Monday, November 25, 2013

7th Grade PLC

Hello 7th Grade Band!

Today we will have band during PLC

You will come in to band hearing a recording of "Pirates!"

The check in procedure is always the same. You will enter the room with a recording of the piece we are working on today playing in the background. Volunteers will make sure everyone has a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean!". Quietly take out your instruments, and take your seats. By this time, everyone should have received a copy of "A Holiday Swing Along" and "Variations." Please remember your music! While the recording is playing you will also receive a copy of our new scale sheet exercises.

We will begin today with a thorough look at scales and rudiments. Bb, Eb, and F major, along with the chromatic scale starting on concert Bb, and rudiments will all be addressed. We will do this by performing, listening, analyzing, and then re-performing the scales and rudiments.

Direct Instruction: Listen to a recording of a professional band playing the introduction, "Hoist the Colors," "Singapore," and "I See Dead People In Boats,"  and "Me Hearties!" 5 minutes

I will conduct the introduction and we will address problem areas. 5 minutes.

Then, for each of the main sections, we will follow this schedule:

Direct instruction: listen to the recording, rehearse.

Assess: discuss what needs improvement.

Student conductors: I walk around and play with the various instrumental groups.

Re-assess.

Move on to next section.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Mr. A

6th Grade PLC

Today we have a full band rehearsal for 6th Grade during PLC

You will come in to a recordings of  "Knight's Kingdom."

Our beginning of the rehearsal routine is always the same. Come in: check off your name on the sign in sheet, quietly take out your instrument and take your seat while listening to the recording. You should have copies of Variations, Wipe Out, Dance of the Jabberwocky, and Knight's Kingdom already. If you need an extra copy, see Mr. Akter while the music is playing and everyone is getting set up. PLEASE remember your music! While you are walking in volunteers will be handing out copies of our scales.

1) Major Scales / Rudiments. It is time to really focus on this. Key Signatures will be discussed. We will work on mastery by playing, listening, analyzing, practicing in groups, and then playing in whole groups. 

2) After major scales and rudiments, we will begin our rehearsal with a run through of Wipe Out and Jaberwocky. Drummers can volunteer for the drum set part. Let's have some new drummers today!

3) It's time for Knight's Kingdom!  Student Conductors (5 minutes)

4) Sectionals

5) Final run through and assessment

6) Record ourselves playing Knight's Kingdom

7) Review the recording. 

8) Direct Instruction (10 Minutes)

9) Student conductors (10 Minutes)

10) Record and Assess

11) Sectionals

12) Final run through and assessment.

Reminder about western region and band council, plus discussion of the day's rehearsal: Closure: 5 min.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

7th Grade Band PLC

Hello 7th Grade Band!

Today we will have band during PLC

You will come in to band hearing a recording of "Pirates!"

The check in procedure is always the same. You will enter the room with a recording of the piece we are working on today playing in the background. Volunteers will make sure everyone has a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean!". Quietly take out your instruments, and take your seats. By this time, everyone should have received a copy of "A Holiday Swing Along" and "Variations." Please remember your music! While the recording is playing you will also receive a copy of our new scale sheet exercises.

Direct Instruction: Listen to a recording of a professional band playing the introduction, "Hoist the Colors," "Singapore," and "I See Dead People In Boats,"  and "Me Hearties!" 5 minutes

I will conduct the introduction and we will address problem areas. 5 minutes.

Then, for each of the main sections, we will follow this schedule:

Direct instruction: listen to the recording, rehearse.

Assess: discuss what needs improvement.

Student conductors: I walk around and play with the various instrumental groups.

Re-assess.

Move on to next section.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Mr. A

6th Grade Band plc

Today we have a full band rehearsal for 6th Grade during PLC

You will come in to a recordings of  "Knight's Kingdom."

Our beginning of the rehearsal routine is always the same. Come in: check off your name on the sign in sheet, quietly take out your instrument and take your seat while listening to the recording. You should have copies of Variations, Wipe Out, Dance of the Jabberwocky, and Knight's Kingdom already. If you need an extra copy, see Mr. Akter while the music is playing and everyone is getting set up. PLEASE remember your music! While you are walking in volunteers will be handing out copies of our scales.

1) We will begin our rehearsal with a run through of Wipe Out and Jaberwocky. Drummers can volunteer for the drum set part. Let's have some new drummers today!

2) After warming up with Wipe Out and Jaberwocky, we will begin work on our new scale sheet.
Scales: Direct instruction (5 minutes)

3) Student Conductors (5 minutes)

4) Sectionals

5) Final run through and assessment

6) At this point we will start "Knight's Kingdom"

7) Review the recording. 

8) Direct Instruction (10 Minutes)

9) Student conductors (10 Minutes)

10) Record and Assess

11) Sectionals

12) Final run through and assessment.

Reminder about western region and band council, plus discussion of the day's rehearsal: Closure: 5 min.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

7th Grade PLC

Hello 7th Grade Band!

Today we will have band during PLC. Today you will be continuing with "Pirates of the Caribbean!" We will also be discussing Western Region and Band Council today.

You will come in to band hearing a recording of "Pirates!"

The check in procedure is always the same. You will enter the room with a recording of the piece we are working on today playing in the background. Volunteers will make sure everyone has a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean!". Quietly take out your instruments, and take your seats. By this time, everyone should have received a copy of "A Holiday Swing Along" and "Variations." Please remember your music!

Direct Instruction: Listen to a recording of a professional band playing the introduction, "Hoist the Colors," "Singapore," and "I See Dead People In Boats." 5 minutes

I will conduct the introduction and we will address problem areas. 5 minutes.

Then, for each of the main sections, we will follow this schedule:

Direct instruction: listen to the recording, rehearse.

Assess: discuss what needs improvement.

Student conductors: I walk around and play with the various instrumental groups.

Re-assess.

Move on to next section.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Mr. A

6th Grade PLC

Today we will have a shorter rehearsal during PLC due to the early dismissal.

Today we have a full band rehearsal for 6th Grade during PLC

You will come in to a recordings of Dance of the Jabberwocky and Wipe Out. Today you will be receiving our next piece, "Knight's Kingdom."

Our beginning of the rehearsal routine is always the same. Come in: check off your name on the sign in sheet, quietly take out your instrument and take your seat while listening to the recording. You should have copies of Variations, Wipe Out, and Dance of the Jabberwocky already. If you need an extra copy, see Mr. Akter while the music is playing and everyone is getting set up. PLEASE remember your music! This is the last class we will be focusing solely on Dance of the Jabberwocky and Wipe Out.

We will begin our rehearsal with a run through of Wipe Out. Drummers can volunteer for the drum set part. Let's have some new drummers today!

We will be recording and assessing "Wipe Out" and breaking into sectionals. The goal today is a "4." At this point I don't want us satisfied with a "3" performance on this song!

After warming up with Wipe Out, we will play a Bb major scale, and move on to Dance of the Jabberwocky

We will begin with a recording/assessment of Dance of the Jabberwocky, and then do some direct instruction

Student Conductors

Break into groups. Discuss assessment. Decide which 2 things your section needs the most work on: 5 Minutes.

Sectionals

Final run through and assessment

At this point volunteers will hand out "Knight's Kingdom" while we listen to a recording.

We will have some direct instruction on Knight's Kingdom. If there is time we will move into student conductors for the final minutes of rehearsal.

Reminder about western region and band council: Closure: 5 min.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

8th Grade PLC

Hello 8th Grade Band!

Today we will have band during PLC. Today you will be receiving "Pirates of the Caribbean!" We will also be discussing Western Region and Band Council today.

You will come in to band hearing a recording of "Pirates!"

The check in procedure is always the same. You will enter the room with a recording of the piece we are working on today playing in the background. Volunteers will make sure everyone has a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean!". Quietly take out your instruments, and take your seats. By this time, everyone should have received a copy of "A Holiday Swing Along" and "Variations." Please remember your music!

Direct Instruction: Listen to a recording of a professional band playing the introduction, "Hoist the Colors," "Singapore," and "I See Dead People In Boats." 5 minutes

I will conduct the introduction and we will address problem areas. 5 minutes.

Then, for each of the main sections, we will follow this schedule:

Direct instruction: listen to the recording, rehearse.

Assess: discuss what needs improvement.

Student conductors: I walk around and play with the various instrumental groups.

Re-assess.

Move on to next section.

Looking forward to seeing you!

Mr. A

Thursday, November 7, 2013

7th Grade Band

Hello 7th Grade Band!

Today we will have band during PLC. Today you will be receiving "Pirates of the Caribbean!" We will also be discussing Western Region and Band Council. today.

You will come in to band hearing a recording of "Pirates!"

The check in procedure is always the same. You will enter the room with a recording of the piece we are working on today playing in the background. Volunteers will make sure everyone has a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean!". Quietly take out your instruments, and take your seats. By this time, everyone should have received a copy of "A Holiday Swing Along" and "Variations." Please remember your music!

Direct Instruction: Listen to a recording of a professional band playing the introduction. 5 minutes

I will conduct the introduction and we will address problem areas. 5 minutes.

Assessment (recording and rating scale)

Play model recording. Compare our recording to the model recording. (5 minutes)

Break into groups. Discuss assessment/model recording. Decide which 2 things your section needs the most work on: 5 Minutes. (focus on dynamics and articulations)

Sectionals: 5 Minutes.

Final run through: Record and reassess.

For the remainder of the rehearsal we will follow the following plan for as many remaining sections of the piece as possible:
Direct instruction: listen to the recording, rehearse.

Assess: discuss what needs improvement.

Student conductors: I walk around and play with the various instrumental groups.

Re-assess.

Move on to next section.

Looking forward to seeing you!
Mr. A

6th Grade Band PLC

Today we have a full band rehearsal for 6th Grade during PLC

You will come in to a recordings of Dance of the Jabberwocky and Wipe Out.

Our beginning of the rehearsal routine is always the same. Come in: check off your name on the sign in sheet, quietly take out your instrument and take your seat while listening to the recording. You should have copies of Variations, Wipe Out, and Dance of the Jabberwocky already. If you need an extra copy, see Mr. Akter while the music is playing and everyone is getting set up. PLEASE remember your music! This is the last class we will be focusing solely on Dance of the Jabberwocky and Wipe Out. Next class you will be receiving "Knight's Kingdom" and possibly "Over the Rainbow" as well.

We will begin our rehearsal with a run through of Wipe Out. Drummers can volunteer for the drum set part. Let's have some new drummers today!

After warming up with Wipe Out, we will play a Bb major scale, and move on to Dance of the Jabberwocky (10 Minutes for all the above)

We will begin with a recording/assessment of Dance of the Jabberwocky, and then do some direct instruction: 10 minutes

Student Conductors: 10 Minutes

Break into groups. Discuss assessment. Decide which 2 things your section needs the most work on: 5 Minutes.

Sectionals: 10 Minutes.

Final run through and assessment:10 minutes

At this point we will switch to the Western Region Audition Etude. We will all perform the first section (10 minutes) and then break into sectionals. (10 Minutes)

Reminder about western region and band council: Closure: 5 min.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

8th Grade Band PLC

Hello 8th Grade Band!

Today we will have band during PLC. Today you will be receiving "Pirates of the Caribbean!" We will also be discussing Western Region and Band Council. today.

You will come in to band hearing a recording of "Pirates!"

The check in procedure is always the same. You will enter the room with a recording of the piece we are working on today playing in the background. Volunteers will make sure everyone has a copy of "Pirates of the Caribbean!". Quietly take out your instruments, and take your seats. By this time, everyone should have received a copy of "A Holiday Swing Along" and "Variations." Please remember your music!

Direct Instruction: Listen to a recording of a professional band playing the introduction. 5 minutes

I will conduct the introduction and we will address problem areas. 5 minutes.

Assessment (recording and rating scale)

Play model recording. Compare our recording to the model recording. (5 minutes)

Break into groups. Discuss assessment/model recording. Decide which 2 things your section needs the most work on: 5 Minutes. (focus on dynamics and articulations)

Sectionals: 5 Minutes.

Final run through: Record and reassess.

Break for lunch

When we return from lunch we will follow the following rehearsal plan for as many remaining sections of the piece as possible:

Direct instruction: listen to the recording, rehearse.



Assess: discuss what needs improvement.






Student conductors: I walk around and play with the various instrumental groups.


Re-assess.


Move on to next section.

Looking forward to seeing you!
Mr. A

Friday, November 1, 2013

Band Council Meeting

The band council met for the first time yesterday. It was amazing to see so many students willing to stay after school for an hour on Halloween! 

We discussed a great deal. Our agenda is below. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas that you want your band council to address, please bring them up to one of our members! We will be meeting every month. 



First Band Council Meeting: 10/31/2013



Agenda:
1) Band Surveys: What questions should we ask? Break into committee. Come up with 10 questions that you feel should be in our survey. Give questions to Mr. Akter.



2) Field Trips: Discuss our field trips. Do you like the New Haven trip? Do you like the Lake Compounce idea? What are your thoughts about the field trips?  Break into committee come up with 2 or 3 things to share. Report out.


3) First blog entry. Every band council meeting will be blogged. One volunteer will write the entry and submit it  for posting on the blog.


4) Officers: Who is interested in being an officer? In our November meeting, we will be doing nominations and elections.


5) New Business: This part of the meeting is your chance to bring up new business, any ideas you have can be shared.