

• Continue with Concert Scales and chromatic
• Funiculi, Funicula, begin performing full runs and monitoring percussion parts for accuracy, incorporate more dynamic contrast and articulation accuracy for staccattos
• Tribute and Triumph, continue playing through piece isolating different sections, work with low voices on syncopated rhythms and clarinets on unison areas
• Jefferson County Overture, perform full runs working for a contrast in the slow section with good balance among parts and following the conductor for ritardandos

HS Band

• Finalize arrangements for Solo/Ensemble Contest on Saturday in Ruthven
• Encanto, rehearse unison attacks, clarinet articulations and performance tempos, sixteenth note run passages, and section transitions
• Air For Band, perform full runs working to bring dynamic contrast up primarily bringing the loud sections up more in volume without increasing tempo, also work on the key change with the upper woodwinds
• Valdres, perform full runs working for contrast between sections and work with upper woodwinds for rhythmic accuracy

Apr. 5-9 Happenings

MS

5th Band

• Concert Bb 1,2 and Chromatic
• Solo Spotlight
• Rehearse Power Rock, Creepy Crawlies, Companions in the Quest, and The Lost City

6th Band

• Concert Bb, Eb, F, Ab 1,2 and Chromatic
• Solo Spotlight
• Rehearse Forward March, The Tempest, and African Folk Trilogy

7/8th Band

• Concert C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, D, A, E, Chromatic, and possibly some scales in 3rds
• Solo Spotlight
• Rehearse Funiculi, Funicula, Jefferson County Overture, and Tribute and Triumph

HS

• Rehearse Concert Scales, Chromatic, Scales in 3rds, and Relative Minor Scales
• Encanto, rehearse opening measures, slow section, mixed-meter and sixteenth passages
• Air for Band, rehearse phrasing and intonation
• Valdres, rehearse upper woodwind rhythms and dynamic contrast/articulations
• Solo/Ensemble participants prepare to run through with accompanists