Our thought for the week comes from a former student who recently graduated college to become a band teacher, "Good players practice until the get it right. Great players practice until they can't get it wrong." How awesome. Practice makes permanent.
In Band Project, this was the last week for our first semester Apprentice Teachers from the U! What an awesome opportunity our Folwell students have had getting to work with such fun and creative pre-service music teachers! The Apprentice Teachers will start back with us on Jan 13.
This week Varsity Band continued to fine tuning our songs for the upcoming performance. We've been focusing on entrances, rhythms, playing with our BEST sound, and using good mechanics to support that sound (posture, embouchure & grip).
Varsity Band will play Winter Showcase Concert next Thursday, Dec. 19, 7pm. Students should arrive to the Band Room between 6:15-6:30 dressed in black and white.
Several Concert Band students are going to come and support the Varsity Band by filling out the ensemble with some key instrumentation. What a beautiful and positive gesture from the older band students to help the younger ones sound their very best.
This week Concert Band continued to learn a new set of songs for performance at South after winter break (Concert Date TBD). Students can check out the songs we're performing on the school website under listening references. There was a hall sweep today right before Concert Band and many students were captured at tardy - please help me remind students the importance of being on time.
This week Firebird Band started working on learning some holiday inspired tunes by rote (aurally). Jingle Bells, Frosty, and Silent Night. Firebird Band continues to work on note reading working primarily on pages 9, 10 & 11 in the Standard of Excellence Method Book. We are placing heavy emphasis on playing with our BEST sound with lots of air support as well as memorizing songs. Students should be memorizing, Hot Cross Buns, Au Clair de la Lune, Merrily we Roll Along, Lightly Row, Good King Wenceslas, and a scale etude "#25."
Quick reminder: I'm trying really hard to push for 30 minutes of practice a day, or at least 150 minutes a week. Creating a daily routine that includes practice is the only way to guarantee future music making from students once they leave Folwell. Thanks for your help!
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