September 7, 2024
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Notes From The Director
Welcome to the start of the 2024-25 year! We have an exciting year ahead with many great opportunities for all of our Franklin musicians. Thanks for being involved with your student's education and musical journey. If you can make it, please join us on Tuesday @ 7pm in the FHS Band Room for the first Band Booster Meeting of the year. You can enter the building at 52nd and Woodward (Performing Arts Entrance). We will be talking about the year ahead including our planned trip to Disney in March and many other items to help build and strengthen our band program at Franklin High School.
Looking forward to meeting families on Tuesday if you can make it! All are welcome. Click here for a message from our Booster President, Marc Urbaitel regarding the start of the year.
In addition, below you will find some specifics related to each group and the start of the year. Parents and Students please take the time to read the information below for your ensemble/s.
All classes/ensembles will be completing assignments using Canvas each unit/quarter, only final grades will be on Synergy. Here is a link on how to be an observer on Canvas.
Thank you,
Jason Owens
Franklin Instrumental Music
Concert/Symphonic/Wind Ensemble
All three ensembles are working on warm-ups using full volume and airflow. Students are to focus on tone and consistency of sound. Use both the Warm Up Drills and the Barlow Warm-ups to start this process. Parents... You should be hearing these warm ups at home.🙂 Right now all 3 groups are working on Pep Band material and recordings for the 2024-25 season (please keep in mind not all of these charts have been handed out yet). The music is fun and challenging. I have included reference recordings for students to practice with. In addition, below is a rental contract that needs to be filled out and turned into me if your student is using a PPS instrument. There is also a useful guide for all instrument students and families to become familiar with quality instrument maintenance.
RENTING AN INSTRUMENT FROM PPS REQUIRES A 2024-25 RENTAL CONTRACT FORM
Percussion/Drumline
Students should have a pair of marching drum line sticks ( Example). These are a different size than standard drum set sticks. Sticks can be purchased locally at stores like Rhythm Traders, Trade Up Music, and Revival Drum Shop. Tell them you are in the Franklin High School percussion program.
All of our Percussion students should be using the Vic Firth Website as a practice tool multiple times per week. There are great how-to videos hosted by the legendary "Dr. John Wooton" and play-along tracks for all 40 rudiments. Start at the bronze level and work your way up to much faster tempos as you improve. Parents.. you should be hearing rudiment practice at home. 🙂 Consistent sticking with even doubles and singles is the foundation to great playing and practice and all our percussion students should be working to improve these skills.
Jazz Band
Students in the Jazz band will be working in two different settings throughout the year. All of our students will be performing in the big band and we have established three combos, each with a rhythm section and horns. We have selected some great charts to get the year started. Take some time to listen to these tunes with your jazz musicians. The sample recordings below are good examples or the original recording artist.
Red's Good Groove- Red Garland
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQhIykp47rQ
Equinox- John Coltrane
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zyr0IDaRXQ
Straight Life- Freddy Hubbard
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4xwNHUyz1Q
St. Thomas- Sunny Rollins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdakJqKPRDE
Groove Merchant- Jerome Richardson
AP Music Theory
Students should be registered for both AP Classroom and the AP Exam as soon as possible. We will be using AP Classroom each week and our textbooks for lessons, skills, and assignments. Parents.. all of the assignments from each unit/quarter will be on Canvas, only final grades will be on Synergy. Here is a link on how to be an observer on Canvas. If you need help with AP registration, please refer to the following slide deck. Slide deck to help with AP registrations.
Sept. 10th- Lightning Band Boosters Meeting - FHS Band Room 7PM
Sept. 13th- Pep Band vs Beaverton. Meet @ 5:30 for pizza
Sept. 18th- Back to School Night 6PM
Sept. 20th- Pep Band vs Jefferson. Meet @ 5:30 for pizza
Oct. 4th- Pep Band vs Ida B. Wells. Middle school feeder collaboration!
Oct. 10th- Playathon! 5 to 11pm. 6 hours of continuous music to raise funds for the year.
*For More Dates please look at the Full Franklin Bands Calendar Link*
Encourage your Musician to practice and play at home
Please take the time practice and play at home and outside of class. Don't let your musician convince you that they don't need to practice. Everyone needs to Practice.
Formal Performance Attire for the Year
All ensembles will be performing in performance attire. Mr. Formal will be coming in to measure new students and students who need to change sizes. Please make sure your current performance outfit is dry cleaned and in great shape so it can be traded in for a new size if needed. This includes a dress jacket, dress shirt and pants that are tailored to your musician. Students will need to supply their own black shoes and socks. Tuxedos will continue to be offered at the $150 price, the same price I paid for my tuxedo in 1993. We will also have a reduced price for families with financial need with the help of our Lightning Band Boosters.
Support Franklin Bands and receive ad space for your business.
Sponsors can submit an advertisement for concert programs and social media accounts througout the year (Instagram and Facebook). Please contact the Boosters for pricing and more information. https://www.lightningbandboosters.com/
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