Welcome to a new year of 5th Grade Band!

Welcome to a New Year!

What a great first week of rehearsals!  It is always exciting to begin a new year with the 5th graders.  We are going to have an excellent year working together to develop our talents on our instruments.  We will learn alot of new notes, rhythms, dynamics, tempos and articulations as well as being introduced to a wide variety of musical styles. 

Parents/guardians:  please help your child develop good practice habits right from the beginning as this will set the tone for their development throughout the whole school year.  They are expected to practice 90 minutes a week on their new instrument.  This will help them develop their embouchures (lip, cheek, chin muscles), memorize fingerings and rhythms, develop lung capacity and breath support, and apply all of the concepts that we work on in band and small group lessons to their own playing.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child and the 5th grade band program in the Brandon Valley School District. (Del.Hubers@k12.sd.us)

Until next week, keep practicing.....

Mr. Hubers

District Elementary Band/Orchestra Spring Concert

Our District Elementary Band/Orchestra Spring Concert will be presented on Monday, May 14, at 7:30pm.  The performance will take place in the Performing Arts Center.  I would like all of the band students to assemble in the high school band room by 7:15 the evening of the concert.  Please 'dress up' for this final peformance of the season.

The band students have been working very hard to prepare for this concert and are excited about sharing their music with you!  We will be rehearsing at the PAC on Monday, May 14, from 1:15-2:15, in case parents/guardians/grandparents are not able to make it to the evening performance.  You are welcome to sit in on our final rehearsal.

I would like to thank all of the 5th grade band members and parents for all of their hard work and support during this school year.  The band students have made an incredible amount of progress and I am so proud of their progress.  They are on their way to becoming outstanding musicians!

Best wishes as they move on to the Middle School this fall!
Keep practicing....
Mr. Hubers

Testing Week is Over!

Now that the Dakota Step testing week is over, we can get back to regular routine and schedule for next week!  We have had some excellent full band rehearsals this week, but it will be great to see the lessons again this coming week! 

The band students will be performing their solo for Mr. Kessler from the high school on the following days:

Brandon Elementary:  Tuesday, May 8

Robert Bennis Elementary:  Wednesday, May 9

Fred Assam Elementary:  Thursday, May 10

Parents/guardians/grandparents are invited to come in and listen to their family member perform their solo!  I will be sending home the schedules for the various campuses this coming week so you can make plans to attend if you so choose!

Until next week, keep practicing......

Mr. Hubers

Happy Easter Break!

Easter Break is here already!  Due to testing next week, we will not be having private/group lessons during the day, but we will be having the full band rehearsals throughout the week!!   This will still allow us to work on our sheet music for our upcoming Spring Concert.  Please continue to practice your solos as well.  All of the band students have been making excellent progress on their individual selections and I look forward to hearing them perform for Mr. Kessler!

Enjoy your break from school and good luck with testing next week!
Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

Spring Concert Coming Soon!

District Elementary Band/Orchestra Spring Concert

Monday, May 14, 2012

7:30pm

Please make sure that you get this date on your calendar - let all of your grandparents, relatives and friends know that this is your final performance for your 5th grade band year!  Please make arrangements with your child's soccer, softball, baseball, etc coaches, letting them know about this commitment.  Attending non-school sports practices are not excused absences for school functions such as this!  The students have been working very hard this semester to prepare for this performance and it is important that all of them be there to play with our band!

Until next week, keep practicing....

Mr. Hubers

Keep Working on Solos and Sheet Music!

It was great to hear the progress that the band students are making on their solos this week during their lessons!  Most of them are coming along very nicely - students are playing correct fingerings and rhythms as well as adding some of the dynamics and articulations as well.  As most of you parents have heard, the band members received their copy of 'Star Wars' this past week!  Please encourage them to practice ALL of their music/lesson assignment, not just the melody from 'Star Wars'!!

Until next week....
Mr. Hubers

3rd Quarter Progress Reports Coming Home Today

The progress reports for the 3rd Quarter will be coming home today with the band student's report cards.  I am so pleased with the progress of the group this quarter!  Many of the students are even practicing more than the required 90 minutes a week in between lessons.  Many of the band students have also begun working in their 'Standard of Excellence - Book 2' already.  They are also putting on the final touches to their solos that they have been preparing to perform next month.  We also continue to work on our sheet music for our final concert which will be held on Monday, May 14, at 7:30pm in the Performing Arts Center.

Many exciting things are still to come as we finish up our final quarter for this school year!

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