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Volume 37, No. 1
In this issue:
In this issue:
5th grade: new ways of getting started
Updates from the middle school bands
AHS marching band recap, jazz preview, new facilities
Ames 5th Grade Bands
Ames 5th Grade Bands
Band Demonstrations, Outdoor Tryouts and Choosing Instruments!
Band Demonstrations, Outdoor Tryouts and Choosing Instruments!
Mrs. Todey and Mrs. Hauber traveled to all five elementary schools during the first few weeks of school to conduct instrument demonstrations for all Ames 5th grade students. After the demonstrations, students filled out a Google form to choose their two favorite instruments. Over the course of the next week, students met Mrs. Hauber and Mrs. Todey outside to try their two favorite instruments. We had beautiful weather the entire week! It was great to see the excitement as students supported each other when trying the instruments. Students were able to see which instrument they could get the best sound on before choosing which instrument they wanted to play. This method has shown to be highly effective in helping students to get a good sound from their instrument right away in lessons, leading to early success and a positive start to learning an instrument. Small group band lessons started in late September and large group band rehearsals started in mid-October. We look forward to a wonderful year of making music!
Tips to Help Your 5th Grade Band Student Succeed
The success of the band is directly related to the individual progress that is made by each student in the group. We would like to thank the students, parents, classroom teachers, and the administration for their continuous support of the instrumental music program. We would like to offer some helpful suggestions for you to continue to provide support to your student.
Your student's success on their chosen instrument is of great importance to them, to you the parent/guardian, and to us the instructors. At each lesson, your student writes what material to practice on their assignment journal (found in the band binder). We realize that many outside factors cause home practice to become a struggle at times. To make practice as productive and positive as possible, we would like to give you some helpful suggestions based on our experiences, first as students and then as teachers. We hope that the following suggestions will help you to help your student at home.
Provide your child with as good an instrument as possible. Help find a safe place to keep the instrument in your home.
Provide your child with a music stand. It will promote good posture and proper breath control.
Set aside a consistent, regular time and place in your home for practice. We recommend setting a goal of 15-20 minutes of practice daily (100-120 minutes of practice each week). Arrange the practice schedule free from interruptions by television, outdoor play, and family members.
Try using SmartMusic as a practice tool. Students can practice their lesson assignment in SmartMusic at a tempo that is comfortable and SmartMusic can aid them in assessing their progress. Your student can play along with SmartMusic alone, with another instrument playing their part or with an entire back up band accompanying the song. SmartMusic also allows students to play along with a professional recording when they practice their full band music. Watch your inbox for more information on SmartMusic opportunities.
Show an interest in your child's practice and study. Be generous in your praise and encouragement. Occasionally reward them for consistent practice. Encourage them to perform a five-minute recital for you! (Every time you listen, they will be better than the last time!)
Help your student to remember their instrument and music on lesson days. Emphasize punctuality and faithful attendance at lessons, rehearsals, and concerts. If there is a late start due to inclement weather, we WILL have lessons during the day, so students will need their instrument and music.
Expose your child to a broad variety of music and concerts. There are many classical, jazz, dance, and musical programs at C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Our Ames5thband.org website has some great performances to check out too! Explore the list of professional musicians listed in the front of your student’s band binder.
Attend music concerts at Ames Middle School, Ames High School, and Iowa State University. The public school and college musicians at our schools in Ames can be great role models. ISU students perform several recitals and concerts at the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall throughout the year. Ames Town & Gown concerts are free to all students K-12 (and free to university students with ID) - check out the concert schedule at www.amestownandgown.org.
Through our combined efforts, we feel that your student has an excellent chance to succeed on their instrument and enjoy many rewarding musical and social experiences!
Elementary Schools Purchase New Music Stands!
Elementary Schools Purchase New Music Stands!
For over thirty years, Ames elementary band and orchestra students have utilized the same folding wire stands during their large group rehearsals. Students assembled their stands before daily rehearsals and disassembled them after rehearsals. These music stands were stored in buckets on rolling carts, often referred to as the bucket system. Despite how careful students were during rehearsals, one stand would inevitably get knocked over, creating a domino effect along the entire row of music stands. We are ecstatic to report that we are finally able to retire all of these wire music stands. Over the summer we ordered new plastic Wenger stands, along with wheeled carts to store the stands. They arrived in late September, just in time for our first band and orchestra rehearsals! These new stands add a new level of professionalism to our rehearsal atmosphere. We look forward to using them for many years to come!
Tascha Hauber (Fellows, Meeker, Mitchell)
tascha.hauber@ames.k12.ia.us
Cheryl Todey (Edwards, Sawyer)
cheryl.todey@ames.k12.ia.us
November Band Checklist
November Band Checklist
With everyone in the routines of the school year, November is a great time to take stock of a few band-related items.
Does your student’s instrument have a name tag? A basic luggage tag works great. Also, music stores will often hand out free name tags.
Do you know your student’s instrument serial number? Should the need arise, this is the best way to positively identify your property.
Does your clarinet or sax player have enough reeds? Do they need an upgrade in quality or strength?
Does your student need a mouthpiece upgrade? If your student is 7th grade or above and still playing on a beginner mouthpiece, it’s probably time to upgrade, especially for clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Check out the AMS mouthpiece upgrade page.
Looking to go deeper? There’s nothing like taking private lessons to move to the next musical level. Your student’s instructor can recommend an excellent private teacher for your student.
Is your child's progress being limited by the quality of instrument they are currently using? Could an instrument upgrade spark a renewed interest in music? After 4-5 years in band, an instrument upgrade is definitely something to consider. Benefits include improved tone quality, additional keys and range of notes, and ease of playing.
Ames Middle School Bands
Ames Middle School Bands
SCIBA Red band honorees: Michaela West and Gabe Thompson
SCIBA White band honorees: Anneka Singh and Carolyn Worrel
SCIBA Blue band honorees: Joelle Bennett, Sailesh Srinath, Miki Yakobson, Sunney Que, Bradie Bhave, Adam Baker, Clara Fulton, Hezekiah Johnson, Natalie Patterson.
7th and 8th grade students selected for SCIBA
7th and 8th grade students selected for SCIBA
On Tuesday, November 1st, thirteen Ames Middle School band students participated in the South Central Iowa Bandmasters (SCIBA) Middle School Honor Band Festival at Ankeny Centennial High School. This annual event involves students from more than seventy school districts. Students rehearsed with guest conductors during the day, then performed in evening concerts.
Seventh graders are recommended by individual instructors and then selected by a SCIBA committee. To balance instrumentation within each band, a limited number of students from each school are chosen. Representing AMS were Carolyn Worrel (clarinet), Gabe Thompson (trombone) and Michaela West (percussion).
Eighth grade students were selected through live auditions. Students auditioned in Waukee on Tuesday, October 4th. Those selected from AMS include Natalie Patterson and Anneka Singh (flute); Sailesh Srinath (oboe); Bradie Bhave, Clara Fulton, and Sunny Que (clarinet), Miki Yakobson (alto sax); Hezekiah Johnson (trombone); Adam Baker (tuba); and Joelle Bennett (percussion).
Additionally, Sunney Que, Sailesh Srinath, and Hezekiah Johnson were selected as first chair on their instruments, earning selection to the All-Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band, which will perform in May.
Congratulations to all AMS students selected for the SCIBA Honor Band Festival!
Middles and Music Honor Band
AMS 7th and 8th grade students have a second honor band opportunity. On Saturday, January 28, South Hamilton (Jewell) will host the Middles & Music Honor Band. If selected, interested students will be notified and receive music in December. The band will rehearse during the day with a guest conductor, then present a concert that evening.
AMS Jazz Bands back in action!
AMS Jazz Bands back in action!
The 7th and 8th grade jazz bands are both up and running. Students in jazz band have the opportunity to play swing, latin, rock and other styles of jazz music. One unique feature of jazz music is the chance to improvise or create a melody based upon a scale or chord progression. We try to help students build a solo vocabulary by introducing rhythms and notes that would fit within the jazz style. Sometimes this looks like call-and-response where the director plays a measure and the band repeats it back. Over time, our hope is that students will incorporate the ideas we practice for improvisation into their solos.
Another skill we are working on is interpreting rhythm section parts appropriately, based on the style of the song. For example, in some drum or piano parts, the notation is clear and makes sense. Other times, the rhythms, chords or drum fills need to be changed to better fit the jazz arrangement.
Our first performance is a clinic on Thursday, January 12th at Ames Middle School. We will bring in a clinician to listen to the band and work with them to improve their songs. In addition, students will split into sectionals and work with teachers that specialize on their particular instrument. This is a great opportunity for students to learn from other talented musicians.
Successful AMS Bands Fundraiser
Successful AMS Bands Fundraiser
Thank you to all who came out to enjoy pizza and support the middle school band program on October 20. We appreciate everyone's patience as we kept the Blaze Pizza crew really busy for three hours! It was great to see so many band families attend. Thank you for your support!
Upcoming AMS Band Performances
Tuesday, November 8, 7pm - 7th and 8th grade Concert Bands
Thursday, December 15 - 6th grade Band, Orchestra, and Choir
For more info, including the complete AMS Band performance calendar, visit AMSbands.org
Ames High School Bands
Ames High School Bands
Little Cyclone Marching Band Brings The Energy All Season Long!
Little Cyclone Marching Band Brings The Energy All Season Long!
The Little Cyclone Marching Band had a successful season, performing at five home football games. The 9th graders performed alongside the 10th-12th band at two home performances. The marching band played music from Chicago, Bruno Mars, and The Weeknd. The Marching Band finished off its season with the Marching Band Spectacular on October 24, which was held in the new Performing Arts Center.
Special thanks to Destri Andorf, Scott Eichhorn, and Scott Walker who took amazing photos and videos throughout the season. You can see some of the awesome media on Facebook at Ames High Band Boosters.
Jazz Bands Start Off On A Great Note!
Jazz Bands Start Off On A Great Note!
Both Jazz 1 and Jazz 2 are up and running. Jazz 1 has been having rehearsals since the beginning of September, while Jazz 2 has just started. Both bands will have multiple performance opportunities throughout the year including competitions and home concerts. Jazz 1 will also be having a performance at Noce in Des Moines in March!
Des Moines Musician & Retired Teacher to Give Expertise to Both Jazz Bands
On November 12, both Jazz Bands will have the opportunity to work with retired Iowa educator and professional musician Dave Kobberdahl. Dave Kobberdahl received his Bachelor of Music degree from Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, in 1988 and his master’s degree at Vandercook College of Music in Chicago. He is the retired jazz ensemble director and instrumental music instructor for West Des Moines Community School District and plays trumpet professionally for several groups including Des Moines Big Band, the Latin jazz group Ashanti, and the dance band Gruve.
Jazz Performance Dates (dates with asterisk are for both Jazz I & Jazz II)
*Nov. 12 - Jazz Clinic w/ Dave Kobberdahl - AHS - 9:00 AM - Noon
*Dec. 5 - Jazz Band Concert - Performing Arts Center - 6:00 PM
*Dec 10 - SCIBA Jazz Festival - Waukee High School - All Day
Jan. 13 - Triton Jazz Festival - Ft. Dodge - Daytime
*Feb. 11 - Southeast Polk Jazz Festival - SEP High School - All Day
*Feb. 16 - Jazz Encounters Concert - Performing Arts Center - 7:30 PM
Mar. 8 - Jazz 1 Performance at Noce - Des Moines - Nighttime
AHS Musicians Earn Selection to Iowa All-State Ensembles
AHS Musicians Earn Selection to Iowa All-State Ensembles
On October 22, twenty-four band students auditioned at Indianola High School for the Iowa All-State Band, part of the Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA) Conference held in Ames from November 17-19. All students worked hard and spent many hours preparing for the audition. The following students were accepted into the 2022 Iowa All-State Band or Orchestra. Congratulations!
Carissa Andorf – Clarinet III
Evan Buller - Cornet II
Brianna Byrne - Clarinet II
Bowen Fleming - Alto Saxophone I
Sophia Kyveryga - Bassoon
Josie Mowrer - Clarinet I
Nathan Poag - Alto Saxophone II
Matthias Roettger - Clarinet III
Karina Scott - Clarinet II
Hannah Song - Clarinet II
Anleah Walker - Horn (orchestra)
Mick Wu - Bass Clarinet
Next Level Facilities Bring a Breath of Fresh Air to AHS!
Next Level Facilities Bring a Breath of Fresh Air to AHS!
The new state-of-the-art high school at Ames High also includes amazing new music facilities as well as a world-class auditorium. Directors started packing up all of the equipment and music from the old school starting in April and moved everything over in July. With the help of a few parent volunteers, moving was completed in one day. However, unpacking is still ongoing.
The new fine arts facilities include two state-of-the-art band rooms with outstanding acoustical treatment as well as a built-in recording system; a medium ensemble room with space for jazz band and other AHS music ensembles; and a small chamber ensemble room that can be used for rehearsals of smaller groups.
The world-class auditorium is one of a kind. With ts nearly 1000 seats, it is able to hold a large audience for any show or performance while still providing a compact and intimate setting. Toward the end of the year, a brand new sound shell and acoustical shell will be installed and complete the look of this room.
For more on the Ames High Bands, including the full performance calendar, go to AmesBands.org.
Ames Band Staff
Ames Band Staff
Andrew Buttermore, Ames High School
Nick Gardner, Ames High School
Tascha Hauber, Ames Elementary
Paul Tallman, Ames Middle School, 7th grade
Peter Thompson, Ames Middle School, 8th grade
Conner Tipping, Ames Middle School and Ames High School
Cheryl Todey, Ames Elementary
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