WPS Elementary Band Newsletter
November S'more
This past month, our instrumentalists have been hard at work preparing for our upcoming Winter Concerts! In 4th grade, we're continuing to work on our first three notes and are starting to learn Hot Cross Buns. In 5th grade, we have learned the melody and harmony for Jingle Bells and have done some great work on improvising with our second piece, G Jam Blues.
November will be a busy month as we get closer to our concerts! Please take a close look at the band schedule below to see days where classes are switched around due to holidays. We encourage everyone to practice at home to reinforce the skills from class, even if it's just practicing with a mouthpiece or an "air" instrument! As always, if you have any questions or concerns throughout the year, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at lauren.girouard@watertown.k12.ma.us.
November Schedule Changes for All Schools
With Election Day, Veteran's Day, and Thanksgiving break all coming up, there will be some changes to the band schedule to make sure that certain classes don't miss out on band for the week. I've broken these changes down by individual school. Please take note of the changes below and set a reminder to bring instruments in on these different days!
Lowell:
Week of November 4-8: normal schedule
Week of November 11-15: ALL 4th and 5th grade classes will meet together on Friday November 15th
Week of November 18-22: normal schedule
Week of November 25-29: ALL 4th and 5th grade classes will meet together on Monday November 25th
Hosmer:
Week of November 4-8: ALL 4th and 5th grade classes will meet together on Wednesday November 6th
Week of November 11-15: normal schedule
Week of November 18-22: normal schedule
Week of November 25-29: normal schedule
Cunniff:
Week of November 4-8: normal schedule
Week of November 11-15: normal schedule
Week of November 18-22: normal schedule
Week of November 25-29: To be determined: I'll send out an email once we determine a day that band will meet this week
You can find the normal band schedule for all schools below:
Lowell
Mondays: 5th grade - Sudbay & Burton 8:20-9:00; 4th grade - Bond 9:00-9:40
Fridays: 5th grade - Brodeur & Mathisen 8:20-9:00; 4th grade - Corcoran & Antonellis 9:00-9:40
Hosmer
Tuesdays: 4th grade - Doherty & Stone 8:30-9:05; 5th grade - Bellis & Psychoghios 9:20-10:00
Wednesdays: 4th grade - Casazza & Spillane 8:30-9:05; 5th grade - Gill & Twomey 9:20-10:00
Cunniff
Thursdays: 4th grade - Park & Barry & Erwin 8:25-9:00; 5th grade - Coveno & Green & Pulizzi 9:10-9:50
The best way to reinforce the learning that we do at school is by practicing at home! Even just 5 to 10 minutes of practice a few days a week can go a long way in building confidence and comfort with new concepts. Below are some ideas for focused practice areas regardless if your student has 5 or 50 minutes to practice!
- Review mi, re, do with lots of repetition; try playing improvised patterns on each pitch for an extra challenge. Fingering charts can be found here!
- Play long tones (long, held out notes) on each pitch that you've learned (consult online fingering charts if necessary)
- Practice reading rhythms at https://www.rhythmrandomizer.com/ and play along with a metronome (either on the website or use a free metronome app)
- Play a few Foundations exercises from your at-home packet (5th grade)
- Rehearse sections of 4 or 8 measures of Jingle Bells (5th grade)
- Don't have your instrument? Play an "air" instrument and practice fingerings, slide positions, or stickings
- Percussion: practice rudiments like paradiddles and multiple bounce strokes
- Play for an audience! Show off your skills to a guardian, sibling or pet
Please email me if there are any additional at-home resources that we can provide. Also, I'd love to get pictures or videos of at-home practice so please feel free to email me!
