Hello everyone!

We have been making lots of progress in ALL of our classes. Our students in the Concert Band and Orchestra and Guitar classes are playing songs and have their first set of sheet music. We are making great strides in class with our technique, note and rhythm literacy skills. Parents, please check in with your students to make sure they are practicing at home. I would have them play for you what they are working on in class. Please see the list of what each class is working on below.

Follow on Twitter:

Frost MS Music: https://x.com/frostmsmusic

Mr. Rais Music: https://x.com/mraisbass

MSBOA Solo and Ensemble: Friday, Oct. 25
Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScesk-wB08_5QgUokmdMt3iPdtHFD6UMv75SiDLwawyX-ESsw/viewform

Checks made payable to: Livonia Public Schools, cash also accepted in envelope

Chicago Tour Registration Deposit $50 DUE: October 31!!!

Chicago Tour Registration Deposit $50 DUE: October 31!!!

Registration Link:
https://greenlight.groupcollect.com/v2/go/frsb25chic

If you couldn't make our online Google Meet, I will attach the video link playback here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q5VKsfIJPy72N4zDXdbvbotrcP-JDssR/view?usp=sharing

Here is what we went over:

• Itinerary
• Website for Chicago Info.
• Chaperones
• Groups attending
• Purpose
• Cost
• "Go Fundme" option through Green Light Tour for people to donate to students trips
• Rooming
• Buses
• Medication/Dietary restrictions
• Behavior
• Travel Company: Green Light
• Tour Shirts
• Use of Remind

Video Link Playback: CLICK HERE

- All students should have a music locker assigned to them. Students remember your locker number.

- All students should have a pencil for class. Keep one in your case.

Parents, please sit down with your student to help come up with a plan to practice at home. Students are to bring instruments home to practice. They can stop in the music room after school to pick their instruments up.

Home Practice is a must!

Consistent practice is essential for any musician aiming to improve their skills and achieve their full potential. Taking your instruments home to practice not only reinforces the techniques learned during lessons or rehearsals but also allows for personal exploration and creativity. By setting aside dedicated time each day to practice, you can work on challenging sections, experiment with new pieces, and develop a deeper connection with your instrument. Remember, the more you practice, the more confident and proficient you will become, ultimately leading to a more fulfilling and rewarding musical journey.

Updated: 10/18/24

1st/6th Hour:

- Developing embouchure (mouthpiece) sounds.

- Instrument playing position

- Rhythms: Able to clap and count whole, half, quarter, eighth notes

- Percussion: Able to play buzz rolls, paradiddle, 8 on a hand (see percussion page on fmsmusic.org for more info): Practice mallets at home. Instruments working on in class: Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Marimba, Xylophone, Bells, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal

- Students are working on playing their first 5 notes. (Handout) See Google Classroom. Expanding onto note 6 and 7

- Practice warm up sheet: First Fundamentals 5 notes reading (Practice with recording) SET 2 and 3 This should be practiced daily at home. Play along recording is on Google Classroom

- Method book: Practice studies: #1-40

Repertoire: Sheet Music

*GrooVE

*Miles Ahead

*Soundscape

2nd Hour:

- Foundations Warm-Up Set #3 / Set #4

- Danger Notes Scale Sheet: Concert A-flat scale, B-flat scale, F (new scale): 2 octaves

- Rhythms: Able to clap/count; whole, dotted half, half, quarter, dotted quarter, eighths, sixteenth rhythms, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, cut time

- Independent tuning

- Percussion: Able to play A-flat scale, B-flat, F on mallets

- Repertoire:

*Advance March

*Fanfare on a theme of Imagination

*When the Wind Whispers

*Ele(Mental)

*Byzentine Dances

- Method Book: #51-54: Focus: Articulations / Chromatic movement

3rd Hour:

- Tuning

- Tone: Full bow use, playing with a large sound

- Rhythm: Clap/Count Whole, Dotted Half, Half, Quarter, Eighth, Sixteenths notes

- Scale: D Major, G Major, C Major (2 octave) - Use scale sheet

- Warm-Up: Set 3- 4 coming soon

- Intonation Sheet: #1-6 A and B line

- Method Book 2: #14-40

- Repertoire: Violins learning both parts 1 and 2

*Gothic Quest

*Sword Dance

*The Ash Grove

*On Guard!

*Shaker Fantasia
*A Christmas Canon

4th Hour:

- Instrument holding position / Rosin Bow

- Use videos to review bow hold placement

- Rhythms: Able to clap and count whole, half, quarter, eighth notes

- Pizzicato (plucking) finger placement, plucking practice

- Moving the bow long tones on each string

- Playing first 8 notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D

- D Major Scale: #53

- Method Book: #1-60

Repertoire: Sheet Music

*Flight of the Dynamic Drone

*Into the Midnight Forest

*Five Note Fiddler

*Sunlight

5th Hour:

- Independent tuning

- Chords: Emaj, Emin, Amaj, Amin, Power Chords, Dm/A, Bm/A

- Warm Up: Four finger exercise warm up pattern: 1 2 3 4 | 4 3 2 1 | 1 3 | 3 1

- Sound Innovations Book: Exercises: #1-26, 29-32

- Rhythms: Able to clap and count whole, half, quarter, eighth notes

- Note reading: Notes on the E, A, D, G string

- Pieces: Be able to play #1-26 independently

- Power Chords introduction

- Ensemble playing

- p. 8-12: Finger picking, Crime Themes, Blues Bass, Thumb and Fingers

We have shown our students how to use the method book online materials to practice with. Here are the links to each classes online material. It's free!

Concert Band / Symphonic Band: Habits of a successful beginner band musician book

www.habitsuniversal.com https://giamusic.com/habits-beginner-media: Videos for every instrument, all exercises to play along with, and clinics for each instrument.

Concert Orchestra: String Basics book 1

https://kjos.com/ips : For iOs, Android, PC, Chromebook

Chamber Orchestra: String Basics book 2

https://kjos.com/ips : For iOs, Android, PC, Chromebook

Guitar Fundamentals: Sound Innovations for guitar book 1

DVD in the method book for use

https://www.alfred.com/sound-innovations/si-guitar-book-1-resources/

Videos and recordings available

Information about the CHS Music program, scheduling samples, join the marching band and more!

Reach out!

Mr. Van Ham - mvanham@livoniapublicschools.org

Website: chsbandandorchestra.weebly.com

Google Calendar: subscribe on website

Weekly Update: sign up on website

Facebook: Livonia Churchill Bands

Alumni: Join us at the Homecoming Game!

Our Frost band and orchestra students have many opportunities to grow as a musician. One of those opportunities is Solo and Ensemble (S&E). S&E will take place at Franklin High School (Livonia) on Saturday, February 1 2025. Our students will be working on a solo/duet project. Students that do not participate in MSBOA Solo and Ensemble, will still prepare a solo to play for Mr. Rais. I am recommending many students participate in the MSBOA event. This gives our students an opportunity to prepare and take ownership of their learning and playing skills. Students prepare a piece of music to play for an adjudicator that specializes in your student’s instrument. Students will receive feedback on their performance and depending on how they score on their performance, they can earn a medal for a I or II division rating. This event starts at the 7th-grade level and continues throughout their high school career. In high school, students that get a I rating, can qualify for the state level, and even perform in the all-state band or orchestra. This looks great on college applications too! We have always had a great representation of Frost students at Solo and Ensemble every year. Students from all over the state of Michigan grades 7-12 will be participating in this event.

Solo and Ensemble; participate in MSBOA (Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association) Solo and Ensemble on Saturday, February 1, 2025. There is a fee for this event. Students that choose this option will decide to either perform a solo (piano accompanist needed) or a duet with another student. Band and Orchestra students cannot play duets together because there aren’t works available for these combinations (ex. Flute/Viola). Students that do this option will receive a passing grade for the solo assignment plus extra credit for their participation in this event.

Registration DUE Date: Friday, Oct. 25

To Register: https://forms.gle/VN7sBXL5VYT42Jhy9

More Information: https://frostmsmusic.weebly.com/solo-and-ensemble-2025.html

Join us for our Wayne State University Department of Music Guitar Day on Sunday, November 3th! No cost to attend!

Register here: https://music.wayne.edu/outreach/guitarday

How would you like to have the opportunity to have your student perform in one of these best music halls in the world and study with some of the world's best musicians?!?!

Our middle school students have the chance to participate in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Honors Day for band and orchestra students. Students must be recommended by their music teacher. Actual decision of who is accepted is then up to the DSO, and instrumentation needs and limited availability due to students from all over the state applying. I am willing to submit any student that would like to be nominated. Payment is only made if you are selected. Open to all band and orchestra students!!!

To be nominated: CLICK HERE

Dates:

7th Grade Band: Monday, March 10

8th Grade Band: Monday March 17

7/8 Grade Orchestra: Monday, April 7

Registration Fee if selected:

$100 per student if registered by early-bird deadline

$135 per student if registered by final deadline

Mr. Rais submission deadline: Friday, November 22
(Google Form)

December 16, 2024: Acceptances Sent

January 24, 2025: Early-Bird Student Registration Deadline

February 7, 2025: Final Registration Deadline

Click Here for sample Schedule

Student Perks

- T-shirt, Lunch, Dinner, and Snacks included

- Discounted Civic Youth Ensembles tuition for 2025-2026 Season

- Sectionals with and Chamber Performance by DSO Musicians

- Performance on Orchestra Hall Stage

FREE!!

To Register: Click Here

7:00 pm CT - 8:00 EST

The oboe reed is a mystery to many! Everyone's mouth, air stream, and oboes are different and it's rare that the reed you purchase online will work perfectly for you. Learn about how the oboe reed works and how to make adjustments so you can play on the best reed for YOU this school year!

FREE!!

To Register: Click Here

(Clarinets Focus: but any instrumentalist can get information out of this session)

7:00 pm CT - 8:00 EST

What can an artist in the medium of music do to accelerate their progress?
This class will focus on tips to propel your music making forward. Clarinet will be the demonstration instrument, but the ideas and principles highlighted will apply to all musicians.
(This was Mr. Rais' Clarinet Professor!)

FREE!!

To Register: Click Here

7:00 pm CT - 8:00 EST

Master the technical nuances of each orchestral excerpt and discover effective practice strategies. Additionally, explore techniques to make sight-reading less daunting and more approachable.

Mr. Rais plays with A LOT of different musical groups, and this is one of them that will be playing in Westland. 12 piece rock band with horns!

Come check out Mr. Rais' band The Transit Brothers at the Token Lounge. This show is getting moved to all ages. Blues Brothers, Chicago, Rock/Blues Music

Just a friendly reminder that cell phones need to be put in the phone caddy in the back of the room (on the door of 208B. They are not to be out in class.

Please make sure students and parents sign up for the appropriate Google Classroom:

We use Google Classroom to post sheet music, supplemental guides, reminders, important dates, assignments, and more.

Students need to be signed up before the end of the first school week.

1st Hour: Concert Band

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjkwMjUxNzIyODYz?cjc=uj5vyvh

Code: uj5vyvh
2nd Hour: Symphonic Band

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjkwMjUxNzE2NDUw?cjc=nvlixk6

Code: nvlixk6

3rd Hour: Chamber Orchestra

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjkwMjUxODM2MDc2?cjc=xgbtpbl

Code: xgbtpbl

4th Hour: Concert Orchestra

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjkwMjUxNTQyMDU4?cjc=fcsgx42

Code: fcsgx42

5th Hour: Guitar fundamentals

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjkwMjUxNzc3ODY1?cjc=nf4dphp

Code: nf4dphp

6th Hour: Concert Band

https://classroom.google.com/c/NjkwMjUxNzIyODYz?cjc=uj5vyvh

Code: uj5vyvh

Band Items:
https://shop.marshallmusic.com/c-1223-livonia-frost-ms-band.aspx?pagesize=100

Orchestra Items:

https://shop.marshallmusic.com/c-1224-livonia-frost-ms-orch.aspx

Percussion Students:

https://frostmsmusic.weebly.com/percussionists-requirementseducation.html

Band Students:

https://frostmsmusic.weebly.com/band.html

Orchestra Students:

https://frostmsmusic.weebly.com/orchestra.html