What to practice for week of 10/25-10/30

Everyone Maintenance Practice Focuses: 

1. Page 42 Line 3- Count quarter notes out loud and yell quarter rests inside your head. Challenge yourself by playing both line 2 & line 3.

2. Pick one exercise to maintain your ability level that we have practiced together in band class. 

   1. Options: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11, &/or 12

Everyone Improve Practice Focuses: 

1. New Warmup!  #1 #3 #5 #7 & #9

   1. Hold each note for 8 counts, rest for 4 counts, hold note for 8 counts, rest for 4.

2. Exercises #14, #17, #18, #21

   1. Say letter names while fingering/sliding/air-play along

   2. Sizzle and finger/slide/air-play to align rhythm of your tongue and fingers/slide/hands

   3. Say rhythm while finger/slide/air-play.

   4. Play! 

   5. Ready for a challenge? Play x5 in a row without a mistake for extreme accuracy. If you miss a note or a rhythm, start back at 0 and try again!

3. Try working through your set of band flashcards. How fast and accurate are you at your note names & fingerings?

Everyone Explore Practice Focuses: 

1. Record yourself playing one of the exercises you feel comfortable performing. Listen to your recording and see if it sounds similar to what you heard when you were playing live.  

Instrument Specific Practice Needs

Woodwinds: 

Flute: 

1. Place headjoint on the left shoulder and practice switching between C & D fingerings, and F & Eb fingerings. 

Clarinet:

1. See how low you can go! Start on C then add a finger until you get all the way to the bottom of your clarinet. Keep that tongue arched and your air ice cold! 

Saxophone: 

1. Practice changing between the following notes: B & G. Move fingers at the same time and lightning fast.

Brass:

1. Lip Slurs: Picture of our patterns linked here. (reminder: KO = kick out 1st and 3rd valve slides for trumpets)

2. Trombone: Practice moving slide from C (6th position) to Bb (1st position) with accuracy and speed! 

Percussion:

1. Aim to keep your eyes on your music and use your peripheral vision to see your hands! 

Multiple Bounce Strokes! Check out the video linked here to help demonstrate and reinforce multiple bounce strokes. 

What to practice for week 10/18-10/24

Everyone Maintenance Practice Focuses: 

• Page 42 Line 3 with a metronome to this exercise- Count quarter notes out loud and yell quarter rests inside your head, play line 1 on one note. 

• Pick one exercise to maintain your ability level that we have practiced together in band class. 

Everyone Improve Practice Focuses: 

1. Exercises #11, #14, #17, #18, #21

   • Say letter names while fingering/sliding/air-play along

   • Sizzle and finger/slide/air-play to align rhythm of your tongue and fingers/slide/hands

   • Play! 

   • Ready for a challenge? Play x5 in a row without a mistake for extreme accuracy. If you miss a note or a rhythm, start back at 0 and try again!

Everyone Explore Practice Focuses: 

• Find a video of a professional performing on your instrument to listen to. If you think it is awesome and should be shared with the band, send it to Mrs. Gore! Email the link to goream@msd19.org.

Instrument Specific Reminders/Tips

Flute: 

• Place headjoint on the left shoulder and practice switching between C & Eb fingerings, and F & Bb fingerings. 

Clarinet:

• Squeeze test all fingers that cover holes and see which circles are not complete. Practice switching between C & G fingerings, and E & C  fingerings. 

Saxophone: 

• Practice changing between the following notes: C & D, C & G. Move fingers at the same time and lightning fast.

Brass

• Sirens on the mouthpiece for warm up followed by lip slurs on the instrument. Picture of our patterns linked here. (reminder: KO = kick out 1st and 3rd valve slides for trumpets)

• Trumpet, Horn, & Euphonium: Practice changing fingers between notes: D & E. Push valves down firmly and completely. 

• Trombone: Practice moving slide from C (6th position) to D (4th position) with accuracy and speed! 

Percussion

Keyboard: Keyboard ID & Reverse ID 

• Practice playing with your eyes/head up and looking at your music (don’t stare at your hands/keyboard).

Practice Pad: #1, #2, #5, #14 & #15 from Stone Stick Control handout. Repeat each exercise x10 - x20 focusing on striking the same place on your drum/practice pad and moving in a vertical line for your strokes. Do not swipe/glance off the surface. 

What to practice for week 10/10-10/17

Everyone Maintenance Practice Focuses: 

1. Page 42 Line 1 & 2 add a metronome to this exercise- Count quarter notes out loud and yell quarter rests inside your head, play line 1 on one note. 

2. Pick one exercise to maintain your ability level that we have practiced together in band class. 

Everyone Improve Practice Focuses: 

1. Exercises #10, #11, #12, #14, & #17

   1. Say letter names while fingering/sliding/air-play along

   2. Sizzle and finger/slide to align rhythm of your tongue and fingers/slide/hands

   3. Play! 

2. Speed Reading! See how quickly you can identify your note names with the links below!

   1. Treble Clef Reading [flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, percussion]

   2. Bass Clef Reading [trombone & euphonium]

Everyone Explore Practice Focuses: 

1. Check out Essential Elements Interactive! Play along with a metronome or a different flavor of metronome by navigating the top bar of the window.

2. OR Find a video of a professional performing on your instrument to listen to.

Instrument Specific

Flute: 

1. Place headjoint on the left shoulder and practice switching between C & D fingerings, and F & Bb fingerings. 

Clarinet:

1. Squeeze test all fingers that cover holes and see which circles are not complete. These leaks cause squeaks. Practice switching between C & F fingerings, and G & D  fingerings. 

Saxophone: 

1. Practice changing between the following notes: D & G. Move fingers at the same time and lightning fast.

2. Unfocused air can look like puffy cheeks and a gooselike sound. 

Brass

1. Sirens on the mouthpiece for warm up followed by lip slurs on the instrument. Picture of our patterns linked here. (reminder: KO = kick out 1st and 3rd valve slides for trumpets)

Percussion

Keyboard: Keyboard ID & Reverse ID

Practice Pad: #1, #2, #5, #14 & #15 from Stone Stick Control handout from class this week. Repeat each exercise x10 - x20 focusing on striking the same place on your drum/practice pad and moving in a vertical line for your strokes. Do not swipe/glance off the surface. 

What to practice for week 10/6-10/9

Everyone Maintenance Practice Focuses: 

1. Page 42 Line 1 & 2 add a metronome to this exercise- Count quarter notes out loud and yell quarter rests inside your head, play line 1 on one note. 

   1. Articulation (brass & woodwinds only) - Play a long steady note and then bring your tongue up to interrupt the air stream behind the top 2 front teeth. (Reed players- the tongue will touch the reed slightly below the tip of the reed. Must make contact with the reed.) Use fast, well supported air and use 50 tastebuds to tongue the roof of the mouth behind top 2 front teeth/on the reed.

      1. Brass Only - Sirens on mouthpiece and Lip Slurs for warm up. Start high with tongue in “teee” position then “aaah” followed by “ooooe.” Keep corners of your lips locked in place and space between your back teeth. 

Everyone Improve Practice Focuses: 

1. Exercises #8, #10, #11, #12

   1. Say letter names while fingering/sliding/air-play along

   2. Sizzle and finger/slide to align rhythm of your tongue and fingers/slide/hands

   3. Play! 

2. Speed Reading! See how quickly you can identify your note names with the links below!

   1. Treble Clef Reading [flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, horn, percussion]

   2. Bass Clef Reading [trombone & euphonium]

Everyone Explore Practice Focuses: 

1. Check out Essential Elements Interactive! Play along with a metronome or a different flavor of metronome by navigating the top bar of the window.