6th grade band

INSTRUMENTS:

I recommend Buddy Rogers Music (order online at www.joinband.com or at a BR location). Other retail choices are available around the area, as well.

BAND METHOD BOOK:

Essential Elements 2000 series book 1 (contains a play-a-long CD & DVD)

SWITCHING INSTRUMENT

Any student who desires to switch instruments MUST have Mr. Simmons' permission to do so. Students will essentially be starting over, depending on the instrument choice. Thus, private lessons may be necessary.

Additional instrument needs

IN ADDITION TO YOUR INSTRUMENT, MAKE SURE YOU MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING SUPPLIES:

Flutes:

A cleaning rod and a rag that can be pulled through your instrument to remove excess moisture. (The rod should be included with your rental)

clarinets & saxes:

Reeds are your responsibility and can be purchased in boxes of 10. There are several brands to choose from, including Rico and La Voz. Students should be using #2 1/2 strength or 'medium' strength reeds.

Have a cleaning swab that can be pulled through your instrument to remove excess moisture. These clothes have a weighted string attached to them.

Brass instruments (trumpets, horns, trombones, baritones, tubas):

Trumpets & baritones = always have valve oil
Trombones = always have slide oil
All brass: have cork grease for your slides.
Keep an old rag on hand for polishing your instrument.

Percussionists:

Snare drummers have a good pair of drum sticks, size 2B. Good brands include: Vater, Zildjian, Vic Firth, Promark, & Regal Tip. Your kit will come with a generic pair of starter sticks.
Mallet Percussionists - set of mallets (comes with your kit)

Band procedures & policy

When do 6th graders have band?

FULL BAND meets Wednesday afternoons

HR meets Thursday mornings

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS:

Students are always working working on one or two pages from their book.

- Student's responsibility: Prepare current page(s) assigned from the last class at home.

CAN'T PLAY DUE TO INJURY OR PROLONGED ILLNESS: Please have a doctor's note on file with the nurse's office

How are students graded?

1. CLASS PROGRESS AND HOME PRACTICE.

Students are EXPECTED to prepare at least the next 3 songs from the book after the last song played in the last class.
For example: if the last song played was number 41, students should practice and perfrect #42,43, &44 for the next class at home (unless unwise told by Mr. S)

I recommend 20 minutes at least three times a week. Students are expected to stay current on their weekly assignments.

2. HAVING ALL REQUIRED MATERIALS AT EACH REHEARSAL.

required materials include:

Essential Elements band method book
your instrument (in working order)
band folder
pencil

3. PLAYING TESTS

4. PERFORMANCES

Mr. Simmons ALWAYS allows a student the opportunity to retake a test. Students must schedule a retake outside of regular class time

Grade Reminder:

Grades are earned, not awarded. A student's grade is a concrete indicator of continued progress towards maturing musicianship. For example, students receiving a 'B' grade demonstrate 'average' progress.

Practice Tips:

DIVIDE MUSIC INTO SMALL SECTIONS and rehearse those areas. After you are comfortable with each area, only then begin to 'put the pieces together,' always striving for smooth playing between every measure.

FIND THE HARDEST NOTES/SECTIONS and start there. Practice those sections often. If you tackle the most difficult areas of a song first, the rest will be a 'down-hill' process.

MAKE NOTES TO YOURSELF WITH A PENCIL. You can write yourself reminders so you don't continue to make mistakes on certain sections.

SLOW DOWN! The most common mistake any student makes is trying to play their music too fast. When you practice too fast, you practice mistakes!!

PRACTICE FOR ACCURACY!!! If you have to pause between measure or stop due to mistakes, then you need to slow things down and play at a more manageable speed.

ASK MR. SIMMONS for extra help when you are having repeated trouble in your practicing.

Try this practicing game:

Pick a section of music that needs work.
Pick a number of times (Five a good number to start with) that you will play it WITHOUT mistakes.
If you make a mistake, you start over at one. For example, you play the first two times without a mistake. On the third attempt, you mess up. You then start over at one. If you can make it 5 times through without a mistake, you've got it down.

Auditioning for the IHM concert band (combined grades)

At the appropriate level, those 6th grader ready to be challenged can audition for the 7th & 8th grade 'IHM' band. Auditionees will need to pass a multi-part playing test in order to make this group.

Audition test:

Students will need to successfully pass the following excerpts:

(From book 1)

On Page 40

1. Key of Bb #1

2. Key of Eb #1

On Page 36

3. #179 - American Patrol (Book 1)

4. Rhythm counting exercise (see Mr. Simmons)