|
The second semester brings many exciting events for your musician. The band
directors are motivated to keep their programs event orientated. Therefore,
the rest of the year is busy with many band activities.
Most of the directors have already scheduled Mid-Year Concerts coming up in
the months of February and March. In addition, the first two Saturdays of March
are the Solo and Ensemble Festivals (see below). The children and the directors
will be spending many hours in preparation for this day. Please encourage your
child to participate in this event.
Next, many of the bands will be preparing for a band tour. This is an exciting
opportunity for the students to perform for the entire school body. Some of
them do as many as four concerts in one day!
The students who have worked hard and improved their skills have the chance
to be selected to participate in the Honor's Band Festival. This event was created
to give our older students the opportunity to perform high school level music.
There will be both a junior (3rd year players) and a senior band (4th &
5th year players). Each will consist of approximately 125 students. It will
take place on May 8th at Guerin Prep High School in River Grove.
Your band director will schedule Spring concerts, both in-school and out-of-school,
as the year comes to a close. This is the time for all groups to showcase their
best music of the entire year.
Lastly, many of the directors enjoy doing some kind of fun, social activity
with the bands as a reward for their hard work. Some of these may include skating
parties, bowling parties, pizza parties, etc.
Our directors are looking forward to these events as it is a very exciting time
for all our band members. More details will be sent home as each event date
approaches. Please encourage and support your child in all the upcoming band
endeavors.
Solo & Ensemble Fesitval Dates:
March 6th:
St. Benedict, Northwest Chicago
St. Peter, Schaumburg
Trinity Lutheran, Tinley Park
March 13th:
Santa Maria, Mundelein
St. Bridget, Rockford
Recently you received a Solo & Ensemble Festival registration letter in
the regular mail. Completed registration forms and payments are due back on
February 8th.
Should My Child Participate in the
Solo & Ensemble Festival?
 Although all
of our students have received a solo piece from their director, only about half
of our students participate in the Solo & Ensemble Festival itself. Students
who do not attend the festival will still be required to perform their piece
for their director. Participants in the festival will perform their piece in
front of a judge. You may be asking yourself, "Should my child participate?"
A few brief facts regarding the festival may help you make a more informed decision.
First of all, the event is not a "contest" in that the participants
are judged in comparison to other students. Each performer is judged on their
proficiency in many categories and given a rating or score. The category scores
are tallied to determine the overall score and to award a medal of three types,
gold, silver or bronze.
Second, the benefit of this event comes in the preparation for the day of the
performance. This includes the motivation for extra practice at home, more individual
attention from the band director, extra practice sessions, more challenging
music, and an unique opportunity to practice and perform with piano accompaniment
(however, some drum solos do not have a piano accompaniment).
Third, the festival is an opportunity for each young musician to take charge
of their own piece of music. They are handed the solo by their band director
and asked to work on it, with the director's help, of course. The piece of music
is meant to challenge the student to improve in all areas including performance
techniques, range, tone, rhythm, and reading. The musical growth is evident
in their everyday performance far beyond the solo piece. All the band directors
will concur that the solo participants develop into their strongest players
in the band.
Lastly and maybe most importantly, the solo experience will allow the student
to gain confidence, self-discipline, and a stronger work ethic. The solos are
meant to be worked on over a period of two months. The progress is gradual and
sometimes slow. The student must develop discipline to put in the time and work
for the reward of doing their best. It does not have immediate gratification.
The benefits come in a student's overall improvement, confidence level and the
realization that hard work and persistence is important to doing their best
work.
Although we strongly encourage students to attend the Solo & Ensemble Festival,
it may not be for everyone. If you are unsure if your child should participate
please discuss it with your band director. He/she may be able to help you make
a determination of what is best for your child.
Instrument Buyout Sale Extended!
 The instrument buyout
sale has been extended through February 12th, 2010. Beginners can receive a
30% discount on the remaining balance of their instrument; returning students
can still save 20% off their remaining balance.
If you believe your child will be continuing in band, it is in your best interest
to buyout their instrument. The sooner you buy out your instrument, the more
you can save!
Please call the office at (847)805-1800 to find out what your balance and payoff
amount are after the discount.
Beginning Clarinetists:
Crossing the Break
 At
about this time, our beginner band students who play clarinet will be working
on a new and sometimes difficult skill: crossing the break. Crossing the break
refers to a clarinetist shifting from one register to the next; in this case,
moving from an A to a B. The note A uses only one finger, and the next note higher,
the B, suddenly uses all the fingers. This skill will take much practice to master,
and students often become frustrated when it doesn't come easily. Here are some
tips to help if your child is struggling.
- Make sure you child is comfortable using the right hand. He or she should
be able to play low notes clearly by covering all the tone holes completely.
- Have your child work on using their pinkies. He or she should know which
keys to use with their pinkies. If in doubt, check the fingering chart in
the book for low F and low E, or ask your child's teacher.
- Once the low notes can be played clearly with the pinkies, add the tip
of the left thumb to the register key. It's important not to uncover the tone
hole in the back, so using just the tip of the thumb helps.
- Most commonly, the third finger of each hand slips off the tone hole a
little bit. Watch your child's hands and push their fingers back over the
tone holes if they are having trouble.
- Let your child take breaks when working on this skill. Let them physically
stretch their fingers back, one at a time, just as if they would stretch their
leg muscles before a race.
 During these cold
weather months, be careful not to store your child's instrument in the trunk
of your car. Cold temperatures can damage woodwind pads and corks, warp reeds,
and stick trumpet valves and trombone slides, and may even crack drumheads.
All of this wear and tear on the instrument may cost money to repair, and it
will be difficult for your child to play. If your instrument is left in the
cold, let it warm up before opening the case, sudden fluctuations in temperature
are worse than gradual ones.
All content ©2002-07 Music Education Services except
where noted. |
