Welcome to the 2008-2009 School Year!

Welcome back for a brand new school year. This year especially looks to be very exciting as there are some changes that have been made, as well as some revamping of the program. I am now teaching 4th and 5th grade Music Enrichment, which allows me to introduce the band instruments and then teach recorder. This has also allowed me to not take time during their normal classes to introduce the instruments to them like last year.
For the 6-8th grade combined band, we are starting out from the beginning playing the winter concert music. This is so that both the winter concert and the spring concert will a great experience for them, as well as an opportunity to play better music. They are already progressing very well with it, and it looks like we will be able to put on a wonderful concert.
As for lessons, it is a little different than last year in that they are a lot more flexible. I want to make sure the students know what's going on with their band music, but I also want to make sure they are keeping up with their school work. To this end, I am asking that they come to even just part of the lesson if they have something for another class so that they may at least get any vital information if their is any. This way I can also touch base with them on the music so I can make sure they are keeping up with it easier. I will also be conducting peformance quizzes which will allow me to keep track of their progress during the year and make sure they are practicing.
During band itself, we will be working more this year with balance, blend, and tuning. I want them to experience more of what it is like to consistently play together and blend well. This is when a band has its best sound, and it is already starting to help them. I will be gradually helping them to learn how to hear if they are in tune or not, and will quickly tune them before each class. We will then go through a quick warm-up before we get into the band music. This will allow them to start thinking about all of their balance and blend issues from the get-go, rather than during the main band music.
This is also the time of year for starting beginning band lessons. I have many of the sign up sheets already, and so far have a fairly good amount of 4-8th graders signed up to take lessons. The ones who are signed up are very excited, as am I, and I can't wait to get started with them. My goal for the beginners this year is to reinforce the notes enough with them that they will progress more quickly, and will be able to play more well-known Winter pieces for the Holiday concert. This will make more sense for them, as well as the audience, and allow them to not play three songs that all sound like "Mary Had a Little Lamb."
All in all, it is shaping up to be a very fruitfull and fullfilling year, and I cannot wait to see what the students are capable of. I thank all of you for your continued support with the program. Without your support, the program wouldn't have a basis to start from, as there would be no students. Here's to a great year!

Here is also a copy of the Band Schedule for those who have lost theirs or just want a copy:
Schedule