Excellent 2nd week of lessons!

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!

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!

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!!

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!

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!

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!

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