Embedded Files
4TH GRADE BAND CLASS SCHEDULES:
4TH GRADE BAND CLASS SCHEDULES:
Pine Hill 4th grade - 4T and 4M on WEDNESDAYS; 4A and 4K on THURSDAYS
Chickering 4th grade - 4L and 4G on MONDAYS; 4K and 4M on TUESDAYS; 4V on FRIDAYS
OUR CONCERT DATES FOR 2025-26:
OUR CONCERT DATES FOR 2025-26:
Pine Hill 5th Grade Band: 1/23 @ 8am; 5/21 @ 6:30pm at MUDGE; 5/29 @ 8am
Pine Hill 5th Grade Jazz Band: 2/1 @ 2pm at MUDGE; 4/9 @ 6:30pm at MUDGE; 4/10 @ 8am
Pine Hill 4th Grade Band: 5/15 @ 8am
Chickering 5th Grade Band: 12/5 @ 9:05am (only school students attend); 12/12 @ 9:05am (parents attend); 5/21 @ 6:30pm at MUDGE (required); 5/30 @ 6pm (Dover Memorial Day, optional)
Chickering 5th Grade Jazz Band: 2/1 @ 2pm at MUDGE; 3/27 @ 9:05am (only school students attend); 4/9 @ 6:30pm at MUDGE
Chickering 4th Grade Band: 5/8 @ 9:05am (school attends); 5/14 @ 6:30pm (parents attend)
*Mudge = Mudge Auditorium, on the campus of DS Middle School and DS High School
What is makemusic cloud and how do i use it?
What is makemusic cloud and how do i use it?
(I WILL ANNOUNCE WHEN WE START THIS IN 2025-26)
It used to be called SmartMusic! MakeMusic Cloud encourages you to practice and lets me hear you individually each week, by sending me recordings you create. It lets me provide written feedback to you as needed, and it also provides its own feedback when you play. MakeMusic Cloud is a tool to help you in your practice when I can't be there. You can even listen to the assignments before you learn to play them, click on a note to see a fingering and letter name, and more. We will begin with this as soon as the students are ready. Continuing 5th graders can log in with their accounts from last year.
MakeMusic Cloud is not perfect, however! DO NOT pay attention to the grades it gives you automatically, unless they help you to determine which was your best take of a certain assignment! Submit your assignment to me no matter the score, and then we'll know what to work on next for you. MakeMusic Cloud practice is a required part of your participation in band. A submitted assignment is only due about once a week, but you may practice with MakeMusic Cloud as often as you like.
Fourth graders, we will begin MakeMusic Cloud assignments after instruments have arrived and you feel comfortable assembling them and playing them. No need for class codes at the moment - I'll let you know!
E-mail me if you need a password reset, and I will do that for you.
For more help signing up for an account, and COMPLETING AN ASSIGNMENT, view the two videos on this page: https://www.makemusic.com/parents/
For the student e-mail address, you may use lastname.firstname@doversherborn.org The e-mail address may not be active, but I will manually approve the account within a couple of days to override this verification function.
You can login by going to http://home.makemusic.com
Instrument repairs and rentals:
Instrument repairs and rentals:
http://www.leonardsmusic.com for beginning of year rentals
or call them at 781-271-1189 for repairs through the school year
PRACTICING APPROACHES FOR HOME and in class:
PRACTICING APPROACHES FOR HOME and in class:
Thinking About Your Practice (reflection sheet)
MR. DAVIS' BAND CLASS
MR. DAVIS' BAND CLASS
Band Contract - please sign and return during first or second band class with Mr. Davis
Classroom Expectations - 5th grade
Classroom Expectations - 4th grade
for parents
for parents
Q: How can I help my beginner?
A: Even if you have no experience in playing an instrument, a lot of questions from students have to do with fully understanding and interpreting the instructions given, be it from the method book or video content. You may have fun doing this, but it is not required! I am always here to help. If you have time and the desire to help, you will be able to assist when it comes to reminding right from left, relating a child's finger placement to a diagram in a book, loosening things that are stuck, tightening things that are loose, and most importantly, encouraging patience! Music is something that we learn by doing. Even if the student clearly understands WHAT to do, they may not be able to DO it until they have attempted the action many times. Think of throwing a major league baseball pitch - you know WHAT to do, more or less, but how many times would you have to do it until it seemed right? Many of you do have experience with music, and I welcome your contributions! Your students will be thrilled, too.
Q: Should my student practice?
A: Yes, and a little every day is better than a lot once a week! Try for 10 minutes a day in fourth grade, and 15 minutes a day in 5th grade.
Q: What is needed for practice?
A: A wire music stand, method book, MakeMusic Cloud, a space with few distractions, a firm chair. If you play B flat clarinet or E flat alto sax, you'll need a box of 10 #2 reeds for the year.
Q: This is harder than I expected!
A: That's okay! Band is about learning to solve new and interesting problems, applying new levels of determination and perseverance, and finding satisfaction in small improvements. Every instrument has its own inherent challenges. Band is about making mistakes, noticing them, and improving. This takes a certain amount of patience and grit, and the teaching and learning of these qualities is undermined if quitting is a quick and available solution. For this reason, and because these classes occur during the school day, I expect those with difficulties during the school year to contact me looking for a plan to improve, and I will help you. I have seen many students successfully begin practicing because of their own determination and really excel! Please stay in touch and let me know how practice at home is going.
Checking out the video content for 4th grade
Checking out the video content for 4th grade
Our 4th grade method book for this year, Sound Innovations, has wonderful video content to reinforce what we learn in class and will be a helpful extra resource as you get started. If you want to review it between classes, you may access it by going to: https://sionline.alfred.com/activate and entering the code from the back of your instrument book as follows:
Mallet Perc 34544
Clarinet 34530
Trumpet 34536
Flute 34527
Trombone 34538
Baritone BC 34539
Alto Sax 34533
Percussion 34543
Tuba 34541
What book are we using?
What book are we using?
4th and 5th grade band: Sound Innovations for Concert Band, Book 1 (instrument-specific)
These books are available through Leonard's Music, Amazon, and Apple Books, and these hard copies have valuable diagrams, illustrations, and instructions which are not found on MakeMusic Cloud.
Page updated
Report abuse