Sept. 14-17 Happenings

Beginning the week, all middle school band students are required to fill out a practice log to track their weekly practice time as well as to fulfill a requirement for their class grade. These were given to the students Tuesday in band and are also available for download from the GT Band Website, which can be accessed from the link above with the same title. These must be signed by a parent weekly and completed at each lesson in order to receive credit.

Middle School Bands

5th Band

Objectives:

• Begin Individual lessons
• Hold sectional rehearsals during full band time
• Cover instrument assembly and care
• Explain practice requirements

Woodwind Sectional:

1. Discuss the parts and names of instruments
2. Cover Mouthpiece and Reed Assembly
1. Discuss Reed Care
2. Reed alignment
3. Ligature placement
3. Cover Instrument Assembly
4. Cover proper holding and hand/finger placement of instruments
5. Discuss Posture
6. Discuss Breathing
7. Discuss Articulation
8. Toe Tapping

Brass Sectional:

1. Discuss the parts and names of instruments
2. Cover mouthpiece buzzing
3. Cover Instrument Assembly and General Care
4. Cover proper holding of instrument and hand/finger placement
5. Discuss Posture
6. Discuss Breathing
7. Discuss Articulation
8. Toe Tapping

Percussion Sectional:

1. Discuss the different instrument and their locations
2. Discuss proper care and handling
3. Explain proper stick and mallet grip
4. Toe Tapping

6th Band

Objectives:

• Continue reading through pieces
• Begin looking for Winter Concert Music
• Continue rehearsing major scales

Warm-Up:

1. Play through EE Pg. 40 Concert Bb, Eb, F, and Ab #1, and 2
1. Work articulations on number 2 and push tempos
2. Play Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. Apollo March
1. Reinforce counting on dotted quarter-eighth note rhythms
2. Attempt a full run of the pieces without stopping
3. Work percussion on the off-beat sections between bass drum and snare
2. The Sound and the Fury
1. Attempt a full read through
2. Work with percussion on the section with congas
3. Continue working with saxes on increasing tempo
3. Begin Distributing Winter Concert Options
1. Read through pieces as time allows

7/8th Band

Objectives:

• Continue reading through Winter Concert Music
• Continue scale rehearsal
• Begin rehearsing distributed pieces

Warm-Up:

1. Play through Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, and G
1. Begin playing some scales in cut-time
2. Play one major scale in a 3rds pattern
3. Play Chromatic Scale
4. Begin discussion of tuning and the procedure

Music Rehearsal:

1. Loch Lomond
1. Collect from Students
2. Copper Mountain Legend
1. Attempt a full run of piece
2. Work with trumpets on their melody sections
3. Identify any repeated sections or shared rhythms and rehearse
3. A Still, Silent Night
1. Distribute and read through
4. Distribute and Read Other Pieces as Time Allows

High School

Objectives:

• Refresh Pep-Band Music, Distribute more Pieces
• Continue reading through Fall Concert Music, try to decide on three pieces
• Continue rehearsing major scales
• Discuss possibility of small ensemble performances at Fall Concert

Warm-Up:

1. Play through all Major Concert Scales
1. Begin playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one key in 3rds
3. Play one relative-minor scale
4. Play Chromatic Scale 3x’s

Music Rehearsal:

1. Build Me Up Buttercup
1. Rehearse key change to the end
2. Play through several times will full band
3. Continue to demonstrate proper swing eighth fell
2. Don’t Worry Be Happy
1. Distribute
2. Read through
3. Work select areas as needed
3. Star-Spangled Banner
1. Play through refreshing on phrasing and balance/blend
4. Kinmount Overture
1. Continue to rehearse upper-woodwind rhythms
2. Work with trumpets on unison section areas
3. Attempt a full run
5. Follow the River
1. Rehearse shared melody sections between tenor sax and clarinets
2. Soften entrances at the beginning
3. Work for elongated phrases
6. Continue Reading Pieces