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Leading up to Thanksgiving break...
November 12th, 2023
Schedules for 5th and 6th Band
As we head into our November 30 concert, the schedule will be slightly different for the next few weeks of band.
5th GRADE BAND
Monday, Nov 13 - Flute and Percussion at RTI
Tuesday, Nov 14 - Reeds and Brass at RTI
Wednesday, Nov 15 - FULL BAND at specials
Thursday, Nov 16 - FULL BAND at specials
Friday, Nov 17 - no band
Monday, Nov 27 - no band
Tuesday, Nov 28 - FULL BAND at specials
Wednesday, Nov 29 - FULL BAND at specials
Thursday, Nov 30 - FULL BAND at RTI
Friday, Dec 1 - no band
6th GRADE BAND
Monday, Nov 13 - no band
Tuesday, Nov 14 - FULL BAND
Wednesday, Nov 15 - FULL BAND
Thursday, Nov 16 - FULL BAND
Friday, Nov 17 - no band
**students in Patel's homeroom will attend PE on Monday/Friday instead of Art, at the request of that teacher.
Monday, Nov 27 - FULL BAND
Tuesday, Nov 28 - FULL BAND
Wednesday, Nov 29 - FULL BAND
Thursday, Nov 30 - FULL BAND
Friday, Dec 1 - no band
**students in Biggs homeroom will attend PE on Friday instead of Art, at the request of that teacher.
This is the final push before our presentation for you, so please help students remember instruments on the correct day. For these weeks, it is better they have it than not. They have a list of everything they will be performing for you. It is asked they spend some time each day preparing those items so they are fully ready for their group performance.
Congratulations to Middle School for an outstanding Nov 2 band concert!
If you happen to have more photos of the band concert, please send them to Dr. Kunz! I unfortunately get caught up in doing the event, and this time, playing in the band with the students, so I never get photos of the students. Thank you! caryn.kunz@dvusd.org.
Reeds, Reeds, Reeds
Reeds - why do we have specific brands?
When you're talking about oboe or bassoon, these reeds MUST come from a double reed specialist and cannot come from a store bought situation. As an oboist, we train for years to learn how to properly balance and craft a reed. It is a days long process that, honestly, can make or break a double reed player. Store bought reeds are made by machine and are not balanced nor even made with quality cane. Cane is a resources, kind of like bamboo, with the best coming out of France. It is cut, aged, and finally processed for instrument use. I cannot tell you how many pieces I have had to throw away while making oboe reeds because they are bent, warped, or have signs of insect damage (yes, that actually has happened!). Oboists should be getting their reeds from Obonik. He is a local oboist, whom I have known since 2003 back in Cincinnati. He knows what he is doing an makes a quality product!
When talking about clarinet or saxophone, there are so many cheap options online. They seem appealing, but the quality control (mentioned above) is not there. I have modeled in class what I sound like on an approved brand, Juno or Vandoren, vs an Amazon purchased Slade reed. It is mind blowing how different the sound is. The students always laugh, but if a professional musician who knows how to control the instruments in so many scenarios sounds laughable, the poor beginners and intermediate students will just fight with those reeds. Notes may not speak. Squeaks may happen. I've even seen where they cannot get ANY sound out at all because the cane is too soft. Junos are an offshoot of the Vandoren label. Vandoren is considered a solid brand by clarinetists around the world. D'Addario Reserve reeds are also fantastic and priced around the Vandoren.
5th graders should be playing a strength 2.5; 6th graders should be on 2.5 for now and begin shifting to 3.0 around February; middle schoolers should be on 3.0. Oboists should be getting medium strength reeds. Students should be changing out their reeds every 3-4 weeks. If they are playing on them longer than that, they are going to be softer, and honestly, it is possible for bacteria and/or mold to begin hanging out if not properly cared for.
Please only purchase approved brands so your reed player has the chance to make their best sounds possible. We also learn how to blend our sound and play on the same wavelength of sound with our neighbors (called intonation). Using other brands, as cost effective as it is, would be like putting the lowest gas in your sports car. Eventually, it's going to cause problems!
Don't have the means to purchase a box right now? There are many times I have reeds for purchase in the classroom.
Juno Clarinet Reeds - $2 each
Bass Clarinet Reeds - $5 each
Juno Alto Reeds - $3 each
Juno Tenor Reeds - $5 each
Juno Bari Reeds - $5 each