Overview
of the Program
The
elementary band program is a voluntary group made up of students in fifth grade
who want to explore playing a musical instrument. Some students began this summer after 4th grade with a
beginning summer lesson program. The lessons
were optional, but at least 75% of band students participate each year. During the school year, each student has a
25-minute small group lesson each week with rotating lesson times and one large
group rehearsal on a specified day. The program runs throughout the year and
the band will perform one evening concert in the spring. The elementary band
program is only the beginning of a positive musical experience that can take
them through their final year of high school and beyond. Participation through the high school years
is greatly encouraged.
Each student will have a small group lesson one day per
week with others who play the same instrument.
In the lesson, the students perform music that was assigned for home
practice and new materials for the next week are introduced. Continued emphasis is placed on proper
posture, breathing, and technical skills throughout the lesson. Students will also spend time setting their
goal for the week. It is an
expectation that students will be prepared to the best of their ability to
perform the lesson material assigned.
Students will receive a 25-minute lesson per week at
school. The lessons days will always be
the same day of the week, but the lesson times rotate so the students won’t
miss the same class every week.
Students will be instructed how to figure out what time they have
lessons each week. Lesson times and
calendars are posted in their homerooms, and students should report to the band
room at the scheduled time.
Beginning in late
September or early October, weekly band rehearsals will be held at school on
Fridays from 2:00 to 3:00. Many
important musical concepts can only be learned through large group performance
such as balance, blend, and intonation.
Therefore, band rehearsal attendance is required. Because every student is expected to be a contributing
member of the band, a student who is not making adequate progress and/or is not
practicing on a regular basis may be asked to sit out of rehearsals until
improvements are made.
Students perform in one concert in the early spring and
are excited to demonstrate what they have learned. The concert showcases full band selections and possibly small
ensemble performances.
Concert
date:
March 13, 2005 at 2:00pm—Band Jubilee at Farmington High
School (5th, 7th, 9th, High School Bands)
April 21, 2005 at 7:00pm—Spring Concert at North Trail
Elementary
Concert
dress:
Girls—dress clothes, preferably a dress or skirt
Boys—nice pants and dress shirt
NO JEANS, T-SHIRTS, OR TENNIS SHOES
Band Jubilee “uniform” is white top and black pants/skirt.
Practicing is a crucial component of participation in
band. Without effective practice time,
achievement is greatly hindered. The
amount of time needed to accomplish weekly assignments varies between students;
however, the recommended time is 30 minutes for 5 days in the week. This year, emphasis will be placed on
setting goals, including practice time, with the desired outcome being more
efficient and effective practice time.
Each child will have a practice chart taped to the inside
cover of his or her lesson book. This
chart is for parents and teacher to keep track of the amount of time spent
practicing each week. Before your child
comes to his or her lesson, the chart needs to be filled in with the time
and parent signature.
(Tips
for successful practicing for students and parents!)
¨
Practice for the same
length of time as your band lesson in school.
If your lesson is 25 minutes, play your instrument for that amount of
time every day. Try to remember what
you did in your lesson and repeat it at home.
¨
Set up a routine - when this becomes a habit, it is easier
to maintain. Practice at a consistent
time each day.
¨
Practicing each day is better than more time on fewer
days.
¨
Remember to fill out your practice record!
How to practice:
¨
Be proud of your accomplishments. Set a goal for each time you play and go for
it!!
¨
If something is difficult, break it down into smaller
parts and spend time working on one or two measures at a time. Once you have
each small part perfect, put the parts together.
¨
Practice slowly to begin with and then speed up to tempo
once you are comfortable with it.
¨
You will know that you are ready for your lesson if you
can easily perform your music correctly.
Making practice even more fun!:
¨
Find someone with whom to play duets.
¨
End a practice session by playing your favorite song for
fun.
¨
Use the CD or tape accompaniment that goes with the lesson
book.
¨
Find other books with melodies you recognize to play for
fun. There are many selections at the
local music stores.
Parents:
¨
Avoid saying the word practice. Try “Have you played your music today?” or “Have you reviewed
your lesson material today?”
¨
Provide an environment that is well-lit and away from
distractions.
¨
Tape recording or videotaping helps them hear their
musical progress.
¨
ENCOURAGEMENT!
(especially if they don’t feel like practicing) “Can you play that song
for me? I would love to hear it!” “I recognize that song, what is the name?”
¨
Respect your child’s efforts. It is true that sometimes when one reaches an extreme point of
frustration, practice is not good.
Allow them to take a break and return to it later. Give them some independence in deciding when
they think they are prepared for their lesson.
¨
Allow them to make their own mistakes. Mistakes will be corrected in lessons. Sometimes it can put undue pressure on a
child if their efforts are being constantly “edited”.
¨
PRAISE YOUR CHILD’S EFFORT SINCERELY. It is no secret that the first sounds
beginning students make are not always pleasant to the ears. The music will happen. They just want to know you are supporting
them all the way.
30-Minute
Practice Routine
Section Minutes Helpful
hints
Pre-Practice |
0 |
Quiet room, chair,
stand, pencil |
Warm-up |
4 |
Play several exercises
from warm-up sheet |
Review recently learned
material |
5-10 |
Play songs you already
know to master the musical concepts and help review for new learning new
songs |
Learn new material |
10-15 |
Focus on learning newly
assigned songs or skills |
Play something fun |
5 |
Have fun playing your
favorite songs |
Postpractice |
1 |
Celebrate your success
and write down the practice time on your chart |
|
Total time: 30 minutes |
|
Occasionally during the school year, a student needs to purchase a band related item. Reeds for clarinet and saxophone will be kept on hand at school for immediate purchase. Any other items like cork grease, valve oil, tuning slide grease, etc, can be ordered on an as needed basis. Students will need to pay for the item before receiving it. For more expensive items such as books or music stands, students will be given a receipt to bring home.
Reed prices: clarinet--$1.50, alto sax--$2.00, and tenor sax--$2.25.
More information can be found at:
http://www.farmington.k12.mn.us/nte/class/class.html
(scroll down to BAND link is near bottom of page)
-OR-
http://www.oocities.org/mrschristenson/index.html (both addresses link to same location)