These updates will serve as a guide to help you know what we are working on and what is coming up in class
Week 1 Getting Started -Sound production -Instrument assembly -posture checklist -hand position checklist -embouchure checklist -instrument care -Long tones
Be sure to watch the specific videos posted for your instrument on your page!
Week 2 Refining our First Sounds - Understand the terms following terms Pitch, Beat, rhythm, tone, articulation, long tone.
-Long tones -First three notes -Playing songs without sheet music
Be sure to watch the specific videos posted for your instrument on your page!
Followership introduction
Week 3 FLEX WEEK what this means is that you will be taking this time to do one of a few things
-Reflecting on what you have learned -Working on something that was hard -Challenging yourself with new content -Engaging in an awesome class project
Week 4 Method Books :) Key concepts- make sure you understand them :) -Music staff -fermata -bar lines -measures -quarter notes -quarter rest -whole note
Take 1st Followership Evaluation
Learn from our method books! Starting with 1.1-1.14 (all songs we know!)
Week 5- Team Week Key Concepts -Accidentals -Flat -Sharp -Natural -4/4 time -Time Signature -Name your first three notes
Followership Focus- Team week -you will put together a team of friends to prepare a song for the class using the skills we have talked about.
Method Book 1.14- Hot Cross Buns 1.15- Here we go 1.16- Au Claire De La Lune 1.17- Mary Had A Little Lamb
Bonus- 1.18 Mary Had A Cool Lamb
Week 6- MEA- Perform and Reflect week
Student team performances Reflect on personal followership and group performance
-Because of the very short week we ask that students make sure and take their instrument home over MEA. During MEA they should practice minimum of 1 hour, which is only 20 minutes a day when you break it down.
Week 7- Learn how to Conduct Key concepts -Duet -2 new notes! -Stephen Foster -Phrase -Breath Marks
Percussion only -multiple bounce stroke -muffling
Show a family member how you learned to conduct! try conducting to something you hear on the radio or at home!
Method Book 1.24 Down By The Station 1.25 Some Folks Do 1.26 Scaling The Wall
Go to the HS band concert on the 22nd!
Week 8- Flex Week/Team week
We will use this week to make sure everyone caught up.
Followership Discussion & Activity
Week 9- Exploration week Key Concepts -Complete worksheet in book
Method Book -1.27 Good King Wenceslas -1.28 Stomp Rock -1.29 Go Tell Aunt Rhody
You must Discover musicians that you think are cool 1. can play any kind of music 2. one that plays your instrument
once you have found it, share it in google classroom
NEW QUARTER Week 10- Beethoven week Key Concepts -Key Signature Bb Major -Ludwig van Beethoven -two new notes
Percussion rudiments -flam
Method Book 2.1 Ode To Joy 2.2 Outer Limits 2.4 Shark
On your own listen to a piece composed by Beethoven, once you have listened to the piece, turn it into the google classroom and tell me about what you liked/disliked.
Method Book 2.7 Star Search 2.10 Jingle Bells Practice Concert Materials
On your own listen to a piece composed by Mozart once you have listened to the piece, turn it into the google classroom and tell me about what you liked/disliked.
During this week of followership and Team band, I would like you to use the skills you have learned in band to make add something of your choosing to a any piece of music, make it your own.
1. Choose a song 2. Practice it 3. Make it your own (add something, be creative, look back at our Key concepts) 4. Perform it next week!
Week 12- Performance/Etiquette Week No new key concepts
Perform Team songs from previous week Followership Discussion Complete followership sheet on Google Classroom
Because of the upcoming concert on Dec 3rd we will not be adding any method book work
Practice Concert Materials
Week 13- First Band Concert
More details will follow. For this week, we will be getting ready for our concert on Thursday
After the concert students will complete a concert review form and turn it in to google classroom.
Week 14- Week of the other instruments Key concepts -mp (mezzo-piano) -mf (mezzo-forte) -pick-up notes
Percussion -paradiddle -suspended cymbal
Method Book 2.11 Dreidel Song 2.13 Dynamic Doodle All Day 2.14 A-Tisket, A-Tasket
Several Clarinets will be selected to make the switch to the alto saxophone.
Trombones/Baritones may also be considered for Tuba
Week 15- Team Week Key Concepts -Accent -Syncopation -New Note
Method Book 2.16 Aftrican Safari 2.18 Walk To My Lou
For this week of Followership, students will choose a popular Christmas carol and prepare it for the class. We will also have signups in the mornings for before-school Christmas carols
Week 16- Holiday Festivites
For this week we will be focusing on ways that we can give back to our community using the skills we have learned in class. We will be discussing what servant leadership is and what it means to be a part of our program.
Performing for -Friends -Family -Senior Citizens -School -Church
Christmas Bingo Sheets will also be sent home
CHRISTMAS BREAK- PLEASE PRACTICE :)
Week 17- A New Start Key Concepts -Rehearsal numbers -Tutti (not a fart) -Pyramid of sound
This week we will be taking a fresh start, reviewing our fundamentals and taking a look a what a proper band should sound like. We will do several listening activities this week to explore quality concert literature.
Activities can be found in Google Classroom
Week 18- Breathe Together Play Together Key concepts -Breathing
Method Book Pick any tune for this week
For class we will be selecting a Full band Piece and Learning it together as an ensemble and what it takes to put a full band piece together
Complete a followership evaluation & turn it in
Week 19- Rehearsing Concert Music Key Concepts -no new concepts
Followership As a class we will be discussing the challenges that we face as we rehearse more difficult music and how we can overcome those challenges as a team.
Method Book -Selected concert tune -Free practice (any tune)
Week 20- What time is it? Key Concepts -3/4 -2/4 -Conducting in 2/4 & 3/4
Percussion -Flam Accent -Flam Tap
Method Book 3.2 Three's a Crowd 3.3 Three Pointer 3.5 Rain Rain Go Away
Percussion 3.7 Flam Chowder
Week 21- New & Improved Band Warmup :) Key Concepts -New Key signature -Dotted half note -Two new notes
Method Book 3.8 Canyons 3.9 Royal Sceptre 3.10 Things Are Looking Up
This week clarinets will get the chance to learn some seriously cool high notes as everyone else will get the opportunity to learn a brand new band warmup using "lip-slurs" and Saxophone octave jumps.
Week 22 Key Concepts -no new concepts
Method Book 3.12 Triple Crown 3.13 Minuet 3.14 Jungle Ritual
Week 23 Flex Week
TBD
Week 24- Picking up the Pace Key Concepts -Common time -Eighth notes
Percussion -Double paradiddle
Method Book 3.15 Volga Boatmen 3.17 Camptown Races 3.19 8th note Express 3.21 Skip To My Lou
Week 25- Applying Followership to New Concert Music Key Concepts -Enclosed repeat signs -Round -Theme and variations -Double bar line -Whole measure rest
Percussion -16th notes
Method Book 3.22 Waltz To My Lou 3.23 Two By Four 3.24 Frere Jacques New Concert Music
Bonus Song: Variations On A French Melody
With our Concert approaching on March 16th, be practicing our concert music
Method Book 3.26 It's Swell 3.27 Outta My Way Concert Music Prep This will be a very demanding week which will require teamwork and engagement as we prepare for our concert March 16th
Complete Followership activity in google classroom
Week 27- Concert Week Mass Band Key Concepts -1st and 2nd endings -conduct in 3/4 time -new note
Method Book 3.28 Regal Fanfare 3.30 Scaling The Wall 3.31 New Frontiers
The Concert on March 16th will feature the entire Pierz Band Department 5-12
After the Concert Students will submit a Concert Reflection on Google Classroom
Week 28- Hockey Season Approaches! Key Concepts -Divisi, -Multiple measure rests
Method Book 3.32 When The Saints 3.34 Long Long Ago Practice Pep Band Music
The 5th and 6th Grade bands will form a Pep Band to play for the Annual Hockey Tournament where the 5th grade and 6th grade battle it out, only to lose to the teachers :)
The Date is TBD
Week 29- Garage Band Key Concepts -Concert F Major -Legato -Two new notes
Method Book 3.36 Zum Gali Gali 4.1 Circus Act 4.2 Daybreak
For our Garage band week, students will have the opportunity to work together to play any of the Pep Band tunes and record them. 1 submission per group may be turned in on Google Classroom. The only rule is, it has to rock!
Method Book 4.3 Chiapanecas 4.5 Slip'n Slide 4.6 Musette
Followership for this week will include reflection on last weeks activity and the challenges we faced. We will focus on the skills needed to overcome those obstacles in the future. Worksheets may be turned in on Google Classroom.
Week 31- Exploration of Classical Music Key Concepts -Tie -Gustav Mahler
Percussion -Cross stick -Multiple Bounce Roll
Method Book 4.8 Theme From Symphony #1 4.10 All Tied Up 4.12 Barcarolle
Students will select a pieces of classical music from a list that they must listen to and write a reflection on. This may be turned into Google Drive
Week 32- Play it like you are singing it! Key Concepts -New Key signature Concert Ab Major -Maestoso -Pyotr Ilych Tchaichovsky -New Note
Method Book 4.13 Blue Bells Of Scotland 4.16 Accidental Blues
Method Book 4.19 All Through The Night 4.20 America (My Country 'Tis Of Thee) Concert Music
We will be learning about Jazz music and the upcoming concert that is happening on April 30th. 5th grade will not be participating but are encouraged to attend.
Week 34- Concert Prep We will spend this week preparing for our concert on May 6th
Week 35- Solo/Ensemble Week Key Concepts -D.C. al Fine -Calypso -Rim Click -Claves Method Book 4.21 Alouette 4.22 Banana Boat Song
Students will select to either perform alone or with a group any song of their choosing, this will take place the final week of school.
Week 36- The Grand Finale! Key Concepts -Antonin Dvorak -Marziale -Enharmonic notes
Method Book 4.23 Theme From The New World Symphony
Students will perform their selected pieces and finish with their final Followership evaluation which may be turned in to google classroom