Tuesday, November 26, 2013

TTT (Turkey Tunes Tuesday!)

Band... now read this!

So now that you're BORED, here are mo' better suggestions to keep you occupied on a cold, wet, dreary kind of day:
1. Repeat Monday's list.
2. Play all of your scales 5 times, using different rhythm patterns and articulations. be creative. Be sure differentiate tenuto, staccato, and marcato. Record and playback using your phone or some other device.
3. Guard, you can do the same, visually, by incorporating some statics (grounders, tick-tock, stops, drop spins, devils, butterfiles, etc., along with some cool background music. Use a camera. Watch yourself and evaluate. Might even consider having a guard friend over to help do some partner work.
4. Percussionists: find your old bells kit (probably under your bed) and work on some scales, arpeggios, scales in thirds, interval exercises. You'll need to dust off these skills for percussion ensemble. USE a metronome.
5. Get on arrangerspublishing.com and find Jingle Bell Jam, our Christmas parade tune. Start listening, and be ready to learn this next week. We use it for the Christmas Lighting, Concert on 10 Dec, and in the parade on 14 Dec.
6. Practice your 32 most challenging measures of Christmas concert music today. break it down, subdivide through it, pencil whip it with your own counting/markings/edits to make it playable. Look up all of the pieces and listen (google search/ youtube/ jwpepper/penders music).
7. YOU MUST WORK ON 8 MEASURES OF DISTRICT HONOR BAND prepared etude! No ifs, ands, or buts! We have invested in your audition slot, so now do you part! There is no excuse for not preparing!
8. Start planning a "mini concert" that you will perform for your family this Thanksgiving weekend. Play your instrument, spin your flag, shake your tambourine! Entertain your folks! You can even sing for them. invite a couple of band friends to join in.
9. Think about smart stocking stuffer ideas: Everyone, (yes you too guard) could use a metronome (or get an app for your phone); tuner; reeds; mouthpiece; cleaning supplies; solo literature (check out jwpepper or penders; percussionists also check tapspace and rowloff). Have fun shopping!
10. I know that some of your parents are considering getting you a new instrument. PLEASE CONSULT with me FIRST before you buy anything. I will be more than glad to make professional suggestions to help your folks INVEST in a quality piece of equipment. All that glitters like gold does not necessarily sound golden!
11. I will be at the bandroom today between 8 and 11:00, if you need anything. Otherwise, you'll need to contact me by other means.
12. PICK UP 8 items from the floor; put them where your mom/pop/granny says they need to go!
13. Tomorrow's suggested activity is composition!




JSquare, NBCT

Director of Bands

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