Homework

Felix Cook Stallion Band

TIP:  For extra help (and fun) with your home band instrument practice, many of the songs and materials (sheet music, audio files, etc.) that we are working on in band class can be downloaded to your home computer from the “Downloads” page of this web site.  Click the “Downloads” link on that page, then, after you log in to your personal FREE Fileswap account, enter the password that Mr. Dunn gives to you to download these band materials to your home computer or other device.  Check back often to see if any new materials have been added that you can download.

UPCOMING BAND TESTS:

Tests on:

1. “Band Basics” on the following items:
2. All selections for the upcoming band concert on 5/23/2013.  Checking for correct basics, pitches, rhythms, dynamics, and music symbol interpretations.
3. Solo selections for students attending the West Briar Solo & Ensemble Festival on 5/31/2013.  Checking for correct basics, pitches, rhythms, dynamics, and music symbol interpretations.

CURRENT PRACTICE ASSIGNMENTS FOR ALL BAND CLASSES:

• Practice all “band basics”, including proper instrument assembly and care, correct embouchure (brass & woodwind instruments), correct hand position, fingers over the home keys (woodwinds), correct playing posture,
• PERCUSSION :  Practice the first snare drum rudiment on the Percussion Karate sheet, Multiple Bounce Roll (also known as the Long Roll or Buzz Roll.)  Start very slowly, gradually speeding it up until you can play it as fast as you possibly can.  Then, gradually slow it back down again until it stops.  PRACTICE ALL RUDIMENTS THIS SAME WAY.  Next, practice Flams, Paradiddles, and other rudiments the same way (See the Percussion Karate sheet for recommended order to learn and practice your rudiments in.)
• Practice pages 1 through 4 from My Band Book, applying our “band basics” (good instrument playing habits), including good hand position, embouchure, playing posture, and clear, steady, pretty tones. Always warm up with long notes (such as whole notes) before trying to play songs with shorter, faster notes.  “Eat an Elephant” (Practice a little bit at a time, learning bit-by-bit) with the lines and songs from My Band Book.  Also try the “Slow-Motion” practice method of practicing songs or lines slowly at first, then gradually speeding them up to the faster tempo that you want to play them at.
• Practice machine-gun tongue starts at home every day. BRASS & WOODWIND INSTRUMENTS: This means playing 5 rather fast notes all in one blow, starting these notes with the tongue (tonguing or tongue starts) “TA-TA-TA-TA-TA”. For PERCUSSION: play 5 fast single-stroke notes on the bells and on the snare drum (or drum practice pad), always alternating hands: R-L-R-L-R, L-R-L-R-L. Repeat this over and over, starting rather slowly and gradually speeding it up.
• All band students practice SONGS & SELECTIONS FOR OUR UPCOMING CONCERT (5/23/2013):Hot Cross Buns (MBB p.4 #27)
  Mary Had a Little Lamb (MBB p.4 #32)
  Fais Do Do (MBB p.3 #31) for 3/4 meter
  Au Clarie de la Lune (MBB p3. #20)
  Down By The Station (MBB p.3 #21) for quarter rests
  Melody – for dynamics markings, 4/4 meter, legato style
  Springtime Waltz – for dynamics markings, 3/4 meter, legato style
  Menuett – for dynamics, stacatto style, 3/4 meter
  Dance Song – for dynamics, mixed legato & stacatto articulations, 4/4 meter
  Jazz Harlem (5th graders only) – for ostinato, harmony, conductor cues
  Snake Charmer (BG #2) – for slurs.
  Bomb Flight – for ostinato, stacatto style, articulations.
  When the Saints Go Marching In – stacatto style, articulations, melody, harmony, soli (trombone)
  Go Team Go – for ostinato, improvised solos.
• Students who paid their field trip fee and are going on the Solo & Ensemble Festival field trip to West Briar Middle School on May 31st should be practicing their solo every day in preparation for this performance.  These students should work on goals and objectives marked on their solo music by Mr. Dunn during band class when he helped them individually with these solos.
• All band students practice Scale Warm-Up, and Technique Sheet, line #1 (Bb concert scale.)  Note:  The first 6 notes of this scale were also used in “Jingle Bells” and “Jolly Old St. Nick”.  The letter names and fingerings for the 3 highest notes are written above these notes, since these are new notes for our new band students.  You may also use your fingering chart to help you with the fingerings of these new notes.
• NOTE:  Mr. Dunn often re-tests band students (as necessary) on previously given tests and skills learned earlier during the school year.