Brandon Valley 5th Grade Band

February Already!

2012-02-03T14:54:00.000-06:00

The band students have gotten so much done this week. The 'midwinter slump' that we sometimes experience during the month of January did not get these kids down! The band students have definitely kept working during the month of January and have mastered some very difficult fingerings and concepts over the past few weeks. I am so pleased with their work ethic and their commitment to learning to play their instruments. Please continue to encourage their practice at home to help reinforce the concepts that we work on in our rehearsals.

Congratulations to all of the band members who have already begun working in their 6th grade level books. I am so happy with their progress and am very proud of all they have accomplished so far!

Until next week, keep practicing......
Mr. Hubers

Conferences Coming in a few Weeks!

2012-01-27T12:28:00.000-06:00

Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming in just a few weeks in February! My conference schedule for Monday, Feb. 13 is as follows:

Brandon Elementary: 1:30-3:30

Robert Bennis Elementary: 3:30-5:30

Fred Assam Elementary: 6:30-9:00

Please feel free to stop in and visit with me at any one of the campuses whenever it fits into you schedule. I am so pleased with the progress of the 5th graders and their efforts to continue developing their skills and talents on their instruments.

Until next week, keep practicing!

Mr. Hubers

Solos Coming Soon!

2012-01-20T08:18:00.000-06:00

Now that the holiday concerts are a distant memory, the band students have been working at mastering many new concepts from their method book, 'Standard of Excellence'. They have been introduced to some new notes, new rhythms, dynamics and tempo markings. We have also been playing some of the selections in our 'First Performance' book. This book contains pieces depicting different musical styles from around the world. This is an excellent supplement to reinforce new concepts that we are working on in our method book.

Next month, all of the band students will begin working on a solo to perform later on this spring for one of the high school band directors. This gives the band students the opportunity to perform a solo on their instrument and receive positive feedback from one of the other directors in the school district.

Please keep encouraging your child in their practice time at home as this is so necessary to reinforce the concepts that we are introduced to in the rehearsal.

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Beginning of a New Semester!

2012-01-06T13:24:00.000-06:00

Welcome back to our second semester of our school year!! It is difficult to believe how quickly the first semester went by. I am very pleased with the quality of this week's lessons - many of the students maintained their practicing over the holiday break!! We did get a lot accomplished this week! As we continue through the months of January and February, we will continue to cover as much of the material in our 'Standard of Excellence' as we can. We will also spend some time reinforcing these new skills with selections from our 'First Performance' Book. Please continue to reinforce your child's practice at home as we are being introduced to new concepts in our daily rehearsals and small-group lessons.

Until next week.......
Mr. Hubers

Holiday Matinee Concert Schedule

2011-12-16T15:02:00.000-06:00

Our holiday matinee concert schedule is as follows:

Brandon Elementary: Tuesday @ 9:00am

Robert Bennis Elementary: Thursday @ 1:15pm

Fred Assam Elementary: Friday @ 8:45am

Please feel free to join us at any one of our matinee performances for our different elementary campuses!

Congratulations!!

to the 5th grade band students on their outstanding performance at their District Elementary Band/Orchestra Holiday Concert this past Monday! I am so proud of all that you have accomplished so far this year and I look forward to making more music with you next semester! Remember to keep practicing over the holiday break!

Until next time....

Mr. Hubers

District Band/Orchestra Elementary Holiday Concert

2011-12-09T12:32:00.000-06:00

DISTRICT ELEMENTARY BAND/ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERT

MONDAY, DEC. 12, 2011

7:00PM

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

BAND STUDENTS ARE TO MEET IN THE HIGH SCHOOL BAND ROOM BY 6:45PM BEFORE THE CONCERT!

COME AND ENJOY A VARIETY OF SEASONAL FAVORITES PERFORMED BY OUR 5TH GRADE BAND MEMBERS!!

Holiday Concert Information Sent Home.

2011-12-02T14:42:00.000-06:00

Dear parents and guardians:

All of the band students were given an information sheet this week during rehearsal regarding our upcoming District Elementary Band/Orchestra Holiday Concert. Please ask to see that sheet in their band folders. This will give you all of the information that is necessary for the evening to run smoothly. I am excited about this performance and look forward to having our band students play some holiday and seasonal favorites for you on Monday, Dec. 12.

Keep encouraging their practice time at home as everyone's schedule seems to get busier during the holiday season!

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2011-11-18T14:42:00.000-06:00

As the holiday season draws near, final preparations are being made for the Holiday Concert which will be held on Monday, Dec. 12, at 7:00pm. This concert will include the 4th/5th grade orchestras and the 5th grade band. It will be so exciting to see all of our orchestra and band students on stage at the same time! The concert will take place in the Performing Arts Center.

I would like the band students to 'dress up' for this performance and would like them to assemble in the high school band room by 6:45pm the evening of the concert. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about our first performance!

I wish all of you a safe and happy Thanksgiving week!
Until next week,
Mr. Hubers

Keep working on Holiday Sheet Music for Concert!

2011-11-04T12:05:00.000-05:00

The 5th grade band members will make their debut appearance at our annual Brandon Valley District Elementary Band/Orchestra Concert on Monday, Dec. 12, at 7:00pm. The concert will be performed in the Performing Arts Center. The band students have been working very hard on their new sheet music and are excited to perform for you! Selections include some familiar holiday tunes such as 'Frosty the Snowman', 'Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow', and 'Ding Dong Merrily on High', as well as an upbeat arrangement entitled 'Rockin' Jingle Bells'. Other highlights of the concert will include 'The King's Flourish' - based on the familiar carol 'Good King Wenceslas', a 'Winter Medley' and a novelty selection entitled 'Christmas Elves in Santa's Workshop'. Please encourage your child to continue practicing their sheet music as well as their lesson book materials.
I look forward to seeing all of you at our first performance!
Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

End of the First Quarter Already!

2011-10-14T14:32:00.000-05:00

It is difficult to believe that the first quarter is coming to an end already! The students have made remarkable progress and are well on their way to becoming excellent musicians! As the end of the quarter approaches, I will be listening to each student individually during their lesson time and filling out their progress reports. The students will each play 4 assigned exercises and I will be listening for correct fingerings, correct rhythms and tone production. I will also be looking for them to be tapping the steady beat. The students will also be taking a fingering quiz on their first five notes during their first band rehearsal next week. They will be asked to identify/label their notes and draw in the fingering for each one.

The students are also asked to complete an on-line rhythm quiz. They received an information sheet this past week. In the right hand column of the blog, their is a Musical Math Link that they are to click on. In the right hand column, under 'Quizzes - Rhythm' they are to scroll down to the 'Rhythms Multiple Choice' quiz. Click on this quiz, fill it out and print off. The students are to turn this quiz in next week at their lesson.

The students will also be receiving a packet of music for our Holiday Concert. This concert is Monday, Dec. 12, in the Performing Arts Center. Please make sure that you get this date on your calendar as the holidays get very busy! You will not want to miss the 5th grade band's first major performance!!

Until next week...
Mr. Hubers

Conference Schedule

2011-09-30T13:39:00.000-05:00

Parent-Teacher Conference time is already upon us! I will be available to visit with you regarding your child's progress in 5th grade band next Tuesday during our conferences. My schedule is as follows:

Brandon Elementary: 1:30-3:30

Robert Bennis Elementary: 3:30-5:30

Fred Assam Elementary: 6:30-9:00

Please feel free to stop in at any of the campuses to visit with me. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I can during this time. If you are not able to visit with me on Tuesday, do not hesitate to contact me via my school email (Del.Hubers@k12.sd.us) any time!

Until next week, keep practicing.....

Mr. Hubers

5th Grade Band Progresses Past Their First Five Notes!

2011-09-23T15:29:00.000-05:00

The 5th grade band members have been working very diligently on learning their first five notes and have moved on to their sixth and seventh notes! Congratulations to the band members for their hard work and dedication to learning their instruments! Please continue to encourage their practice routine at home, especially if they are having any difficulties with their first five notes. Now is the time to make sure that they are staying current with the rest of the band members as the band progresses quite rapidly through the new material. It is essential that the students master the concepts as they are introduced in order to keep making progress through the school year. Please keep encouraging your child to play for you when they are practicing - you are their most important audience!
Until next week.....
Mr. Hubers

Excellent 2nd week of lessons!

2011-09-09T14:01:00.000-05:00

I am so proud of the accomplishments of our 5th graders after their 2nd week of lessons. Most of the beginners have been very conscientious about getting their 90 minutes of practice time in for each lesson! This is so important during these beginning weeks to help the students master their first notes, music reading skills and rhythm skills. I also sent home a note with each one of them with ways that you as parents/guardians can help them with their practice routines at home. The initial practice routines will set them up for success on their instrument and make learning to make music a really fun activity for them!

I hope to see as many of them as possible at tonight's game as they will be marching with the Brandon Valley High School Marching Lynx prior to tonight's football game. It is always alot of fun for the beginners to appear with the high school band members!

Until next week, keep practicing!!!
Mr. Hubers

5th grade Band to Appear with the High School Marching Lynx!

2011-09-02T12:22:00.000-05:00

Our 5th grade band will be appearing with the High School Marching Lynx next week Friday, Sept. 9, prior to the Homecoming game. The 5th grade band members are to assemble in the high school commons at 6:45pm. They will then march with the high school band around the football field prior to kick-off. The 5th graders are to wear blue jeans and 'Lynx' colors of top. This is a great opportunity for our beginning instrumentalists to get a first-hand look at the high school marching band as they perform that evening! Look forward to seeing you at the game!
Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Great First Week of Rehearsals!

2011-08-26T14:42:00.000-05:00

What an exciting week of 5th grade band! I am very pleased with the accomplishments of the 5th grade band students this week. We have also begun the small-group lessons as of Thursday. We will be in full swing next week with all of our rehearsals and lessons meeting. This group of beginners shows much potential and I am looking forward to all we will be able to accomplish together as the year progresses! The most important thing that parents/guardians can do is to encourage your child to practice on their instrument consistently at home. This is necessary to reinforce the concepts that we work on in rehearsal, to memorize fingerings and build up lip muscles. Keep up the great work and effort!
Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Welcome To 5th Grade Band!!

2011-08-18T15:45:00.000-05:00

It is time to get ready for a new year of band!

The full band schedule is as follows:

Brandon Elementary: Monday and Tuesday (12:15-1:00)

Robert Bennis Elementary: Wednesday and Thursday (2:10-3:00)

Fred Assam Elementary: Thursday and Friday (9:25-10:15)

These are the full band reheasal times. All of the students will also receive a 20-minute small group lesson each week. We will plan on beginning the full band rehearsals on Tuesday, August 23, and will begin the lessons as soon as schedules are ready to go!

I am so excited about a new group of beginning band members again this year! We are in for an exciting adventure as we work to develop our talents and abilities this year in the band room. Please check the blog for weekly updates, announcements and other pertinent information. I will also be distributing a student handbook for the 5th grade band members with information regarding our beginning instrumental program in the Brandon Valley School District. Check with your child over the next few weeks for this important information!

I'm looking forward to a great year of music-making!

Until next week...

Mr. Hubers

Congratulations on an Excellent School Year!

2011-05-16T09:52:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that the school year is winding down and soon our 5th graders will move on to the Middle School to begin a new and exciting chapter in their lives! Congratulations to them for all of their hard work and dedication to our beginning band program this past school year. I was incredibly pleased with their performance at our Spring Concert last week - the students did an outstanding job both at the rehearsal and the evening performance. Everything went very well. The students also did well on their solo performances this past week for the high school directors. Many of them put in alot of hours in preparation for this performance and they should be very proud of what they accomplished! Keep reminding them to take their instruments out over the summer to keep lips in shape, fingerings memorized and playing skills honed! I would recommend going to one of the music stores to find some 'fun' music that they would enjoy playing over the summer. There are books for all different styles of music - pop, Disney, jazz, classical, sacred, etc. The important thing is to KEEP PLAYING OVER THE SUMMER!

Enjoy your well-deserved summer break and best wishes for the future 5th grade band members!
Until next time.....
Mr. Hubers

Concert Music in Excellent Shape!

2011-04-15T14:10:00.000-05:00

In spite of the changes in the schedules this week due to testing, the 5th grade band members have really risen to the challenge of working on the finishing touches on their music for our Spring Concert! I am very pleased with the progress of the students as our days together wind down. We are to the last six rehearsals before our performance on Friday, May 6, at 7:00pm at the Performing Arts Center! I would like all of the band students to be in the high school band room by 6:45 that evening and I ask that they 'dress up' for our final performance of the season. We are preparing a wide variety of repertoire for our concert, ranging from familiar melodies such as 'Rondeau' (Theme from Masterpiece Theatre) and 'Joyful Rock' (based on Beethoven's Ode to Joy) to descriptive pieces such as 'Creatures in the Attic', 'Attack of the Garden Gnomes' and 'A Prehistoric Suite'. We will also be performing a selection entitled 'Slideways' which features our trombone section and the ever-popular 'Star Wars'.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns regarding our concert performance!
Until next week.....
Mr. Hubers

Recruitment for next year's beginners!

2011-04-08T13:34:00.000-05:00

Time to start planning for next school year! All of the district 4th graders received an information letter this week regarding our 5th grade band program. Our current 5th grade band will be performing special assemblies for our 4th graders during the week of April 18-21 in which they will demonstrate the different instruments that comprise our 5th grade band. The 4th graders will then receive a sheet on which they will list their top 3 choices of instruments that they would like to play. The following week, they will be given an opportunity to try to produce a tone on those different instruments and I will work to match them up with the instrument they are interested in and be the most successful with. Our beginning band open house is scheduled for Monday, May 2, from 3:00-5:00pm in the band room at the Robert Bennis Campus. It is always exciting to look forward to next year's group and begin making plans for next year!

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions regarding the recruitment procedure!
Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

March Over Already??

2011-03-25T13:53:00.000-05:00

With the end of March rapidly approaching, plans are being made for the remainder of our school year together. Please note that our District Elementary Spring Band/Orchestra Concert will be held on Friday, May 6 at the Performing Arts Center. The concert will begin at 7:00pm. All students are expected to be at this final performance of our 5th grade year together. Band solos will also be performed during the month of May. All of the students received their solo and we have begun working on them during their small group lessons this week. Many of the band students already have a good beginning on their solo! I have been very impressed with their diligence in learning their new music. Congratulations to them!

We will also begin our recruitment for next year's 5th grade band this coming month. Many things to do yet before our summer break! Keep encouraging the practice time as the school year begins to wind down!
Until next week.....
Mr. Hubers

Time for Solos!

2011-03-18T12:37:00.000-05:00

All of the band students received a solo this week to begin working on for this Spring. The students will perform their solo for one of the high school band directors, Mr. Kessler or Mr. Miller. This is not a competition, the students will be receiving a comment sheet from the high school director listing things they are doing really well along with suggestions for making their playing even better. They will be performed during the school day and all parents/grandparents/guardians are invited to listen to their child play. I will be sending home a schedule for their performances when we get the dates picked out. They will be played during the month of May. In the meantime, please encourage your child in their practice at home, especially when the weather gets nicer and it is more and more difficult to stay indoors!

Just a reminder: our Spring Concert performance is Friday, May 6, 2001, at 7:00pm in the Performing Arts Center. All students are expected to be at this final performance of the school year! Mark your calendars - you will not want to miss this concert!

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Progress Reports Completed! Solos Coming!

2011-03-11T14:14:00.000-06:00

The progress reports for the 3rd quarter should go home with the report cards today. Congratulations to the band members, most of them came very well prepared to their lessons this week and did very well playing for me individually. During the 4th quarter, we will continue to build on the skills they already possess as we work to finish our band method book and prepare for our Spring Concert. This year's concert will be on Friday, May 6, 2011. Please mark your calendars to avoid any conflicts with the date. It is very important that all band members are present for our final performance of the year!

Each band member will be receiving a solo to play later on this season. The students will be performing their selections for one of the high school band directors in May. This is not a competition, but rather the students will receive written comments from the band director. This is an excellent opportunity for the students to gain experience performing a solo without the pressure of competition. I will accompany all of the students on piano, so you will not need to find an accompanist. The solos are performed during the school day and parents/grandparents are invited to come in and listen to their child perform. I will send home a schedule when we get closer to the performance dates.

Please keep encouraging your child to practice as the weather gets nicer and it is harder to stay indoors!
Until next week.....
Mr. Hubers

End of 3rd Quarter Already!

2011-03-04T13:42:00.000-06:00

Where has the time gone again? It seems as if we just finished up our first semester and now we are already finishing the 3rd quarter! Before we realize it, our 5th graders will be moving on to the middle school! I will be listening to the students play individually during their lesson time this coming week and will fill out progress reports for them again. The reports will go home with their report cards. I have also sent home a sheet about having your child play for an adult again. Hopefully you will be as pleased as I am with what you hear from them when they play for you. Many of the band students have worked very diligently to develop their talents on their instruments and will definitely be ready to move on to the middle school band program. The band students also received 7 new pieces of sheet music to work on for their Spring Concert this week. There is no shortage of music for them to be practicing on for the upcoming weeks!

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Spring Concert Music handed out next week!

2011-02-25T15:39:00.000-06:00

All of our new literature for our Spring Concert has arrived and is ready to be handed out to the band students at their second large group rehearsal this coming week! I am excited to begin working on the music and I'm sure that the students will enjoy the variety of musical styles that they will be introduced to in the music. The selections were chosen to reinforce all of the different musical concepts that the band students have been working on so far this year. Along with learning new notes and new rhythms, this quarter, we will also be focusing more on interpretation in our music - dynamics, articulations, etc!

Don't forget to ask your child about their new sheet music this coming week!
Until next week......
Mr. Hubers

Back to normal?

2011-02-11T15:14:00.000-06:00

Hopefully, we are finished with snow days, late starts and early outs! It has been difficult the past few weeks to maintain a regular rehearsal and lesson schedule. Please remind your child to continue to practice even if their lesson has been missed that week due to weather related issues! The band students can always review previous material that they have learned if they are uncertain about the new pages in their lesson book. They can also play through the selections that we have worked on in our 'First Performance' book. They could even review old sheet music selections that they have - just keep them playing!! This will allow them to continue building their lip muscles and to reinforce fingerings and rhythms.

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Conference Time Again!

2011-02-04T08:26:00.000-06:00

It is time for conferences again! The elementary conferences are Monday, Feb. 7, 2011. My conference schedule is as follows:

Brandon Elementary: 1:30-3:30

Robert Bennis Elementary: 3:30-5:30

Fred Assam Elementary: 6:30-9:00

Please feel free to stop by at any of the campuses to visit with me regarding your child's progress in 5th grade band. If you are not able to visit with me, please feel free to email me at school (Del.Hubers@k12.sd.us) with any concerns that you may have! I look forward to seeing you again!

Just a reminder to help your child maintain a regular practice schedule at home! Until next week....

Mr. Hubers

Interesting Research Quote

2011-01-28T14:58:00.000-06:00

I came across this interesting bit of research this past week that I wanted to pass along to you. This is quoting B. Friedman and his research entitled 'An Evaluation of the Achievement in Reading and Arithmetic of Pupils in Elementary School Instrumental Music Classes'. He goes on to say that "Music students always outperform non-music students on achievement tests in reading and math. Because of their study of music, their skills are better in reading, anticipating, memory, listening, forecasting, recall and concentration."

Being involved in instrumental music has so many rewards, besides the intellectual developments that it fosters. Band students really do have to function as a team in order to really do well on their music. This sense of cooperation and committment to a group is of great importance in building their self-esteem. Band students are always involved in the music-making and learning process, whereas a student can give up on a test, forget to hand in an assigment or let his/her mind drift during a lecture, band students are always actively involved and taking ownership in their learning! The benefits of being involved in making music may not always be seen immediately, but they can certainly last a lifetime!!

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Back to Work!

2011-01-20T15:40:00.000-06:00

     The 5th grade band students are back to work after our brief hiatus for the holiday break! We have already learned 5 more notes since the beginning of January and are also playing in different key signatures and have begun to read 16th note rhythm patterns with great accuracy!
     As we continue through the third quarter, we will focus on mastering as many new concepts as we can from our band method book as well as work through numerous band arrangements found in our 'First Performance' book. They will also be receiving some sheet music examples which will correlate with some of the concepts that we are covering in our books.   We began reading through the 'Star Wars Theme' this week as it uses many of the new high notes that we learned on page 22 in our 'Standard of Excellence' book. We have really enjoyed playing this piece this week and the band students are doing really well on it already.
     It can be very challenging to keep the students practicing during the months of January and February, but please continue to encourage their practice routine at home so we can continue progressing on our instruments!
     Until next week.....
Mr. Hubers

Music Students Are Scoring!!

2011-01-14T15:39:00.000-06:00

According to The College Board (1997): Music students are outperforming non-music students on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). College-bound seniors with coursework or experience in music performance scored 52 points higher in the verbal portion and 37 points higher on the math portion of the SAT than students with no coursework or experience in the arts.

These are some pretty impressive figures from the College Board! What better way to give your child a jump-start on their academic careers than by being involved in music! Keep encouraging their practice at home, especially now during the 'January Slump' as I like to refer to it. The months of January and February can be taxing as we try to keep the momentum going that we had as we were preparing for our Holiday Concert - but don't give up, it will be well worth it!! Until next week.....
Mr. Hubers

Back Into the Swing of Things....

2011-01-07T12:43:00.000-06:00

Our holiday break seems like a distant memory and it is now time to get back into the swing of things in the band room! Our main goal this 3rd quarter is to master as many of the concepts presented in the rest of the 'Standard of Excellence' book as we are able. Progress reports will go home today (Friday) with all of the band students. Many students still received a '3 - needs to work on this' rating in regard to tone production. Tone production is a major component of instrumental music and is something that is worked on constantly throughout one's playing career - so keep up the good work and strive to get better every time you take out your instrument! Make sure that you are setting your sights high in regard to your goals this semester and let's make as much progress as we can working together the rest of the school year. Until next week......
Mr. Hubers

Excellent Performance on Monday Evening!

2010-12-17T13:45:00.000-06:00

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

2010-12-03T14:56:00.000-06:00

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!

2010-11-19T15:34:00.000-06:00

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

2010-11-12T10:16:00.000-06:00

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??

2010-11-05T09:01:00.000-05:00

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"

2010-10-29T10:36:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-10-22T10:33:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-10-15T12:32:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-10-08T15:10:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-10-08T15:03:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-10-01T12:08:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-09-24T15:22:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-09-17T13:55:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-09-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-09-03T13:27:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-08-27T13:50:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-08-20T14:41:00.000-05:00

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..........

2010-05-28T08:02:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-24T15:26:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-14T14:26:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-07T10:48:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-05-07T10:44:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-04-30T11:03:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-04-23T11:19:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-04-16T15:20:00.000-05:00

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!!

2010-04-09T14:41:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-04-01T07:58:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-03-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-03-19T15:07:00.000-05:00

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!

2010-03-12T14:18:00.000-06:00

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!

2010-03-12T14:06:00.000-06:00

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

2010-03-05T14:32:00.000-06:00

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!!)

2010-02-26T15:12:00.000-06:00

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!

2010-02-19T12:43:00.000-06:00

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

2010-02-05T12:05:00.000-06:00

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!

2010-01-26T13:35:00.000-06:00

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

2010-01-21T10:52:00.000-06:00

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!

2010-01-15T14:45:00.000-06:00

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!

2010-01-04T13:53:00.000-06:00

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!

5th grade band stars perform matinees!

2009-12-18T15:04:00.000-06:00

The 5th grade band stars performed their matinees for their campuses this week! All of the bands did an outstanding job of performing for their peers. I am so proud of the time and effort that the students are putting into learning to play their instruments. They have had a very busy week with their concert on Monday evening and matinee performances throughout the week. Please continue to encourage your child to practice over the holiday break as I am excited to begin working on more challenging music for the rest of the year!

2009-12-15T09:32:00.001-06:00

5th Grade band stars SHINE at Holiday Concert!

Congratulations to the Brandon Valley 5th Grade Band on their outstanding performance at our Holiday Concert last night! Your attention to dynamics, tempo, fermatas, fingerings and rhythms created an exciting showcase of your talents and abilities for our appreciative audience! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to our instrumental program and I look forward to moving on to even 'bigger and better' things for this coming semester. You guys and girls ROCK!

Mr. Hubers

Holiday Concert Matinee Schedule

2009-12-08T13:39:00.000-06:00

The Holiday Concert Matinee schedule is as follows:

RBE: Wednesday, Dec. 16 @ 8:30am

BE: Thursday, Dec. 17 @ 1:30pm

FAE: Friday, Dec. 18 @ 8:30am

Please feel free to invite any parents, grandparents, etc, to these matinee performances of our district elementary band and orchestra!

Countdown to the Holiday Concert!

2009-12-04T14:54:00.000-06:00

Wow - it is December already! The days are going by so quickly as we are making our final preparations for the Holiday Concert. Most of the students have been working very diligently preparing for the performance. Thanks for continuing to encourage their practice time at home - it truly makes a difference during our full band rehearsals and their small group lessons. All of the band students received an information sheet/reminder regarding the concert during rehearsal this week. All of the information has also been posted on the blog earlier and was placed in the Brandon Bugle, Bennis Buzz and Assam Anchor. All students are expected to participate in our performances as 'Performance' is part of the District/State Standards for Instrumental Music. The band and I are looking forward to performing for you. As soon as the dates for the matinees are set, I will post them also! See you at the concert!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

2009-11-20T14:32:00.000-06:00

Wow! It is hard to believe that it is Thanksgiving already next week! The band students will be receiving another packet of music soon! This packet will contain 'Jolly Old St. Nick', 'Up on the Housetop', 'Angels We Have Heard on High', and 'Deck the Halls'. These packets are not for our holiday concert - they are just 'fun' songs that they can play for themselves, parents, grandparents, etc. or who ever will listen to them. All of the student packets are just the melody line - no accompaniment parts. I hope the band students enjoy playing these songs for you!

Standard of Excellence - 1st Performance Book

2009-11-13T13:01:00.000-06:00

Parents, please make sure that your band child has the '1st Performance' book! This book has many longer pieces in it which correspond with the skills and concepts presented in our 'Standard of Excellence'. We will be performing one selection out of this book for our Holiday Concert and other selections from the book at our Spring performance. A number of you have already purchased the book as it was listed on the letter regarding summer band camp and necessary materials that was sent home at the end of the school year this past May. If you have not already purchased it, please do so as soon as you are able as we are busily preparing for the Holiday Concert! Thank you so much for you cooperation in this matter!

HOLIDAY CONCERT NOTES!

2009-11-06T12:43:00.001-06:00

Preparations are well under way for our annual Holiday Band and Orchestra concert. The band students have been busily preparing some familiar holiday/Christmas selections as well as some other tunes appropriate for the season. Please continue to encourage the practice time at home. This practice time is essential for reinforcing all of the musical concepts that the students are introduced to during our full band rehearsals and small-group lessons. I have also been reminding all of the students that we are not going to spend the 20 minute lesson time doing their individual practicing. They are to come to their lessons prepared to play their assignments from the previous week. Some students have been coming to lessons expecting me to guide them through their practice - this is not fair to the other students in their lesson group who have been practicing and are ready to progress on to the new material. Please put the date for the concert on your calendar as all students are expected to be at our performance - Monday, Dec. 14. Also, please note the time change from previous years - the band and orchestra concert will begin at 6:30pm in the Performing Arts Center.

Excellent Performance on Progress Reports!

2009-10-29T10:52:00.001-05:00

Although rather hectic, the past few weeks were spent listening to the band students perform individually during their lessons. If your child was absent this past week, I will listen to them during their lesson next time I see them! Most of the students came very well-prepared and I am excited to begin working on our pieces for our Holiday Concert! Many of the students are moving quite rapidly through their lesson books and making exceptional progress. Ask your son/daughter to play some of their holiday tunes for you! In a few weeks, I will also be handing out some holiday melodies that all of the kids can play for grandpa and grandma, holiday get-togethers, at church, etc. Everyone has the melody on these pieces so all of the kids can play them regardless of what instrument they play! Please continue to encourage their practice time at home as this is necessary to continue making progress on their instrument! Until next time...

Instrumental Progress Resports Update!!

2009-10-20T10:11:00.000-05:00

I am still hoping to complete as much testing of the 5th graders as possible during this week and next week. I realize that a number of students have been out of school due to illness last week and this week. If your child has missed a lesson due to illness, just have him/her practice whatever was assigned at their last lesson for their playing/testing pieces at their next lesson. If they are absent for their lesson during the week of testing, I will listen to them the next time I see them. I understand that many are quite concerned about this and we will all just have to be as flexible as possible during the next few weeks! Hopefully all will return to normal soon!

Instrumental Performance Quizzes

2009-10-12T10:10:00.000-05:00

I will begin testing the band students during their lessons next week, Oct. 19-23. Students will be given their assigned playing exercises this week during their lesson/band. Most of the students will be performing exercises on pp. 13-14 in the Standard of Excellence book. These selections will focus on counting and playing 8th notes correctly. Other skills that I will be listening for include tone production, correct fingerings, correct posture/playing position, music reading skills, rhythmic precision and tonguing. I will also be checking the students' written assignments and practice charts. I will be sending the progress reports home with their report cards. Please encourage your child to continue with his/her practicing as this is very necessary at the beginner level to master the concepts needed to be excellent musicians!

Conference Notes

2009-10-06T20:37:00.000-05:00

Thank you to all of the parents who stopped by to visit during conferences! I enjoy meeting the parents of my new band students and appreciate your concern for your child's musical development. If you were not able to meet with me during conferences, please feel free to drop me an email with any concerns or questions that you may have regarding the beginning instrumental program and your child's progress. My email at school is: Del.Hubers@k12.sd.us Please do not hesitate to contact me throughout the year!

Reminders to the Band Students

2009-10-02T12:31:00.000-05:00

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE and don't forget to record it in the front cover of your band book. YOUR GOAL IS 90 MINUTES A WEEK!

REMEMBER YOUR PENCILS AND FOLDERS FOR REHEARSAL from now on as we will begin working on sheet music for our holiday performance soon!

REMEMBER LESSON TIME! Most of you are doing a super job of remembering when to come down for your lesson - keep up the good work and effort!

CHECK OUT THE WEB-SITES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG for some fun theory games!

Progress Reports for 5th Grade Band

2009-10-02T12:23:00.000-05:00

Within the next few weeks, I will begin filling out progress reports for the 5th grade band students. The band members will be playing assigned exercises during their small group lesson time. I will let them know next week which pages/exercises they will be playing for me. I will give them a 'rating' on a variety of different aspects of playing their instrument. The rating is as follows:

1 - 'does this well'

2 - 'is working to achieve this'

3 - 'needs improvement'

4 - 'needs immediate attention'.

I will be giving them a rating in the following categories: posture, tone production, music reading skills, rhythm skills and lesson preparation, as well as giving written comments. These progress reports will be sent home with their report cards. These reports should help give you an accurate assessment of your what your child is doing really well at and which aspects need attention.

Conference Schedule

2009-09-25T08:19:00.001-05:00

My conference schedule on October 6 is as follows:

Brandon Elementary: 1:30 - 3:30

Robert Bennis Elementary: 3:30 - 5:30

Fred Assam Elementary: 6:30 - 9:00

Please feel free to see me at any one of the campuses regarding your child's progress on their band instrument! I look forward to meeting as many parents as I can!

5th Grade Band to Appear with the High School Marching Lynx!!

2009-09-21T13:51:00.001-05:00

The 5th grade band members will be marching with the Brandon Valley Marching Lynx prior to the football game on Friday, October 16. The band students will need to be in the High School Commons area by 6:45 that evening and will march with the high school band at 7:00pm. The band members are to wear 'Lynx' colors for this event. After putting their instruments away, they are allowed to go back into the game for free. Please mark your calendars for this fun event - we would like to see as many of the 'future' marching Lynx join us as possible!

Welcome to 5th Grade Band!

2009-09-18T08:23:00.000-05:00

Welcome to the Brandon Valley 5th Grade Band! We are in for an exciting year as we work together to develop the skills and talents necessary to achieve our goals as young musicians!