You may have noticed some band assignments on the homework calendars recently. Band students are always expected to practice, but now we have some new resources to supplement and track their learning outside of the classroom. These assignments should not be time consuming, especially if students are already practicing regularly.
In 5th and 6th grade bands, we have started using Flipgrid. This is a fun, easy to use website that can be accessed on any phone, tablet, or computer. I post a weekly topic after class each Monday and students record their responses directly onto the site in a short video by Friday. All videos are private unless the student gives me permission to share it with their peers. This is a fantastic way for me to hear each student play individually as well as spot any bad habits that may be developing before it is too late to correct them. Students can choose fun avatars and be creative with their responses. So far, they have had an assignment in which they name and introduce their instruments and a playing assignment for specific measures of their pieces. Future assignments will also include composition, creativity, name that tune, and various skill sharing. Our grid is here if you would like to check it out. In the 7th and 8th grade band, we are using an online theory program called Breezin' Thru Theory. This website has lessons and drills ranging from basic beginning note reading to advanced high school theory concepts. Students are currently being asked to complete one 2-minute drill between Monday and Thursday each week. Once they are more comfortable using the program, they will be expected to complete a set of 3-5 short drills each week. This is a great way for students to solidify their understanding of various theory concepts and for me to isolate and track students' comfort and understanding of music theory without their instruments. Isn't technology so exciting? :)
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The sixth-grade band learned a new piece just to share with you! They only had two short classes to work on it, because of the snow, so it's fun to see how much they learned in such a short amount of time! ![]() What an exciting month we've had! On November 1, the 5th and 6th grade bands had their morning concert. The fifth graders played several short melodies using the first 5 notes. Each instrument section played a melody by themselves in addition to playing with the full band. They've learned so much in such a short amount of time! The 6th grade band played two wonderful band arrangements, Dragonfire and Star Wars. The 5th graders loved hearing how great the 6th grade band sounded and were excited to continue their musical journey! On November 8, the 7th and 8th grade band played a big concert including band, orchestra, chorus, and two guitar ensembles! All of the students were sitting onstage for the entire concert and the program grouped the pieces by theme instead of ensembles, switching back and forth from one to another. The band played a cool jazz arrangement of the Beatles' Yesterday, a vigorous and exciting band piece called Imperio, and then ended the entire program with a rockin' arrangement of Santana's Evil Ways. The other ensembles even joined us for the end of the piece, making it a grand finale celebrating the collaboration of all 5 ensembles. The students and parents enjoyed having the opportunity to hear other ensembles that they may not have gotten to hear if we had had separate concerts. Since the concert, students have been improving their musicianship with the Essential Elements band method books and are getting ready to begin studying new repertoire! Next semester, the 7th and 8th grade bands will team up with the UL band for an evening bandapaloosa concert on Tuesday, April 24, and then the 5th and 6th graders will be showing off their progress at their morning concert on Wednesday, April 25. Mark your calendars if you haven't already! The Galloway School
Band Supply List 2017-18 · Band Instrument in good working order (see below for where to get one) · Method Book: Essential Elements for Band* Book 1 (provided) (5th-6thgrades only) · Any needed equipment for specific instrument (reeds, oils, etc. See below) · Three Ring binder (provided for 5th only) containing: · Sheet Protectors for organizing sheet music · Notebook paper · Pencil Flute Swab or Pad Saver Cork Grease Soft Polishing Cloth (recommended) A curved head joint may be helpful for young students with shorter arms Clarinet Medium Strength Reeds (Rico or Vandoren 2) Clarinet Swab Mouthpiece Brush Cork Grease Alto Saxophone Medium Strength Reeds (Rico or Vandoren 2) Neck strap Silk Swab or Pad Saver Mouthpiece Brush Cork Grease Trumpet/Baritone Valve Oil Mouthpiece Brush “Snake Brush” (recommended) Tuning Slide Grease (recommended) Polishing Cloth (optional) *Baritone players make sure you have the book for “Baritone BC” (bass clef) Trombone Super Slick Slide Cream Spray Water Bottle Mouthpiece Brush “Snake Brush” (optional) Polishing Cloth (optional) Bass Guitar Guitar cord Tuner Bass guitarists unfortunately cannot rent basses from Galloway, but they are welcome to use the Gway basses at school as long as they have something to practice on at home. An electric bass or electric or acoustic guitar would all be fine. If you are buying a bass, I would get a 4-string solid body full-sized bass. Guitar Center and Sam Ash music are great places to buy and try out basses. Galloway only has full-sized bass guitars. I personally recommend students start on full-sized whenever possible, so they can get used to the reach, but they may get whatever size they need or feel most comfortable with. I would like each student to at least bring their own tuner and cord. Percussion Each student will need this mallet set to use at school and at home. If you already have some parts of it, ask me for help finding what you still need. This bundle is a great deal. All I require percussionists to have is their own mallets and sticks (Vic Firth 5b or SD1 preferred) for school use (see the link above for the bundle I have selected) and something to practice on at home. You can rent a Snare/Bell set or bell kit and practice pad from a music store if you would like (it should come with sticks and mallets), or they can practice on a pillow or textbook and a print-out of a keyboard. Where to get an instrument There are 3 ways to do this (percussion and bassists please see the required materials above): 1) Rent from Galloway. This costs $200 per school year and includes reeds (for clarinets and saxes) and maintenance as applicable. The catch is that instruments are first-come first-serve and I have a limited number of each, so please let me know ASAP if you know you want to rent from us and I'll try to make sure I have an instrument for them. Saxes in particular are extremely limited. All Galloway instruments will be in good playing condition but may not look as pretty as new instruments. In order to rent from Galloway, please fill out this form and send it to class with your kids or email it directly to me. 2) Rent from a music store. I recommend this, because they guarantee reliable instruments, include repairs, and you can rent to own, meaning the amount you have already paid renting it will reduce the cost if you eventually decide to purchase the instrument. You can also try out the instrument in the store and make sure it's still a good fit. I recommend Sam Ash Music (Smyrna), Carere Music (Norcross), and Music and Arts(multiple locations and online). Sam Ash Music gives a 10% discount on anything in the store if you say it's for a Galloway student. If you find any other store that gives a discount (Carere might), please let me know so I can advertise it. 3) Buy an instrument. If you really want to go ahead and buy one, I would still go to a music store to find an instrument if possible. Be wary of too-good-to-be-true internet instruments, there are a lot of knock-off brands that look great but were made with subpar materials and break easily. Most of these instruments cost more to maintain than to purchase. A $100 trumpet sounds like a great deal, but a $100 broken trumpet is just a waste of $100. Yamaha, Gemeinhardt, Blessing, and Bundy are all good brands. Most music stores also have a good selection of used instruments in excellent condition, which lets you get a higher quality instrument at a more affordable price. I still urge you to make sure your kids are committed to their instrument before you make this investment. Welcome new and returning students to the Galloway Band! Check this page periodically for updates on what we're doing in our band classes and for information on instrument rentals and required supplies!
Mrs. Moore In addition to improving their musicianship, music theory knowledge, and improvisational skills, students have been learning exciting music for their concert on April 19. The 5th and 6th grade concert will be at 7:30am and the 7th and 8th graders will be playing at 7pm with the UL band and orchestra. This time, the 7/8 orchestra will be joining the 7/8 band on a couple of their pieces, and the 7/8 and UL bands will be combining for an exciting finale! I look forward to seeing all of you there!
We are also sad that this will be our 8th graders' last concert in ML. Here are all of our fabulous 8th grade band, orchestra, and chorus students at their finest! In addition to learning new notes, musical terms, and repertoire, the Middle Learning bands are all learning about 12-bar blues progressions! Last Wednesday, while Mrs. Moore worked with the wind instruments on breathing, tone production, and learning their new piece, the 5th and 6th grade percussionists and bass instrumentalists worked with Ms. Benkeser on learning the B-flat blues progression. This Wednesday, the rest of the class learned to sing the progression while the students who learned it last week applied it to their instruments and then they combined and started adding chords.
Next term, with the help of Ms. Benkeser, we will be restructuring band on Wednesdays and starting a new and exciting unit exploring music theory, composition, and student-led instrument practice. Not every student will need their instrument every Wednesday, but they should still bring them just in case. Stay tuned for more news on this! The 7/8 band is also doing blues! Every Friday, the class plays the progression in the background while every student takes a turn improvising on top of it. We started with B-flat Blues and are now working on F Blues. It is exciting to hear students' ears getting stronger, as they have started listening to the backgrounds and adjusting the notes they are playing to make them work better with the chords! All of our classes have also started doing ear training and playing back notes and rhythms by ear, becoming stronger musicians! |
AuthorErin Moore, Middle and Upper Learning Band Archives
January 2018
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