Small Group Lesson Information

7th Grade Lessons 

7th Grade Lesson Concepts & Skills

*Ask your student to play these for you!*

Scales (All Year)

1. Concert F Scale

   1. Found in EE Book 1 @ Page 41. All students should be able to play Exercise #1 in this key.

2. Concert Bb Scale (Memorized)

   1. In 7th Grade, students will use Book 2 to work on developing speed on this scale (increase technique on their instrument with finger & slide movement / articulation).

3. Concert Eb Scale (Memorized) 

   1. Range extension should be practiced for this scale. Brass players can extend up through high range. Flute, Clarinet, & Saxophone can play two octaves. 

4. Concert Ab Scale

   1. Found in EE Book 1 @ Page 41. All students should be able to play Exercise #1 in this key.
      
      

Rhythmic Skills 

1. Subdividing eighth notes internally at all times. (Thinking: "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &", etc.) 

2. Dotted Quarter Note + Eighth Note Rhythm 

3. Syncopation -- Playing on the weak half of a beat or on the "&" of the beat. 

4. Counting Sixteenth Notes (Introduction)

5. New Time Signature(s) -- Cut Time

   1. Students are being introduced to "changing the beat unit" within different key signatures, which also changes the value of all notes they have learned in Common Time. Concert literature will include these new time signatures and students will be practicing the execution of new counting skills. 

Technique

1. Hand Position & Posture: Reinforcing what we have learned in 6th Grade, students should be sitting on the edge of their chairs with both feet on the floor and backs straight. 

   1. As our music provides additional challenges and moves quicker in 7th Grade, students will be working on being diligent about keeping fingers curved and hovering over keys and holes when not in use. This habit will develop and they will be able to play quicker music more successfully.

2. Tonguing: Students should be making contact with the reed or the back of their teeth to tongue and begin each pitch (unless underneath a slur or tie). Using the tongue to push air through the instrument provides a physically safe and successful start to the pitch.