Band Resources

• For Rhythm Practice: https://www.therhythmtrainer.com/

• For Note Name Practice (Make sure to choose your instrument): https://beginning.band/online-resources/ or https://d28bands.weebly.com/beginning-band-note-name-games.html

• There are a ton of resources that go along with our Essential Elements books, to explore them go to: https://www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/?logout

  • Then click "log in", "student/individual", and "sign in with Google Classroom

• Beginner Band Tunes: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.fentonbands.org/uploads/1/1/5/8/11580857/beginner_band_tunes_-_all_parts_34_songs.pdf

• Fingering Charts: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://fhscougarband.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Fingering-charts-all-band-instruments.PDF.pdf

• Scale Sheets and Other Resources: https://teachband101.com/teaching/recommended-resources/

• Intonation and Pitch Mapping: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.cherokeebluffband.com/uploads/2/1/1/9/21192838/pitch-tendencies-and-intonation-mapping.pdf

• Stanton's Sheet Music Solo and Ensemble: https://www.stantons.com/category/instrumental-solos-ensembles-methods/omea-solos/?srsltid=AfmBOoq0MDTNYY-wsmdV-ZQ0nabSQSNVV8o6eYsI_3TjknVnXyttcFuq 

Practicing Tips

• Find a quiet place free from distractions

• I recommend practicing for 180 minutes a week (30 minutes 5 days a week is a good way to break this down)

• First practice scales, lip slurs, and warm up materials 

• Break longer passages down into smaller chunks and connect chunks together overtime

• Practice slowly and always use a metronome, once you can play a passage multiple times in a row consistently at one tempo, increase the tempo slightly (4-6 clicks higher)

  • Once you learn the music at the goal tempo learn it a few clicks above the goal tempo to ensure playing at the goal tempo is accurate

• Focus on making one thing better at a time

• If you are struggling with rhythms, count and clap the rhythm, then sizzle the rhythm, then play it on one pitch on your instrument, then try it in the song

• If you are struggling with notes, finger and speak the note names at the same time first out of rhythm, then in rhythm

• Remember if you ever start feeling frustrated, take a break and move on and come back to it later. Sometimes our brain needs a reset.