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!