Music

We are so excited to have two weeks of uninterrupted opportunities for practice.  There have been so so so many excuses the past 5 weeks, and the school will agree, it has been a VERY busy end to the term.  However, as always, as we engage in group lessons, practise is non-negotiable as all students have to remain on target. So here are expectations for return to school, Term 4.

Junior Flutes, clarinet, trumpet: All band pieces we have learned, up to both lines of London Bridge, should be played with success and fluency. 

Junior Trombone:  All band pieces up to Surprise Symphony theme should be played with accuracy. 

Junior Percussion: All band pieces up to Surprise Symphony should be fluent on both drums and glockenspiel. London Bridge both triangle and snare parts should be fluent, glockenspiel not necessary for this piece. Try to play the snare part with both hands. Flams and paradiddles should be practised to slow but consistent speed.

If any juniors are seeking extension over the holiday break, they are more than welcome to learn any pieces we have skipped over, and we would love to hear them on return to school. But please don’t move ahead in the book. Practiced bad habits are hard to break. 

All Seniors should be playing La Bamba with confidence.  Then all senior students have solo or duets they are working on.

Trombone: Roch is all over it. He knows exactly what he needs to work on. 

Trumpet: This week Kaitlyn and Max played the whole way through their piece with piano accompaniment for the first time. Focus on crescendos (getting gradually louder) and decresendos (getting gradually softer) should be a focus, as well as counting as always. 

Flute: Rose, Agnes and Lois know where they are up to in Lost in the Dark. The first 2 and a half lines should be well known, and they are welcome to learn more.  If they want to play along to a recording the link is here. https://www.sheetmusicplus.com/en/product/lost-in-the-dark-for-flute-duet-20741827.html

Clarinet: Both Charlie and Molly missed their last goal setting lesson. They have a lovely piece they are working on ‘To A Wild Rose’.  Slurs are key in this piece.