West El Update - 9/25/14

I hope everyone had an opportunity to enjoy some family time as the Andover Schools observed Rosh Hashanah.  

Hope all is going well with home practice, and that it is part of the regular routine.  Almost nothing else we do all year will have as big of an impact on the success of band than home practice.  It is a little bit of rough timing for fifth graders in that band will be pre-empted two weeks in a row due to Outdoor Ed.  Please have them keep practicing and feel free to explore the pages ahead if things are going will.

Fourth graders will meet as scheduled next Thursday, Oct 2!

Bancroft Update - 9/23/14

Great morning, everyone!  We are up and running!

INTERMEDIATE BAND

Great job.  We are going to review page 2, and add page 3.  Play with lots of support, and be sure you are following key signatures.  The first several pages center themselves around specific key signatures.  Thank you to Garrett, Mikey, and Katherine for being excellent mentors this morning.  You are a big help!

BEGINNING BAND

In general, everyone is off to a strong start.  Every one was there, everyone has a book, and everyone has an instrument!  We are rocking.  We were able to play together, as a band, the first two exercises on Page 6.  We will all practice Page 6 for next week.  We are sounding like a band!  We are working on streamlining our logistics, so we can get up and running quicker, as well as cleaned up and off to class.

Thank you, parents, for your patience and support!

Sanborn Update - 9/22/14

Great morning, everyone!  We are up and running!

INTERMEDIATE BAND

Great job.  We are moving on to Page 4.  Which will put us in F concert major.  Saxes: watch those C-shaprs, Flutes, watch those E-naturals, and Ryan, no doubt you are already all over those F-sharps.  Thanks to the advanced band for all their great work as mentors!

BEGINNING BAND

In general, everyone is off to a strong start.  We are getting some strong flute sounds very early.  That’s not easy, and it’s nice to get over that fence early.  Jack has a nice gentle touch and a steady pulse.  That makes life very easy for us all!  Trumpets are all getting a good sound on the right pitches, and the reeds (saxes and clarinets) are also getting good sounds and figuring out all of that crazy finger work quite well.  It will all be second nature in no time.  Just do it a lot!

When the mentors were playing with the group, it was a nice full sound with all the right notes.  Thanks in large part because of their leadership, when they got up to go to class, the beginners kept a lot of that full beautiful sound.

Page 6 is our assignment for next week, and I can’t wait to hear what another week on the instrument will do for you all!

South Band - First Update of the New School Year - 9/19/14

Dear South Band Parents:

We are up and running!  Thank you for all you have done so far to get us off to a good start.

One quick logistical note.  When arriving for band on Friday mornings, please enter the school through the Kindergarten lobby doors (the leftmost front door to the school).  Thank you!

Just to make sure that you all know how things work.  I am giving you a little bit of a description of what Friday mornings look like, and how things went this morning.

ADVANCED BAND: 7:30 – 8:10

There are five members of the band with one year of band under their belts.  They meet at 7:30, and are continuing their progression as musicians.  They are working out of Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (the blue book), and will be completing weekly assignments out of that.  They have all been invited to be “mentors” in the Beginning Band, and were a tremendous help for me this morning.  Mentors will be dismissed from beginning band in time to get to their classrooms by 7:45.

BEGINNING BAND: 8:10 – 8:50

At this time, there are nine members of the Beginning Band!  We noted today that all six members of the band last year who were fifth graders have continued in the middle school bands, and all five members that were fourth graders are still playing here at South!  This morning, we learned about how everything will work, about how to sit, about how to assemble and disassemble this instruments, and those with instruments were able to get a good first sound! fAs I told them: “This is the best sound this band has made so far, and it will only get better from here!” The routine will quickly become a very smoothly running machine!

PARENT PRESENCE IN BAND

Parents are always welcome to attend band class.  I have always said (maybe joking, maybe not) that behavior and work quality is always better when parents are in the room, not just the kids, but mine too.

PUNCTUALITY AND RELIABILITY

A huge part of the success for individuals and for the group is that we are all there every week and on time.  Thank you in advance for everything you do to this end.  I am the father of a young musician and am all too aware of the challenges of this, but I assure you there is a great dividend when we all pull it off!

COMMUNICATIONS

Each week, at my first opportunity, you will receive and e-mail with a quick summary of that week’s class, and an assignment for next time.  I would be grateful if you could help our musicians keep on top of this.

I also post all communications in a blog site, so that you can easily find them without digging through e-mail accounts.  I encourage you to bookmark this site for easy access:

http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENTS:

Advanced Band:  Book 2: Page 3 and 4.  Please get comfortable with all exercises.  Play with a beautiful sound!

Beginning Band:  Book 1: Page 2-5.  Please read, and try the first three notes.  Be sure you practice in a good chair that lets you sit right up and breath correctly.  Percussionist, practice standing up!

I know there are a handful of you who do not yet have an instrument, or do not have Book 1 of Standard of Excellence.  Please e-mail me back if you need assistance with either of these!  I also know that these things take time, and whatever happens this week, we will keep your kid in the loop, and get him/her caught up in no time!

TROMBONES????

If there is anyone in the beginning group who is possible interested in considering a switch before we get to into it, we have need for trombones across the district.  There is a very large number of saxophones and clarinets, and an opportunity to make an important impact for anyone who might want to give trombone a try.  It looks big, but actually weighs less than a saxophone, is less expensive, and is a lot of fun.  A fourth grader may not be quite big enough to get all the way out to “seventh position”, but by the time one really needs it, that eventual growth spirt will likely have happened! 

Again, thank you, and I very much look forward to a great year!

West El Band - First Update of the New School Year - 9/18/14

Dear West El. Band Parents:

We are up and running!  Thank you for all you have done so far to get us off to a good start.

Just to make sure that you all know how things work.  I am giving you a little bit of a description of what Thursday mornings look like, and how things went this morning.

ADVANCED BAND: 7:30 – 8:10

There are five members of the band with one year of band under their belts.  They meet at 7:30, and are continuing their progression as musicians.  They are working out of Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (the blue book), and will be completing weekly assignments out of that.  They have all been invited to be “mentors” in the Beginning Band, and were a tremendous help for me this morning.  Mentors will be dismissed from beginning band in time to get to their classrooms by 7:45.

BEGINNING BAND: 8:10 – 8:50

At this time, there are nineteen members of the Beginning Band! which is a nice healthy leap over last year.  (Many of last years 5th graders are now in the growing middle school bands!)   This morning, we learned about how everything will work, about how to sit, about how to assemble and disassemble this instruments, and we all made our first band sound.  As I told them: “This is the best sound this band has made so far, and it will only get better from here!” The routine will quickly become a very smoothly running machine!

PARENT PRESENCE IN BAND

Parents are always welcome to attend band class.  I have always said (maybe joking, maybe not) that behavior and work quality is always better when parents are in the room, not just the kids, but mine too.

PUNCTUALITY AND RELIABILITY

A huge part of the success for individuals and for the group is that we are all there every week and on time.  Thank you in advance for everything you do to this end.  I am the father of a young musician and am all too aware of the challenges of this, but I assure you there is a great dividend when we all pull it off!

COMMUNICATIONS

Each week, at my first opportunity, you will receive and e-mail with a quick summary of that week’s class, and an assignment for next time.  I would be grateful if you could help our musicians keep on top of this.

I also post all communications in a blog site, so that you can easily find them without digging through e-mail accounts.  I encourage you to bookmark this site for easy access:

http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENTS:

Advanced Band:  Book 2: Page 3 and 4.  Please get comfortable with all exercises.  Play with a beautiful sound!

Beginning Band:  Book 1: Page 2-5.  Please read, and try the first three notes.  Be sure you practice in a good chair that lets you sit right up and breath correctly.  Percussionist, practice standing up!

I know there are a handful of you who do not yet have an instrument, or do not have Book 1 of Standard of Excellence.  Please e-mail me back if you need assistance with either of these!  I also know that these things take time, and whatever happens this week, we will keep your kid in the loop, and get him/her caught up in no time!

TROMBONES????

If there is anyone in the beginning group who is possible interested in considering a switch before we get to into it, we have need for trombones across the district.  There is a very large number of saxophones and clarinets, and an opportunity to make an important impact for anyone who might want to give trombone a try.  It looks big, but actually weighs less than a saxophone, is less expensive, and is a lot of fun.  A fourth grader may not be quite big enough to get all the way out to “seventh position”, but by the time one really needs it, that eventual growth spirt will likely have happened! 

Again, thank you, and I very much look forward to a great year!

High Plain Band - First Update of the New School Year - 9/17/14

Dear High Plain Band Parents:

We are up and running!  Thank you for all you have done so far to get us off to a good start.

Just to make sure that you all know how things work.  I am giving you a little bit of a description of what Tuesday mornings look like, and how things went this morning.

ADVANCED BAND: 7:30 – 8:10

There are six members of the band with one year of High Plain Band under their belts.  They meet at 7:30, and are continuing their progression as musicians.  They are working out of Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (the blue book), and will be completing weekly assignments out of that.  They have all been invited to be “mentors” in the Beginning Band, and were a tremendous help for me this morning.  Mentors will be dismissed from beginning band in time to get to their classrooms by 7:45.

BEGINNING BAND: 8:10 – 8:50

At this time, there are nineteen members of the Beginning Band! which is a nice healthy leap over last year.  (Most of last years 5th graders are now in the Wood Hill MS band!)   This morning, we learned about how everything will work, about how to sit, about how to assemble and disassemble this instruments, and we all made our first band sound.  As I told them: “This is the best sound this band has made so far, and it will only get better from here!” It took us a little too long to pack up and clean up this morning, but we’ll get that machine running smoothly in no time.

WHERE DO WE KEEP THE INSTRUMENTS?

If there is a place in their classroom, that’s fine, but the band room at Wood Hill is safe space for folks to keep their instruments during that day on Wednesdays, and then toward the end of the day, they can come get it to take it home.  We want to discourage the practice of leaving them at school overnight.  They are safer in your possession, and they aren’t getting practiced if they aren’t at home.

PARENT PRESENCE IN BAND

Parents are always welcome to attend band class.  I have always said (maybe joking, maybe not) that behavior and work quality is always better when parents are in the room, not just the kids, but mine too.

PUNCTUALITY AND RELIABILITY

A huge part of the success for individuals and for the group is that we are all there every week and on time.  Thank you in advance for everything you do to this end.  I am the father of a young musician and am all too aware of the challenges of this, but I assure you there is a great dividend when we all pull it off!

COMMUNICATIONS

Each week, at my first opportunity, you will receive and e-mail with a quick summary of that week’s class, and an assignment for next time.  I would be grateful if you could help our musicians keep on top of this.

I also post all communications in a blog site, so that you can easily find them without digging through e-mail accounts.  I encourage you to bookmark this site for easy access:

http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENTS:

Advanced Band:  Book 2: Page 3.  Please get comfortable with all exercises.  Play with a beautiful sound!

Beginning Band:  Book 1: Page 2-5.  Please read, and try the first three notes.  Be sure you practice in a good chair that lets you sit right up and breath correctly.  Percussionist, practice standing up!

TROMBONES????

If there is anyone in the beginning group who is possible interested in considering a switch before we get to into it, we have need for trombones across the district.  There is a very large number of saxophones and clarinets, and an opportunity to make an important impact for anyone who might want to give trombone a try.  It looks big, but actually weighs less than a saxophone, is less expensive, and is a lot of fun.  A fourth grader may not be quite big enough to get all the way out to “seventh position”, but by the time one really needs it, that eventual growth spirt will likely have happened! 

Again, thank you, and I very much look forward to a great year!

Bancroft Band - First Update of the New School Year - 9/16/14

Dear Bancroft Band Parents:

We are up and running!  Thank you for all you have done so far to get us off to a good start.

Just to make sure that you all know how things work.  I am giving you a little bit of a description of what Tuesday mornings look like, and how things went this morning.

ADVANCED BAND: 7:30 – 8:10

There are four members of the fifth grade with one year of Bancroft Band under their belts.  They meet at 7:30, and are continuing their progression as musicians.  They are working out of Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (the blue book), and will be completing weekly assignments out of that.  They have all been invited to be “mentors” in the Beginning Band, and were a tremendous help for me this morning.  Mentors will be dismissed from beginning band in time to get to their classrooms by 7:45.

BEGINNING BAND: 8:10 – 8:50

At this time, there are twelve members of the Beginning Band, which is a nice healthy leap over last years eight.  (Of those 8, four are this years Advanced Band, and the other four are all playing in the band at Doherty Middle School!)   This morning, we learned about how everything will work, about how to sit, about how to assemble and disassemble this instruments, and we all made our first band sound.  As I told them: “This is the best sound this band has made so far, and it will only get better from here!” It took us a little too long to pack up and clean up this morning, but we’ll get that machine running smoothly in no time.

WHERE DO WE KEEP THE INSTRUMENTS?

Mrs. Loynd (music teacher) and I will make a safe space for folks to keep their instruments during that day on Tuesdays in the music room, and then toward the end of the day, they can come get it to take it home.  We want to discourage the practice of leaving them at school overnight.  They are safer in your possession, and they aren’t getting practiced if they aren’t at home.

PARENT PRESENCE IN BAND

Parents are always welcome to attend band class.  It is a bit of a problem with the flow of the morning to have parents in common areas and other parts of the school at this time, and it is asked that if you do remain, to please do so in the music room.  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.  I have always said (maybe joking, maybe not) that behavior and work quality is always better when parents are in the room, not just the kids, but mine too.

PUNCTUALITY AND RELIABILITY

A huge part of the success for individuals and for the group is that we are all there every week and on time.  Thank you in advance for everything you do to this end.  I am the father of a young musician and am all too aware of the challenges of this, but I assure you there is a great dividend when we all pull it off!

COMMUNICATIONS

Each week, at my first opportunity, you will receive and e-mail with a quick summary of that week’s class, and an assignment for next time.  I would be grateful if you could help our musicians keep on top of this.

I also post all communications in a blog site, so that you can easily find them without digging through e-mail accounts.  I encourage you to bookmark this site for easy access:

http://whatsnewinband.blogspot.com

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENTS:

Advanced Band:  Book 2: Page 3.  Please get comfortable with all exercises.  Play with a beautiful sound!

Beginning Band:  Book 1: Page 2-5.  Please read, and try the first three notes.  Be sure you practice in a good chair that lets you sit right up and breath correctly.  Percussionist, practice standing up!

TROMBONES????

If there is anyone in the beginning group who is possible interested in considering a switch before we get to into it, we have need for trombones across the district.  There is a very large number of saxophones and clarinets, and an opportunity to make an important impact for anyone who might want to give trombone a try.  It looks big, but actually weighs less than a saxophone, is less expensive, and is a lot of fun.  A fourth grader may not be quite big enough to get all the way out to “seventh position”, but by the time one really needs it, that eventual growth spirt will likely have happened! 

Again, thank you, and I very much look forward to a great year!

Sanborn Band - First Update of the New School Year - 9/16/14

Dear Sanborn Band Parents: We are up and running!

 Thank you for all you have done so far to get us off to a good start. Just to make sure that you all know how things work. I am giving you a little bit of a description of what Tuesday mornings look like, and how things went this morning.

 ADVANCED BAND: 7:30 – 8:10

There are five members of the fifth grade with one year of Bancroft Band under their belts. They meet at 7:30, and are continuing their progression as musicians. They are working out of Standard of Excellence, Book 2 (the blue book), and will be completing weekly assignments out of that. They have all been invited to be “mentors” in the Beginning Band, and were a tremendous help for me this morning. Mentors will be dismissed from beginning band in time to get to their classrooms by 7:45.

BEGINNING BAND: 8:10 – 8:50 

At this time, there are nine members of the Beginning Band. Fourteen members total for the Sanborn Band is a good number! Yesterday morning, we learned about how everything will work, about how to sit, about how to assemble and disassemble this instruments, and we all made our first band sound. It took us a little too long to pack up and clean up, but we’ll get that machine running smoothly in no time.

 WHERE DO WE KEEP THE INSTRUMENTS?

 Mrs. Waddell and I have safe space for folks to keep their instruments during that day on Mondays in the vestibule of the music room, and then toward the end of the day, they can come get it to take it home. We want to discourage the practice of leaving them at school overnight. They are safer in your possession, and they aren’t getting practiced if they aren’t at home.

 PARENT PRESENCE IN BAND

 Parents are always welcome to attend band class. I have always said (maybe joking, maybe not) that behavior and work quality is always better when parents are in the room, not just the kids, but mine too.

PUNCTUALITY AND RELIABILITY

A huge part of the success for individuals and for the group is that we are all there every week and on time. Thank you in advance for everything you do to this end. I am the father of a young musician and am all too aware of the challenges of this, but I assure you there is a great dividend when we all pull it off!

COMMUNICATIONS

Each week, at my first opportunity, you will receive and e-mail with a quick summary of that week’s class, and an assignment for next time. I would be grateful if you could help our musicians keep on top of this. I also post all communications on this site, so that you can easily find them without digging through e-mail accounts. I encourage you to bookmark it for easy access.

THIS WEEKS ASSIGNMENTS:

Advanced Band: Book 2: Page 3-4. Please get comfortable with all exercises. Play with a beautiful sound!

Beginning Band: Book 1: Page 2-5. Please read, and try the first three notes. Be sure you practice in a good chair that lets you sit right up and breath correctly. Percussionist, practice standing up! 

TROMBONES????

If there is anyone in the beginning group who is possible interested in considering a switch before we get to into it, we have need for trombones across the district. There is a very large number of saxophones and clarinets, and an opportunity to make an important impact for anyone who might want to give trombone a try. It looks big, but actually weighs less than a saxophone, is less expensive, and is a lot of fun. A fourth grader may not be quite big enough to get all the way out to “seventh position”, but by the time one really needs it, that eventual growth spirt will likely have happened! 

Again, thank you, and I very much look forward to a great year!