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 Reminders/Tips

Articulation Reminder (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.

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.