BAND
Ms. Kasper
Embedded Files
Please go to my homepage to sign up for band, orchestra, and chorus
When does band meet to rehearse?
Band meets as one big ensemble on Tuesday afternoons from 2-2:45. Be sure your child has their Instrument and book if they've brought it home.
When does the band get to perform?
We only have two concerts each year and they are MANDATORY so please plan accordingly. Nothing makes me sadder than a student who puts in months of effort and isn't able to play with the group and for an audience. Parents, I count on you to prioritize this so everyone - students, families, and friends - can enjoy the best performance possible. Mark your calendars!!
Wednesday, Jan. ?-Winter Concert at Glenbrook Middle School at 7 PM
*Snow date ?
Wednesday, May/June ? - Spring Concert at Glenbrook Middle School at 7 PM
Band students will need to arrive by 6:25 to check-in, tune, and get ready to play.
What should players wear to their concerts?
Students should plan to wear concert dress which is white tops, black shoes, and black bottoms (pants or at least knee-length skirts since they will be sitting in chairs facing the audience). Any student may wear a fun tie if they'd like to. :)
These exercises are what we use as our first steps toward playing both alone and with our band mates.
There is a set for each instrument if you scroll through.
Beginning Scale Preps.pdf
Please visit https://giamusic.com/habits-beginner-media to access "Habits of a Beginning Band Musician" and click on the "clinics" for your specific instrument. These videos break up information into small bits and cover everything from assembly and cleaning to embouchure and getting a good sound out of your instrument.
Please visit https://giamusic.com/habits-beginner-media to access "Habits of a Beginning Band Musician" and click on the "clinics" for your specific instrument. These videos break up information into small bits and cover everything from assembly and cleaning to embouchure and getting a good sound out of your instrument.
Getting our rhythms and counting in sync
Games and Warm Ups
Games and Warm Ups
Long Tone Contest:
Students hold a long tone and compete to see who can hold it the longest, encouraging good breath control and tone production.Accuracy Race:
Students play a passage and see who can play the furthest before making an error, promoting accuracy and focus.Popcorn: Students play a measure or phrase and then call on another student to continue, keeping everyone engaged and following along.
Pencil Check
The Longest Phrase
Ready, Ready, Ready
Do You Know Your Neighbor?
I Have, Who Has?
Poison Rhythm
Staff Wars - apps
Copycat
Name that Tune:
Divide a familiar tune into parts for different instruments, and have students work together to reconstruct the song.Drop Out Contests:
Students play a passage and drop out if they make an error, helping them focus on accuracy and performance pressure.
Music for Spring Concert 2025
Music for Spring Concert 2025
Random band games and exercises
Random band games and exercises
Pass the Pitch:
Students play a pitch in time with a metronome one by one, and if a student plays the wrong pitch or does not play in time they drop out
Note Name Bingo
Call out note names and the students will mark on their bingo cards if they have that note or not
Simon Says
The teacher calls out note names or rhythms which the students must play, but only if the teacher says "Simon Says..."
Four Corners Rhythm Game
Students choose which corner to stand in, and if their corner has the rhythm the teacher says then they are out
Lines & Spaces Game
Escape the Jungle Instrument Game
Among US
Designate one student as an imposter and then have another student try and find the imposter in the group
Rhythm Telephone
Students stand in a line and the first student taps a rhythm on the next student's back, and then the last student has to perform the rhythm
This website also has good video tutorials for beginning players:
This website also has good video tutorials for beginning players:
Beginning Band Bootcamp
Make sure you bring your instrument and lesson book to school every Tuesday :)
Beginning of the year message...
Beginning of the year message...
Hello to band members and families!
I am so excited to get playing this year! Our weekly 45-minute rehearsal with all of us together will be from 2-2:45 on Tuesdays. You will each have a weekly 30-minute lesson as well. Make sure you bring your instrument AND lesson book to the music room every Tuesday morning at the start of school!
Below are links to Gerry's Music Shop, Falcetti Music, and Performance Music. Here you can find out how to rent an instrument as well as which book to buy. You are welcome to secure an instrument elsewhere for your child but I definitely recommend renting in case of accidents, to build some equity, and in case your child changes their mind! Also, Gerry's and Falcetti's send out a rep every week so if there are repairs that need taking care of bits you might need (neckstraps, music stands, the correct reeds) you don't need to make the trip over to South Hadley or Chicopee - it can all be done through school!
As hard as it is, if you pick the instruments yourselves, please don't take the instruments out of their cases before we go over how to do it correctly in our lessons. They can be easily damaged if not assembled carefully and correctly.
I encourage you to check out the Gerry's , Falcetti's, or Performance Music websites ASAP so your child will be ready for lessons beginning soon. Please contact the music stores for specific instrument questions and email any other questions to me at akasper@longmeadow.k12.ma.us.
These are for you Clarinets!
Here you go trumpets!
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