South Forsyth Middle School Band Dr. Andrew F. Poor Director of Bands Mr. Reggie Humphrey Assistant Director of Bands 2 0 1 6-2 0 1 7 6 TH G R A D E B A N D M E E T I N G M A Y 2 3, 2 0 1 6
Welcome! Introduction Exciting Times for the SFMS Band Unprecedented growth and success for the program Mr. Humphrey, Assistant Director 2016-2017 will be my 4th year at SFMS and Mr. Humphrey s 2 nd. Very successful year in 2015-2016 New band room in 2016-2017 https://youtu.be/v1yoztp28tk
Some facts about our band Largest group on campus (370+ students) We are inclusive of students of all ability-levels and interest-levels. There is a place for everyone. We retain 85-90% of the students (I wish it was 100%) because of our personalized learning approach. Students have a great deal of personal options and opportunities every year. Recipient of numerous local, state and regional recognitions. Your children will be in a quality program.
6 th Grade Band Overview No experience needed. We use a mastery-based system. Earning your stripes. Self-paced. Students who complete all stripes early are eligible for other activities Time Commitment We give two concerts. December and May No required after school rehearsals. Opportunity for help in the morning. Private lessons help but not required. A lot of optional extracurricular activities for the motivated student.
6 th Grade Instruments Please follow the recommended brands and accessories. If using a family-owned instrument, please have it checked by a repair person. It is sometime difficult to determine if the problem is the player or the instrument when the student is first starting out. Quality instrument help to ensure a quality experience. This may make or break your child s musical experience. There are very few, if any, good quality instruments that are inexpensive. Instruments purchased online can rarely be serviced quickly. Many local repair shops are not able to obtain parts. Rent versus Purchase Dilemma?
Instrument Fitting The goal is to find the best match between what we are interested in and what we are best suited to play. We all come in different sizes and shapes. Mouth and lip formation, hand size, and natural inclination are important factors. We need to also balance instrument in some sections, i.e., oboe, bassoon, percussion, flute, and saxophone. Athletic shoe analogy. Next instrument fitting is Friday, August 5 th.
Percussion Percussion placements are a competition. We can only start 12 percussionists. Due to demands of the music and available instruments. Process is completed over 5 days in August. Interested students need a back-up plan. Typically 25+ students try for one of the 12 spots. Percussion is not playing just drums. We do not teach drum set. Percussionists are the ultimate multi-taskers. Need to be naturally rhythmic, ambidextrous, diligent, organized, hard-workers, and piano experience helps.
Supplies Tag for your case Reeds Please follow the recommended brands and strengths. Rico #3 Vandoren #2.5 Medium Soft for Double Reeds Cork crease Swab Brass Trumpets, euphoniums tubas, Need valve oil Trombones need slide cream Horns need Rotary oil We use two books: Winning Rhythms (Same for all instr.) and Essential Elements (instr. Specific).
School-owned instruments Will be checked out in August. If you would like to take private lessons, we can possibly make arrangements for an instrument to be assigned over the summer. Please pay the $60 instrument fee online at mypaymentsplus.com Covers a portion of the maintenance of the instruments Some instruments will be shared for large instruments that cannot go home everyday. Some tubas Shared instruments must remain at school unless cleared with Dr. Poor or Mr. Humphrey Non-shared instruments can go home One name on the case=not shared
Grading in Band Students in band earn their grade by completing the following Completing their mastery-based assignments by the deadlines. Attending the one concert in December and one in May Participating in class Completing some online assignments and few additional written assignments. Earning your stripes is a series of short assignments from the books. Typically there are three assignments per level with some individual flexibility.
Earning Your Stripes 1 promotion for the first 9-weeks 2 promotions per nine-weeks each subsequent 9-weeks. How do you complete the assignments? Three ways SmartMusic (subscription-based and offers feedback) CHARMS (free but no assistance) Perform for Dr. Poor/Mr. Humphrey in person (slowest in some cases) Refer to handout Incentive to complete all by February 1 6 th grade honor band Solo and Ensemble Festival Time to prepare for Symphonic Band Auditions for 7 th grade (Accelerated Class)
Uniforms Two shirts 1 t-shirt 1 polo style (See example) Both included in band fee $50. Please pay online at mypaymentsplus.com in August Formal Concerts (December and May) Black dress pants. Black belt, if pants have belt loops (some girls pants do not have belt loops) 100% Black dress shoes 100% Black calf-length socks Band Polo Shirt
How can I help my child? Be encouraging-even when it sounds bad. Progress is the goal. Give them a place to practice that is comfortable. Help to make sure they have the needed supplies, i.e., reeds and books. Be an audience for them. We practice so we can perform. Do not pester them about practicing, but be remindful.
How can I help my child? Allow them to download a tuner and a metronome onto their technology. Tonal Energy Tuner is the best app for the money. Numerous free apps. Help them stay on top of Earning their Stripes assignments. Of the students who are not continuing from this year, all but 1 fell 3-4 stripes behind their peers. Remember: not all students learn at the same rate or in the same way. Being patient applies to parent s as well. Unwarranted comparisons create anxiety and stress for the students.
The Tortoise and the Hare Band and the gifted child. Failure is not fatal, it is essential. Music is a separate intelligence. They will have to work differently than subjects that come easily for them. Slow and steady wins the race, and this is a long race. Music can be humbling to learn, even as a professional. Brain scans while making music show the whole brain engaged and is unlike any other activity. The processes can be overwhelming. Failure is inevitable.
Advice from Current Parents Lisa Kelley (mother of two band students) one 7 th - grade trumpet player and one 6 th -grade percussionist. Sandra Corti: mother of a current 6 th grade clarinet player. Gina Causey: mother of a 7 th -grade clarinet player Mark Patzer: father of a 6 th grade clarinet player
Brain on Music
Breaking it Down We make sure the students practice each essential skills in a logical and important sequence. 1. Count the rhythms Tap your foot This is essential. 2. Practice saying the note names in rhythm. 3. Say the note names while pushing down the correct keys. 4. Practice the rhythm while saying, Too, to work on articulation. 5. Play the line or piece of music. This scaffolding approach helps the students to build the necessary skills one step at a time. Proven to work. There are not short-cuts.
Jump Start Sessions We will have targeted help sessions to get the students started in August. These start at 7:30 AM. Are optional, but recommended. We will have a Jump Start Day on August 20 9-12 AM with experts on each instrument.
Christmas, The Wall and Wet Glue Christmas Effect: Ever get a Christmas gift that is fun for a short period of time and then sits in the closet? The WALL: Patience and Persistence: Your child will hit a Wall at some point this year. There are no short-cuts. Help them to push through. It will help them later in life. Being frustrated is part of the process. Giving up guarantees failure! Article on Grit! Beware of Band Class Syndrome: Only playing in class, and not practicing at home, is like wet glue, without extra effort it never sticks the right way.
Fun Cycle Simple and universal concept Learn something new Work hard at it Make improvement Have fun Repeat! http://andrewpoormusic.blogspot.com/2015/08/hardwork-is-fun-universal-law-of-fun.html On average, 10-15 minutes to start is sufficient practice. It should increase as they progress. Quality and consistency of practice is WAY more important than the amount of time they practice.
Fun cycle
Technology CHARMS: www.charmsoffice.com, school code sfmsband (Band version of itslearning) Smart Music; www.smartmusic.com, subscription service, extremely helpful tool. http://bcove.me/lu2sk2u5 Tuner and a metronome (free apps are available, primary tech used in band class.) Itslearning.com
Communication Weekly emails, if you are not receiving emails from me, check your spam filter. Andrew Poor [CharmsEmailSender@charmsmusic.com] CHARMS calendar www.charmsoffice.com school code: sfmsband Itslearning Best way to reach me us is by email, but be patient. Our days are filled with teaching and I have limited time during the day to reply.
Closing This is the beginning of an exciting journey, but will be filled with ups and downs and many challenges. There are countless rewards for the, patient, strong and persistent. There are future All-State musicians, GHP, scholarship winners and a lot of students with a life-long love of music in this group. We are here to help. Questions? Emails: Apoor@forsyth.k12.ga.us Ehumphrey@forsyth.k12.ga.us