May 31-Jun. 1 Happenings

The final days of school for the 2010-11 School Year are upon us. The students have worked hard and earned the right to relax and have a few months off. A few reminders for all band students should be reviewed though before your check-out completely. First, all band students make sure to take your instrument and lesson book home over the summer. Although I don't expect practice everyday, any little bit will help and it is much harder to practice without an instrument. Next, for those of you that are signed-up for summer lessons please make sure to arrive on time and prepared to play for your scheduled times. Remember that the schedule is posted on the GT Band Website. Finally, all high school band students, including incoming freshmen, are require to attend two extra rehearsals which will be held on August 30 and 31 from 3-4:00 in Graettinger. Please be in the band room by 3:00 with your instrument out and music for Spania ready.

On a final note, it has been another very successful year for our instrumental program and the greatest thanks for that go to our music students. These young people have committed themselves to excellence and it has shown. I for one can't wait to see what will happen next year! Have a wonderful summer everyone and feel free to email me to keep me posted on your summer happenings. Also, you can come visit me at the Roof Garden in Arnold's Park at any Rock the Roof this summer where I will be mixing.

Sincerely,

Mr. Pedersen

May 23-27 Happenings

We have finally made it to the last full week of school for the 2010-2o11 school year, but things are far from over. Please stop by the band room on Tuesday, May 23 to hear the 5th and 6th grade bands perform as part of Open House at 6:00 and 6:30 respectively. Also, the high school band will be performing on Memorial Day in Graettinger as part of the American Legion Memorial Day Ceremony which will begin at 10:00 in the park directly north of the Legion Hall. We hope to see you all at both of these events to support the school, the students, and our service men and women both past and present. On a final note, any parents or students that are still planning to sign up for summer band lessons need to do so quickly as times are almost completely filled in Graettinger and are filling fast in Terril.

Middle School

5th Band

Objectives:

• Continue full octave Bb, Eb, and F scales
• Continue Chromatic Scale
• Rehearse for Open House

Warm-Up:

1. Page 40 Concert Bb and Eb #1, 2
2. Read through Concert F and Ab Keys
3. Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. Sultan’s Saber
1. Continue playing in cut-time
2. Discuss possibly taking repeats
2. Let’s Rock
1. Perform full runs
2. Work to increase accuracy of snare part throughout
3. Check dynamics
3. Chesapeake March
1. Re-read piece and begin rehearsing
4. Have students bring instruments and books home for summer

6th Band:

Objectives:

• Continue transposing scale rehearsal
• Rehearse for Open House

Warm-Up:

1. Rehearse and refresh transposing scales with new sheet
2. Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. Rehearse 1812 Overture
1. Isolate and rehearse percussion parts
2. Incorporate dynamic shaping of sections
3. Add articulations
2. Collect Russian Sailor’s Dance
3. Have students bring instruments and books home for summer

7/8th Band

Objectives:

• Continue scale rehearsal
• Rehearse HS Pieces

Warm-Up:

1. Play through Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, and D
1. Continue playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one major scale in a 3rds pattern
3. Play Chromatic Scale
4. Tune

Music Rehearsal:

Be sure to tell 8th graders about August 30 and 31 Rehearsals

1. Spania
1. Continue rehearsal incorporating dynamics and articulations
1. Discuss memorization
2. Isolate percussion parts for accuracy
2. Star-Spangled Banner
1. Refresh opening routine with roll and horns up
2. Begin incorporating shaping of phrases
3. Isolate rit. areas and fermatas for group accuracy
3. School Song
1. Continue rehearsing and correcting sections
1. Isolate the endings and fast passages
2. Work with percussion on parts and increasing confidence

High School

Objectives:

• Continue rehearsing major scales
• Rehearse Parade and Memorial Day Pieces
• Meet with percussion to rehearse cadence

Warm-Up:

1. Play through all Major Concert Scales
1. Continue playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one key in 3rds
3. Play one relative-minor scale
1. Natural Minor
2. Harmonic Minor
4. Play Chromatic Scale 3x’s
1. Change articulation pattern

Tune

Music Rehearsal:

1. Star-Spangled Banner
1. Rehearse middle section to smooth section
2. Work to shape the beginning and ends of phrases
3. Isolate intonation on fermatas
2. This is My Country
1. Work to balance melody vs. counter lines
2. Continue with shaping and tuning the slow section
3. The Caisson Song
1. Work with trumpets on fanfare sections
2. Work with ensemble on articulations and dynamics
4. God Bless America
1. Continue reading and begin fixing ensemble parts
5. Spania
1. Incorporate articulations
2. Continue to rehearse fp crescendos
3. Continue working on memorization

May 16-20 Happenings

Congratulations to all of the 5-8th Grade Band Students for their excellent work at the Spring Concert! All of the bands looked and sounded great and I am very proud of all of you and your hard work. Now that that is behind us please make sure that you are practicing for your scale playing tests this week in lessons.

Middle School

5th Band

Objectives:

• Continue full octave Bb and Eb scales
• Continue Chromatic Scale
• Discuss Concert
• Read other pieces

Warm-Up:

1. Page 40 Concert Bb and Eb #1, 2
2. Read through Concert F and Ab Keys
3. Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. Discuss Concert
1. Listen to Recordings
2. Collect Music
2. Sultan’s Saber
1. Continue playing in cut-time
3. Chesapeake March
1. Re-read piece and begin rehearsing
4. Discuss possible performance at Open House

6th Band:

Objectives:

• Begin transposing scale rehearsal
• Discuss Concert
• Continue work on Russian Sailor’s Dance possibly for Open House
• Ask for other Open House Performers

Warm-Up:

1. Distribute scale sheets and discuss transpositions
2. Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. Discuss concert and collect music
1. Listen to recordings
2. Russian Sailor’s Dance
1. Begin correcting full ensemble rhythms
2. Perform in sections
3. Discuss possible performance at Open House

7/8th Band

Objectives:

• Continue scale rehearsal
• Rehearse HS Pieces

Warm-Up:

1. Play through Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, and D
1. Continue playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one major scale in a 3rds pattern
3. Play Chromatic Scale
4. Tune

Music Rehearsal:

1. Spania
1. Continue rehearsal incorporating dynamics and articulations
2. Isolate percussion parts for accuracy
2. Star-Spangled Banner
1. Distribute and read
2. Begin rehearsing and correcting sections
3. School Song
1. Distribute and read
2. Begin rehearsing and correcting sections
1. Isolate the endings and fast passages
2. Work with percussion on parts

High School

Objectives:

• Continue rehearsing major scales
• Rehearse Parade and Memorial Day Pieces
• Meet with percussion to rehearse cadence

Warm-Up:

1. Play through all Major Concert Scales
1. Continue playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one key in 3rds
3. Play one relative-minor scale
1. Natural Minor
2. Harmonic Minor
4. Play Chromatic Scale 3x’s
1. Change articulation pattern

Tune

Music Rehearsal:

1. Star-Spangled Banner
1. Rehearse middle section to smooth section
2. Work to shape the beginning and ends of phrases
3. Isolate intonation on fermatas
2. This is My Country
1. Work to balance melody vs. counter lines
2. Continue with shaping and tuning the slow section
3. The Caisson Song
1. Work with trumpets on fanfare sections
2. Work with ensemble on articulations and dynamics
4. God Bless America
1. Continue reading and begin fixing ensemble parts
5. Spania
1. Incorporate articulations and begin memorization

May 9-13 Happenings

Congratulations are in order for the High School Band. On Friday May 6 they traveled to Algona to perform at Large Group Contest. Following a very good performance these students earned a Division II Rating. Although they were hoping for a I, they are to be commended for their hard work and commitment to excellence. These young people have represented their school and their communities well through their musical efforts. If you see or live with any of them please take a moment to congratulate them on another great year and for their excellent work at Large Group Contest.

Also, we hope to see you in the Terril Gym on Thursday May 12 for the 5-8th Grade Spring Concert. The evening will start at 7:00 and will feature the choirs and bands of all four grades. If your students(s) are performing that evening in one of the bands please make sure that they are dressed nicely and arrive early in order to tune and have their instrument and music placed in the gym in advance.

Middle School

5th Band

Objectives:

• Continue full octave Bb scales
• Continue Chromatic Scale
• Rehearse concert pieces
• Perform Spring Concert

Warm-Up:

1. Page 40 Concert Bb and Eb #1, 2
2. Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. Dragons of Komodo
1. Reinforce triplet rhythms and practice counting and playing in percussion
2. Reinforce trumpet parts and full sound
3. Continue full runs
2. Rock, Roll, Row Your Boat
1. Reinforce melody sections
2. Perform in full runs
3. Sultan’s Saber
1. Continue playing in cut-time
2. Work to correct tambourine part
4. Mach Winds
1. Continue rehearsing in sections
2. Begin full runs
5. Chesapeake March
1. Re-read piece as a possible option for open house
6. Search for other possible pieces

6th Band:

Objectives:

• Continue scale rehearsal
• Rehearse concert pieces
• Perform Spring Concert
• Continue work on Russian Sailor’s Dance for Open House

Warm-Up:

1. Play through Concert Scales: Bb, Eb, F, Ab in EE Pg. 40
2. Chromatic Scale

Music Rehearsal:

1. All the King’s Men
1. Perform full runs
2. Bay Town Festival
1. Rehearse syncopated rhythms in woodwinds/brass
2. Begin incorporating dynamics
3. Russian Sailor’s Dance
1. Begin correcting full ensemble rhythms
2. Perform in sections
4. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
1. Perform full runs

7/8th Band

Objectives:

• Continue scale rehearsal
• Rehearse concert pieces
• Perform Spring Concert

Warm-Up:

1. Play through Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, and D
1. Continue playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one major scale in a 3rds pattern
3. Play Chromatic Scale
4. Tune

Music Rehearsal:

1. Loch Lomond
1. Rehearse 6/8 section for supporting parts
2. Continue rehearsal for entrances and rhythmic counting
3. Begin incorporating shaping
2. Tailspin!
1. Begin incorporating articulations and dynamics into passages
2. Work with upper woodwinds on unison passages
3. Begin increasing tempo and performing full runs
3. Eagle’s Triumph
1. Continue to build speed on opening section
2. Rehearse slow section and bring out melody
3. Perform full runs

High School

Objectives:

• Continue rehearsing major scales
• Collect Large Group Music and File
• Begin looking for Memorial Day Pieces
• Discuss Contest Results

Warm-Up:

1. Play through all Major Concert Scales
1. Continue playing scales in cut-time
2. Play one key in 3rds
3. Play one relative-minor scale
1. Natural Minor
2. Harmonic Minor
4. Play Chromatic Scale 3x’s
1. Change articulation pattern

Tune

Music Rehearsal:

1. Discuss contest results and listen to recordings
1. Collect all Contest Music
2. Distribute Letters and Metals during week in band

1. Decide on marching piece between Spania and El Fuego
2. Begin reading possible Memorial Day Selections
3. Write and distribute new cadence
4. Rehearse Star-Spangled Banner