This Week In Band 2/19/2017

Dear Band Parents,

Here is the plan for this week in band at Hawley Middle School.

Hills Music Shop Is The Best!

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     I need to share this story with you.  The family of a student at Butner-Stem MS had a house fire and lost everything.  The student played trombone in the BSMS band.  Mrs. Haddock, the band director, posted a public message, asking if anyone had a trombone to spare.  Tiffany Hill of Hill's Music Shop heard about it, and donated a trombone from their shop.

     I could list many reasons why I recommend Hills Music.  Now I have one more.  Let's continue to support this family-owned business that does so much to support us.

Concert March 10

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     Don't forget, our next concert is Friday, March 10.  Students should arrive at 6:45 to get seated and tune, and we will start playing promptly at 7:00.  This concert will feature only our 8th grade band and the SGHS concert band.  It will be held at SGHS, students wear formal black & white.

     6th and 7th graders are invited to attend, of course, but it is not required.

UNCG Summer Music Camp

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     We have had many students sign up for this, and I am very happy about that.  It's a great opportunity, one that changed my life when I was a kid, and I highly recommend it.  Here is the website, it's probably not too late to sign up:
www.smcamp.org

In the Band Room

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     6th Grade:  This week we will continue working through Chapter 8, and students will have the opportunity to pass off any playing tests from the past few weeks.  Remember, if a student does not pass a test, I want them to go home and practice, and then come back and try again.  That's the whole point of our assessment system.  It's not too late!

     7th Grade:  This week we will continue working through "Baywood Overture", our first piece of concert music.  We will test on this material, but I expect we will not be ready until at least next week.

     8th Grade:  This week, we will do our playing test on "Nighthawk".  We will also learn our third piece of music for the March 10 concert.  

     Jazz Band:  This week we will learn "Loveless Love," as recorded by Louis Armstrong.  My goal is for the jazz band to get a few tunes together for the March 10 concert.

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     Old Stuff

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Sign Up To Receive Class Announcements By Text Message

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On your cell phone, send a text message to the phone number   81010

Send the message   @HawleyBa16    to sign up for 6th grade messages

..............................  @HawleyBa15    to sign up for 7th grade messages

............................... @HawleyBa14    to sign up for 8th grade messages

Band Facebook page

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     If you are an active Facebook user, please go here and "like" / "follow" our band page: www.Facebook.com/HawleyBandRoom

Download This App, Please

---------------------------------

     Students should download the free app  Bandmate Chromatic Tuner  on their Apple or Android phone, tablet, iPod, etc.  This is an app I designed.  We will use it regularly in class, and students should use it regularly at home while they practice to check if they are playing the correct notes.

Calendar

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Friday, March 10:  8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:45, concert starts at 7:00.

Tuesday, April 4:  8th grade only, $95 for the Carowinds Festival of Music is due.  Checks payable to "Hawley Middle School."

Thursday, May 11:  6th, 7th, and 8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:30, concert starts at 7:00.

Saturday, May 13:  Carowinds Festival of Music, 8th grade only.  Students meet in the band room at 8:00am, will return around 10:30pm.

This Week In Band - 2/12/16

Dear Band Parents,

Here is the plan for this week in band at Hawley Middle School.

Concert March 10

----------------------

     Don't forget, our next concert is Friday, March 10.  Students should arrive at 6:45 to get seated and tune, and we will start playing promptly at 7:00.  This concert will feature only our 8th grade band and the SGHS concert band.  It will be held at SGHS, students wear formal black & white.

     6th and 7th graders are invited to attend, of course, but it is not required.

UNCG Summer Music Camp

-----------------------------------

     We have had many students sign up for this, and I am very happy about that.  It's a great opportunity, one that changed my life when I was a kid, and I highly recommend it.  Here is the website, it's probably not too late to sign up:
www.smcamp.org

In the Band Room

----------------------

     6th Grade:  This week we will continue working through Chapter 8, in which we learn about ties between notes.  We will also test on Fundamentals #6, which is a short exercise we have been working on for several weeks as part of our daily routine.

     7th Grade:  This week we will start working on music for our final concert of the year.  I know it seems early, but we have big things planned and it will take us a while to get everything together.  This band has a lot of talent and heart, and I plan to challenge them with music that will push the boundaries of their ability.  

     8th Grade:  This week, we will start working on our third and final piece for our March 10 concert, a march that we will also perform at the Carowinds Festival.  We will also rehearse our other two pieces.  I wanted to do a playing test on "Nighthawk" this week, but I do not think we are ready.  We will do it next week.  This music is difficult, and the more your child can practice at home, the better we will be.  Everyone should be practicing 2 hours a week at home, minimum.  

     Jazz Band:  This week we will start working on a second song, a blues that I just wrote this weekend.  I need a name for it, and am open to suggestions.  

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     Old News

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Sign Up To Receive Class Announcements By Text Message

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

On your cell phone, send a text message to the phone number   81010

Send the message   @HawleyBa16    to sign up for 6th grade messages

..............................  @HawleyBa15    to sign up for 7th grade messages

............................... @HawleyBa14    to sign up for 8th grade messages

Band Facebook page

-------------------------

     If you are an active Facebook user, please go here and "like" / "follow" our band page: www.Facebook.com/HawleyBandRoom

Download This App, Please

---------------------------------

     Students should download the free app  Bandmate Chromatic Tuner  on their Apple or Android phone, tablet, iPod, etc.  This is an app I designed.  We will use it regularly in class, and students should use it regularly at home while they practice to check if they are playing the correct notes.

Calendar

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Friday, March 10:  8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:45, concert starts at 7:00.

Tuesday, April 4:  8th grade only, $95 for the Carowinds Festival of Music is due.  Checks payable to "Hawley Middle School."

Thursday, May 11:  6th, 7th, and 8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:30, concert starts at 7:00.

Saturday, May 13:  Carowinds Festival of Music, 8th grade only.  Students meet in the band room at 8:00am, will return around 10:30pm.

This Week In Band - February 5, 2017

Dear Band Parents,

Here is the plan for this week in band at Hawley Middle School.

Concert March 10

----------------------

     Don't forget, our next concert is Friday, March 10.  Students should arrive at 6:45 to get seated and tune, and we will start playing promptly at 7:00.  This concert will feature only our 8th grade band and the SGHS concert band.  It will be held at SGHS, students wear formal black & white.

In the Band Room

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     6th Grade:  This week we will test on the songs we learned in chapter 7 last week.  I posted instructional videos on our Youtube channel to help your child practice at home.  Students can choose which song to play for their test, either 7.03 or 7.04 .

     7th Grade:  We have been learning new high notes and doing lots of "reps" in class to build muscle strength to play those notes well.  For our second test, students can choose a song from chapter 15.  Obviously they have to pick a different one than they did last week.  Only clarinets can choose 15.03 or 15.07, they are too easy for everyone else.  Some students are struggling with this chapter, which is normal because you have to build up your strength, so I would encourage your child to practice at home every day they can to help with that.

     8th Grade:  This week we will likely get through our second piece of concert music, "Legend Of The Nighthawk", and start working on our third piece.  Students should plan on a playing test on "Nighthawk" next week.  Practice, practice, practice!

     Jazz Band:  We have started learning our first song, "Summertime", and I wrote out three different solos for students to learn.  We will work on this all week and, time permitting, start working on a second song.

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     Old News

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Sign Up To Receive Class Announcements By Text Message

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

On your cell phone, send a text message to the phone number   81010

Send the message   @HawleyBa16    to sign up for 6th grade messages

..............................  @HawleyBa15    to sign up for 7th grade messages

............................... @HawleyBa14    to sign up for 8th grade messages

Band Facebook page

-------------------------

     If you are an active Facebook user, please go here and "like" / "follow" our band page: www.Facebook.com/HawleyBandRoom

Download This App, Please

---------------------------------

     Students should download the free app  Bandmate Chromatic Tuner  on their Apple or Android phone, tablet, iPod, etc.  This is an app I designed.  We will use it regularly in class, and students should use it regularly at home while they practice to check if they are playing the correct notes.

Calendar

-----------

Friday, March 10:  8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:45, concert starts at 7:00.

Tuesday, April 4:  8th grade only, $95 for the Carowinds Festival of Music is due.  Checks payable to "Hawley Middle School."

Thursday, May 11:  6th, 7th, and 8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:30, concert starts at 7:00.

Saturday, May 13:  Carowinds Festival of Music, 8th grade only.  Students meet in the band room at 8:00am, will return around 10:30pm.

8th grader Survey

8th graders, please complete the following survey:

https://goo.gl/forms/sAhaFXp2JLbdiAwJ3

This Week In Band 1/29/2017

Dear Band Parents,

Here is the plan for this week in band at Hawley Middle School.

Concert March 10

----------------------

     Don't forget, our next concert is Friday, March 10.  Students should arrive at 6:45 to get seated and tune, and we will start playing promptly at 7:00.  This concert will feature only our 8th grade band and the SGHS concert band.  It will be held at SGHS, students wear formal black & white.

In the Band Room

----------------------

     6th Grade:  This week we will get into chapter 7, in which we learn about 3/4 meter.  Lots of fun songs in this chapter.  For the next test, students can choose their favorite: 7.03 or 7.04.  I will post instructional videos for these songs on our Youtube channel soon, to help students practice at home.

     7th Grade:  We have been learning new high notes and doing lots of "reps" in class to build muscle strength to play those notes well.  For our next test, students can choose a song from chapter 15.  Obviously they have to pick a different one than they did last week.  Only clarinets can choose 15.03 or 15.07, they are too easy for everyone else.

     8th Grade:  We are working on music for our next concert.  We will continue working on a second piece this week.  Our first playing test of the quarter will be from our first piece, "Tears of Arizona," this week.  Students may listen to a recording of the piece online to help them practice: 

https://www.fjhmusic.com/band/b1680.htm

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     Old News

=============

Sign Up To Receive Class Announcements By Text Message

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

On your cell phone, send a text message to the phone number   81010

Send the message   @HawleyBa16    to sign up for 6th grade messages

..............................  @HawleyBa15    to sign up for 7th grade messages

............................... @HawleyBa14    to sign up for 8th grade messages

Band Facebook page

-------------------------

     If you are an active Facebook user, please go here and "like" / "follow" our band page: www.Facebook.com/HawleyBandRoom

Download This App, Please

---------------------------------

     Students should download the free app  Bandmate Chromatic Tuner  on their Apple or Android phone, tablet, iPod, etc.  This is an app I designed.  We will use it regularly in class, and students should use it regularly at home while they practice to check if they are playing the correct notes.

Calendar

-----------

Friday, March 10:  8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:45, concert starts at 7:00.

Tuesday, April 4:  8th grade only, $95 for the Carowinds Festival of Music is due.  Checks payable to "Hawley Middle School."

Thursday, May 11:  6th, 7th, and 8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:30, concert starts at 7:00.

Saturday, May 13:  Carowinds Festival of Music, 8th grade only.  Students meet in the band room at 8:00am, will return around 10:30pm.

Dear Band Parents,

Here is the plan for this week in band at Hawley Middle School.

In the Band Room

----------------------

     6th Grade:  We have been learning to play melodies that use dotted-half notes, and also learning "Yankee Doodle" (#6.03).  We have had a lot of fun seeing how fast we can play "Yankee Doodle."  It will be our next playing test, but students do not have to play it fast for the playing test.

     7th Grade:  We have been learning high notes and doing lots of "reps" in class to build muscle strength to play those notes well.  Then we have been playing songs from Chapter 15 that use those notes.  For our next playing test, students can choose their favorite song from #15.01-15.05 (only clarinets can choose 15.03, it is too easy for everyone else).

     8th Grade:  We are working on music for our next concert.  We will start working on a second piece this week.  Students should be practicing their part for "Tears of Arizona", as this will be our next playing test.

=============

     Old News

=============

Sign Up To Receive Class Announcements By Text Message

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

On your cell phone, send a text message to the phone number   81010

Send the message   @HawleyBa16    to sign up for 6th grade messages

..............................  @HawleyBa15    to sign up for 7th grade messages

............................... @HawleyBa14    to sign up for 8th grade messages

Band Facebook page

-------------------------

     If you are an active Facebook user, please go here and "like" / "follow" our band page: www.Facebook.com/HawleyBandRoom

Download This App, Please

---------------------------------

     Students should download the free app  Bandmate Chromatic Tuner  on their Apple or Android phone, tablet, iPod, etc.  This is an app I designed.  We will use it regularly in class, and students should use it regularly at home while they practice to check if they are playing the correct notes.

Calendar

-----------

Friday, March 10:  8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:45, concert starts at 7:00.

Tuesday, April 4:  8th grade only, $95 for the Carowinds Festival of Music is due.  Checks payable to "Hawley Middle School."

Thursday, May 11:  6th, 7th, and 8th grade band Concert.  Location is the South Granville High School auditorium.  Students arrive at 6:30, concert starts at 7:00.

Saturday, May 13:  Carowinds Festival of Music, 8th grade only.  Students meet in the band room at 8:00am, will return around 10:30pm.

Dear Band Parents,

Here is the plan for this week in band at Hawley Middle School.

End of the Quarter is Friday!

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     The end of the grading quarter is this Friday.  Any incomplete playing tests must be completed by Friday.

In the Band Room

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     6th Grade:  I sent you an email last week stating that we are changing our last test of the quarter to #6.04 instead of #6.05, as we have not had time to get 6.05 ready thanks to the snow days.  So we will knock out 6.04 this week, and continue learning the other fun songs in Chapter 6.

     7th Grade:  We have been working through Chapter 13 and 14, in which we begin to learn the notes of our upper register and build embouchure strength so we can hit those notes consistently.  We are working up to the songs in Chapter 15, which we will probably start this week.  Our final two tests of the quarter will be:

- Clarinets:  14.06 and 14.11

- Everyone else:  13.03 and 13.04

     8th Grade:  We are working on music for our next concert.  We started rehearsing "Tears of Arizona" by Brian Balmages last week, and will continue to work through it this week.  Anyone who as not passed off #16.01 needs to do it by Friday, which is the end of the quarter.

Dr. King Day

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     Oscar Peterson is one of my very favorite jazz musicians.  Take a moment to listen to "Hymn To Freedom" on this important day.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCrrZ1NnCuM

Procedures for Concert Night

1. AFTER BAND CLASS:  On the day of our concert, students will take their band instruments and music folders after band class.  Students are responsible for bringing their instruments and music folders to the concert, and bringing them back after the concert.

2.  LOCATION AND TIME:  Students should arrive at South Granville High School, 701 Crescent Heights Drive in Creedmoor, at 6:30.  The performance will begin at 7:00.

3.  DRESS CODE:  All band students will wear formal black & white dress clothes for our concerts. Boys wear black pants and a white collared shirt (not a t-shirt). Ties are optional but highly recommended. Girls can wear a black dress, black dress pants and a white shirt, a black skirt, etc. Skirts should be long enough to cover the knees while sitting down. For our December concert, most kids wear Santa hats, but they are optional.  Failure to comply with the dress code may result in a student being dismissed from the concert.

4.  INSTRUMENT CASES:  For all instruments except Percussion, please leave your instrument cases in your car.  Unpack and put your instrument together in the car, and leave your case there.

5.  WHERE TO GO AT 6:30:  Sixth graders are first to perform, so they will report directly to the stage and sit in their usual chair.  They should not play their instruments until they are told to do so, and should not walk around and talk to their friends -- just stay in your seat once you are on stage.

Seventh and eighth graders should sit in the assigned section of the audience seats -- it will me marked with rope or tape.  Make sure seventh grade sits in the seventh grade section, and eighth grade sits in the eighth grade section.  Seventh and eighth graders are not allowed to play their instruments, except when it is their turn to tune.

6.  FROM 6:30 - 7:00:  We will tune instruments, following the tuning procedures we use in class.  Sixth grade band will play warm-ups on stage.

7.  DURING THE PERFORMANCE:  No talking, no cell phones.  Please show the performers the same respect that you want to receive when you are on stage.  You are a musician, and musicians don’t disrespect other musicians by talking or using a cell phone during a performance, they know better.  Please also silence your cell phone so that it does not ring during the performance.

8.  AFTER YOU PERFORM:  Students will file off of the stage, and may sit in the audience with their family.  Except, if 8th graders are doing a combined performance with the SGHS band, they need to return to their assigned seat and wait for that.  All band students are expected to stay for the entire concert.  It is very disrespectful to leave after your performance but before all the groups have performed.  It also means you are losing the opportunity to hear the more advanced bands, to hear what you have to look forward to and learn from their performance.