AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFebruary 6 - 7, 2015

Session 5 & 12

Focus on Fundamentals

For Young Band

Jenn BockDirector of Bands - Poston Junior High School

Mesa Public Schools - Mesa, ArizonaEmail: jabock@mpsaz.org

Website: http://band.postonmusic.org

The Basic Fundamentals of a Young Band Rehearsal:

TONE- posture, stretching & breathing, long tones & warm-ups/flexibilityTECHNIQUE- rhythm studies, scales, method book/etudes

Class time can be broken down into different activities and focuses:5 minutes- stretching & breathing5 minutes- long tones, warm-ups, flexibility5 minutes- rhythm studies5-10 minutes- scales10-15 minutes- method book, etude, technique, tuning, chorale15-20 minutes- repertoire

2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn Bock

Focus on TONE:

Posture• Constant, daily reminders- young students won’t do it automatically.• Non-verbal cues and reminders. • Model good posture yourself.• Catch them doing it right. • Show videos of more professional musicians

• Bravo Music- All Japan Band Competition Videos• www.bravomusicinc.com

Stretching & Breathing Exercises• Make it a habit, it’s just what you do!• Get excited about it!• Fun names & silly songs- why so serious?• The Breathing Gym & The Breathing Gym Daily Workouts

• Focus On Music- http://www.focus-on-music.com/• Let the kids lead them sometimes too!

Long Tones & Warm-Ups• Using beats helps internalize pulse and gets you off the podium and around the room.

• DrumBeats+ (iPhone & iPad App), GarageBand, Dr. Beat, Drum Set Player?• Change the beat and the tempo so they always have something to listen to.• Move to/feel the beat!

Use this time to work on tone, balance, blend, attacks & releases, posture, air, technique, articulation, dynamics, etc. Make the focus change every day so they always have to think and improve! Don’t let your warm-up routine get too mundane.

Use any resources available to you or write your own.Visit http://band.postonmusic.org to access the following warm-ups for free.

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2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn BockPoston Band Warm-up Packet Excerpts Clarinet

Trumpet

Euphonium

Percussion

http://band.postonmusic.orgResources

2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn Bock

The Percussion Problem

When spending rehearsal time on air and tone with our wind players, we must keep in mind our young percussionist. Find creative ways to build structured fundamental practice into your rehearsals for them to.

Practice Pads- • Builds confidence, doesn’t affect the band while they are “learning”• When they all play at once they help each other learn.• A weaker drummer on a practice pad won’t affect the band in the way a loud snare drum

can. They can work through their issues without being put on display.

Recommendations:• Remo 12” single sided practice pad• Steve Weiss Extended Height Concert Snare Drum Stand• Kitchen mats cut up on music stands• Mouse pad, block of wood and some duct tape

Breathing Exercise with Percussion RudimentsBreathing exercises are incredibly important for wind players. Often, percussionists are told to “join in” on them, but what if they could be improving their own skills during that time instead?

• “ee-aa-oo” = 8 on a hand• We elongate the breathing exercise to do 8 of each so percussionists can practice grip

and technique with 8 on a hand.

• In-sip-sip, Out-push-push = Flam-tap-tap, Flam-tap-tap

• Leaky Chunks or Fight For Air = Roll practice• Tap the beat for inhale- flams on the sips- buzz rolls on the exhale chunks

• 5-15-5 = taps, flams, and rolls

• Flow = Paradiddles• Change from quarter notes, to eighth notes, to sixteenth as student progress.

Long Tones and Warm-Ups for percussionists• Alternate days between keyboard and snare skills

• MWF = mallets, TR = snare/practice pads

2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn BockFocus on TECHNIQUE

Rhythm Studies

• Daily rhythm practice builds rhythm reading and understanding• Pat rhythms on shoulder rather than clapping- builds confidence.

• Students are less afraid of being wrong because it’s not as loud.• Crossing an arm across the body engages the brain differently.

• Visual incentives (The Rhythm Race) helps kids see their progress and motivates them to learn and pass off.

• Learn when to move on and come back to a rhythm. • Drilling the same rhythm over and over gets boring and frustrating, a fresh perspective

the next day can do a lot for learning.• “Everybody counts because everybody counts!”

• Rhythms for Band- Douglas Akey- Mesa Public Schools• Basics in Rhythm- Garwood Whaley- Meredith Publications• Rhythms pages in the back of method books

Scale Study

• Incentives for passing off on scales get kids excited to learn them!• Have kids pass off at their own speed/level.

• It gives highly motivated kids a chance to shine while the slower learners have plenty of time to figure it out before trying.• Celebrate when a kid passes off! • Applaud even when they don’t to encourage them to try again.• Sticker charts are always a great motivator for kids! They love to see their name.

SCALE WARS• 3-5 students sign up in a binder before class to pass off• After we’ve practiced our scales those students play the one they signed up for• If no one signs up students are chosen at random• Scales are PASS/MISS- no one “fails” they get told what to fix and to try again tomorrow.• When they pass they put a sticker on the chart.• When they pass ALL 12 Majors and the chromatic- they win Scale Wars!• Choose to be on the “Light” or “Dark” side of the force and sign the poster while we play

Star Wars Music and cheer really, really, loudly.

2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn BockMethod Book & Etude Studies

• Just one or two exercises per day so you can get to concert repertoire• Use the accompaniment CD/tracks

• Add tracks to iPad/iPod• TempoSlow- app- allows you to slow down mp3s. • Use the same drumbeat as the warm-up• Play piano accompaniment from the book while students play

The Learning Process• Pat and Count Rhythm• Sizzle Play while teacher models

• Choose the instrument with the trickiest part or new concept/note• Students play while teacher plays• Play without teacher modeling• Have sections play alone• Have rows play alone

Assessment

Even assessing students doesn’t need to be a chore! Keep it fast and simple.• Practice Checks- every week or every other week

• 4-8 measures of music, exercise from the book, or a scale• Go around the room and use a simple rubric• Feedback can be clear and concise• Start somewhere different in the room each time

Tips, Tricks, and Ideas

• Fast pacing is key! • Talk in time to keep students ready to play at a moments notice.

• Daily Announcements can slow the pace of a class, place them between activities to keep things moving.

• There’s so much to teach in so little time. Try focusing on different skills on different days.• Major Scale Monday, Technique Tuesday, Sight Reading Wednesdays, Tonal

Thursdays- (so they don’t all have to be alliterations!)• Students can help manage classroom tasks so you can focus your energy on instruction!

• Band Council Student Leadership- creates ownership for the program

2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn BockPoston Scale Packet Version 2 ExcerptsEach student in the band program uses the same scale sheet, regardless of their level.

Concert Bb/Written C - Clarinet - range accommodations are written for struggling students

Every scale sheet begins with the one octave scale in whole notes. It uses accidentals instead of the key signature at this point to bring attention to the “critical pitches”.

Concert C - Trombone/Euphonium

The less experience bands focus on the one octave scale and arpeggio with a metronome.The lines now implement the key signature.

Concert Ab - Flute

Even beginning students can see that there is more than just the one octave on each scale.More advanced players are required more octaves.

Concert Db Major- Percussion

Percussionists often struggle learning keyboards so the visual at the top of their scale sheet helps. They are required to SAY the names of the notes in the scale in order to pass off.

http://band.postonmusic.orgResources

2015 AMEA State In-Service ConferenceFocus on FUNdamentals

Jenn Bock

Rhythms for Band- developed by Douglas Akey- Mesa Public Schools