Concert Night!

Hello 7th Grade Band Students

Tonight's the night!  We've worked so hard this trimester and tonight we finally get to share all the music we've prepared.  You guys will rock!

See you tonight at 6:30pm in Ms. Christensen's Room! 

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

"A live concert to me is exciting because of all the electricity that is generated in the crowd and on stage.  It's my favorite part of the business, live concerts." - Elvis Presley

Check out these videos!

Hey, Band!

Check out these videos of some really great bands playing our concert music.  Be inspired by their great sounds!

Aztec Celebration

Song For Friends

Ayre and Dance

Mystic Legacy

Happy listening!

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.
Plato 

All Band 7 - Due Feb. 14

Hi Band!

Instead of splitting this post into different instruments, I just made one that you all should read.  Please reply to this message to post your practice times and to answer the questions.

Remember, I would like you to be practice 4 days a week, for 15 minutes at a time.

Band, you are doing an EXCELLENT job on your concert music.  However, we can definitely take it to the next level.  Please watch for these things in your music.

Play the RIGHT notes
- Some of us are still having issues reading our key signatures and playing accidentals (notes marked sharp, flat, or natural in the music).  Double check your key signature before you start playing!  Look for sharps, flats, and naturals in the music.  Remember, an accidental carries through the WHOLE measure!

Dynamics
 - Playing different volumes will add SO much to our music.  Playing everything loud is BORING! Add some contrast!

Crescendos and Decrescendos
- Gradually getting louder and gradually getting softer will add contrast!

Articulations

- Articulations refers to how you play a note.  Is it short? Is it smooth? Is it tongued harder than others?  If a composer writes a note with a staccato, he meant for it to be short!  Watch for these things! Here are some common ones. Can you name all of them?  Can you tell me how to play them?

If we start doing these things, we'll REALLY take our playing and our music to the next level.  Thanks, all!

Here are your questions for this week's post.

1) Which piece do you think the band sounds best on?  Why?

2) Which piece do you think the band could spend more time practicing?  Why?

3) What did you do this week to contribute to the ensemble? 

Until next week....

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.
Paul Ryan 

Percussion - Due Jan. 30

Hi, Percussionists!

You are doing a GREAT job working on your parts.  Your rhythm abilities have improved at a very fast rate, but it seems we forget to practice our keyboard instruments like the bells and the xylophone.  As a percussionists, you need to learn ALL the instruments.  Here are some things to work on!

Aztec Celebration
Snare Drum, Bass Drum - In measures 3/4 and 7/8, make sure beat 3 is a quarter note!  
All - Watch at measure 15 for the tempo change and count rests carefully at measure 43.  Again, the tempo will pick up at 51 so watch!

Ayre and Dance
Counting rests is important!  Make sure you come in in all the right spots! 

Mystic Legacy
Great job on all the auxiliary percussion!  You're doing a nice job switching between all the instruments.  Ethan, keep counting those sixteenth notes.  We'll practice at our sectional.  Josiah, keep counting those rests for the timpani. It sounds great!

Essential Elements
P. 6 #22 - Playing Test!  Don't ignore the bells for this one!  It's important to learn them as well!
P. 6 #25 - Glow Worm - This is our next playing test.  Learn the bell parts!

When writing your comment, make sure you include a list of the days and the number of minutes you practiced and the answers to the following questions!

1) Which piece in band are you the best at? Why?

2) Which piece in band could use more practice? Which parts? Why?

3) What did I do to contribute to the ensemble's playing this week?

Thanks, percussionists.  That's it!  We seem to have a hard time focusing in band.  Try your best to keep quiet and keep your attention on the rehearsal.  It will help you AND the ensemble to have your parts very solid.  Your comments are due Wednesday, Jan. 30. 

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us; the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.  ~Edward Elgar

Trombone, Baritone, Bass Clarinet - Due Jan. 30

Hi low brass and low winds,

You are the foundation of our band.  Everything we play builds off of your sound, so we NEED you playing as much as you can!  Here are some things to work on.

Aztec Celebration
There are lots of accidentals (extra sharps and flats) in this piece.  Learn them and their fingerings!  The high notes two before 51 and two before 71 are coming along, just play them out confidently!

Ayre and Dance
At measure 19, you have the melody and these notes are easy.  Play them out.  Also, you have the melody at measure 57.  This one needs some work.  Take some time to practice!

Mystic Legacy
Keep working on those notes at the beginning.  Count your rests carefully, especially at measure 34.  

Essential Elements
P. 6 #22 - Playing Test.  These are some high notes, but use your air, pull that lower lip back and you'll get them just fine.  It's a lot of slide movement, Sandra, but if you're practicing, you can learn them.
P. 6 #25 - Glow Worm - Learn those accidentals and those new notes!

When writing your comment, make sure you include a list of the days and the number of minutes you practiced and the answers to the following questions!

1) Which piece in band are you the best at? Why?

2) Which piece in band could use more practice? Which parts? Why?

3) What did I do to contribute to the ensemble's playing this week?

Thanks, trombones and baritones.  That's it!  Practice is really going to help you contribute to the ensemble's success. Your comments are due Wednesday, Jan. 30. 

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.”
― Sarah Dessen, Just Listen

Trumpet - Due Jan. 30

Hi, Trumpets!

Some of us are making some really great progress and I appreciate your effort.  However, we still need to get our instruments home and practice!  There are MANY parts in our music that feature YOU and we want you sounding the best you possibly can!

Here are some things to work on.

Aztec Celebration
- Measure 7 and 8 - COUNT! You need to play the quarter note in measure 8 right on beat 3.  You are the ONLY ones with that rhythm there.
- Measure 35 - You start off good here, but lost it about 3 measures in.  Keep playing and keep counting!
- Measure 43 - 1st trumpets, you have the melody here.  Work on the eighth notes in measure 44.  They aren't as hard as you're making them!  The high D's are first valve notes and moving your air will REALLY help you get them.
- Measure 71 - Work out your notes here.  B-flats and A-flats!

Ayre and Dance
- Measure 19  - You always start nice, but seem to stop playing several measures in.  Learn ALL the notes, not just some of them.  
- Measure 33 - Here, you have the melody all by yourself.  If you stop playing a few measures in,  we won't have anymore melody! We're depending on YOU! 
- Measure 47 - Count your rests so you do not mess this entrance! 
- Measure 57 - Half notes get 2 counts each! Count carefully!

Mystic Legacy
- Beginning - Learn these notes!  
- Measure 25 - Here, you have something different than ANYONE else!  Learn these notes and play out!

Essential Elements
P. 6 #22 - Playing Test! Get these notes down!  Even though they go high, you can push your air and reach for them!  Practice is REALLY going to help you do well on these tests.
P. 6 #25 - Glow Worm - This is our next playing test.  Work out those notes

When writing your comment, make sure you include a list of the days and the number of minutes you practiced and the answers to the following questions!

1) Which piece in band are you the best at? Why?

2) Which piece in band could use more practice? Which parts? Why?

3) What did I do to contribute to the ensemble's playing this week?

Thanks, trumpets! That's it!  Practice is REALLY going to make a huge difference in your playing.  Get those instruments home and play them!  Your comment is due Jan. 30  Your comments are due Wednesday, Jan. 30. 

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

“Music is the universal language of mankind.”
― Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Saxes - Due Jan. 30

Hi, Saxes!

You're getting better everyday!  I know some practicing would really help out the ensemble.  Your parts are very unique and you play things that are different than ANY of the other instruments.  Play out and play confidently!

Aztec Celebration
Tenor Sax - Play out at measure 43.  Those descending notes are really important!
Alto Sax - Check those notes 2 measures before 51 and 2 measures before 71.

Ayre and Dance
Tenor Sax - At the beginning, you are the ONLY one with whole notes!  Play them strong!  Also, you have the melody at measure 19 and at measure 57.
Alto Sax - You have the melody at measure 3.  Blend with the clarinets.

Mystic Legacy
Tenor Sax - Nice job on those entrances at measures 44 and measure 49! Keep playing them out!
Alto Sax - Work out those rhythms and notes at the beginning, especially measure 4.  Work on those eighth notes four from the end.

Essential Elements
P. 6 #22 - Playing Test. This is a tough one! Check that key signature and all those slurs!
P. 6 #25 - Glow Worm - This is our next playing test.  Work out those accidentals (flats and sharps) and practice without the slurs until you get the notes. 

When writing your comment, make sure you include a list of the days and the number of minutes you practiced and the answers to the following questions!

1) Which piece in band are you the best at? Why?

2) Which piece in band could use more practice? Which parts? Why?

3) What did I do to contribute to the ensemble's playing this week?

Thanks, saxes and horns.  You're doing a nice job and making some great progress.  Practice at home will make you progress even FASTER! :)   Your comments are due Wednesday, Jan. 30. 

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

“Music . . . can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.”
― Leonard Bernstein