This is the first of weekly posts I will be displaying on our band blog to help inform band students and their families on band related events, practice records, music theory assignments, co-curricular ensemble schedules, etc., etc.
For the first full week of school. We will be gradually be getting into our routine, including keeping track of our practicing and acquiring needed books and supplies for the year. We are asking that all students to have all of their required books and 3-ring binder no later than this Friday, 9/3. The required books are the following:
6th Graders: Standards of Excellence Bk 1 & 2 and Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Bk 1. The Standards of Excellence Bk 1 will be for review and we plan to quickly get into the Bk 2 within the next week or two.
7th/8th Graders: Standards of Excellence Bk 3 and Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Bk 2.
8th graders should be all set with their books if they still have them from last school year.
All Band Students are required to have a 1 inch, 3-ring binder that will be used as our everyday folders to keep track of sheet music, handouts and supplementary exercises. Students will also keep their PRACTICE RECORD JOURNAL in their 3-ring binders as well. We also recommend that students get plastic sheet protectors which will help keep papers from ripping out of the binders. A package of 25 should be plenty to get through the school year. Once every trimester we will be doing Portfolio Assessments which will be checking to see that our students are keeping their current music, music theory and handouts in order as well as having their required books.
BAND STUDENTS ALWAYS BRING PENCILS TO CLASS.
Please check out the previous post for all required supplies and equipment students need in order to participate in band.
HOMEWORK:
Practice Record Journals (Due every Monday):
Students will be receiving their Practice Record Journals on Tuesday and will start keeping track of their practice minutes as well as what materials they are practicing throughout the week. The Practice Record Journal is a new concept to band students since not only will they be recording their practice minutes, they will also write down what they are practicing. This will help students set practice goals and routines as well as help parents and teacher know how they are practicing.
On the outside of the Practice Record Journal cover is the standard practice chart where students will be keeping track of their practice minutes for each week. Besides keeping track of minutes there are two other pages that will be filled out as part of the practice record requirement.
The first page is what we call a detailed practice journal. Here they will write down what what they are practicing. The are boxes that cover the following: Scales, Long Tone or Rudiments for percussion, technique exercises & etudes, Band Music and lastly for any jazz related or supplementary solo work practice. In each box they will simply write down what scales, technical exercises (usually out of their Standards of Excellence Book), band and/or jazz band repertoire they may practice for each section. We will practice in class for the next few weeks how to fill this out!
The second page is the Practice Assignments & Goals. Here students will write down what they are assigned to practice for band class and jazz band. Students also have space to reflect on what they have learned or can now do, what they need more practice on, what they may need more help with and any questions they may have for their teacher. The bottom of this page as well as the outside cover (Practice Record Chart) will need to be signed by a parent/guardian. I will use some of this feedback to make any teaching adjustments and see what areas may need more review. The majority of this page should be filled out every week in class!
Each week students will receive two practice grades. One grade will be for the practice chart on the outside cover. The other grade will be for the journal entries for each week.
Again, the purpose to using the Practice Record Journal is to help students and their families see what and how they are practicing. I will be sending out examples via email to help students and families understand what we are doing in class.
Since we are getting back into the groove so to speak. This week's practice minute goals will be the following:
Week 2
6th Graders: 90+ minutes = A, 60-89 minutes = B, 30-59 minutes = C, 29- minutes = D.
7th/8th Graders: 120+ minutes = A, 90-119 minutes = B, 60-89 minutes = C, 30-59 minutes = D, 29- minutes U.
Because of the Labor Day holiday, Practice Record Journals will be collected on Tuesday 9/6.
Music Theory:
We will start music theory next week to allow students and their families to get their needed music theory books. Since we have band five days a week, we do take the time to learn and study music theory to help develop music reading skills as well as break down the theory behind rhythm, scale construction and harmonic theory used in music theory composition and performance. The main goal for every student is to become fluent in reading music and for our more advance students to take this knowledge in order to create their own music. Music theory lessons are typically on every Wednesday and any homework assignments are due by that Friday. These assignments are started in class and many students either complete it our get most of it done in class.
After each Unit of the Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Book. Students will take a Unit Test to assess their knowledge on those music theory concepts covered. These tests are typically twice a trimester.
BAND HANDBOOKS:
Later this week, all band students will receive our band handbook which will help both students and families understand the overview of the band program. Students and their families are to use the handbook for information regarding grading policies, concert attire, class descriptions, co-curricular opportunities, band event calendar and help looking for enrichment opportunities such as studying privately, etc. In the back of the handbook are copies of forms we will use throughout the year. Students and their families should become familiar with these forms and can copy from these sheets if needed. We may add a couple more scoring guides soon and will forward them out to parents via pdfs to download and use.
Along with the handbooks students will receive a student contract/video usage agreement form that will be completed by both the student and their parent/guardian. The video usage agreement allows us to show students video clips of music related topics including recorded performances of school and professional music ensembles for critique and comparison.
This contract/video usage agreement form will be due no later than Friday, Sep. 9th.
JAZZ PROGRAM
Jazz Ensemble (7th/8th Graders): The jazz ensemble meets on Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. Students are selected into this group by audition and audition material was available at the end of last school year and will be available for students to pick up this week if they need another copy. The instrumentation of the jazz ensemble is similar to a traditional big band (saxophones, trumpets, trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drum set, and we have added vibraphone which can be used in the traditional big band setting. Flute and clarinet players have been encouraged to pick up saxophone as a secondary instrument. They may however audition in jazz ensemble on their primary instrument but will be competing for a spot in the saxophone section.
Auditions and workshops for the jazz ensemble are the following:
Mon. 9/12: Saxophone, trombone, trumpet workshop, 8:00-8:50 a.m.
Rhythm Section workshop(piano, guitar, bass, drumset, vibes) 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Tues. 9/13: Rhythm Section workshop 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.
Saxophone, trombone, trumpet workshop, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Thurs. 9/15: Saxophone, trombone, trumpet auditions 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Students will
need to sign up for a specific audition time.
Fri. 9/16: Rhythm section auditions 8:00 and if needed 3:30 p.m. Students will need to sign up
for a specific audition time.
All students auditioning need to have a signed permission slip for the jazz program before auditioning. NO EXCEPTIONS. Audition results will be posted on Monday, Sep. 19th and the first rehearsal starts Tuesday, Sep. 20th.
Jazz Lab Band: Is primarily our 6th grade jazz band and is open to all band students. Students that play oboe and french horn are encouraged to join jazz lab band on another instrument (i.e. piano, bass, guitar, etc.) Since this is an introductory level jazz band, students do not audition in order to participate. The jazz lab band rehearses every Friday morning from 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. and will start on Sep. 23rd.
All students that want to participate will need to have a signed permission slip in order to participate.
All jazz students, 6th-8th grade, will need to have the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble book which will be used all three years of their jazz experience at brooks.
The jazz participation flyers are available for pick up in the band room (D110) and I will also email this form out to parents to download. Please contact Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org if you have any questions regarding the jazz program.
OPRF MARCHING HUSKIES 8TH GRADE NIGHT, Friday, Sep. 9th:
All 8th grade band students are invited in this event to learn more about the OPRF Marching Band as well as the OPRF Band Program as a whole. Participants will have the opportunity to be a part of the Marching Huskies for the night by being a part of their pre-game show (yes on the football field), play in the stands during the first half, and watch the Marching Huskies perform their halftime show. Students will walk from Brooks over to OPRF with Mr. Barnard right after school or can meet the group at the marching band practice field, located at Lake and Scoville by 4:30 p.m. Pizza dinner will be provided and students will have a great opportunity to socialize and learn a little bit about the band program and high school from the high school students.
After the half-time show, students will be released and will need to have tranportation arrangements made with their parents (approx. 9 p.m.). Permission slips are available in the band room (D110) and will need to be turned into Mr. Barnard no later than Sep. 6th.
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