Summer 2012

I wish all of the GT Band Students a fun, safe, and relaxing summer break! You all did a wonderful job of learning this year and I am proud of all of you and your accomplishments in all of your academic and other pursuits. Remember High Schoolers that we will be having rehearsals at 1:00 in Graettinger on August 21, 22, and 23. If you want to contact me this summer please email me at tpedersen@gtschools.k12.ia.us or come see me at Rock the Roof in Arnold's Park.

Sincerely,
Mr. Pedersen

May 21-25 Happenings

Well the school year is beginning to wind down but there are still a few important deadlines left on our list in the GT Band Department. First, on Tuesday, May 22 the Club's Choice orders will be delivered to Graettinger. All students who sold are required to make arrangements to pick up their orders that day after school from the Kitchen. Also, the High School Band will be playing next Monday as part of the Memorial Day Ceremony in Graettinger. Finally, one last reminder that all students planning to go on our music trip next year are required to have $500 in their account by the end of the school year on May 30 so plan accordingly.

5th Band

Objectives:

• Continue rehearsal of full page songs
• Discuss Summer Lessons and 6th Grade Band
• Continue working on full Concert Bb and Chromatic Scales
• Bb #1, 2 on Pg. 40

1. Warm-Up
• Pg. 40 Bb #1, 2
• Continue work on Chromatic from Bb to Bb
2. Music Rehearsal
• Basses are Aces
• Continue full runs
• March Winds
• Continue full runs
• Creepy Crawlies
• Continue rehearsing in sections
• Companions in the Quest
• Read through and rehearse in sections

MS Band

6th Grade Band

Objectives:

• Continue Scales
• Distribute Scale Sheets and explain transpositions
• Read some fun pieces
• Discuss Summer Lessons and 7/8th Band
• Club’s Choice Orders in on Tuesday

1. Warm-Up
• Chromatic Scale
• Scale Sheet
• Refresh transpositions
2. Music Rehearsal
• Rehearse new pieces
• Play requests

7/8th Grade Band

Objectives:

• Continue working scales
• Discuss Summer Lessons and Next Year
• Collect Concert Music
• Club’s Choice Orders in on Tuesday

1. Warm-up
• Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, D
• 3rds in a selected key
• Chromatic scale
2. Music Rehearsal

• Star-Spangled Banner
• Read through and rehearse as needed
• Sir Duke
• Distribure
• Read through and begin rehearsing
• Collect all remaining Concert Music

HS Band

Objectives:

• Continue working on Scales
• Rehearse for Memorial Day
• Club’s Choice in on Tuesday
• Set rehearsals for next Fall before School Begins

1. Warm-Up
• Concert Major Scales
• 3rds
• Chromatic
• Relative Natural Minor Key
• Bach Chorale (TBA)

1. Music Rehearsal
• Star-Spangled Banner
• Rehearse for percussion entrances and crashes
• Continue to build in phrasing
• God Bless America
• Work with percussion
• Rehearse ending section to incorporate accents
• Perform full runs
• Sir Duke
• Work with percussion
• Rehearse soli section slowly
• Isolate areas with syncopation
• Begin working on memorization

May 14-18 Happenings

Congratulations are in order for all the 6-12th Grade Band students on their fine performances over the past two weeks! Also, I would like to give an extra commendation to the High School Band for receiving a Division I rating at Large Group Contest last Wednesday. This marks the first time in 9 years, when Diane Benjamin was director, that our band has received such a rating. Although they were close in the past, this year they finally did it so congratulations to them. I am very proud of all of you and your hard work you earned it!

5th Band

Objectives:

• Continue rehearsal of full page songs
• Perform Spring Concert
• Continue working on full Concert Bb and Chromatic Scales
• With additional time begin working on Bb #1, 2 on Pg. 40

1. Warm-Up
• Pg. 28 EE Bb Scale
• Pg. 40 Bb #1, 2
• Continue work on Chromatic from Bb to Bb
2. Music Rehearsal
• Basses are Aces
• Isolate the ending and correct entrances and rests
• Continue full runs
• Featuring the Band
• Correct rest counting issues
• Perform full runs
• March Winds
• Isolate section with eighth note pick ups
• Practice beginning at different marker points throughout the music
• Isolate clarinet areas throughout
• Begin incorporating dynamics
• Creepy Crawlies
• Isolate eighth note passages in woodwinds
• Isolate slurred sections in brass
• Continue rehearsing in sections
• Distribute some new pieces to read and play after the concert

MS Band

6th Grade Band

Objectives:

• Continue Scales
• Distribute Scale Sheets and explain transpositions
• Read some fun pieces

1. Warm-Up
• EE Pg. 40 Bb, Eb, F, and Ab #1 and 2
• Chromatic Scale
• Scale Sheet
• Explain transpositions
2. Music Rehearsal
• Distribute new pieces
• Read through

7/8th Grade Band

Objectives:

• Continue working scales
• Distribute SSB
• Distribute Sir Duke
• Collect Concert Music

1. Warm-up
• Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, D
• 3rds in a selected key
• Chromatic scale
2. Music Rehearsal

• Star-Spangled Banner
• Distribute
• Read through and rehearse as needed
• Sir Duke
• Distribure
• Read through and begin rehearsing

HS Band

Objectives:

• Continue working on Scales
• Rehearse for Memorial Day

1. Warm-Up
• Concert Major Scales
• 3rds
• Chromatic
• Relative Natural Minor Key
• Bach Chorale (TBA)

1. Music Rehearsal
• Star-Spangled Banner
• Rehearse for percussion entrances and crashes
• Continue to build in phrasing
• God Bless America
• Work with percussion
• Rehearse ending section to incorporate accents
• Perform full runs
• Sir Duke
• Work with percussion
• Rehearse soli section slowly
• Isolate areas with syncopation
• Begin working on memorization

May 7-11 Happenings

Congratulations to all of the High School Fine Arts Students on a wonderful showing at this years Fine Arts Concert. The Choir, Art, and Band Students made us proud by putting their talents on display last Thursday for all to see and hear.

Next, unfortunately our Large Group Contest scheduled for May 4 was cancelled due to the severe weather near Hull. At this time I have not received any word regarding it being rescheduled. If and when I do I will be sure to get that information out as quickly as possible so I encourage those following this blog to check back again this week to see if there is more information posted.

Finally, we invite the public to join us this Thursday in Graettinger for the 6-8th Grade Spring Concert which will begin at 7:00. This will feature both Band and Choir Students. All instrumentalists should be in the Band Room at 6:30 in order to assemble instruments, tune, and talk through the concert.

5th Band

Objectives:

• Continue rehearsal of full page songs
• Continue working on full Concert Bb and Chromatic Scales
• With additional time begin working on Bb #1, 2 on Pg. 40

1. Warm-Up
• Pg. 28 EE Bb Scale
• Pg. 40 Bb #1, 2
• Continue work on Chromatic from Bb to Bb
2. Music Rehearsal
• Basses are Aces
• Isolate the ending and correct entrances and rests
• Continue full runs
• Featuring the Band
• Correct rest counting issues
• Perform full runs
• March Winds
• Isolate section with eighth note pick ups
• Practice beginning at different marker points throughout the music
• Isolate clarinet areas throughout
• Begin incorporating dynamics
• Creepy Crawlies
• Isolate eighth note passages in woodwinds
• Isolate slurred sections in brass
• Continue rehearsing in sections
• Begin looking for new piece/pieces for after Spring Concert for Athlyn to use

MS Band

6th Grade Band

Objectives:

• Continue working on scales
• Rehearse Concert Pieces
• Combined 6-8 rehearsals Tues/Thursd
• Spring Concert 

1. Warm-Up
• EE Pg. 40 Bb, Eb, F, and Ab #1 and 2
• Chromatic Scale
2. Music Rehearsal
• Korean Folk Rhapsody
• Rehearse with 7/8th Band
• Chant and Tribal Dance
• Discuss dynamic sections incorporate articulations
• Isolate trombone parts and work for independence
• Perform full runs
• March Zumba
• Isolate trombone counter-lines
• Continue incorporating dynamics and articulations
• Perform full runs
• Starship One
• Perform full runs 
• Begin looking for pieces for after Spring Concert and make copies of scale sheets to begin working before next year

7/8th Grade Band

Objectives:

• Continue working scales
• Continue rehearsing music for Spring Concert
• Combined 6-8 rehearsals Tues/Thurs
• Spring Concert

1. Warm-up
• Concert Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, D
• 3rds in a selected key
• Chromatic scale
2. Music Rehearsal

• Mambo Cubano
• Work with percussion to correct parts and build confidence
• Incorporate proper articulations with winds
• Reinforce off-beat entrances in Trpt 1/Flute/Clar 1
• Perform full runs
• Ashford Variations
• Continue incorporating dynamic and musical shaping
• Reinforce proper rhythms and articulations throughout
• Perform full runs
• Grease!
• Continue correcting rhythms in Beauty School and Grease Lightning
• Begin rehearsing transitions to reinforce proper tempi
• Incorporate dynamics throughout
• Korean Folk Rhapsody
• Rehearse with 6th Band

HS Band

Objectives:

• Continue working on Scales
• Provide plan for Large Group Contest
• Possibly collect music and begin working toward Memorial Day

1. Warm-Up
• Concert Major Scales
• 3rds
• Chromatic
• Relative Natural Minor Key
• Bach Chorale (TBA)

1. Music Rehearsal
• Philip Bliss
• Continue working on shaping and areas with tempo changes
• Reinforce Brass on fullness and marcato sounds
• Reinforce breathing goals concerning barlines
• Perform full runs focusing on musicality and intonation
• Fate of the Gods
• Continue working on runs with upperwoodwinds
• Correct pitch at end fermata between bass clar. and bari sax
• Isolate ending for intonation
• Isolate timpani solo transition for Austin
• Perform full runs
• Brighton Beach
• Work with brass on proper articulation of dotted quarter/sixteenth areas
• Continue working on developing unified interpretation of articulations
• Work with percussion for proper performance and look into adding crashes
• Perform full runs
• Possibly collect music
• Rehearse Star-Spangled Banner
• Distribute new music after arrival and begin reading and rehearsing