Excellent Performance on Monday Evening!

Congratulations to all of the 5th grade band members on an outstanding performance on Monday evening at our Holiday Concert!  I am so proud of all that the band students have accomplished in a few short months.  I am excited about the progress we are going to be able to make throughout the rest of the school year.  I sent a packet of 4 other holiday selections home with the brass and woodwind players this past week.  They are four familiar holiday tunes in which all of the instruments are playing the melody line and these are meant to be some 'fun' pieces that they can play for grandpas and grandmas or others over the winter break.  As always, thank you so much for all of the support that you give these young musicians as they are working on developing their talents on their instruments.  If you are interested in attending any of the matinee performances, please see the schedule that I posted a few weeks ago!  Enjoy your break from the regular routine of school over the next few weeks and make the most of your family-time over the vacation!!
Until next January.....
Mr. Hubers

Concert Information and Matinee Schedule

Our District Elementary Band/Orchestra Holiday concert is Monday, Dec. 13, at 7:00pm in the PAC.  Band students are to be in the high school band room by 6:45 that evening.  All band students are expected to be at this performance.  The students are also asked to wear something that is appropriate for an evening performance.  They may also wear a 'santa hat' if they so desire.  We will be going to the PAC at 1:00 that afternoon to rehearse all of the elementary band students together on stage for the first time.  This rehearsal will run from 1:15-2:15.  You are invited to this rehearsal if you can not attend the evening performance due to work schedules, etc. 

Each of the elementary bands will also be performing a matinee in their respective buildings.  The schedules for the matinees is as follows:

Robert Bennis Elementary - Friday, Dec. 17 @ 8:30am

Brandon Elementary - Monday, Dec. 20 @ 8:30am

Fred Assam Elementary - Wednesday, Dec. 22 @ 8:25

All parents/guardians/grandparents are invited to our matinee performances as well. 

Hope to see all of you at the performances - I am very proud of the hard work that I have seen from the band students and I am sure you will be pleased with their performances!

Excellent progress on Christmas music!

I am very pleased with the progress of our young band students on their concert music!  It is very exciting to hear how their practicing is helping them learn their music.  We are counting down the final rehearsals until our first big performance and cannot wait to show you what we have accomplished in such a short time.  Please make sure that you have invited all of the student's grandparents, etc. to our first performance.  We will also be performing matinees in each of the elementary buildings for the younger students.  I will send this schedule home as soon as we have that put together.  All of you are invited to the matinee performances as well.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving  Break!

Christmas Concert Information

Our annual District Elementary Band/Orchestra Concert will be held on Monday, Dec. 13, at 7:00pm in the PAC.  The orchestra will perform first followed by the band.  All 4 of our elementary bands will join forces on stage to perform their selections.  The band students will need to meet in the high school band room by 6:45pm to prepare for their portion of the performance.  Students are expected to dress appropriately for the concert.  All students are expected to be at the evening performance as this is important for the balance in the instrumentation for the performance. 

We will go to the PAC to rehearse on Monday, Dec. 13, in the afternoon to prepare for the concert.  The band students will leave their campuses at 1:00 and arrive back before the end of the school day.  We will also be performing matinee concerts at each of their respective elementary buildings.  I will post those dates as soon as we have those scheduled.  Parents/guardians/grandparents are also invited to these matinee performances.

Please encourage your child to continue practicing their concert music at home as we prepare for their first major performance of their instrumental music careers!  Until next week........

November Already??

October is but a memory and here we are finishing up the first week in November!!  Our first concert is only 5 weeks away and the band students have been busy working on their sheet music for this performance.  All 4 of our elementary bands will share the stage for this performance.  We will travel to the Performing Arts Center on Monday, Dec. 13, for an hour of massed rehearsal in the afternoon and then will perform our selections at the evening concert.  We have still been working out of our band method book during lessons and rehearsals to reinforce musical concepts which we are encountering in our concert pieces.  This has been beneficial in putting our selections together. 

Please continue to encourage the practice time at home as this is so necessary to reinforce the concepts that we are working on during our rehearsals.  Please do not hesitate to contact me with any concerns or questions!  Until next week..
Mr. Hubers

"Practice with a Purpose"

I was reading through a music magazine this past week and came across this phrase, "Practice with a Purpose".  This phrase caught my attention and we discussed it during some of our rehearsals this past week.  As the director,  I walk into rehearsal every day with very specific goals in mind for that rehearsal and we discussed setting goals for each time the students are practicing at home.  I want to help the students learn how to make the most of their time when practicing at home, rather than just mindlessly playing through their assigned lesson material.  Specific goals can include:  reinforcing new notes from sheet music or lesson book, working on a particular piece of sheet music, mastering the new concepts introduced in the lesson book, reinforcing new concepts learned in the band rehearsal that week, etc.

As parents/guardians, you can help by encouraging the practice time at home, setting up a regular routine for practice and by asking your child to play for you.  Many of you were in band at one time and I bet alot of it comes back to you as you listen to your child - hopefully, they are positive memories!!

Remind your child....'PRACTICE WITH A PURPOSE!!' 
Until next week.......Mr. Hubers

Sightreading through Concert Music has gone Well!

The band students have been sightreading through their holiday concert music this past week.  It has gone really well considering how difficult the selections are!  The students have been doing a great job of learning new notes and counting/tapping their rhythms correctly.  Please remind them to continue practicing both their sheet music and their lesson books each week.  The more progress that we make in their lesson books, the easier their sheet music will be for them.  I hope the students are enjoying working on the concert music, it is always difficult at first to get used to hearing other parts and rhythms around them in the band!  I am excited to continue working on the sheet music as we prepare for our first big performance!  Until next week, enjoy listening to your child practice!  Mr. Hubers

Christmas Concert music goes home!

It is hard to believe that preparations for the Christmas concert are under way as of this week.  I feel as if I start Christmas even before the holiday decorations make their appearance in the stores!?!   If the students have a band folder, they have received a packet of 6 selections.  Some of them are familiar holiday tunes and some of them are brand new compositions appropriate for the season.  Our concert will be held on Monday, Dec. 13 at the Performing Arts Center.  All four of our 5th grade bands will join each other on stage for this perfomance.  More details will follow.  I'm sure you will be both pleased and amazed at what you will hear as they perform their first major concert of their instrumental music careers!  As always, please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns regarding your child's progress!  Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Students do well on Performance Quizzes!

Congratulations to the band students who were very well prepared for their Performance Quiz this past week.  Most of the students were ready to play their pieces with accurate fingerings, rhythms and good tone.  PRACTICE is the key to their success!  I realize I keep stressing this key element, but it is the most important thing they can do right now to make progress.  I will finish listening to the band students this coming week.  The progress reports will be sent home with the student's report cards later this month.

Great Conferences!

I really enjoyed meeting many of my band student's parents/guardians at conferences this past week!  It is exciting to see your interest in your child's musical development.  Please feel free to contact me at any time if you have questions or concerns about the instrumental music program.  The band students will be receiving a packet of sheet music this coming week for our concert performance in December.  We will be combining all of the 5th grade bands from the four elementary campuses for our performance at the Performing Arts Center on December 13.  Mark your calendars now - you will not want to miss this show!  Make sure that all family members, grandparents and other special friends know about the concert also.

Conference Time Already!

It is hard to believe that Conference time is here already!  My schedule for conferences next Tuesday, Oct. 5,  is as follows:

BE:  1:30-3:30

RBE:  3:30-5:30

FAE:  6:30-9:00

Please feel free to stop in at any of our elementary campuses to introduce yourselves and visit with me regarding your child's progress!  The most important thing that you can do for your child right now is to continue encouraging them in their practice time at home!!!  The constant reinforcement of the concepts that we work on in rehearsal is necessary for them to continue making improvement.  I hope to meet many of you next week.  Until next Friday........

Thanks for listening to your kids!

What a great response to your child's performance at home!  Many of the band students have returned their forms already.  Thanks for taking a few moments to listen to them play.  I also appreciate your comments on the sheet.  I will make every effort to address any concerns that you have about your child's progress.  The most important thing they can do right now is PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND THEN MORE PRACTICE!!  The reinforcement at home of the different concepts that we work on in band is necessary to continue making progress on their instruments!  Keep up the good work at home. 

Another thing that I have found to be very refreshing with this group of 5th graders is their use of the simple phrase 'Thank you'.  I am always pleasantly surprised to hear those words from a student as they leave the room after a lesson or rehearsal.  Enjoy the weekend!  Until next Friday......

Parents, Listen to your child's progress!

It is incredible how much progress is made in such a short while in our band rehearsals.  Many of the students are learning their 6th note already and some have even moved on to their 7th note!  Over the next few weeks, I will be sending a sheet home with some selections that I would like you (or a grandparent or other adult) to listen to as your band student demonstrates to you what they already know.  I would like you to sign the sheet and return it at your child's next lesson.  I hope you are very proud of the progress that your child is making and please keep encouraging their practice time at home!  Hopefully, they will be excited to play for you and show you what they have already accomplished!  Until next week...Mr. Hubers

Just a reminder!

Parents, please remind your child to record his/her practice time in the front cover of their band book so I can keep an accurate record of their work at home.  This helps me monitor their progress and address any difficulties that they may be having on their assigned lesson material.  Thanks for your cooperation on this!  Enjoy your weekend!

Thanks for your feedback!

Thank you, parents/guardians, for a great beginning to our year!  I am very pleased with the progress that your children have made in such a short time.  Thanks for your feedback on the blog and emails.  I will make every effort to respond ASAP to your questions or concerns.  Some of you have asked how much your children should be practicing each week.  I am expecting that every child practice a minimum of 2 hours a week.  This is necessary to build up embouchures, memorize notes and to reinforce all of the music reading skills that we work on during our rehearsals.  Keep encouraging your child's practice at home - this is one of the most important elements for the beginning musician's progress!

Concert dates are posted in the right hand column of the blog - just scroll down until you find them.  Please get these dates on your calendars!  Make sure you invite grandparents, etc to these performances.  The band students love to perform for them!

Please do not hesitate to contact me via email (Del.Hubers@k12.sd.us) or respond to the blog and I will do my best to answer questions or address any concerns that you may have! 

 Enjoy your Labor Day Weekend!

5th Grade Band Begins to Settle into Routine!

The 5th grade band rehearsals and lessons began moving full steam ahead this week.  A great big THANK YOU  to the boys and girls for remembering instruments and music on the appropriate rehearsal/lesson days.  We are off to a fantastic beginning and I am excited about all of the music we will be able to learn this school year.  Please keep encouraging your child's individual practice time at home as this is necessary for them to keep making progress on their instrument - that is the most important thing they can do right now at the beginning of the year - PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE!  Check the blog weekly for updates and important information!

5th Grade Band Off and Running for Another Season!

What an EXCITING week this has been!  There are over 130 beginning band students this season.  I am very pleased with the progress that I have seen in the students so far this week.  I appreciate their willingness to develop their skills and talents in instrumental music.  Just a few reminders as we begin the school year:

1.  Please help your child remember his/her instrument and music on the appropriate rehearsal days.  I have given each of them a schedule of their full band rehearsals and small group lesson times.

2.  Please encourage your child to develop a regular practice routine.  I expect the beginning band students to practice 2 hours a week.  This is necessary for them to develop their tone, memorize fingerings and reinforce music reading skills.

3.  Please encourage and support their musical endeavors - ask them to play for you - they will enjoy demonstrating what they have learned!

4.  Please make sure that you have the music books that are required (Standard of Excellence - Book 1; The First Performance Book)  Percussionists will also need 'The Performing Percussionist' by James Coffin.  Also, please make sure that the clarinet and sax players have good reeds (size 2 or 2 1/2; medium or medium hard - depending on the brand).  Brass players will need valve oil and a spit rag.

I look forward to working with you and your child this school year.  It will be an exciting and fun year as we work together to develop their talents in instrumental music!

What a Year this has been..........

I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitiude to all of this year's 5th grade band members and parents.  This has truly been an exciting year for our band - these students have progressed more rapidly than any that I have worked with over the past 25 years.  Please encourage your child to continue practicing over the summer - this will just give them a headstart for the fall in Middle School.  Best wishes to them as they move on to the next phase of school!  I am also looking forward to beginning a whole new group of 5th graders this fall.  We already have approximately 120 signed up to begin in the fall!  It looks to be another great year coming up!  Enjoy your summer!  Thanks, Mr. Hubers

Excellent Concert - Congratulations to the 5th grade Band!

Congratulations to the 5th grade band on an outstanding performance this past Thursday evening!  The students did an excellent job on all of their selections.  I also greatly appreciated how well they handled themselves during the rehearsal at the PAC on Thursday afternoon.  They were very attentive and cooperative during the whole afternoon rehearsal and at the evening performance.  Just a reminder that we will still be having rehearsals during the last week of school!  Thank you to the 5th grade band members for an excellent year!  Best wishes as you prepare to move on to the Middle School!  Mrs. Baker is fortunate to get to work with all of you next fall.

Great Recruitment Week!

What an exciting week for recruitment!  We had over 120 of our 4th graders from the BV school district try out different instruments for band!  The District Elementary Band/Orchestra Open House is this Monday, May 17, from 3:00-5:00 in the RBE Instrumental Room.  Three music stores from Sioux Falls will be on hand to answer any questions that parents may have about renting/purchasing an instrument.  The band and orchestra directors will also be available to answer any questions that parents may have.  Please put August 9, 10 & 11 on your calendars for the beginning band camp dates.  It is exciting to see so much enthusiasm for our instrumental programs in the Brandon Valley school district!

Band Recruitment Continues Next Week!

Thank you to all of the 4th grade students who have returned their band slips for next year.  We will begin trying out the different choices of instruments next week.  On Monday, the Brandon Elementary students will have an opportunity to try their selections.  I will be at Robert Bennis Elementary on Wednesday and at  Fred Assam Elementary  on Thursday to work with the 4th graders at those campuses. I am excited to begin working with our newest band members this coming week!

Excellent Solo Performances!

The 5th grade band members did an outstanding job on their solo performances for Mr. Goheen this past week.  Mr. Goheen was  very impressed with the preparation of their pieces!  Congratulations to all of the band members for their hard work and dedication in preparing their selection!

4th grade Recruitment Begins!

Congratulations to our 5th grade band members on 4 outstanding performances for our 4th graders!  All of the bands did an outstanding job performing for our district's 4th graders.  All of the 4th graders should have received a sheet in which to mark their top three choices of instruments.  They will be given a chance to try out each one of these during the week of May 10-14.  I will also be working to match your child with the instrument on which they will be most successful.   Please reserve Monday, May 17, from 3:00-5:00pm for our open house for perspective band members.  The three music stores from Sioux Falls will also be on hand to answer any questions that you may have regarding renting/purchasing an instrument for your child.  I will also be available to answer any questions that you may have about beginning band in our district.  Make sure that your child returns their sheet to me or their homeroom teacher this coming week!

Recruitment Assemblies and Solo Performances are Coming Up!

The 5th grade band members have plenty to focus on over the next few weeks!  We will be playing recruitment assemblies at the various campuses next Tuesday-Friday, April 27-30.  They will be performing their solos for Mr. Goheen during the week of May 3-6.  Check with your child as to when they perform their solo.  You are invited to come and listen to your child perform - bring grandpa and grandma along as well or however else might want to hear them perform!!  Remind them to keep practicing - especially with the weather getting nicer out!

Watch for Updates on Band Recruitment for this year's 4th graders!

Recruitment assemblies are being scheduled for this year's 4th graders!  Our current 5th grade band members will be performing some of their solos and full band selections for our 4th graders during the last week of April.  Watch for more updates to follow.....

Schedule change for solo performances!!

Due to an unforseen conflict, there has been a change in the performance schedule for the solos which the 5th graders are practicing.  The schedule will be as follows:

Mon. May 3 - BE

Tues. May 4 - RBE (note date change)

Wed. May 5 - BE (note date change)

Thurs. May 6 - FAE

I hope this will not cause any problems for you and I apologize for the changes.

Solo Dates!

The 5th grade band members will be performing their solos the first week in May.  Mr. Goheen will be listening to the students at BE on Monday and Tuesday, May 3 & 4; at RBE on Wednesday, May 5; and at FAE on Thursday, May 6.  The solo performances will begin at 9:15 each morning in the instrumental room.  I will be sending out a schedule when we get closer to the performance dates!  Remind them to keep on practicing even with the weather becoming nicer!

Great Job on progress reports!

Most of our 5th grade band students are almost ready to play their solos!  They have really made alot of progress in the three weeks that they have had them.  I listened to each of them play individually this week and heard many good things.  Please encourage your child to continue to practice - especially now that the weather is getting nicer outside!!!   Congratulations to many of our band members who are beginning their 'blue book' - level 2, already!!  Great work!

Keep working on your solos!

Band students - keep working on your solos!  Check your tempos with a metronome, either one of your own or the one that is linked to the blog!  Make sure that you are adding the dynamics and correct slurring and tonguing also.  I will be sending home a schedule of performance times so you can go ahead and invite your parents and grandparents in to listen to you perform.

Metronome online - use it while you practice!

Band students - scroll down toward the bottom of the blog and click on the link to the free metronome on line and use it while you practice.  Just click on the speed that you want and go!  The metronome will help keep the beat for you while you are practicing - it is a great way for you to check yourself to see if you are keeping your beat steady!!

End of the 3rd Quarter!

It is hard to believe that we are rapidly approaching the end of our 3rd quarter already!  The band students will once again receive a progress report detailing their strengths and areas of concern.  Many of the young players are already beginning their 6th grade level band books - how exciting!!  Their individual practice time at home is really what makes all the difference in how rapidly the students progress.  Please continue to reinforce these good practice habits at home!

5th Grade Band Solos

Every spring, our 5th grade band members get the opportunity to play a solo.  Mr. Goheen, from the high school band, comes to each elementary campus and listens to the band members perform.  He then writes comments on the performance.  He stresses things that the students are doing well and gives them suggestions to make them even better players.  This is not a competition among the rest of the band members as the students do not receive a rating or score.  As the time grows closer, I will be sending home a schedule of the performance times.  They will be during the school day, but any parents or grandparents that would like to listen to their child perform are welcome to come in and listen.  The students will  be receiving their solo this coming week and we will work on them during part of their small group lesson.  It will not be necessary to arrange for an accompanist for your child as I will play all of those for the students.

Spring Concert Music has arrived! (Even though it doesn't feel like Spring!!)

All of the band students received their Spring Concert Music packets this week.  Students are to continue working out of their regular lesson books as well as starting to work through their sheet music.  The students seemed very excited to begin working on their material.  Please continue to encourage their individual practice time at home!

Spring Concert Selections!

The 5th grade band members will be receiving their packets of sheet music for the Spring Concert this coming week!  I have selected a wide variety of selections for this group, ranging from familiar tunes such as the 'Theme from Star Wars' and the 'Raider's March' from Indiana Jones as well as other pieces which will feature different sections of the band.  Our clarinet section will be getting a fingering workout with the piece 'Clarinets on the Run'.  'Saxophonic Boogie' will feature our alto and tenor sax sections.  The trombones will get their chance to shine in the selection entitled 'Trombonanza' while the whole low brass section/low reed section will be featured in 'Brass in the Basement'.  'Classic Bits and Pieces' will allow every section of the band to play a variety of melodies throughout the long work.  The students have been working very diligently at developing their skills and talents and I am excited to be able to do such difficult music with them.  A few of our pieces are definitely '6th grade band' level difficulty!  Keep on practicing!!

Scheduling for 6th grade Band

Due to the large number of students in the 5th grade band this season, schedule options are already being looked at for next year.  I will be sending home a letter from Mrs. Baker, our 6th grade band director, regarding schedules for next year.  The Middle School would like to know which students will be involved in band, orchestra and chorus.  Please take a moment to discuss this with your child, fill out the information at the bottom of the letter and return it to me by Feb. 26.  I will  then forward the responses to the Middle School.  Please encourage your child to continue their participation in the various musical ensembles that we have here in the BV school district.  I am amazed by the progress that all of the 5th grade band students are making every week when I see them.  Keep up with the practicing - it makes all the difference!

Missed lesson update!

If you have missed your small group lesson due to weather cancellations, please go ahead and add the next page or two on to your last lesson assignment!  Use your CD's to listen to if you are unsure of how an exercise sounds or if a rhythm is unfamiliar!  We want to keep making progress even if we miss rehearsals due to inclement weather!

Parent Teacher Conference Schedule

My Parent Teacher Conference Schedule for Feb. 2  is as follows:

RBE:  1:30-3:30

BE:  3:30-5:30

FAE:  6:30-9:00

Please feel free to stop in at any of the campuses whenever it is convenient for you, regardless of which campus your child attends.

Progress Reports Update!

We have just finished up our progress reports for 2nd quarter.  Most of the students came very well-prepared (even after having so many days off for vacation and snow days).  Most of the comments that I made on the reports deal with tone production - this is something that we will be concentrating on for the whole year.  All of the students must make sure that they are using enough air to produce the best tone possible and playing long phrases with that breath of air.  Also, many new fingerings and new notes have been introduced which will need to be reinforced during their practice time at home.  Hopefully all of the students are in a routine of regular practice as this is necessary to continue making the exceptional progress that they have already made!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! TIME FOR PROGRESS REPORTS!

The holiday break has come and gone and now it is time to keep pushing forward! The band students will continue to reinforce concepts and learn new things as we continue to work through our band method book.  We will also be playing through some of the pieces in our First Performance book which correlate to our Standard of Excellence book.  I will be listening to all of the band students individually next week and begin filling out their progress reports for second quarter.  The reports will be sent home with their report cards.  I will be listening for tone production, correct fingerings, correct rhythms, dynamics, and  tonguing/slurring, as well as checking their practice charts and written work assignments.  Percussionists will be 'tested' on their bells this quarter.  We will go back to working on snare drum rudiments at the beginning of the third quarter.  As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns that you may have!