Monday 16 September 2013

Okay - So Where are We?



Well it certainly has been a whirl-wind start to the year, but now that we have our first full week of classes under our belt, we can begin to feel settled.

On my end, I have updated the web site.  Specifically the dates page,  course outlines and the band basics links on the right hand side.  If you are not already familiar with their contents, please feel free to have a look.  As well, I was able to fix some of the links that were not functioning properly.

Instruments are all handed out now and all students have an I Recommend method book.

On that note, the school is piloting a new on-line payment system for all fees and the like.  I have not set up the band rental section as of yet and will not do so until October.  Please be patient as we work through the bugs of this new system.  I will make an announcement  in October when we are all set up and for those of your who would still like to pay via cheque, we will also be accepting cheques at that time.

Also if you ordered a band DVD last year and did not pick it up, I will be distributing them during class time this week.

Band Class News:

Symphonic Band (11/12) :

We are presently working through pages 7-12 in our method book.  Once everyone has some  "face" back, we will be starting with a one- on-one audition with me in my office during class time.  I will be selecting one of the exercises from pages 7-12 for each student to play for me.  This "auditon" from the method book is worth 50 marks.  In addition, students will be asked to play a 2 octave chromatic scale for me from memory.  This scale is to be up in sharps and down in flats.  Students must say each note then play it.  The chromatic scale is worth 50 marks and is pass/fail.... you can either do it or you cannot.  Multiple re-tests are allowed.  Auditions will begin Monday Oct. 1st.

Concert Band (10/11):


We are presently working through pages 7-10 in our method book.  Once everyone has some  "face" back, we will be starting with a one- on-one audition with me in my office during class time.  I will be selecting one of the exercises from pages 7-10 for each student to play for me.  This "auditon" from the method book is worth 50 marks.  In addition, students will be asked to play a 2 octave chromatic scale for me from memory.  This scale is to be up in sharps and down in flats.  Students must say each note then play it.  The chromatic scale is worth 50 marks and is pass/fail.... you can either do it or you cannot.  Multiple re-tests are allowed.  Auditions will begin Monday Sept. 30th.

Gr. 9 Concert Band:

We have finished an introduction to Restitution and completed a needs assessment.  These assignments are marked and have been returned to their individual portfolios.  

Their next assignment (due on the 17th) is My Job/ Your Job.   This was covered in class.

On the 17th we will finish with band basics and head into the Web Assignment which is designed to get to know the web site and all of the goodies that are located there.  This will be due on the 19th.

On the 19th we will be wrapping up our introduction with the course outline and self-assessment.

Students will begin playing on the 23rd and are expected to have their instruments in working order ready to go for this day.  They are also supposed to have their method book - I Recommend and a pencil for this class.  Method books are free and can be picked up from me before the 23rd.

After that, we will begin working through pages 7-9 in our method book.  Once everyone has some  "face" back, we will be starting with a one- on-one audition with me in my office during class time.  I will be selecting one of the exercises from pages 7-9 for each student to play for me.  This "auditon" from the method book is worth 50 marks.  In addition, students will be asked to play a 2 octave chromatic scale that does not have to be from memory.  This scale is to be up in sharps and down in flats.  Students must say each note then play it.  The chromatic scale is worth 50 marks and is pass/fail.... you can either do it or you cannot.  Multiple re-tests are allowed.

Junior Jazz:

We are working on our first tune - Phat Cat and getting ready for one on one auditions for part placement.  The recording is available on our listening site.  Auditions will begin Monday Sept. 30th.

Intermediate Jazz:

We are working on our first tunes - Nice n' Easy and Le Grande Funk and getting ready for one on one auditions for part placement.  Various recordings can be found on Youtube, as demonstrated in class.  Auditions will begin Monday Oct. 1st.

Sr. Jazz:

We are preparing for our first performance on the 2nd.  Details were posted on the site on Sept 12th.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask and we are still looking for parent volunteers that can help transport equipment.



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