| Thurs. 3/27, p.3 | C, F, Bb, Eb, G, D and A major Scales. Play with vibrato then double tonguing at q=120+ | Work on a tricky section of Undertow. Take the section apart to isolate the problem. Then, play it in context. | It's GO TIME! Undertow top-M at q=250, be able to play confidently by yourself. | Undertow: M to the end at q=250. Be able to play your part confidently and correctly by yourself. | Listening is an important part of growing as a musician. Put our concert music and your NYSSMA solo on your daily playlist. | Thurs. 4/3, p.6 |
| Thurs. 3/20, p.2 | C, F, Bb, Eb, G, D and A major Scales. Play with vibrato then double tonguing at q=120+ | Choose a tricky set of measures from Up, Undertow, or your NYSSMA solo. Practice them until you are confident. | NYSSMA Solo or Band Music: Make progress each week so that you can reach your goal. Perfect the articulation, dynamics, phrasing and vibrato before speeding up the tempo. Listen to the professional recording as an excellent musical reference to emulate. | Up - All with musicality and character. Reference the recording. | Undertow - Top thru letter N at 8th note =250. Spend time on this with a metronome. Muscle memory training is needed. Reference the recording. | Thurs. 3/27, p.3 |
| Thurs. 3/6, p.6 | Play the lowest octave of the F Concert Minor Scale as whole notes. Play with your biggest sound - fill your instrument with air! | CIRCLE OF 5THS: C, F, Bb, G and D major Scales in the pattern at q=100. | Work on the 16th note section of Undertow. Make sure it is perfect before you speed up the tempo (articulation, dynamics, phrasing). | Undertow top - letter M. The expectation is that you will be able to perform your part confidently and correctly. Then we will be successful as a musical team putting all parts together. | Dashboard is loaded with recordings to help you be successful! NYSSMA recordings are listed under Documents, then NYSSMA 2025, then NYSSMA Solo Assignments 24-25. | Thurs. 3/13, p.7. *This lesson will be graded out of 10 points |
| Thurs. 1/30, p.7 | Choose a measure that needs your attention. Play through it 4x correctly for notes and rhythms. Clap it if you need to. | Don't Get Around Much Anymore - m. 85-91 is still a weak section. | Moten Swing - 97-end is still a weak section. | Lil' Darlin - put a metronome on q=72 and work on m.53-61. This is a weak section and we are speeding up. | We are out of time...make time for personal practice this weekend. Concert is 1 week away! | Thurs. 2/6, p.3 |
| Thurs. 1/23, p.6 | Moten Swing - play through the lead sheet with the backing track. | To add more credit to last lesson, fix:
Don't Get - m.63-64, 77-84, and 85-91
Moten - 97-end
Be able to play the notes and rhythms correctly by yourself. | Work on the tricky measures of Lil' Darlin'. Go section by section to master the notes/rhythms. | Lil' Darlin - All. Be sure to use a metronome at q=72. Keep your "Lazy Swing" tempo honest! | Listen to the recordings on Dashboard to hear our arrangement and also the original version played by the Count Basie Orchestra. | Thurs. 1/30, p.7 |
| Thurs. 1/16, p.5 | Don't Get Around Much Anymore Scale Sheet - play the first 4 notes of each measure along with the backing track. This will help you learn to hear the chord changes. | Work on a tricky spot in Don't Get Around or Moten Swing. Perfect the fingerings / notes / rhythms and articulation. | Moten Swing - All correct notes and rhythms. Listen to the Count Basie recording to help you. | Don't Get Around Much Anymore - All correct notes and rhythms. Especially focus on m.67-80 and 83-end. | Use www.accompanyu.com to help you practice your individual part. | Thurs. 1/23, p.6 |
| Thurs. 1/9, p.3 | Don't Get Around Much Anymore Lead Sheet - play it along with the backing track. | Find a tricky spot in Don't Get Around or Moten Swing. Work on the fingerings/notes/rhythms and perfect them. | Moten Swing m.1-72. Be able to play the correct notes and rhythms. | Don't Get Around Much Anymore m.1-52. Be able to play the correct notes and rhythms. | Listen to the tracks at www.accompanyu.com to help you practice your individual part. Listen to the recordings on Dashboard to hear our arrangement and also the original version played by the Count Basie Orchestra. | Thurs. 1/16, p.5 |
| Mon. 11/25, p.7 | WU Set #1 Option 1 (pg.6) | Work on the tricky parts of Legend. Michael, you are so close to being beautifully confident in the "Lady of the Lake" section! Keep smoothing out and connecting each measure. | Play through EARTH for beauty of tone. Work on your entrances for a clean attack. Work on note endings for a clean release. | Work on Sleigh Ride with a metronome at h=100. | Maria - find time to work on Bohemian. Play through the entire song to work on muscle memory. | Fri. 12/6, p.2 |
| Thurs. 11/14, p.3 | WU Set #1 Option 1 (pg.6) first with vibrato, then with with tukutuku tu 2x on whole note, WU Set #1 Option 4. | LEGEND: There are measures that you each are struggling with. Break them up and slow them down to work on muscle memory and confident tone. Then, practice them in context at tempo with a metronome. | ON THIS DAY: Listen to the recording. Practice the fanfare so that it is confident, strong, and supported to the end of every phrase. | LEGEND: Play through the entire piece. Make sure your articulation is correct. Make sure your entrances and exits are precise. Use a metronome. | It is vital that you can play all of your concert music confidently, and beautifully, by yourself. Let me know how I can help you. | Tues. 11/19, p.5 |
| Thurs. 11/7, p.2 | Long Tone 2 (pg.5), WU Set #1 Option 3 (pg.6), WU Set #2 Option 1 (pg.7). | LEGEND: Choose measures that you are not confident in. Break them up into smaller portions to train accurate finger muscle memory. | LEGEND: Spend time on note accuracy while controlling a full and beautiful tone. Be able to play confidently by yourself. | LEGEND. Play through the entire piece. Make the lyrical sections beautiful. Make sure your articulation is precise. Use a metronome. | Put Legend on in the background as you do HW or chores. | Thurs. 11/14, p.3 |
| Tues. 10/29, p.7 | Long Tone 2 (pg.5), WU Set #1 Option 3 (pg.6), WU Set #2 Option 1 (pg.7). | Ab concert scale memorized in the pattern on pg.26 at q=100. | Ab concert 3rds in 8th notes at q=100. | Legend = Work on finger muscle memory for the fast runs. Be precise and then add speed. All melodic phrases beautified, all articulation crisp. | Find time to practice. Take a part the measures that need attention and work on them 2 beats at a time. | Fri. 11/8, p.2 |
| Fri.10/25, p.6 | Long Tone 2 (pg.5), WU Set #1 Option 3 (pg.6) WU Set #2 Option 1 (pg.7). | Ab concert scale memorized in quarter notes at q=100. | Ab concert 3rds in quarter notes at q=100. | Legend, all. Focus on m.90-end. | Maria - work on perfecting the parts you are comfy with, then start on the tricky parts. Michael - good job with the tricky parts, next work on making them smooth and polished. | Tues. 10/29, p.7 |
| Summer Reminders and Dashboard Practice Tips | Click on Documents, then on Scales. Open the Scales with Fingerings doc and review the Concert Bb Scale, the Concert F Scale (the lowest octave), and the Concert Eb Scale. | If you need a fingering chart, click on Lesson Resources, and then on the Fingerings doc. | Click on Professional Recordings to help you listen to and learn our new Concert Band music and Pep Band songs! | SO excited to share our music! Go to Documents, then Pep Band. Have fun learning: YMCA, Hooked on a Feeling, Stand Up and Cheer, Star Spangled Banner (by Standridge), Hey Song, Seven Nation, and Kernkraft 400. Fun new Concert Band songs are also posted! | Save the date for our YHS Band Retreat! Tues 8/27 from 1-8pm at YHS. All students are requested to attend. We will have fun playing games, rehearsing, have dinner and then enjoy our Music Dept. Ice Cream Social. Excited to see you there! | YHS Band Summer Socials at West Point! Join me on Sat 7/6 for their Independence Day Concert, and Sun 9/1 for their Labor Day Concert - both feature fireworks over the Hudson! More info: https://westpointband.com/calendar.html |