Hello everyone!

We have a lot of opportunities for students coming up that we would like to see all of our students take on. As I had mentioned at the start of the year, you can do as little as perform our scheduled concerts (for a grade), and take on other opportunities that will enhance the learning experience and memories in our students musical abilities. Again, we will only be good as our weakest player in our ensembles. We want to make sure that our students are working on the classroom material at home. As I say in open house and parent/teacher conferences, if your student tells you that they do not have any homework in their music class, they are lying. Students have all of the play along tracks from their method books that they should use at home to practice. We have sheet music coming out to our 7th grade concert ensembles next week. I am excited for this!

Weekly E-Mails:

I send out weekly emails through Mi-Star to student emails and parent email addresses that are listed on student registration. These email links will also be in Google Classroom.

Facebook Group:

We have a Facebook group at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/frostmsmusic/

Please join!

Follow on Twitter:

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

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

Know any students who should join our band or orchestra?

If you have any friends that want to join our band or orchestra, there is still time this week to join. Students can still join the Frost Band and Orchestra classes and still take electives. Tell your friends to join! See your counselor or Mr. Rais for more info!

Chicago Tour 2025!!!

We are planning our Chicago Tour, which will be scheduled for Friday, May 9. This is open to our band, orchestra and guitar students. We are also looking for parent chaperones as well. We are getting the final costs worked out and we will have this information sent out soon!

Wayne State University Brass Day: Registration Closes Sunday Oct. 6 - CLOSED

Frost Music Wear Online Store: Closes Sunday Oct. 6 - It is actually still open today!

- 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.

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: #1-30

Repertoire: Sheet Music

*GrooVE

*Ele(Mental)

2nd Hour:

- Foundations Warm-Up Set #2 / Set #3

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

- 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:

*Star Spangled Banner

*The Victors

*Life is a Highway

*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 (2 octave) - Use scale sheet

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

- Method Book 2: #14-25

- Repertoire: Violins learning both parts 1 and 2

*Gothic Quest (new)

*Sword Dance

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 5 notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B- New

- Method Book: #1-34

Repertoire: Sheet Music

*Flight of the Dynamic Drone

*Into the Midnight Forest

5th Hour:

- Independent tuning

- Chords: Emaj and Amin

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

- Sound Innovations Book: Exercises: #1-13

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

- Note reading: Notes on the E and A string

- Pieces: Be able to play #1-13 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

CHS/FMS Marching Band Event:

Document from Mr. Van Ham: CLICK HERE (ALL THE DETAILS)

Wednesday, October 16: @ Churchill HS: Practice and Parent Meeting

Parent Meeting in CHS Music Room: 6:30p

Students meet outside of the field house / football field (enter from front of CHS): 6:30p

Cases: Put on the track

Wear: Dress as you are, dress for the weather.

Friday, October 18: @ Churchill HS: Game Day (Pre-Game) / Tailgate party (Optional)

Students meet in the back parking lot; put cases in the music room

Tailgate party: Frost Band / CHS Band ($5.00 per person) 5:00-6:00p

Students in block at 6:30p

Wear: Dress for the weather, wear music wear / school wear if available

Flip books / Lyres needed! Purchase yours now!!!

Students are going to need a flipbook and lyre for their instrument. We have a Marshall Music online store to purchase recommended lyres. Brass players should use bell clamp on lyres.

Marshall Music Frost Online Store: CLICK HERE

We have our Frost Music Wear store now open! The store will close THIS SUNDAY, and a few weeks later, your music wear will be delivered to the school.

It isn't mandatory to purchase, but it is awesome to share your pride and represent the Frost MS Music Program!

We have t-shirts, hoodies, track jackets, shorts, PJ pants, beanie hat, and more!

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

Youth Flute Day 2024

October 12th at Cameron's Music in Livonia, MI (15630 Middlebelt, Livonia, MI 48154)

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Schedule

9:00 am - Check In

● Registration Fee

○ This event is free for all SEMFA Student members! If you're not a SEMFA

student member yet, purchase a Student Membership for $15 to attend

this and all other SEMFA events throughout the year at semfa.org.

○ No adult fee

● At check in, each student receives:

○ T-shirt

○ Bottled water (1)

○ 1 bag of Skinny Pop Popcorn

9:30 am - Warm Ups with Justine Sedky

10:30 am - Learn about dancing with Contra Dance Band Pimento Mori flutist, Rose Martus!

11:00 am - Reading Session! Bring your flutes and a stand. Music provided.

11:30 am - Show off your flute skills at the Sharing Showcase

Board Members: Abi, Melissa, Lexie H, Melanie, Jeffrey

● RSMS winner announced at the beginning

● Parents invited to attend

● Sign up to share or play anything you’d like in any way you’d like :)

● Parent pick-up from this event / end of the day

Volunteers!

● Peter Gruenwald (flutist, teacher, active community musician. Available to help in any

way.)

● Brandon LePage (set up before 9 am, registration, or leading any events. can stay until

11 am)

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

Arpeggios are an essential technique in both finger-style and classical guitar repertoire.
In this one-hour master class/workshop, we will explore techniques to increase arpeggio speed and volume and improve arpeggio accuracy and tone. We will play exercises, studies, and excerpts from pieces that you can incorporate into your daily arpeggio practice.

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.

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.

We are just waiting for the final details from our travel company so we can release it to all of you! I am really excited about our Chicago tour as our students will get to perform at Chicago Symphony Orchestra Hall, enjoy the tastes of Chicago food, and explore this amazing city!

I will be hosting an online Google meet for our Chicago tour. Date TBA

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