West El. Update, 10/30/13

Another terrific morning for the West Band, with eventually perfect attendance.  I heard lots of individual growth, but want to remark particularly how far Emily Jundi came this week.  A great week of practice made her very much stronger in her going back and forth between some tricky fingerings! Keep up the good work, everyone!

We move on to page 11 this week, and we are introduced to key signatures, ties, and 2/4 time signature.  Let me know if anyone has any difficulty with any of it!

On behalf of myself and Ms. Hofius, I am grateful to all of you for the support you are lending to this little band.  Their early success is due in great part to that!

All the best,

Joseph Wright

Instrumental Music, Andover Public Schools

Andover, MA

Band and class updates:

http://whatsnewinband.blogger.com

Thoughts, stories, opinions:

http://www.adifferentkindofbeautiful.com

Wood Hill (6) Update, 11/28/13

Hey there,

I have a group of young musicians in the sixth grade at Wood Hill who all appear to be capable of great things and willing to work toward them.  One area in which most of them could improve is to have a good idea of exactly what is expected for them to prepare at home from week to week.  I am going to try to keep you updated on a weekly basis.

As I mentioned to you in an earlier e-mail, our cycle will be that on Wednesdays, the band will be given a specific assignment to practice for the week.  When we meet on Monday, it is a chance for us to make sure we are on the right track, so that when Wednesday rolls around, we as a band can work right through it and move on to something new.

Sometime shortly after each Wednesday's class, you will receive an e-mail with their next assignment, as well as any other important information you may need about band.  If you are able to help guide them so that they feel prepared and ready each week, our progress will be that much more notable!  Please note that every now and then, the book contains an exercise that requires written responses.

For those taking lessons outside of band class, it may well be that you are not in the exact same place in the book with both the lesson and the band.  This is fine.  Theoretically, if you are ahead in one, than the other is a piece of cake!

This week the band will be finishing up pages 13 and 14.  If this goes well, we will move on!  All updates will be added to my informational blog: http://whatsnewinband.blogger.com

Thanks for your help, and by all means, be sure to check out BILLY JONAS live on the Wood Hill MS stage at 7:00pm this Friday (11/1).  It's only $5 and this guy is just wonderful.  Proceeds will benefit the Wood Hill PAC.

Sanborn Update, 10/28/13

Another morning of perfect attendance.  That is no small part of our success so far.

The band is moving on to Page 10.  Growth is apparent every week, and this week is no different.  Thank you for continuing to encourage their work at home.

Page 10 will introduce the tie, where two notes are joined together with a curved line that creates one note with a duration of their combined values. We will also be learning learning about 2/4 time signature (2, not 4, beats to the measure).  We are also adding a G concert to our range. (G for flutes and percussion, E for saxophone, A for trumpet and clarinet).

CLARINET and SAXOPHONE families.  Please be sure to have some back-up reeds ready for them should they need them.  Reeds are delicate, and the slightest crack or chip makes their job of playing well far more difficult if not impossible.  We are working on habits that prevent this sort of damage, but I am in great hopes that their progress isn't slowed by their trying to make it work on a bad reed because it is is all they have.  Let me know if you need resources to get these reeds.  I recommend no harder than a 2 or 2.5 reed at this point, unless their private teachers are recommending otherwise.

Practice is as much about developing muscle memory as it is an intellectual exercise.  I bet virtually everyone at MIT could explain to you with very little effort the amount of arc and velocity needed to propel a basketball through a hoop, yet we don't see MIT in March Madness very ofter, do we?  They don't shoot a lot of foul shots on that side of the Charles.  They understand them, but they don't practice them.  Let's make sure we repeat our successes at home, and train our bodies what they feel like, so we can recreate them later!

(Harvard, also on that side of the river, makes a few more than MIT does, but not enough to get into the Sweet 16.)

All the best,

Joe Wright

Sanborn Band

South Update, 10/25/13

Hello!

We had a hearty group of forth graders who did a generally very good job with Page 9.  I know that the fifth graders have lost some practice time down in beautiful Cape Cod, but I would like to try to move on.  If anyone has any trouble, we will be sure to get them caught up.  Just do your best.

Our assignment this week is to move on to page 10.  We will be learning learning about 2/4 time signature (2, not 4, beats to the measure).  We are also adding a G concert to our range. (G for flutes and percussion, E for saxophone, A for trumpet and clarinet) 

Thanks for a great session this morning, 4th graders.  Looking forward to having the group together again next week!

All the best,

Joe Wright

South School Band

Bancroft Update, 10/24/13

Hello Gang,

Good to have everyone there this morning.  My adventures on I-495 held me up a bit, and it was a real help to have the kids getting set up and ready so we could get right at it when I rolled in.

We continue to grow on our instruments, and perhaps most notably this week as a band.  We are starting to learn how to play together.  This happens much faster when we spend time at home learning to be more confident on the instruments.  Thanks for continuing to encourage this!

In all candor, it is my hope that a bigger percentage of the wonderful positive energy in the room every week can be channeled into playing, and that chatter gets a little less in the way of our progress.  We will have time for that sort of fun as we pack up our instruments and straighten up the room.  We'll see how it goes next week.  We had a good chat about it at the end this morning.

They move on to Page 9 this week, and get more practice with their now five notes, and rhythms incorporating whole, half, and quarter notes and rests.

Thanks again for your support.  Don't forget to have a look at my blogs.  The first will always have these e-mails posted in it for your future reference!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Bancroft Band

West El. Update, 10/23/13

Hello!

The West Elementary Band always seems to get my Wednesday started off right!

In general, this band has a nice mix of experience and work ethic, and they come ready to play.  Please continue to encourage regular practice.  It is apparent to me when this has occurred, and it make a wonderful difference from week to week!  It was good to (eventually) have everyone there this week!  That also is a big help!  It was also very nice to be joined by Alfonso Morell this week!  Hope to see him back!

The class went quite smoothly.  Every single member is engaged and courageous, and are giving it their best shot.  We were able to move through page 9 quite nicely and will move on to page 10, where will deal with ties, where two note are graphically tied together with an arched line that creates one note that lasts as long as their combined durations.  We will also be using a 2/4 time signature, where as up to now, everything has been four beats to a measure.  Now we learn two beats to a measure.

As you may have noticed (and as I pointed out to them), we are starting to hear some winter holiday music.  I think that we might logically draw a conclusion that we are a month or two ahead of where the publishers of the book think we ought to be at this point in the year.  That's good!

I am keeping two blogs, which I encourage you to check out:

"What's New In Band" (http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com) contains copies of all of the information I send out to the bands, including these e-mails.  They are labeled intuitively (I hope), and will stay there for future reference.

"A Different Kind of Beautiful" (http://www.adifferentkindofbeautiful.com) is a blog that I have been adding to periodically over the last four years or so with anecdotes and essays about school band, some more relevant that others.  Feel free to check that out as well.

On behalf of myself and Ms. Hofius, we again thank you for your support and encouragement at home!

Sanborn Update, 10/21/13

Happy Monday, everyone.

Good to see almost everyone back from a week off from band.  I hope everything is ok with Shubam.

We worked hard today getting up and running again.  Our goal was to get through pages 7 and 8, and I think we could use one more week on page 8, so that will be our goal for next Monday.  With preparation, we will easily be able to move on.  There are a few things that as a band, we could all work on.  Please pay special attention to these details.

• Posture: sitting properly and putting our bodies in the best position for success on the instrument.
• Notation: making sure we can identify the note names, positions on the staff, and fingerings.
• Note durations: holding all the notes for their full value.

Thank you for all your support, and for encouraging their practice and preparation! Looking forward to seeing them all next Monday at 7:45!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Sanborn Band

South Update, 10/18/13

Hello folks!

Good class this morning.  This group is really starting to sound like a band, and each individual is showing real growth.  I assure you, as some one who only hears them once a week, that without exception they are all making significant gains each week.  Sometimes that's not as easy to hear when it is coming from the next room everyday while you are preparing dinner.

We are ready to move on to page 9, and I am looking forward to hearing what they can do with it.  This week we learn about repeats, fermatas (holds), use of the shorthand "C" for 4/4 or "common" time signature, and we get more practice with our five notes before adding more soon.

I am aware that our fifth graders will be venturing into the wilderness for next week.  I hope they have a wonderful trip, and that they stay safe and healthy!  The fourth graders will meet as scheduled next Friday, and we'll see how it goes.  I will send an update next week, and see if we can keep the fifth graders on track.  Just keep an eye out for the update next week.

For your information, I am keeping two blogs.

"What's New In Band" (http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com) contains copies of all of the information I send out to the bands, including these e-mails.  They are labeled intuitively (I hope), and will stay there for future reference.

"A Different Kind of Beautiful" (http://www.adifferentkindofbeautiful.com) is a blog that I have been adding to periodically over the last four years or so with anecdotes and essays about school band, some more relevant that others.  Feel free to check that out as well.

I thank you all again for your support!

Joe Wright
South School Band

Bancroft, 10/17/13

Hello folks!

Good class this morning.  Every one of them has shown some real growth, and we are all headed in the right direction.  Thank you for encouraging regular practice.  It makes a difference!

We were all able to show enough progress to make it feasible for us to move on to page 8.  This will introduce the concepts of quarter notes and rests, and two new notes, F and E-flat. (F and Eb for flute, oboe, and trombone; G and F for trumpet and clarinet; D and C for alto sax.)

It was great to see our fifth graders back, safe and sound, and it appears they all continued their growth on the instruments!  That was a big help.  Thank you!

For your information, I am keeping two blogs.

"What's New In Band" (http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com) contains copies of all of the information I send out to the bands, including these e-mails.  They are labeled intuitively (I hope), and will stay there for future reference.

"A Different Kind of Beautiful" (http://www.adifferentkindofbeautiful.com) is a blog that I have been adding to periodically over the last four years or so with anecdotes and essays about school band, some more relevant that others.  Feel free to check that out as well.

I thank you all again for your support!

Joe Wright

Bancroft Band

West El. Update, 10/16/13

Hey folks!  It was an encouraging morning!  The clarinets and saxophones continue their hot streak, and Sophia is holding down the percussion end of things very capably!  It was very nice to see our flutes catch a nice wind this week.  They are both getting a good sound and it seems like their fingers are catching up nicely as well.  We were able to move through page 8 without too many major problems, and I feel like we are ready for page 9.  This week we learn about repeats, fermatas, use of the shorthand "C" for 4/4 or "common" time signature, and we get more practice with our five notes before adding more soon.

It was great to see our fifth graders back, safe and sound, at it appears as though most of them were given the assignments for this morning.  That was a big help.  Thank you!

For your information, I am keeping two blogs.

"What's New In Band" (http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com) contains copies of all of the information I send out to the bands, including these e-mails.  They are labeled intuitively (I hope), and will stay there for future reference.

"A Different Kind of Beautiful" (http://www.adifferentkindofbeautiful.com) is a blog that I have been adding to periodically over the last four years or so with anecdotes and essays about school band, some more relevant that others.  Feel free to check that out as well.

On behalf of myself and Ms. Hofius, I thank you all again for your support!

Joe Wright

Grade 7 and 8, Information about MMEA NE Junior District Festival

Hello band families from West and Wood Hill Middle Schools,  I hope everyone's year is off to a good start!

I am writing to make sure all of you know that starting in 7th grade (through grade 9), students who are members of their schools performing ensembles have an opportunity to audition to be a member of the Massachusetts Music Educators' Association Northeastern Junior District Honors Music Festival.

THE FESTIVAL

The festival is held at Lowell High School.  The rehearsals are 3:30-7:30pm on Wednesday, March 12, and the same on Friday, March 14.  There will be a bus from your child's school at the end of the school day to the rehearsal, and one back from Lowell at the end of the night that will drop everyone off at the Collins Center.  The festival features a concert band, an orchestra (with winds), a girls chorus, a boy's chorus, and for the first time ever, a big-band style jazz ensemble.  The students making up these ensembles are among the finest young musicians in Northeastern Massachusetts, essentially the region north of Boston and east of Route 2.  There can be some pretty fierce competition for positions in these groups, but Andover is traditionally quite well represented.

The Festival Concert is on Saturday, March 15.  There are two separate concerts: one at 1:00pm, and one at 3:00pm, depending on which group you are there to see.  The division of the groups between the two concerts is yet to be determined.  There will be rehearsals in the morning before the concerts, and a bus will bring the Andover students from the Collins Center to Lowell HS leaving at 8:00am.  Students are expected to ride home with their families from the concert, and transportation home is not provided.  That's all there is to it.  Three days, one concert.  Music will be sent to those selected, and it is their responsibility to prepare their parts for the first rehearsal.

AUDITIONS

Auditions are held at Tenney Grammar School in Methuen on Saturday, January 18th.  Andover students will ride a bus from the Collins Center at AHS to Methuen, and then ride back together after the auditions.  The times for the auditions will be set about a week or so before the auditions, and we will get word out as soon as we know.  We might leave from AHS as early as 7:00 am, or as late as 2:00pm.  We will return approximately 3-4 hours after we leave.

There is a $10 fee per audition, except that jazz auditions are free.  The fee should be given to the band director ASAP, but no later than November 15, and should either be cash or a check made out to "Andover Public Schools".  Students can audition for both jazz and band/orchestra.  Winds and percussion for band and for orchestra are chosen from the same audition, so you only need to register once.  Percussionist can audition on snare, mallets, and/or timpani.  Each one is considered a separate audition, so the fee could be up to $30.  Once the fee is received, you will be sent a permission slip for the trip to Methuen. These need to be sent in for your child to be allowed on the bus.  

This is a link the the district web site with the audition requirements, including a list of the assigned pieces, scale requirements, jazz requirements, supplementary percussion "traps" audition piece (required for all percussionists), and some helpful percussion videos explaining techniques and expectations.

http://www.northeasterndistrict.org/downloads.html    - - ->   Be careful not to confuse the requirements with the Senior audition requirements, which are different.

The audition pieces are available in a variety of ways, but please be sure to buy the correct edition, as outlined by publisher and catalogue number on the list.  All students must bring an original published copy to the audition, and not a photocopy, according to district rules.  It might be helpful for you to know that Spectrum Music (in Lexington) and University Music (in Lowell) are both very good about stocking this music for the auditions.  Please be sure to let them know that you want the music for Northeastern Junior District (not "Eastern", and not "Senior").  These are mistakes that have been made in the past.  The sooner the musicians have the music, the more prepared they will be in January.  Also be sure that everyone understands the scale requirements.  They are often neglected, and those are silly points to give away.

If selected, you will receive an e-mail with all the necessary forms for the festival, including a rehearsal contract, emergency form, and bus permission slip.  These will need to be returned with a $20 festival fee.

IS MY CHILD READY FOR THIS?

While we are always very proud to have a good representation from Andover, I would be less than candid if I were to suggest that everyone in the Andover bands has a good shot at making this festival. I would be happy to converse with anyone on a case-by-case basis about whether or not this would be a positive experience.  Auditions can be tough and nerve wracking.  My general philosophy is this, if the student is willing to work hard and prepare the audition, then it is absolutely time well spent.  The judges feedback, albeit cursory, will be of value, and more than that, every audition you prepare for and experience just makes the chances of success for future ones that much more likely.  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this.

All the best,

Joe Wright

Sanborn Update (10/14/13) (no band due to holiday)

Hello Gang,

I hope you all had a enjoyable holiday weekend.  Yesterday, at the time when we usually meet for band, I was walking out of my door to stroll to a great diner in my neighborhood for an omelet.  As much as I love coming in to Andover and working with your kids, I have to admit that was also very pleasant.

I just wanted to take a second to remind and encourage everyone to have a good look at pages 7 and 8, so we can make some real progress next week!  Stay well!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Sanborn Band

South Update, 10/11/13

Sorry this update is a little late.  A weekend wedding (not mine) took up a lot of my time and focus.

I was very pleased (as always) with the groups progress.  I feel like everyone is making strides in the right direction.

Practice can often be one of those things that is tough to make part of the routine, but 'routine' is the key.  Just like working out, or eating well, or lots of other such things, life can provide a shortage of encouragement to do it, and a surplus of reasons not to.  If you can find a way to make practice a part of the routine, it's much easier to keep it regular.  It's ok to let the students play what they enjoy, while occasionally touch base with them to be sure they are meeting the expectations of the assignments.

Pages 6 and 7 were in good shape as a group, and I have asked them all to move on to Page 8.  Here they are introduced to new rhythmic concepts, and two new (higher) notes.  These note may not come immediately easy to all of them, but they will come.  We will work together on them!  Thanks again for your encouragement, and I am looking forward to Friday!

All the best,

Joe Wright

South School Band  

Bancroft Update, 10/10/13

Hello everyone!

I hope our fifth graders had a great adventure!  They were missed this morning.

The fourth graders did some great work this morning, and I hear some real growth.  Mikey was a good sport showing up and working as hard as he did without a working reed!

We got into Page 7, and we are going to stick with that for one more week.  I want to make sure we are comfortable with our first three notes, and that they know where they are on the staff, what the fingering is for all of them, and what their names are.

Some of them were experimenting with going forward in the book, and they did a good job.  As long as they are making sure that you are keeping up with assignments, it's fun to look ahead!  Keep it up.

Looking forward to seeing them all at Thursday at 7:45 sharp, ready to sit right up and fill those horns with air!

All the best!

Joe Wright

West El Update, 10/9/13

While the fifth graders are off hunting water buffalo or whatever they are doing, the fourth graders met this morning and got some good work done.  We made it most of the way through page 7, and talked about some concepts that they will need for page 8, including quarter notes, quarter rests, breath marks, and two new notes: concert E-flat and F.  (Eb and F for flute and percussion, F and G for clarinet and trumpet, C and D for alto sax)  We will be working on Page 8, next week.

Grade 5 families:  Please pass this information on to the students as they return.  If they are having any difficulty with it, we would be happy to answer any questions, but at the very least, we will get them caught up at band next Wednesday, no problem.

Thank you for continuing to encourage their regular practice.  Everyone is progressing and it will only get more gratifying each week!  They are a terrific little team, and really support each other.

All the best,

Joe Wright and Catherine Hofius

Sanborn Update (10/7/13)

Again, good crew this morning!  We missed Brigitte!

We were able to play most of the way through pages 6 and 7.  The rest of page 7 starts dealing with half notes and rests (two beats each), and then page 8 introduces quarter notes and rests (one beat each), as well as two new higher notes, concert E-flat and F (Eb and F for flute, C and D for alto sax, F and G for trumpet and clarinet).  Be sure to encourage their including practicing their instrument as part of the afternoon homework routine!

A reminder that we will not be meeting next week due to the Columbus Day holiday.  This gives them all some extra time to get comfortable with pages 7 and 8!

REED PLAYERS (Sax and Clarinet)….A reminder to be very gentle with your reeds!  They are fragile, and they certainly aren't free.  Some are down to one decent reed, and a bad reed is a real obstacle for learning.  I would encourage you all to pick up a supply of spare reeds.  They are not designed to last forever by any means.  They are available on-line or in area music stores.  I recommend a #2 strength at this point.  As they grow to be more confident and comfortable, we will look at stronger reeds.

There are some really nice sounds starting to come out of the group.  I am encouraging them all to maintain good posture, good hand position and technique, and to be sure they are keeping on top of proper fingerings, note names, and notation on the staff for each note.

All the best, and please do not hesitate to send questions as they pop up in their practice.  I will do my best to give you a prompt answer!

Joe Wright

Sanborn Band

Wood Hill Grade 6 Update, 10/7/13

The Wood Hill MS Sixth Grade Band is off to a very strong start. 

There is a variety of experience levels, but we are using that to our advantage.  We had a great chat today where we talked about our goals as a group, and how to reach them.  We are trying to master two pages per week in the Standard of Excellence book.  They will be assigned on Mondays.  Between then and Wednesday, they need to get in one or two practice sessions and come to Wednesday's band class with questions or problems, when we workshop them as a group.  At Wednesday's class, we can play through it, polish them up a little, and then discuss what we need to know to be successful in preparing the next two page assignment over the next several days before we meet again that following Monday.  Before very long, when we have some good momentum, we can start working on music that would be suitable for performance!

Obviously there will be weeks when we need to slow down and make sure we have everything right, as well as weeks when we miss one of the classes for whatever reason.  There will also be the occasional week where Wednesday will show that we just don't need a whole week on this particular assignment.  Either way, we will adjust and get back on track.  This is simply a plan to keep us all moving in the same direction.

THIS WEEK!

To jumpstart this initiative, we are working on mastering Page 9 for this coming Wednesday.  This will give us some fluidity in the use of our first five notes, and some comfort in reading rhythms.  You will start to recognize actual melodies in the coming weeks from the beginners.  On Wednesday we will work toward getting ourselves on the two-page routine, bearing in mind that we have the holiday next Monday.

Have a great week!  

All the best,

Joe Wright

Wood Hill Middle School Band

West MS Grade 6 Update, 10/4/13

The West MS Sixth Grade Band is off to a very strong start. 

There is a variety of experience levels, but we are using that to our advantage.  We had a great chat today where we talked about our goals as a group, and how to reach them.  We are trying to master two pages per week in the Standard of Excellence book.  They will be assigned on Fridays.  Between then and Tuesday, they need to get in a couple of practice sessions and come to Tuesday's band class with questions or problems, when we workshop them as a group.  At Friday's class, we can play through it, polish them up a little, and then discuss what we need to know to be successful in preparing the next two page assignment.

Obviously there will be weeks when we need to slow down and make sure we have everything right, as well as weeks when we miss one of the classes for whatever reason.  There will also be the occasional week where Tuesday will show that we just don't need a whole week on this particular assignment.  Either way, we will adjust and get back on track.  This is simply a plan to keep us all moving in the same direction.

THIS WEEK!

The student are going to be working on pages 8 and 9.  They will be getting comfortable with quarter notes and quarter rests, and will be playing with our first five learned notes.  Please feel free to get in touch with me with any questions as they come up, and thank you so much for supporting them in this venture.  You will see genuine musical dividends very soon!

Have a great weekend!  

All the best,

Joe Wright

West Middle School Band

South Update, 10/4/13

First, I'd like thank you all for such reliable and punctual attendance so far.  It makes a big difference!

This morning we got up and running pretty quickly.  They've made good strides in everything we set out to learn this week.  Please continue to encourage regular practice and good posture.  They know how to do it!

We were all able to play our first three notes together as a band, and use them in some of the exercises on page 6. 

Next week, our goal is to be able to play exercises together from pages 6 and 7.  This means that they will need to be aware of whole notes, whole rests, half notes, and half rests. They will also need to review our first three notes, and be sure that they can identify them by note name, position on the musical staff, and their fingerings (or position on the bell set for percussion).  

In case this is helpful, some band instruments 'transpose', meaning that their note names calibrate up or down the scale from standard or "concert" pitch names.  The notes we are learning this week are concert D, C, and B-flat.  (That is E, D, and C for clarinet and trumpet; B, A, and G for alto sax; A, G, and F for French horn, and D, C, and B-flat [concert pitch]  for flute, oboe, trombone, and percussion.  I would be happy to bore you with an explanation of why this us upon request.  We will work up to that with the kids.

Everyone is off to a good start.  You will be recognizing melodies before you know it!  Thank you for your patience and encouragement at home.  Looking forward to next Friday morning!

All the best,

Joe Wright

South Band

Bancroft Update, 10/3/13

First, I'd like thank you all for such reliable and punctual attendance so far.  It makes a big difference!

This morning we got up and running pretty quickly.  They've made good strides in everything we set out to learn this week.  Please continue to encourage regular practice and good posture.  They know how to do it!

We were all able to play our first three notes together as a band, and use them in some of the exercises on page 6. 

Next week, our goal is to be able to play exercises together from pages 6 and 7.  This means that they will need to be aware of whole notes, whole rests, half notes, and half rests. They will also need to review our first three notes, and be sure that they can identify them by note name, position on the musical staff, and their fingerings (or position on the bell set for percussion).  

I am aware that our 5th grade members will be off at Outdoor Ed.  4th graders will meet as scheduled and we will see what we can accomplish.  I will update you all via e-mail to let you know what has been done, and see what we can do to have the 5th graders prepare to move on.  I absolutely understand that Outdoor Ed. Will mean a suspension of practice for a few days.  We will all be back on track and on the same page in no time.

In case this is helpful, some band instruments 'transpose", meaning that their note names calibrate up or down the scale from standard of "concert" pitch names.  The notes we are learning this week are concert D, C, and B-flat.  (That is E, D, and C for clarinet and trumpet; B, A, and G for alto sax; A, G, and F for French horn, and D, C, and B-flat [concert pitch]  for flute, oboe, trombone, and percussion.  I would be happy to bore you with an explanation of why this us upon request.  We will work up to that with the kids.

Everyone is off to a good start.  You will be recognizing melodies before you know it!  Thank you for your patience and encouragement at home.  Looking forward to next Wednesday morning!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Bancroft Band

Grade 7/8 invited to 10/18 Football Game!

Andover High School

Golden Warrior Marching Band

FIRST ANNUAL

7TH and 8TH GRADE NIGHT

All 7^th and 8^th graders are invited to join the Andover High School Marching Band 

at the football game against LaSalle Academy on October 18^th.

Meet the band!

Play the stand tunes!

Watch the halftime show!

CHEER ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM!

Where:  Meet in the Andover High School Band Room

When:    October 18^th

                      *Rehearsal at 5:00pm

                          *Kick-off at 7:00pm

                *Approximate end time is 9:00pm

Questions: Please contact Catherine Hofius at chofius@aps1.net

West El. Update, 10/2/13

Hello folks,

First, we'd like thank you all for such reliable and punctual attendance so far.  It makes a big difference!

This morning we got up and running pretty quickly.  They've made good strides in everything we set out to learn this week.  Please continue to encourage regular practice and good posture.  They know how to do it!

We were all able to play our first three notes together as a band, and use them in the exercises on page 6. Next week, our goal is to be able to play exercises together from pages 6 and 7.  This means that they will need to be aware of whole notes, whole rests, half notes, and half rests. They will also need to review our first three notes, and be sure that they can identify them by note name, position on the musical staff, and their fingerings (or position on the bell set for percussion). 

In case this is helpful, some band instruments 'transpose", meaning that their note names calibrate up or down the scale from standard of "concert" pitch names.  The notes we are learning this week are concert D, C, and B-flat.  (That is E, D, and C for clarinet and trumpet; B, A, and G for alto sax; A, G, and F for French horn, and D, C, and B-flat [concert pitch]  for flute, oboe, trombone, and percussion.  I would be happy to bore you with an explanation of why this us upon request.  We will work up to that with the kids.

Everyone is off to a good start.  You will be recognizing melodies before you know it!  Thank you for your patience and encouragement at home.  Looking forward to next Wednesday morning!

All the best,

Joe Wright and Ms. Hofius

Sanborn Band

Sanborn Update, 9/30/13

Hello folks,

First, let me thank you all for such reliable and punctual attendance so far.  It makes a big difference!

This morning we got up and running pretty quickly.  They've made good strides in everything we set out to learn this week.  Please continue to encourage regular practice and good posture.  They know how to do it!

We were all able to play the same note today at the same time, which is no small feat!  Next week, our goal is to be able to play exercises together from pages 6 and 7.  This means that they will need to be aware of whole notes, whole rests, half notes, half rests, and our first three notes. 

In case this is helpful, some band instruments 'transpose", meaning that their note names calibrate up or down the scale from standard of "concert" pitch names.  The notes we are learning this week are concert D, C, and B-flat.  (That is E, D, and C for clarinet and trumpet; B, A, and G for alto sax; A, G, and F for French horn, and D, C, and B-flat [concert pitch]  for flute, oboe, trombone, and percussion.  I would be happy to bore you with an explanation of why this us upon request.

Everyone is off to a good start.  You will be recognizing melodies before you know it!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Sanborn Band

Elementary Band is Underway! (9/27/13) (Sent to music colleagues and administrators)

Dear Colleagues:

There are five elementary school bands in Andover once again.  We have all had one before-school meeting at each school.  The bands are small, and are full of rank beginners, but I am wholly confident that both will change as early as this year and certainly into next.  This is the brightest start to a school year as I have experienced in my thirteen years in the Andover Schools.

It is a new program, and a new system, with lots of new people working together for the first time.  There will be minor logistical details to iron out as we go, but all-in-all I feel great about the start we are giving to these kids and the rebirth to the program.  I know that without your cooperation and patience, it would not have happened.  Thanks so much to all of you.  I am eager, as are over fifty fourth and fifth grade aspiring musicians, for you to soon hear some of the fruits of these efforts!

Below is an updated list of the band students from each school.  Please let me know if you notice anything that needs to be addressed, oversights and omissions, etc.

On behalf of myself and Catherine Hofius, my colleague in the Andover Bands, thanks again!  Looking forward to growing into being a part of your schools' culture!

All the best,

Joe Wright

The South Band is Underway (9/27/13)

Congratulations to the nine members of the South School Band who braved the early morning to begin a hopefully brilliant history in the Andover Bands.  The kids did a great job this morning, and our objective was to learn how to properly and safely assemble their instruments, and learn proper posture and hand position.  We ended the lesson with two very impressive ensemble sounds.  It was fun and exciting.  We have a very impressive young flutist in our group who has a couple of years of experience, as well as an experienced percussionist.  They will provide some great modeling and help for her colleagues!

Their job this week is to be sure they get comfortable with assembling the instrument, posture, hand position, and making the sound.  I asked them all to read pages 2-5, try out some of the exercises, and then take a shot at page 6.  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  If you are able to help encourage their good posture by finding a good chair without arms on which they can practice, that would be a tremendous help!  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  Next Friday is all about answering questions and moving on together.

The books have fun and helpful CD accompaniments.  I encourage you to help them give those a try!

This point in their learning takes focus and patience.  The is often very little immediate gratification at this point, and some of the sounds you will hear will be unlike any you have ever heard.  That's all ok, and with focus and patience, it will get better, and you will see steady improvement.  As I have been telling parents for much of my career, it's "a different kind of beautiful."

For those who were unable to attend this morning, I look forward to seeing you next week.  Let me know if you have any concerns, and I will try to help you get started smoothly!

The group had a great enthusiasm and energy, this morning.  That makes our job really easy, even at 7:45!

All the best,

Joe Wright

West Band

The Bancroft Band is Underway! (9/26/13)

Congratulations to the eight members of the Bancroft Elementary School Band who braved the early morning to begin a hopefully brilliant history in the Andover Bands.  The kids did a great job this morning, and our objective was to learn how to properly and safely assemble their instruments, and learn proper posture and hand position.  We ended the lesson with a few very impressive ensemble sounds for our first day.  It was fun and exciting.

Their job this week is to be sure they get comfortable with assembling the instrument, posture, hand position, and making the sound.  I asked them all to read pages 2-5, try out some of the exercises, and then take a shot at page 6.  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  If you are able to help encourage their good posture by finding a good chair without arms on which they can practice, that would be a tremendous help!  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  Next Thursday is all about answering questions and moving on together.

The books have fun and helpful CD accompaniments.  I encourage you to help them give those a try!

This point in their learning takes focus and patience.  The is often very little immediate gratification at this point, and some of the sounds you will hear will be unlike any you have ever heard.  That's all ok, and with focus and patience, it will get better, and you will see steady improvement.  As I have been telling parents for much of my career, it's "a different kind of beautiful."

For those who were unable to attend this morning, I look forward to seeing you next week.  Let me know if you have any concerns, and I will try to help you get started smoothly!

The group had a great enthusiasm and energy, this morning.  That makes my job really easy, even at 7:45!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Bancroft Band

The West Elementary Band is Underway! (9/25/13)

On behalf of myself and Ms. Hofius, your kids' band teachers, congratulations to the nine members of the West El. Band who braved the early morning to begin a hopefully brilliant history in the Andover Bands.  The kids did a great job this morning, and our objective was to learn how to properly and safely assemble their instruments, and learn proper posture and hand position.  We ended the lesson with two very impressive ensemble sounds.  It was fun and exciting.

Their job this week is to be sure they get comfortable with assembling the instrument, posture, hand position, and making the sound.  I asked them all to read pages 2-5, try out some of the exercises, and then take a shot at page 6.  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  If you are able to help encourage their good posture by finding a good chair without arms on which they can practice, that would be a tremendous help!  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  Next Wednesday is all about answering questions and moving on together.

The books have fun and helpful CD accompaniments.  I encourage you to help them give those a try!

This point in their learning takes focus and patience.  The is often very little immediate gratification at this point, and some of the sounds you will hear will be unlike any you have ever heard.  That's all ok, and with focus and patience, it will get better, and you will see steady improvement.  As I have been telling parents for much of my career, it's "a different kind of beautiful."

For those who were unable to attend this morning, I look forward to seeing you next week.  Let me know if you have any concerns, and I will try to help you get started smoothly!

The group had a great enthusiasm and energy, this morning.  That makes our job really easy, even at 7:45!

All the best,

Joe Wright

West Band

The Sanborn Band is Underway (9/23/13)

Congratulations to the eight members of the Sanborn Band who braved the early morning to begin a hopefully brilliant history in the Andover Bands.  The kids did a great job this morning, and our objective was to learn how to properly and safely assemble their instruments, and learn proper posture and hand position.  We ended the lesson with two very impressive ensemble sounds.  It was fun and exciting.

Their job this week is to be sure they get comfortable with assembling the instrument, posture, hand position, and making the sound.  I asked them all to read pages 1-5, try out some of the exercises, and then take a shot at page 6.  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  If you are able to help encourage their good posture by finding a good chair without arms on which they can practice, that would be a tremendous help!  If they have any trouble, that's not a problem.  Next Monday is all about answering questions and moving on together.

The books have fun and helpful CD accompaniments.  I encourage you to help them give those a try!

This point in their learning takes focus and patience.  The is often very little immediate gratification at this point, and some of the sounds you will hear will be unlike any you have ever heard.  That's all ok, and with focus and patience, it will get better, and you will see steady improvement.  As I have been telling parents for much of my career, it's "a different kind of beautiful."

For those who were unable to attend this morning, I look forward to seeing you next week.  Let me know if you have any concerns, and I will try to help you get started smoothly!

The group had a great enthusiasm and energy, this morning.  That makes my job really easy, even at 7:45!

All the best,

Joe Wright

Sanborn Band