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

Clarinets - Due Jan. 30

Hi, Clarinets!

Thank you for all your work on the high notes, clarinets!  Your instrument has a different challenge than all of the others.  Going over the break is a tough concept, but you've all done some great work on it.  Keep it up!

Here are some things to work on.

Aztec Celebration
Play out strong at the beginning of the piece and at measure 55.  2nd clarinets, play out even stronger!  1st clarinets, nice job going over the break! Keep working on doing it without stopping.

Ayre and Dance
Try for four measure phrases, so don't take a breath after measure 4. Right before measure 33, bite down and get those notes in tune!  Play out at measure 57!

Mystic Legacy
When you play it by yourself, you sound GREAT!  Make sure to play that confidently and that loudly when the entire ensemble plays!  Keep the eighth notes steady in the measure before 58.  

Essential Elements
P. 6 #22 - Playing test! Watch those F#s!
P. 6 #25 - Glow Worm.  This is our next playing test.  Work on those accidentals!


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, clarinets.  That's it!  Keep working on those high notes and playing out confidently!  Your comments are due Wednesday, Jan. 30.   


Musically yours,


Ms. Gates

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music.”― Albert Einstein

Flutes - Due Jan. 30

Hi, Flutes!

You all play VERY well and I appreciate all your work.  I can always count on your section to Be Ready and Responsible!  Thanks you for being shining pillars of Knight Pride!  

That being said, there are ALWAYS things to work on.  Here are some practice notes!

Aztec Celebration
You've got the notes, now let's polish!  Accents should have a strong start to the notes and should be separated.  Keep reviewing the notes 2 measures before 51 and 2 measures before 71.  

Ayre and Dance
Work on going a full four measures before taking a breath!  It'll be tough a first, but the more you practice, the easier it gets.  

Mystic Legacy
Keep those eighth notes steady throughout!  Especially at the measures before 58 and four measures from the end.

Essential Elements
P. 6 #22 - Playing Test! Get those notes!
P. 6 #25 - Glow Worm - Watch the accidentals. They carry through the whole measure!

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, flutes!  That's it!  Keep up all your great work.  You all are wonderful leaders in our ensemble.  Your comments are due Wednesday, Jan. 30. 

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent” 
― Victor Hugo

User and Log-in Instructions

Hello again, NVJH Band 7 students!

In this post, I will provide information about how to use this blog and what is expected of you, the student.

I noticed over the last trimester that collecting practice records was.....troublesome.  So, with this blog, there will be no more sheets of paper to hand in! Instead, you'll write a comment on a post and be graded from there!

Here's how it will work.

This blog's main intention is to help guide student practice through practice logs.  Each week, I will provide instrument-specific posts with practice guides, questions, and other information.  Your job is to reply with a comment to that post answering all the questions and providing information about when you practiced throughout the week.  

Here's a break down of the process

1) Open the NVJH Band 8 7 Blog at http://NVJHBand7.blogspot.com

2) Find the post with your instrument on the right hand side.  Click it.

3) Write your comment. 

4) Where it says "Comment as:" you will select Name/URL from the menu

5) Type your FIRST NAME and your LAST NAME INITIAL.  For example, if the student was named John Smith, he would type John S.

6) Hit publish!

There you go!  Easy instructions on how to post.  Please remember that the ENTIRE world has access to this blog!  Please do your best to show the world what North View Junior High students are capable of.  Use proper spelling, grammar, and do not abbreviate words.  Make North View (and me!) proud to share your accomplishments with the world!

Let's see how this works!  The posts are up for this week's practicing, so happy playing!

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

"Music doesn't lie. If there is something to be changed in this world, then it can only happen through music." Jimi Hendrix 

Welcome!

Hello NVJH Band students to your very own Band 7 Blog!  Here, I will post your practice assignments as well as other interesting things you may enjoy and want to comment on.  If you have any questions about blogging and/or how to post comments, let me know and I'll help!

Thanks for reading and more posts to come!

Musically yours,

Ms. Gates

“The only truth is music.”
― Jack Kerouac