WGN CLASS NOTES: 2025/09/30

TO: WONDER WGN MEMBERS
MEMO: WGN CLASS NOTES: 2025/09/30
DATE: Tuesday, September 30, 2025

ACTION ITEMS (REPLIES GENERALLY NEEDED BY FRIDAY, UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE (REPLY TO THIS MEMO))

  1. CLASS NOTES: Make sure you’ve read the Class Notes from last week’s memo. For MUSIC STUDENTS, there is a first assignment for all band, orchestra, drumline, recorder, choir, p.
  2. [New AND Returning Families] If you have not yet done so, please complete the homework list on last week’s memo . We need to confirm that you are receiving memos, know how to reply to the memos, and understand the Wonder Way expectations.

What a wonderful first day! Below are class notes or practice notes for each class.

To print, click on the Memo Title to view the View PDF & Print link above the selected memo. To save paper and ink, we suggest selecting the following options when printing: double-sided and 2-pages per side. You can also copy/paste relevant sections, then print.

MEMORY VERSES (SEE ALL)

  • Scripture of the Month: Psalms 71:17-18 – God, You have taught me from my youth. Until now, I have declared your wonders. Yes, even when I am old and gray-haired, God, don’t forsake me, until I have declared your strength to the next generation, your might to everyone who is to come. – Psalms 71:17-18
  • Character Scripture:
    • Proverbs 2:1-5 – My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commands within you, by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding…Then you will understand how to fear the LORD, and you will discover knowledge about God. – Proverbs 2:1-5 NET (New English Translation)
    • Isaiah 28:23 – Listen, and hear my voice! Listen attentively, and hear my word! – Isaiah 28:23 LEB (Lexham English Bible)
    • Proverbs 4:20-22 – My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Proverbs 4:20-22 ESV (English Standard Version)
    • Matthew 7:24 – Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock. – Matthew 7:24 World English Bible (WEB)
    • 1 John 3:11 – For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. – 1 John 3:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

ALL ATTENDEES

  • REMINDERS:
    • Label ALL personal possessions
    • Attire worn must be according to Wonder Way
      • Highlights: Wonder Tees should be worn every week, shorts/skirts/dresses should be at the knee or lower, and leggings are NOT to be worn alone.
    • Labeled Family Wagon to store your family’s backpacks, lunch bags, and instruments in the first floor hallway. If  you had ANY items
    • Bag / Backpack for folders, binders, class attire, some instruments, supplies, etc… (You do NOT need a bag or binder for every class, but we’ve listed classes that require these items below)
    • Technology: Phones and electronic devices are not to be used at Wonder (including smart watches). If a phone is seen without prior permission, it will be confiscated until dismissal. Students with more than one infraction will be required to turn-in their device upon arrival and retrieve it upon departure. Laptops may be used during study hall for parent-approved study, but not games.
    • Water Bottle with tight-fitting lid (NO JUICE)
    • Snack (morning and afternoon – actual times vary, MESS-FREE)
    • Lunch (cold lunch, MESS-FREE)
    • Dinner (please bring a picnic dinner if you would like to join)

ALL ENSEMBLES (BAND/ORCHESTRA/DRUMLINE/FLAGS/RECORDER/CHOIR/DANCE)

  • Reminder to Parents & Students:
    1. Stewardship: It is the students responsibility to keep their instrument and music in proper condition. Music should remain in a binder and in a music bag (not just a backpack), and not torn or crumbled. Method books should remain in a music bag, because they tend to get damaged more quickly in just a backpack.
    2. Listening: Listening is the MOST IMPORTANT exercise of the learning an instrument. As children, we hear words hundreds of times before making our first attempts at speech. Similarly, immersive listening to the repertoire will prepare the student to know the pieces by heart and potentially begin learning to play the pieces on their own. Please play the method book repertoire continually, in the car, at home, in the background. If you do not have a cd or mp3 audio, you can listen to the Youtube playlist we’ve linked below.
    3. Chunk Practicing: When you are learning a new piece, it is much better to practice the music in chunks rather than all the way through every time. Once you’ve learned the piece, it’s a good habit to practice in chunks of measures from the end to the beginning. It is also much better to practice in smaller sections rather than one long session..so practice daily.
    4. Standing/ Sitting (excluding dance): Viola, violins, and upright bass spend sectionals standing up. This allows students to practice proper form while minimizing slouching and injury due to improper form. Please practice standing at home, as well. Cellos (and band instruments) should be seated forward, closer to the edge of their seat (not laying back) and should not be stiff. Band instruments that can practice standing up at home should do so a few times a week.
    5. Mirror: Practice in front of a mirror as many times as possible during each week.
    6. Metronome. Practice with a metronome at home.
    7. Review: Repetition is essential. Warm up with scales and pieces you’ve learned.
    8. Remember Practice Record
  • Practice Plan (written assignments to be turned in to Welcome Table upon arrival – if not completed last week)
    1. When are you going to practice? Give specific times and days.
    2. When are you going to do passive listening of an hour per day?
    3. Do you have your practice space set up?
    4. Can you easily access videos and listening assignments?
    5. Is your metronome, tuner, stand, mirror easily accessible?
    6. Are your supplies in the space and easily accessed?

MUSIC FOUNDATIONS

  • Class Notes for Music Foundations are usually very short, but important. There are four different Music Foundations classes: 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B. Some notes will be for certain classes and some will be for all classes.
  • ALL Classes
    1. Tell your parents what class you are in! Write it on a piece of paper, have them sign it, and bring it back to class.
    2. Review the first 15 seconds of the Daily Do (https://vimeo.com/166148072) (2x/day for 5 days)

PIANO 1

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 10m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • The books for class did not make it time for our first class, so I sent home a couple copies of pages so you can practice until next class.
  • 1) Follow the instructions on page 4 to trace your hands and number your fingers.
  • 2) Practice wiggling your 1’s, then your 2’s, then 3’s, then 4’s, then 5’s. Parents: Challenge your students by calling out numbers 1-5 out of order to see their comprehension.
  • 3) Starting at the middle of the piano, use your left hand fingers 2 and 3 on the 2-black-key groups. Play “2-3-together,” then move down (to the left) to the next 2-black-key group and play “2-3-together.” Continue down to the next group and the next until you are on the lowest group.
  • Repeat with the right hand. Use right hand fingers 2 and 3 on the 2-black-key group at the middle of the piano. Play “2-3-together,” move up (to the right) to the next 2-black-key group and repeat until you are at the highest group. **Notice that on your left hand, your 2 finger is on the higher note, but on your right hand, your 2 finger is on the lower note.**
  • 4) Complete page 8.
  • 5) Practice pages 10 and 11, Right & Left and Left & Right. We didn’t spend much time on page 11 in class, but do your best.

PIANO 2

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 15m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • It was so great to see you all this morning and review some of our pieces from last year!
  • Please review pages 34-39 to help remember the names of the white keys.
  • pg 45, Batter Up!
  • pg 47, My Clever Pup
  • pg 51, The Zoo
  • pg 52-55, Lost My Partner

BUCKETLINE

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
    • 1st Year Students
      • Using your practice pad kits, practice different rhythms using a metronome.
      • Focus on keeping your tempo consistent with a metronome.
      • Start with a slower tempo and increase tempo throughout your practice time
      • You’ll receive the Wonder Drumline Book next class
    • 2n Year Students
      • Wonder Drumline Book
      • Focus on keeping your tempo consistent with a metronome.
      • Start with a slower tempo and increase tempo throughout your practice time
      • Practice the sticks out/in procedure (come out 2 counts before the first note, come in 2 count after the last note) using the first four measures of “”Legatos””
      • Finish learning the rest of “”Legatos”” (m. 19-36)
      • Look ahead at “”Count-Up Legatos”” (no variations)
      • Practice these exercises at a variety of tempos and stick heights:
      • TEMPOS: 88 bpm, 104 bpm, 112 bpm, & 120 bpm
      • STICK HEIGHTS: 3″” (piano), 6″” (mezzo-piano), 9″” (mezzo-forte), & 12″” (forte)”
  • Bring to next class: Practice Pad (not practice kit), Bucket drumsticks, music stand, pencil
  • Practice Kit – Please do not bring your practice kit stand to Wonder. Be sure to use it in your home practice, as it provides a better setup for playing with better posture.

DRUMLINE

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Wonder Drumline Book
    • Practice the sticks out/in procedure (come out 2 counts before the first note, come in 2 count after the last note) using the first four measures of “”Legatos””
    • Finish learning the rest of “”Legatos”” (m. 19-36)
    • Look ahead at “”Count-Up Legatos”” (no variations)
    • Practice these exercises at a variety of tempos and stick heights:
    • TEMPOS: 88 bpm, 104 bpm, 112 bpm, & 120 bpm
    • STICK HEIGHTS: 3″” (piano), 6″” (mezzo-piano), 9″” (mezzo-forte), & 12″” (forte)”
  • Bring to next class: Bucket drumsticks, music stand, pencil (if you did not bring your practice kit please bring it next week – if you did bring your practice kit you do not need to bring it until we let you know
  • Practice Kit – Please do not bring your practice kit stand to Wonder. Be sure to use it in your home practice, as it provides a better setup for playing with better posture.

FLAGS

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Practice marching steps we learned this week
  • Prepare your environment
    • New students will have flags next week
    • Remember safety first
    • Make sure the areas is clear
    • Make sure the clearance of the ceiling and surrounding items are clear and will not get hit
    • Announce to those around you that you are spinning your flag
    • Keep the silk (flag) away from things that will snag it (rough surfaces, trees)
    • Don’t forget to temporarily tape the bottom of the flag down with electrical tape (no other type of tape)
  • Drop Spin
  • Add marked time if your drop spin is strong
  • Bring to next class: Flag (new students who do not have a flag, they will be brought for you next class)

PRELUDE BAND (Beginner Students)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Ensemble
    • Welcome to Wonder Band!
    • Essential Elements Book 1 aka Yellow Book
      • All Instruments: p2-3 (read and practice)
  • Rhythms (clapping https://photos.app.goo.gl/nrxnCqvWbuBghF7x5)
    • Huckleberry Jello
    • Gooseberry, Gooseberry
    • Pineapple, Pineapple
    • Huckleberry, Huckleberry
    • Jello (shh) lo
  • Bring to next class: Instrument, Essential Elements book 1, music stand, pencil, at least 3 reeds (clarinet, saxophone)
  • Baritone & Trombone (Low Brass)
    • Begin warmup by laying on floor to concentrate on deep belly breathing.
    • Continue warmup by buzzing in the mouthpiece.
    • After placing the mouthpiece back in the trombone, focus on playing a note and holding that pitch without letting it wobble up or down.
    • Then try a different note.
    • If you have someone who can play a Bflat or F on the piano for you, see if you can match that pitch in first position.
    • Remember to have fun with it! All of this practice will help build your lip and mouth strength. Please be sure to purchase and bring your method book to our next class
  •  Clarinet
    • Make sure your focusing on your smiling muscles on the corners of your mouth to keep your lips from puffing out
    • Work on long tones, playing the notes as long as you can
    • Don’t forget to sizzle
    • Practice working notes EDG
    • Practice first two exercises in the book
  • Flute
    • Practice high EFlat. All fingers. Finger chart in the back of book.
    • Make sure you understand you posture; where is you head, neck, spine and feet.
    • Practice breathing. Lay on on the floor and fill you belly with air and slowly let it out.
    • Practice playing a B flat and holding the note as long as you can.
  • French Horn:
    • This week, focus on establishing good practice routine. Practice breathing, then buzzing, then producing notes.
    • Be sure you’re paying attention to her red-handed position and relaxed but upright posture, so you can breathe well. Look for recordings or videos of the piece Konzertstuck for four horns by Robert Schumann.
    • Keep breath steady, and blow through the note changes, continuing with a solid, beautiful tone through each note
  • Percussion
    • Practice setting up and putting away the snare drum, practice pad, and bell kits.
  • Saxophone
    • Make sure your focusing on your smiling muscles on the corners of your mouth to keep your lips from puffing out
    • Work on long tones, playing the notes as long as you can
    • Don’t forget to sizzle
    • Practice working notes BAG
    • Practice first two exercises in the book
  • Trumpet
    • Great first day!
    • Continue to work on buzzing without the mouthpiece as often as you can working on changing pitch (going up and down)
    • Work on buzzing with the mouthpiece, also trying to change pitch (this is first part of warm-up)
    • Practice first two exercises in the book
    • Work on playing a C and a G
    • Practice 20 minutes per day, this can be broken up throughout the day as we are building endurance with our lips

TRAINING BAND (2nd Level Students or Above)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 30m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Ensemble
    • Welcome to Wonder Band!
    • Scales (Use a metronome)
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Essential Elements Book 2 aka Red Book
        • All Instruments: p2-3 (read and practice)
        • And if you are new to Essential Elements Book 1 you can zoom through the repertoire in them as a warmup
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Bring to class next week: Instrument, Essential Elements book 1, 2 music stand, pencil, at least 3 reeds (clarinet, saxophone)
  • Bass Guitar –
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Continue to practice numbers 1-6 in the red book, use a tuner if needed to help ensure hitting the right notes
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  • Clarinet
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Continue to practice numbers 1-6 in the red book, use a tuner if needed to help ensure hitting the right notes
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  • Electric Guitar
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Work through your personal method book
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  • French Horn
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • This week, work on the skills you learned last year – C, B-flat, F, and G. Pick two of the duets that I gave you and learn both parts. Also look at the high range extension, exercise, being sure that you are breathing for the highest note in the and only going so high as you can play with an open and beautiful job.
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  •  Flute
    • Make sure you understand you posture; where is you head, neck, spine and feet.
    • Practice breathing. Lay on on the floor and fill you belly with air and slowly let it out.
    • Practice pages 20-21 and 24 and 25.
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  • Percussion
    • Work on “Hugga-Hugga-Burr” roll exercise (taught by rote) for both open and closed rolls. Also the “Rhythm Tree” exercise (taught by rote).
    • Work on “Hugga-Hugga-Burr” roll exercise (taught by rote) for both open and closed rolls.
  • Saxophone
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Continue to practice numbers 1-6 in the red book, use a tuner if needed to help ensure hitting the right notes
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  •  Trombone
    • Begin warmup by buzzing in the mouthpiece and then move to lip slurs.
    • Continue your warmup by playing with tonguing then slurring as you move from first to third position on any pitch.
    • Especially work on these pieces in the yellow method book:
      • 95, 102, 103. Really focus on consistent practice to build your lip and mouth strength, so we can move to more complicated pieces!
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
  •  Trumpet
    • Great job today!
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Continue to practice numbers 1-6 in the red book, use a tuner if needed to help ensure hitting the right notes
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 45m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂

MIDPOINT BAND (3rd Level Students or Above)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 30m/5d
  • Remember Practice Record
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Ensemble:
    • Welcome to Wonder Band!
    • Scales (Use a metronome)
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Essential Elements Book 3 aka Green Book
        • All Instruments: p2-3 (read and practice)
        • And if you are new to Essential Elements Book 1 and 2 you can zoom through the repertoire in them as a warmup
    • Repertoire (Use a metronome)
      • We had some moving parts this week, so Miss Carol will be updating this link with new music to better suite the ensembles. Check back by next Tuesday for the link to print your music.
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
    • Bring to class next week: Instrument, Essential Elements book 1, 2, 3, music stand,  pencil, at least 3 reeds (clarinet, saxophone)
  •  Clarinet
    • Practice any challenging rhythms and high notes. Make sure you know all the notes.
    • Work on reading the rhythms ahead.
  • Electric Bass
    • Practice scales you know and sight-read some personal choice pieces
  • Electric Guitar
    • Practice scales you know and sight-read some personal choice pieces. The Essential Elements series doesn’t include a guitar book so we are still determining which will be the best book to use alongside the main method book.
  • Percussion
    • Work on “Hugga-Hugga-Burr” roll exercise (taught by rote) for both open and closed rolls.
  • Trombone
    • Use a bit of valve oil in the places I showed you every time you play this week, to make sure that F trigger moves the way it should.
    • Make sure your main tuning slide is out about 3/4 of an inch (where we marked) so the trombone is in tune.
    • Warmup: Start by buzzing – F-Bb-F, E-A-E, etc, starting somewhere comfortable and just getting your air and tone flowing
    • Move on to playing lip slurs on the trombone – starting in position 5, do the exercise we worked on together from your band book, moving up through position 1 – your mid-low register sounds great, so you should always start from there when you warm up.
    • Then work on your assignments for band
    • Focus always on connecting notes with your breath, and keeping an open “oh” or “aw” shape in your mouth – like you’ve just taken a bite of something hot or like you have a ping-pong ball in your mouth.
    • Blow through each note and each note change, really listening to your own tone and allowing it to be full and beautiful.
  • Trumpet
    • Fun first day!
    • Continue with warm-up routine to include all scales and working on increasing range
    • Get back into practice habit, at least 30 minutes per day (will move back up to 60m), even with busy schedules this can be done! 🙂
    • Work on sightreading different parts in your book, can do any one you choose, have fun with it!

PRELUDE ORCHESTRA (Beginner Students)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • 1st Year String Expectations: It is said that Twinkle Twinkle requires the student to learn more than 42 skills. Therefore, we take the majority of the first year to learn Twinkle, breaking down smaller sets of skill into isolated exercises. This means students will not put the bow to the strings (or play their instruments) right away. The exercises they do are important to practice because they help build muscle memory with proper form. Once one has attained a level of mastery on the individual skills, building upon and joining them together becomes much easier. Please be patient and take seriously the exercises in each week’s Class Notes.
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Bass and Cello
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 1 (Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgjRQfXvXDg)
    • Parts of the Instrument
      • Bass: Afterlength, Bass bar, Belly, Bout, Bridge, C Bout, Dowel, Endblock, Endpin, F-Hole, Fingerboard, Flatback, Gmba shape, Headstock, Upper and Lower bout, machine heads, Mensur, Neck, Nut, Overstand, Peg box, Ribs, Romberg Bevel, Saddle, Scroll, Shoulders, Sound hole, Sound post, Table, Tailgut, Tailpiece, Tuning Keys, Violin Corner
      • Cello: Scroll, Peg box, Pegs, Nut, Neck, Finger board, Strings, Purfling, Bridge, Fine tuners, Tail piece, Tail cord, Shoulder bouts, C-bouts, Lower bouts, End pin, F-holes, Front, Back
      • Bow, Stick, Pharrell, Horse hair, Screw, Thumb leather* (we didn’t talk about this), Silver winding* (nor this)
    • Rhythms (clapping https://photos.app.goo.gl/nrxnCqvWbuBghF7x5)
      • Huckleberry Jello
      • Gooseberry, Gooseberry
      • Pineapple, Pineapple
      • Huckleberry, Huckleberry
      • Jello (shh) lo
    • 4 steps to a good bow hold:
      • Right hand Palm up
      • Bow stick goes across your 4th and 1st finger joint. (Point bow in the direction towards your thumb, horse hair away from you).
      • Long- John silver Curved thumb on the side of the stick, at the corner of the frog
      • (middle finger matches with the silver part of the frog, ferrule)
      • Thumb comes to the side of the stick, curved and in the tip of the thumb
    • BOW ASSIGNMENT
      • 100 bow holds! Each day, if your house has stairs, practice bow hold on the bottom stair, and go up one stair, do a new bow-hold, shake out hand and take a step.
      • Up Like a Rocket
        • Up like a rocket, down like the rain,
        • Back and forth like a choo choo train.
        • Round and round like a great big drum,
        • Land on your head curved pinky and thumb.
    • Bass Hold:
      • Nut should be around the top of your head
      • Stand upright, arms length from the bass
      • Lean bass to body with palm with heal
      • Corner should balance against the center to side of stomach (just above belt line) from the middle to side of body
      • legs relaxed, left knee to bottom bout keep the bass from falling
    • Cello Hold:
      • Sit regularly (don’t move for the instrument, bring the instrument to you)
      • Cradle the instrument with both knees
      • If you need, try to adjust so that the cello is not pushing you back – you should be able to lean into the instrument slightly.
    • Knuckle Knocks:
      • Gentle fist starting at the nut, along the finger board to the bridge
      • Touch the scroll, touch the bridge (while having good sitting posture).
    • Cello Left Hand Pluck
      • C for cello each finger (1-4) 4x on each string AAAA, DDDD, etc
    • Ski Jumps
      • Each finger (1-4) on each string
      • Start in (1st) position, slide, pluck, return to (1st) position
  • Violin & Viola
  • BOW ASSIGNMENT
    • 100 bow holds! Each day, if your house has stairs, practice bow hold on the bottom stair, and go up one stair, do a new bow-hold, shake out hand and take a step.
    • Up Like a Rocket
      • Up like a rocket, down like the rain,
      • Back and forth like a choo choo train.
      • Round and round like a great big drum,
      • Land on your head curved pinky and thumb.

TRAINING ORCHESTRA (2nd Level Students or above)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 30m/5d
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  •  Ensemble:
    • Welcome to Wonder Orchestra! I sure enjoyed sight reading music with you all during our first class! We will have concert music ready to start at next rehearsal. This week, please practice what you have worked on with your string coaches, plus the G Major scale, 1 octaves.
    • Scales (Use a metronome)
      • G Major, 1 octaves
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Suzuki B1-Your current book
    • Repertoire (Use a metronome)
      • We will sight read more pieces next class!
      • Feel free to pluck through the music you received
      • And, start playing at a slower tempo
  •  Cello
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 1
    • Practice Routine:
      • Open strings (good tone)
      • Ringing tones (2x bows)
      • Scale D major 4-16th notes per note
      • Review (Use a metronome)
        • Twinkle, Twinkle AB Sections – bowing with different rhythms
        • French Folk Song
        • Lightly Row A, A1, B, A1
        • Song of the Wind
        • Go Tell Aunt Rhody
        • Review the songs that you remember well and come with any questions you might have, or requests of pieces to polish.
      • I will assign performance days next week
  • Viola and Violin
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 1
    • Watch Pre-twinkle: Setup Exercises Videos: https://a-musician-is.com (password: amusicianis)
      • Please watch the videos if you are behind or don’t remember the pieces. They are in the video playlist bk.1
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Twinkle Twinkle with varying bowing in A, G, D Major – bowing with different rhythms
      • French Folk Song (violas)
      • Lightly Row
      • Song of the Wind
      • Oh Come Little Children
      • Allegro

MIDPOINT ORCHESTRA (3rd Level Students or above)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 60m/5d
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  •  Ensemble:
    • Welcome to Wonder Orchestra! I sure enjoyed sight reading music with you all during our first class! We will have concert music ready to start at next rehearsal. This week, please practice what you have worked on with your string coaches, plus the G Major scale, 2 octaves.
    • Scales (Use a metronome)
      • G Major, 2 octaves
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Suzuki B1-Your current book
    • Repertoire (Use a metronome)
      • We will sight read more pieces next class!
      • Feel free to pluck through the music you received
      • And, start playing at a slower tempo
  • Cello
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 2-3
    • Practice Routine:
      • Open strings (good tone)
      • Ringing tones (2x bows)
      • G Major scale, 2-8ves, 4-16th notes per note.
      • Review (Use a metronome)
        • Suzuki B1
        • All the pieces you know well. Focus on the pieces near the end of the book. Come with questions or requests of pieces you’d like to polish. Use a metronome.
      • New Song – May Time:
        • Feel free to pluck through the song
        • Tempo of ”discovery,” to tempo of “success”
      • I will assign performance days next week
  • Viola and Violin

CONCERT ORCHESTRA (4th Level Students or above)

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 60m/5d
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Ensemble:
    • Welcome to Wonder Orchestra! I sure enjoyed sight reading music with you all during our first class! We will have concert music ready to start at next week’s rehearsal.
    • Scales: Several 2 octave scales
  • Scales
  • Review (Use a metronome)
    • Suzuki B1-Your current book
  • Ensemble:
    • We will sight read more next class!

RECORDERS 1

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 10m/4d
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Great first class! Here are a couple notes for practice this week, as well as some things to remember for next week’s class:
  • During your practice, please work on:
    1. Posture/holding your recorder
    2. Setting up your stand (if you don’t have a stand, please try to get one within the next couple weeks)
    3. Fingering for the B, A, G notes. Remember to cover the holes completely with the pads of your fingers; no need to press too hard!
    4. Blowing into your recorder with the proper amount of air
    5.  Practice songs 1-4 on page 4 of your book, and Hot Cross Buns on page 6. You can play anything in between if you have the time! Focus on reading the notes on the lines. You can write the note names in if you need to.
    6. Instrument Care: Don’t forget to “blow” out your recorder after every practice section! One time this week, please rinse it with warm water and make sure it dries.
  • Next week, don’t forget to bring your:
    • Recorder
    • Recorder book
    • Pencil
    • Stand
  • It will be a great year learning, playing music, and wondering together!

RECORDERS 2

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 15m/4d
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • Great first class! Here are a couple notes for practice this week, as well as some things to remember for next class:
  • During your practice, please work on:
  • 1. Posture/holding your recorder
  • 2. Setting up your stand (if you don’t have a stand, please try to get one within the next couple weeks)
  • 3. Fingering *Try to practice from Low C all the way up to High E; if you need it, there is a fingering chart in the back of your method book. We have Baroque style recorders, so don’t be confused by the German style fingerings they have listed in the back. Focus on the E-E octave.
  • 4. Remember to practice covering the thumb hole on the back only halfway to play high E.
  • 5. Practice songs 1-3 in your book from page 2. You can also work on Jolly Good Fellow if you need more to work on. If you’re having trouble remembering the note names for treble clef, you can write them in your book. You can also practice and make up some of your own Apple Pie rhythyms. Ap-ple = two eight notes, pie = one quarter note, blue-ber-ry = triplets. Keep your measure to just 4 beats total.
  • Instrument Care: Don’t forget to “blow” out your recorder after every practice section! One time this week, please rinse it with warm water and make sure it dries.
  • Next week, don’t forget to bring your:
    • Recorder
    • Recorder book
    • Pencil
    • Stand
  • Again, great job this week! I can’t wait to keep learning with you all!

PRIME CHOIR

JUNIOR/SENIOR CHOIR (YOUTH CHOIR)

SIGNS AND WONDERS: ASL SIGNING CHOIR

  • Practice the alphabet, try spelling names in addition to the alphabet. For experienced signers, work on your accuracy and speed, and teach your family or friend how to sign their name.

DANCE

  • See ALL ENSEMBLES notes above and complete assignment
  • Practice Time: 10m/5d
  • Review Focused Practice Guide Review: https://letswonder.org/focused-practice/
  • Remember Practice Records
    • *Record your time on your practice records and get it signed by a parent before you bring it back next class. If you did not get a practice record in class, you may have received it later in the day or you will receive it next class. Practice Records were not passed out today. Please use your own paper to keep track of the total minutes you practice each day for the next two week, have your parents sign it, and bring it back for next class.
  • It was great to meet you all this week! I look forward to working with you all this year.
  • Please review ballet terminology:
    • *Plie – to bend
    • *Tendu – to pointe and stretch
    • *Battement Glisse – beating, gliding movement
    • *Frappe – to strike
    • *Rond De Jambe – cirle of the leg
    • *Fondu – to melt
    • *Grand Battement – large beating movement
    • *Saute – to jump
    • *Passe – to Pass
    • *Pas de chat – step of the cat
    • We will continue to add to our list of ballet terominogy as we progress this year
  • Reminder

GUIDED PE

  • Great 1st class!
  • REMINDERS
    • *Arrive with waterbottle (and snack if needed) at your class start time
    • *get into a circle and ready for warmups!
    • *We will break into our groups and get ready to move!
    • *Wear PE friendly shoes (minimalist/barefoot recommended)
    • If you wear cowboy boots or other hard soled shoes please be prepared to take them off or change shoes to not damage the jump box or slip!
    • It’ll be a great year with lots of fun and hard work! Thank you!

ART (DRAWING & WATERCOLOR)

  • No notes for this week.

ART (TEXTILES – NEEDLE PUNCH)

  • No notes for this week.

ART (PHOTOGRAPHY)

  • 1st Year Students
    • Great first day of photography! To get started, let me suggest a few videos. There are literally thousands of “photography” videos on YouTube. These explain the main concepts very well.
    • Start with this one from the George Eastman Museum first: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeMnpYoDzLk&list=PLH_FfjHEuvR5U0Ur8rB35fezQ1yZkShMk&index=1
      • You’re welcome to watch them all, of course. (But they only posted 8 of 12 on YouTube)
    • Then, this one is a fascinating mix of old and new photography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfRiBSEfCFQ
    • And finally, this third video is an interview with an old pro who explains his basics for great photography.
      • Listen to Huntington Witherill describe how he developed his photographic eye to capture extraordinary photos while keeping his eyes open for the unxpected. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1ptA1v5LNU
    • Bonus Points: Get your parents or siblings to watch with you. They are really quite good.
  • 2nd Year Students
    • Each student was given a 3X5 photo mat to look through, simulating a viewfinder. They were given the question, how do you tell the story of what is happening in this room by looking through this aperature?
    • Pull the mat closer to your face simulates a 14mm lens. Arms length is aprox 200mm lens. How bright is the room? The aperature of your eye is round, but how open is your pupil in this light?
    • Homework, start looking at light in various situations and imagine a rectangle around a section of what you can see. How would you capture the event to tell the story to someone who isn’t there?
    • Homework, Clean you cameras and charge batteries. Start taking pictures between now and next class. Choose 3-5 you want to share with the class.
  • Parents, please make sure your child has all needed equipment to complete course. Some students didn’t have the correct equipment or no equipment. Equipment is needed for next class. Thank you!
    • Required Equipment
    • DSLR or mirrorless camera (some bridge cameras are also fine)*
    • Standard Kit Lens (the most common kit lens is the 18-55mm)
    • Camera Bag
    • Camera Memory Card
    • Camera Tripod
    • Adaptor (transfer images to computer)
    • Access to Google Drive
    • *You will need a camera that has manual settings. An easy way to tell if your camera is suitable for our Photography class is to look at the top and see if the camera has a dial with the letter ‘M’ (for manual).
  • Throughout the year, students will need to upload their images to their designated folder. Some images will be used in the collaborative project, individual project, and yearbook submission. Please be sure you can access this folder.

THEATER

  • It was so nice meeting all of you for theatre class today! We are going to have a great year. I look forward to seeing you on October 21st!
    • History I: Creation to the Resurrection: Covers the period from 4004 B.C. to c.A.D 33

LITTLE MOVERS & LITTLE SHAKERS

  • Thank you to the former parents who were able to step in on our first day! There was lots of music and movement happening! Practice some movement with your little ones this week.

LITTLE CYCLES

  • Thank you to the former parents who were able to step in on our first day! There was lots of music and movement happening! Practice some movement with your little ones this week.

MUSIC MAKERS 1

  • We had a wonderful first day at Wonder! We had a great beginning to our year today and it is going to be so much fun to see what wonderful things we will learn this year. Our Theme is Peace and it was such a blessing to hear the children in each class be able to tell us what Peace means!
  • Something New for this year. Rather than entering the class immediately upon arrival as we’ve done in the past, each week the children are to line up outside the classroom, having taken off their shoes (leave socks on) and put them neatly together against the wall with any other stuff they bring (jackets, back packs, toys). Quiet voices. The teachers will welcome the children to come into class when it is time. Please bring in only your music bag and water bottle into the classroom each week! (Toys and play things need to be left at home or in the hallway)
  • New students: The children received their music bags today that they are to decorate in some way and bring back to our next class. They can use permanent colored pens; iron on decals; color crayons (iron safe-made especially for this) or puff paints. Please allow the children to design and have a say in what/how they decorate them but they will need your help! Bring these to class every week with your home assignments in them!
  • Returning students who were in MM1 last year: They will use their same bags and binders this year. Please remove the previous folders, papers, etc from the binders but leave the rhythm and tonal cards in the pouch. We will be using them again. At our next class they will receive their materials and binders that will go into their bags that they must bring to class each week with their finished assignments.
  • All Parents: They will have simple home assignments to complete at home with you. Please teach them to be responsible for their bags, binder and other materials that they will receive as we go along. Be sure it is put by the door to come to Wonder each week! Ask them what we did in class; what was the story; songs and activities. Be sure children have a water bottle with fresh water in it each week. Thank you!

MUSIC MAKERS 2

  • We had a wonderful first day at Wonder! We had a great beginning to our year today and it is going to be so much fun to see what wonderful things we will learn this year. Our Theme is Peace and it was such a blessing to hear the children in each class be able to tell us what Peace means!
  • Something New for this year. Rather than entering the class immediately upon arrival as we’ve done in the past, each week the children are to line up outside the classroom, having taken off their shoes (leave socks on) and put them neatly together against the wall with any other stuff they bring (jackets, back packs, toys). Quiet voices. The teachers will welcome the children to come into class when it is time. Please bring in only your music bag and water bottle into the classroom each week! (Toys and play things need to be left at home or in the hallway)
  • New students: The children received their music bags today that they are to decorate in some way and bring back to our next class. They can use permanent colored pens; iron on decals; color crayons (iron safe-made especially for this) or puff paints. Please allow the children to design and have a say in what/how they decorate them but they will need your help! Bring these to class every week with your home assignments in them!
  • Returning students who were in MM1 or 2 last year: They will use their same bags and binders this year. Please remove the previous folders, papers, etc from the binders but leave the rhythm and tonal cards in the pouch. We will be using them again. At our next class they will receive their materials and binders that will go into their bags that they must bring to class each week with their finished assignments.
  • All Parents: They will have simple home assignments to complete at home with you. Please teach them to be responsible for their bags, binder and other materials that they will receive as we go along. Be sure it is put by the door to come to Wonder each week! Ask them what we did in class; what was the story; songs and activities. Be sure children have a water bottle with fresh water in it each week. Thank you!

DISCOVERY

  • What a wonderful group of kids we had. Our “table” was full! We spent most of the class going over how to prepare for our “work” materials and how to properly use some of the materials and proper classroom behavior. Other learning materials (work) will be explained as the weeks go on; read a Beatrice Potter book; snack time and spent time at the “Park”. What a beautiful day it was and we had a great time together!
  • Please bring socks and water bottles for next week. While in the class students will not wear shoes.
  • Check-in: Please be sure to check your student in 209 at doors at the end of lunch (please make sure they stop by the bathroom before heading to class)
  • Check-out: Please be sure to quietly check your student out in room 209 (or end of B4 playground, end of B5 Middle School Room for those who are doing Littles Dance)
  • Dance
    • No Practice Records required
    • It was so great to meet you all. I had so fun much dancing/moving with you all.
    • This week I want you to dance with your family. Find a song that you all love and try different different dynamics/quality of movement – slow, fast, sharp, soft.
    • We will work on this concept the next time we meet. Have fun and be creative.

PLAYROOM WITH HELPING HANDS

  • After Lunch Check-in: Please be sure to check your student in room 212
  • Check-out: Please be sure to quietly check your student out in room 212 or (playground) with the Playroom Helping Hands

COMPUTER SCIENCE (STANDARD APPLICATION)

  • Topics Covered: Introduction/What is a program. Please complete take home worksheet. For further review, you may reference https://learnpythontherightway.com/chapter/chapter-1.html

COMPUTER SCIENCE (FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBEDDED PROGRAMMING)

  • No notes for this week.

JUNIOR HELPER

  • Please check-in at the Welcome Table at the beginning of your schedule.
  • Thank you! You all were very helpful this week! The first day of Wonder is very different than what the rest of the year will look like.  It takes a few weeks to find the best ways to have you learn and assist. Assignments are based on program needs and the student’s maturity, capabilities, listening skills, and character. Assignments may vary from week to week. Students should arrive ready to serve as requested with a good attitude, respect, cheerfulness, and perfect effort.

STUDY HALL

  • Please check-in at the Welcome Table at the beginning of your class.
  • Students should expect to attend study hall the entire block. If you’ve completed all of your work, you will need to remain in the study hall area and complete a quite activity (a book is one of the best choices).  
  • Students who will be using a computer or phone for work will need to sign the tech policy before next class.
Wonder Memo

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