Beginning Band performed their Spring Concert on April 3rd at the Athenaeum theater.  We opened the concert with four songs that showcased the five notes that we've learned over the last trimester, as well as our new music reading skills. We played a Scottish folk song called Aiken Drum, which featured our brass section. Next we played Can Mali Can, a Malaysian folk song that featured our drum section playing tambourines. We played Ode to Joy by Ludwig van Beethoven, which featured our woodwind section, and then closed our performance with American folk song Go Tell Aunt Rhody. Beginning Band students were proud to show off how much they have grown as musicians since the first concert!

After the spring concert we were excited to start preparing for the all school arts event, Arts Together, held on May 22nd. Beginning Band participated in this event by creating an album. We worked on several five and six note songs from our Beginning Band book as a group, then students chose their favorite one to prepare for the album. They practiced at home and reflected on their performance, then recorded their polished version of the song to share in the album. The album was a perfect addition to Arts Together and students were proud to share their completed album with their friends and family!

REFLECT: What accomplishment are you most proud of from your first year of band?

I am proud to say that I know how to play some percussion!

I was able to learn how to play the saxophone with 6 notes

I'm proud that I learned how to read the notes.

I accomplished new skills such as learning to note read and so much more.

I am proud of mastering all six notes.

Being able to sight read. I got better at it.

The album.

Learning so much in so little time.

ENGAGE & PERSIST: What is something that was difficult for you to master in band this year, and how did you work through it?

Playing the 5th note. To work through it I practiced.

When I had to change notes on an 8th note it was a little challenging. I kept practicing and I did the arm motions.

Switching from notes that aren't next to each other.

Understanding the staff, and what helped me was going over it at home.

At the start it was hard to change notes, so I played slower.

ENVISION: What are you most looking forward to about band next year?

I am excited to learn more complex and long songs.

I want to write music.

Exploring and mastering harder songs.

Learning new notes.