TO: WONDER WGN MEMBERS
MEMO: WGN CLASS NOTES: 2025/12/09
DATE: Tuesday, December 9, 2025
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MEMORY VERSES (SEE ALL)
- Scripture of the Month: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 — Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. — 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
- Character Scripture:
- John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. – John 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)
- Leviticus 19:18 — You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. — Leviticus 19:18 English Standard Version (ESV)
- 1 John 5:3 — For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. — 1 John 5:3
- 1 John 4:19 — We love, because He first loved us.. — 1 John 4:19
- Romans 5:8 — But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8
MUSIC FOUNDATIONS
- 2B:
- Be ready to answer review questions about:
- Tempo Order
- Whole & Half Steps
- Major Scale Pattern
- Order of Sharps and Flats
- Identifying Key Signatures
- Those in Book 3 should also be able to answer questions about:
- Chromatic Scales
- Enharmonic Notes
- Relative Minors
- Complex Time Signatures
- Symbols found in Lesson 65
- All other classes: No Class Notes
PIANO 1
- Practice Time: 15/5d
- Practice pages 40-41, 42-43, and 45
PIANO 2
- Practice Time: 15m/5d
- Practice pages 15 and 17
- Complete Theory on page 16
BUCKETLINE
- Practice Time: 20m/5d
- Warm up with Moving forward. Being sure to keep the down beat in the right hand. Practice Bucket head part 1 from measures 1-16. Practice the accents from 1-4. Keep track from measures 5-8 being careful to keep the sticking. From measures 13-16 remember the diamonds mean to play on the sides of the bucket and the lowest note means to stomp your foot.
- Wonder Drumline Book
- -MEMORIZE and connect all of “”Legatos””, “”Count-Up Legatos””, “” Sticking Patterns””, and “”Taps & Accents””. Finish learning and then MEMORIZE “”Double/Triple Beat”” (m. 81-91) and “”Timing Patterns”” (m. 105-113 only)
- -Work RH only for “”Roving Accents.””, as well as an accents-only version. Break this down into single beats and then single bars.
- -Practice these exercises at a variety of tempos and stick heights:
- – TEMPOS: 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128 and 136 bpm
- – STICK HEIGHTS: 3″” (piano), 6″” (mezzo-piano), 9″” (mezzo-forte), & 12″” (forte)”
- Bring to next class: Bucket drum dowels, pencil, practice pad only (use practice pad stand at home, as it provides a better setup for playing with better posture.)
DRUMLINE
- Practice Time: 20m/5d
- Wonderful work everyone! It’s been great to see everyone progress since the beginning of the year, some of you starting with no percussion expereince.
- DRUMLINE ASSIGNMENTS: Snare (Ashiyra, Daniel, Josiah); Flubs (Beckett, Hosannah, Thomas); Quads (Asher, Khayila); Bass Drum (1-Yeshayah, 2-Edward, 3-Chavah, 4-Simon, 5-Noah); Cymbals/Practice Pads (Amy, Isaiah))
- Be sure to use your practice kits at home with a metronome and included sticks. Save the good sticks for rehearals so they don’t get worn down too quickly. Drumline students will use the dowel rod sticks you all recieved at the beginning of the year for both home practice and rehearsal, though you can use the kit sticks for additional practice.
- Your Drumline Instrument Needs:
- All Snares, Flubs, and Quads: White “Stick Tape” (which is just normal size white electrical tape, cheaper than buying “stick tape”)
- Bass Drum: Wonder will provide mallets for bass drums to use during rehearsal.
- Snares: Vic Firth Ralph Hardimon SRH Sticks: https://www.denverpercussion.com/shop/c/p/VIC-FIRTH-SRH-CORPSMASTER-SIGNATURE-SNARE-STICKS—RALPH-HARDIMON-x72614719.htm
- Single Tenor/Flubs: Vic Firth Ralph Hardimon Junior SRHJR Sticks: https://www.denverpercussion.com/shop/c/p/VIC-FIRTH-SRHJR-CORPSMASTER-SIGNATURE—RALPHIE-JR-PAIR-x72614715.htm
- Multi-Tenor/Quads: Vic Firth Ralph Hardimon SRHTS Tenor Sticks: https://www.denverpercussion.com/shop/c/p/VIC-FIRTH-SRHTS-CORPSMASTER-MULTI-TENOR-STICK—RALPH-HARDIMON-x72614710.htm
- Wonder Drumline Book
- -Review and connect all of “Legatos” (m. 19-36), “Count-Up Legatos”, ” Sticking Patterns”, and “Taps & Accents”
- -Work RH only for “Roving Accents”, as well as an accents-only version. Break this down into single beats and then single bars.
- -Practice these exercises at a variety of tempos and stick heights:
- – TEMPOS: 80 bpm, 88 bpm, 96 bpm, 104 bpm, 112 bpm, 120 bpm, and 128 bpm
- – STICK HEIGHTS: 3″ (piano), 6″ (mezzo-piano), 9″ (mezzo-forte), & 12″ (forte)
- Bring to next class: General drum sticks, pencil, practice pad only (use practice pad stand at home, as it provides a better setup for playing with better posture.)
FLAGS
- Practice Time: 20m/5d
- Great focus and self correction today! We are making progress!
- At home:
- 🚩 Practice all moves that we haver learned so far: drop spins, windmills, presents & slams!
- 🚩 Practice corestyle (smooth) marching. If you can mark off 5 yards somewhere (yard, hallway, living room?) then you can practice your 8 to 5 step. That is 8 equal steps to 5 yards, which is approximately what we are doing in class.
- 🚩 When you practice, choose two or more moves and put them together in a short sequence. This will help you get used to transitioning smoothly from one move to the next. For example: March 8 steps, present front as you continue marching 8 steps on the next 1 count stop and do a drop spin.
- When you practice, choose two or more moves and put them together in a short sequence. This will help you get used to transitioning smoothly from one move to the next.
- 🚩🚩🚩Show us your favorite sequence you put together this week.🚩🚩🚩
PRELUDE BAND (Beginner Students)
- Practice Time: 20m/5d
- Ensemble
- Essential Elements Book 1 aka Yellow Book
- For those who were in sectionals, please refer to the notes that your coach left for you.
- For those who were in the larger group, continue working in your Essential Elements Book on what you did today and beyond if that is available to you-as in you understand the music you played and are able to continue ahead in your book. Don’t forget that https://www.essentialelementsinteractive.com/ is a great practice resource at no extra cost-you can find account information on the first page of your book & the sign up code is there too. Enjoy!
- Essential Elements Book 1 aka Yellow Book
- Rhythms (clapping https://photos.app.goo.gl/nrxnCqvWbuBghF7x5)
- Huckleberry Jello
- Gooseberry, Gooseberry
- Pineapple, Pineapple
- Huckleberry, Huckleberry
- Jello (shh) lo
- Baritone
- Warm up by buzzing in the mouthpiece. After placing the mouthpiece back in the baritone, focus on playing with a beautiful tone. Do lips slurs to see how many different notes you can play with 12. Continue practice session as indicated on handout.
- Clarinet
- Play long tones while looking in the mirror. Strive for:
- 𝄞 firm embouchure-corners of mouth firm
- 𝄞 cheeks in-no puffiness (like squirting water out of your mouth and you can practice this in the bath tub!-don’t forget to include this time in your practice record)
- 𝄞 Make sure you are using strong air to get solid tones on each note
- 𝄞 Continue working through the Essential Elements Book as a warm up. Your warm up should last about 5 minutes total.
- The concert songs in the book you received today:
- ♪Starfire March-all of it, as you look over it you will notice much repitition
- ♪Rock Point 5-the danger zones in this piece are all of the rests! Make sure to count the rests completely so that you start the notes on the correct counts.
- ♪You already know half rests & quarter rests, but you’ll see that measure 17-20 has a long bar with a 4 over it. That means 4 complete measures of rests and you will count it: 1234, 2234, 3234, 4234 and then begin at measure 21
- If you are able to play Starfire & Rock Point 5, then Ms. Carol would like you to continue with Refried Beans on page 5 and Ascot Overture on page 10. Ascot Overture has 2 different clarinet parts; learn the 2nd clarinet part on page 10A.
- Practice tips for Refried Beans:
- 🌮 Make sure to hold the half notes for 2 counts and the whole notes for 4 counts.
- 🌮 You have more long groups of rests, count them like I explained previously.
- 🌮 C in the time signature is the same thing as 4/4.
- 🌮 After you learn the notes & rhythms practice your dynamics: f & mf
- Practice tips for Ascot Overture:
- First, you need to know that this piece has music language that we have not yet seen. It also changes time signatures in the middle of the piece and the tempo changes twice! It also has notes that you haven’t played in class yet. So, lots to learn-take it slow & steady. You will be working on this piece and the others in this book for several months-no need to have it all done quickly. The most important thing is to be purposeful when you practice it. Don’t worry if you don’t get to all of this week. But if you do, use the following tips to help.
- 🧣 You will play 2nd clarinet on page 10A
- 🧣 Break down your practice of this piece into chunks. Measures 1-9, 10-17, 16-26, 26-38, 39-46, 47 to the end.
- 🧣 Notice that some sections are the exact same as others
- 🧣 The tempo and the beginning is Allegro-fast! and it changes at 18 to Andante (walking tempo), then back to Allegro at 39.
- 🧣 Also notice that it begins in C or 4/4 (4 counts to a measure), changes to 3/4 at 18 when it slows to Andante and the Allegro again at 39.
- 🧣 Lots of other things to learn, but we can wait to discuss these in class. If you get to this song, pick one section at a time to practice.
- Play long tones while looking in the mirror. Strive for:
- Flute
- Practice 4-5 days a week, 20 min each time. Is you do not practice, you will not progress. Practice breathing and posture. Don’t tuck chin and drop shoulder. Sit on edge of chair when practicing. Practice pages 6-7 in book and measures 5-13 in star fire march song.
- Horn:
- Bring pencil to class! Begin warmup by laying on floor to concentrate on deep belly breathing for a minute. After taking a deep yawn-like breath, slowly control the release of breath – can you breathe out for 12 seconds?
- Continue warmup by buzzing in the mouthpiece. After placing the mouthpiece back in the trombone, focus on playing with a beautiful tone. Do lips slurs to see how many different notes you can play in first position.
- Practice pages 4-5 in method book – especially lines 38, 39, 41, 42, 43
- Starfire March entire song
- Percussion
- Review major flat scales (C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gg). Review Essential Elements #51-60. Practice “Hugga-Hugga Burr” exercise with both closed/buzz rolls and single-stroke rolls. Introduce double-stroke/open rolls to the “Hugga-Hugga Burr” format. Look at assigned percussion parts for band pieces.
- Saxophone
- 𝄞 Warm up with belly breaths and long tones!
- 𝄞 Continue working through the Essential Elements Book as a warm up. Your warm up should last about 5 minutes total.
- The concert songs in the book you received today:
- ♪Starfire March-all of it, as you look over it you will notice much repitition, make sure to learn the part you were assigned in class (1st or 2nd alto-this will determine which page your music is on, 2 or 2A)
- ♪Rock Point 5-the danger zones in this piece are all of the rests! Make sure to count the rests completely so that you start the notes on the correct counts.
- ♪Both parts are exactly the same-it doesn’t matter if you read off of page 3 or 3A
- ♪You already know half rests & quarter rests, but you’ll see that measure 17-20 has a long bar with a 4 over it. That means 4 complete measures of rests and you will count it: 1234, 2234, 3234, 4234 and then begin at measure 21
- If you are able to play Starfire & Rock Point 5, then Ms. Carol would like you to continue with Refried Beans on page 5 and Ascot Overture on page 10. Ascot Overture has 2 different clarinet parts; learn the 2nd clarinet part on page 10A.
- Practice tips for Refried Beans:
- 🌮 Practice the part you were assigned.
- 🌮 Make sure to hold the half notes for 2 counts and the whole notes for 4 counts.
- 🌮 You have more long groups of rests, count them like I explained previously.
- 🌮 C in the time signature is the same thing as 4/4.
- 🌮 After you learn the notes & rhythms practice your dynamics: f & mf
- Practice tips for Ascot Overture:
- First, you need to know that this piece has music language that we have not yet seen. It also changes time signatures in the middle of the piece and the tempo changes twice! It also has notes that you haven’t played in class yet. So, lots to learn-take it slow & steady. You will be working on this piece and the others in this book for several months-no need to have it all done quickly. The most important thing is to be purposeful when you practice it. Don’t worry if you don’t get to all of this week. But if you do, use the following tips to help.
- 🧣 I’m not sure if we assigned parts to this yet-both are very similar. We will discuss next week during sectionals.
- 🧣 Break down your practice of this piece into chunks. Measures 1-9, 10-17, 16-26, 26-38, 39-46, 47 to the end.
- 🧣 Notice that some sections are the exact same as others
- 🧣 The tempo and the beginning is Allegro-fast! and it changes at 18 to Andante (walking tempo), then back to Allegro at 39.
- 🧣 Also notice that it begins in C or 4/4 (4 counts to a measure), changes to 3/4 at 18 when it slows to Andante and the Allegro again at 39.
- 🧣 Lots of other things to learn, but we can wait to discuss these in class. If you get to this song, pick one section at a time to practice.
- Trombone
- Bring pencil to class! Begin warmup by laying on floor to concentrate on deep belly breathing for a minute. After taking a deep yawn-like breath, slowly control the release of breath – can you breathe out for 12 seconds?
- Continue warmup by buzzing in the mouthpiece. After placing the mouthpiece back in the trombone, focus on playing with a beautiful tone. Do lips slurs to see how many different notes you can play in first position.
- Practice pages 4-5 in method book – especially lines 38, 39, 41, 42, 43
- Starfire March measures 5-13. Rock Point measure 22-end
- Trumpet
- Keep your mouthpiece stable on your lower lip.
- -Flatten your upper lip – you should be able to play A and B above the G.
- Breath control
- Work on holding the trumpet up, with hand position to strengthen your fingers on the valves.
- -Get faster on fingering notes
- Finger through the new song that Miss Carol gave you.
- Keep your mouthpiece stable on your lower lip.
TRAINING BAND (2nd Level Students or Above)
- Practice Time: 30m/5d
- Ensemble
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves (Use a metronome)
- >Keep working on your scales-those of you who have 2 octaves, work to increase your range a note at a time. All instruments should keep a firm embouchure in the corners of the mouth but relax in the middles & push more air through the instrument to reach the next note.
- Review (Use a metronome)
- Essential Elements Book 2 aka Red Book
- We have added /ascot overactive to our band practice. This week work on this piece focusing on the dynamics. Work on playing very softly during the parts marked with a P for piano. Your work on refried beans is going very well. Let’s work on our breathing. Be sure to breath only at the breath marks or on the rests.
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves (Use a metronome)
- Bass Guitar
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves.
- Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
- Clarinet
- Work on Refried Beans & Ascot Overture
- Ascot Overture practice tips:
- 🧣Look up all of the fingerings for any notes that you don’t know-these are the notes that are “over the break” meaning from 3rd line Bb to 3rd line B. More on that vocabulary next week.
- 🧣Look for anything about Bb. Make yourself a fingering chart with each of these new notes-make it fancy like your drawings and you will never forget these fingerings!
- 🧣The 8th notes are fast-make sure you are tonguing correctly with tu, tu, tu, tu or do, do, do, do. If you are unable to sustain tonguing at that speed throughout the 8 measures, then practice saying those syllables walking around your house or as you do other schoolwork or while you’re doing dishes. The idea is to get your tongue muscle strong & agile.
- 🧣For Ascot, it is best practiced in sections; divide it up and conquer!
- Happy Practicing! 🎵❤️🎵❤️🎵❤️🎵
- Electric Guitar
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves.
- Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
- Flute
- Refried beans, ascot overture, practice pages 38 and song swing fever in jazz book and caravan. Make sure to practice breathing and posture and b flat blue scale
- Percussion
- Review major & minor scales, modal scales, how to build chords. Teach how to ‘invert’ and ‘arpeggiate’ chords.
- Saxophone
- Your BIGGEST and MOST IMPORTANT job is to study your notes on paper so much that you can name them in an instant when asked.
- This would be tedious if that’s all you did-try the following with Refried Beans:
- 🌮 Say the names of the notes for 2 measures, then play what you said no faster than you said the note names
- 🌮 Say the names of the notes in the next 2 measures, then play what you said no faster than you said the note names
- 🌮 Combine the 4 measures and say the note names, then play them no faster than you said them
- Change it up & do this in reverse.
- 🌮 Play 2 measures and then say the names of the notes as fast as you played them.
- 🌮 Play the next 2 measures and do the same thing.
- 🌮 Play those 4 measures and then say the names of the notes.
- 🎼 As you play through this and Ascot Overture, do the above practice on a few measures.
- 🎼 Don’t forget to use flashcards-make them if you have too!
- Happy Practicing!🎷
- 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.
- Scales: On page 40, work on key of Bflat 1-3. And eflat scale on handout. Page 47 (chromatic scale) low Bflat to high Bflat – again emphasizing speed (without sacrificing pitch)
- For ensemble, especially practice Caravan and Swing Fever and Last Dance (use online recordings for Swing Fever and Last Dance). For Caravan – mark slide positions on sheet music for any tricky ones (especially accidentals) before next class.
- practice 78-84 – be careful with the different key signatures. Also practice Refried Beans & Ascot Overture – especially the measures with accidentals.
- Trumpet
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves.
- You are doing better at fingerings for notes
- Work on the next couple of pages
- slow down a bit if you need to to play with clear tones and accuracy.
MIDPOINT BAND (3rd Level Students or Above)
- Practice Time: 45m/5d
- Ensemble:
- Caravan needs work on quick fingers!!! Also work on getting all the accidentals!
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 2-3 octaves (Use a metronome) – pick a scale
- Review (Use a metronome)
- Essential Elements Book 3 aka Green Book
- Repertoire (Use a metronome)
- Continue to work on Caravan & Swing Fever for next week.
- Electric Bass
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves.
- Practice scales you know and sight-read some personal choice pieces
- Electric Guitar
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves.
- Practice scales you know and sight-read some personal choice pieces. The Essential Elements series doesn’t include a guitar book so use your private lesson method book.
- Percussion
- Review major & minor scales, modal scales, how to build chords. Teach how to ‘invert’ and ‘arpeggiate’ chords.
- Saxophone
- New music:
- > work on rhythms, write out the counts as necessary
- > since you know the music, listen to some famous saxophonists playing it and find a sound that you like and try to copy it. Notice what you have to do with your embouchure inside and out to mimic that sound.
- Personal work:
- > sight read-it doesn’t have to be “”saxophone”” music
- > have at least 1 purpose each time you sight read, such as:
- 1. correct rhythms
- 2. dynamics
- 3. articulations
- 4. notes
- Trumpet
- Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves.
- Work on even more variance in volume, especially soft.
- Listen to the pitches of notes, try lipping to be right on pitch.
- You all stayed together better this week. Good job.
PRELUDE ORCHESTRA (Beginner Students)
- Practice Time: 20m/5d
- Bass and Cello
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 1 NEW LINK (Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPC7G0nvMEg&list=PL11XNZ_T1dFNYL-MUVJTQH7fh2TsJdjAg)
- 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, pegs, peg box, nut, strings, neck, fingerboard, bridge, f-holes, tail piece, fine tuners, tail-chord, end-pin, front, back, purfling, sound post, bass-bar.
- Bow: Tip, stick, horse-hair, ferrule* (I thought the spelling was ph, I was wrong), frog, screw, thumb leather, silver winding.
- Rhythms (clapping https://photos.app.goo.gl/nrxnCqvWbuBghF7x5)
- Huckleberry Jello
- Gooseberry, Gooseberry
- Pineapple, Pineapple (strawberry, strawberry)
- Huckleberry, Huckleberry
- Jello (shh) lo (or “”cello – bow””)
- You can use any of these rhythms for a scale; we did huckleberry jello (aka Mississippi Stop Stop, aka makin’ bacon pancakes).
- 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.
- Practice routine:
- 1. Open Strings
- 2. ringing tones
- 3. D major scale (use twinkle rhythms such as: huckleberry jel-lo)
- 4. Twinkle Variations
- Next week is the dice-game challenge!
- 1. Parts of the cello: tell me 3, I will ask for 3.
- 2. Ski Jumps: only 1 string
- 3. Twinkle Variation: of your choice.
- Violin & Viola
- Watch Pre-twinkle: Setup Exercises Videos: https://a-musician-is.com (password: amusicianis)
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 1 (Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfU-O0JeFbY)
- Parts of the Instrument
- Rest to play position – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAE87XSSW9c&list=PLQgFue6DLggg_7ggJE7c9uBmU3F7UsW3Y&index=3&t=198s
- Against the wall
- Rhythms (clapping https://photos.app.goo.gl/nrxnCqvWbuBghF7x5)
- Huckleberry Jello
- Gooseberry, Gooseberry
- Pineapple, Pineapple
- Huckleberry, Huckleberry
- Jello (shh) lo
- Bunny to Bow Grip (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncyzq-N1Kvk&list=PLQgFue6DLggg_7ggJE7c9uBmU3F7UsW3Y&index=2&t=118s)
- Scrubbing – https://youtu.be/rvivk_ctX6s
- Against a Wall
- Penguins
- Bowing the Shoulder
- 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.
- Table top exercise
- planks
TRAINING ORCHESTRA (2nd Level Students or above)
- Practice Time: 30m/5d
- Ensemble:
- Remember to practice breathing in the rests!
- 1. Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves – C Major
- 2. Review – Suzuki B1-Your current book
- 3. Boil ’em Cabbage Down Variations 1, 2, and 3. – memorize
- 4. Beautiful Skies
- 5. Oh! Susanna
- 6. Amazing Grace
- 7. Buffalo Gals
- 8. When the Saints Go Marching In
- 9. Westward Journey
- 10. Bonaparte’s Retreat Spend extra time practicing the practice spots that we marked in rehearsal! Great job getting through so much repertoire!”
- * PRACTICE POINTS:
- choose 1 practice point every time you practice a small section
- always work on tricky sections
- 1. correct rhythm, steady tempo
- 2. correct notes
- 3. bow direction
- 4. intonation
- 5. dynamics
- 6. slow to fast with metronome (work on this LAST!) 🙂
- Cello
- Cello parts – nicely done with Andantino. I would like to start Rigadoon next week, so let’s try to hit the ground running next time.
- Nice job with the extension work, today: thumb and 2nd finger should always match. I still want to encourage for the first half of the Double-bass Suzuki volume to be learned. I’ll have my bass with me next week, so we can go over it in grater detail.
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 1
- Practice Routine:
- Tune
- “”Find your sound”” on open strings and ringing tones: straight bow, balance between effort and effortless.
- Open strings (good tone)
- Ringing tones (2x bows)
- I can read music: lesson 35
- Scale D major 4-16th notes per note
- Perpetual Motion: Please take the time to play this effortlessly by using the routine of: pizz, finger bow go, and ribbit bows. This pays off to take the time to do these three methods.
- Please review and always consider how good your sound can be – clear, rich tone.”
- 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
- Perpetual Motion
- Long Long Ago
- listen to Allegretto, as we will be doing that next time. Maybe Andantino if we have time.
- Review
- Repertoire
- Boil ’em Cabbage Down (cello) (https://youtube.com/shorts/J8vzfFHPQr0?si=oqrOTa-p4cDzwV5Y)
- Beautiful Skies (cello) (https://youtube.com/shorts/9O7Sj5qpOqs)
- Oh! Susanna (cello) (https://youtube.com/shorts/PEB3EUdp9BE)
- Boil ’em Cabbage Down (bass) (https://youtube.com/shorts/YDQhSzP0Xsw)
- Beautiful Skies (bass) (https://youtube.com/shorts/VuJpln6aPjs)
- Oh! Susanna (bass) (https://youtube.com/shorts/IqUBFKRqwK8)
- Double-bass: please take your time and familiarize yourself with the first half of volume 1, paying specific attention to the fingerings and positions. Find a comfortable position to play – your endpin needs to be out a solid 4 inches. Sounds like that might involve taking your instrument to where you are renting it from for them to fix the endpin, or if you are getting your hands on a new one (from a family member?), then that works, too.
- Viola and Violin
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 1
- VIOLA: Suzuki 1 (Playlist https://youtu.be/BuhoXS51ufI?si=UbxUvQxOsM3iZlpk)
- 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 B1 to Allegro
- C Major Scale
- 1st exercise- play scale degrees 1,4,5,8
- 2nd exercise- play scale degrees 1,3,4,5,7,8
- 3rd exercise- play scale degrees 1,2,3,4,,5,6,7,8
- I Can Read
- Lesson 7 and 8 rhythm and pitch
- Table top exercise
- Cat Cow
- allegro
- perpetual motion
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 1
MIDPOINT ORCHESTRA (3rd Level Students or above)
- Practice Time: 45m/5d
- Ensemble:
- 1. Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves – G Harmonic Minor
- 2. Review – Suzuki B1-Your current book
- 3. Moonlight Odyssey – practice from Measures 10-Measures 76, paying extra careful attention to the practice spots I pointed out in orchestra – especially where there is shifting.
- 4. Variations on an Irish Tune – pay attention to rhythms, counting rests, and breathing before your entrances!
- 5. Magic Flute by Mozart – pay careful attention to what part of the bow you’re playing in, that you’re playing all eighth notes staccato (off the string) and near the frog, and that you are doing the dynamics.
- ***PLEASE measure all pieces for rehearsal purposes. Just need measure number at beginning of each line
- * PRACTICE POINTS:
- choose 1 practice point every time you practice a small section
- always work on tricky sections
- 1. correct rhythm, steady tempo
- 2. correct notes
- 3. bow direction
- 4. intonation
- 5. dynamics
- 6. slow to fast with metronome (work on this LAST!) 🙂
- Cello
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 2-3
- Practice Routine:
- Tune
- “”Find your sound”” on open strings, then ringing tones
- D Major 2-8ve scale
- Open strings (good tone)
- Review (Use a metronome)
- Suzuki B1-Current
- Repertoire
- Variations on an Irish Tune:
- Magic Flute (https://youtube.com/shorts/_S6HDcdtiaI)
- There was no tempo for Magic Flute, so 80 is what I would do.
- Indiana Jones (Vibrato and shifting)
- Count Down
- Long Long Ago – Keep compact bow and compact sound for variation.
- Minuet no 1
- Moonlight Odyssey (NEW)
- Measure 10-:https://youtu.be/hcAXEjguqpc?si=zC9-QrT_Hk77uR5R
- Measure 45-: https://youtu.be/wXLJnz30so8?si=ANyIUT6E_OjxsWSU
- Measure 98: https://youtu.be/BzBMrAu6fdU?si=-i3-KckPRPQWaqhB
- I hope these links work. Please have your music in front of you to follow along before viewing these. Many apologies for my mistakes.
- Viola and Violin
- Listen Daily: Suzuki 2-3
- Review (Use a metronome)
- Suzuki B1-beginning of B2
- Practice everything from Suzuki Bk 1 and B2 up to Lully gavotte
- C Major Scale through 2 octaves
- 1st exercise- play scale degrees 1,4,5,8
- 2nd exercise- play scale degrees 1,3,4,5,7,8
- 3rd exercise- play scale degrees 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
- Get your introducing positions book
- ITP ex2
CONCERT ORCHESTRA (4th Level Students or above)
- Practice Time: 60m/5d
- Ensemble:
- 1. Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves – g minor
- 2. Review: Suzuki B1-Current
- 3. Beethoven Prelude and Fugue in e minor – all 3 movements;practice with metronome, pay careful attention to articulation
- 4. Beethoven Trio Serenade, first movement – quarter note=80, pay careful attention to dynamics
- 5. Revueltas – focusing on the first movement, pay careful attention to rhythm and notes.
- * PRACTICE POINTS:
- choose 1 practice point every time you practice a small section
- always work on tricky sections
- 1. correct rhythm, steady tempo
- 2. correct notes
- 3. bow direction
- 4. intonation
- 5. dynamics
- 6. slow to fast with metronome (work on this LAST!) 🙂
RECORDERS 1
- Practice Time: 10m/4d
- During your practice, please work on:
- Reading Music
- – Fingering for the B, A, G, and High C notes. Make sure you cover up the entire hole and blow softly.
- – Keep working on Teamwork – Our First Duet on the top of Page 9.
- – Part 1A (top line): Bane, Norah, Elise, Ava, Ginny, August
- – Part 1B (bottom line): Jeremiah, Esther, Noah, Louise, Yovie, Annabelle, Maebel
- – Start working on Song #4 in your Recorder Karate book: It’s Raining. *Play along with this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C543uhJavvo (You will learn a new note, E. Watch her fingering carefully.)
- – Clap through Rhythm Chart 3 on page 13.
- – If you’d like more to practice, take a look at Desert Drum Song, and March of the Recorders (page 11 and 12). You can also play anything in your book before then.
- 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.
- You guys are doing so well! Happy practicing and hope to see you next class!
RECORDERS 2
- Practice Time: 15m/4d
- During your practice, please work on:
- Reading Music. You can add the note names as needed (excpet for the one you choose to stop writing in!)
- – Fingering from low C up to high E. Make sure you cover up the entire hole and blow softly.
- – Play Amazing Grace a few times.
- – I would like you to keep working on our duet (Chopsticks, Page 5) and we’ll play it one more time next week. Focus on following the notes with your eyes and counting especially when it feels repetative, and play
- with the flow that we followed in class (1st and 2nd ending each time).
- – We’ll also button up Frere Jacques and make sure its sounding great, so keep practicing that. Here’s a link to listen to on how the round sounds! Remember, he’s in a different key so the notes are different.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMIIYEht-VM&t=21s. Also (just for fun if you’re interested) a four part round! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBhFbj75D90&t=26s.
- – Look at Chinese Lullaby and focus on slurring and tonging. Add breath marks as needed. Only write in the note names that you need.
- – We will be joining Recorder 1 as they perform their song for the concert. They’ll be playing Peace Like A River, which you may have already done last year. Review this one or twice this week and we’ll play it together in class. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTFXKwEx5QA&t=1s.
- 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.
- You guys are doing great! Happy practicing!
PRIME CHOIR
- Practice Time: 10m/5d
- Assembly Performance next week!
- Vowel Warmup:
- Sing along to “”Vowel Warmup”” audio recording.
- Use hand motions as you sing
- Link: https://youtu.be/gSLlb9LcuaA
- 1. “Sanctus” 1. Listen to YOUR PART of “Sanctus” and read along with your music while singing:
- Part 1: https://youtu.be/lSGa29fMCgc
- Part 2: https://youtu.be/9–ia4C5SJE
- 2. Listen to the Full “Sanctus” with voices and try to sing along: https://youtu.be/vNsMeK01R9E?si=y7DoclkWGPWiPqMJ
- 3. “Solfege Sonata” Listen to YOUR PART of “Solfege Sonata” and read along with your music while singing:
- Part 1: https://youtu.be/RBTgDb0lwPI
- Part 2: https://youtu.be/dPPB3QhSAAY
- 4. Listen to the Full “Solfege Sonata” with voices and sing along: https://youtu.be/mBRUnGqq_0I?si=63enwN7VeqdjVlAQ
JUNIOR/SENIOR CHOIR (YOUTH CHOIR)
- Practice Time: 15m/5d
- Assembly Performance next week!
- Warm your voice up a little by lightly humming up and down a bit and doing a few sirens from the bottom of your vocal range to the top and back down again.
- 1. “Sing Alleluia Canon”
- Soprano: https://youtu.be/HM3_Sqw2oVY
- Alto: https://youtu.be/dTGWlA2fjdo
- Baritone: https://youtu.be/l3gm6I3tFjI
- “Sing Alleluia Canon” Full performance: https://youtu.be/BKevheOtwBQ?si=ViMS49k8KKumPSMH
- 2.”The Lord Bless You”
- The Lord Bless You Soprano: https://youtu.be/ARRCgLtk-kI
- The Lord Bless You Alto: https://youtu.be/URJDo_rw9o0
- The Lord Bless You Tenor: https://youtu.be/f05j_vtTf74
- The Lord Bless You Bass: https://youtu.be/1cipeguA93Q
- “The Lord Bless You” Full Performance: https://youtu.be/w4C9zVg5X_A?si=wrz10aijlPO2K1Wi
- 3. “”Shalom””
- Sing along to the YouTube video for your voice part
- Section 1
- Soprano Section 1: https://youtu.be/wPtBm_JanYw
- Alto Section 1: https://youtu.be/K2O6rBnNRW4
- Tenor Section 1: https://youtu.be/Gcmlkt07RNo
- Bass Section 1: https://youtu.be/zhehcqb8ULY
- Section 2
- Shalom Soprano Section 2: https://youtu.be/rON_XB_uJNQ
- Shalom Alto Section 2: https://youtu.be/S4Ezl796axQ
- Shalom Tenor Section 2: https://youtu.be/NOiBOtwbVJE
- Shalom Bass Section 2: https://youtu.be/jnbShwcVGwo
- Section 3
- Shalom Soprano Section 3: https://youtu.be/B-_-m7-NoQc
- Shalom Alto Section 3: https://youtu.be/wD99guR72bs
- Shalom Tenor Section 3: https://youtu.be/V09SoHU9vgE
- Shalom Bass Section 3: https://youtu.be/IbUUojeq4e0
- “Shalom” Full Performance: https://youtu.be/4XsqGsPeL_w?si=KF5MC50PZPE2ot8z
SIGNS AND WONDERS: ASL SIGNING CHOIR
- 1. Verbs
- 2. Advanced Students: Speed and fluency.
- 3. Practice the first verse on Like a River Glorious and Psalms 34:14
- Psalms 34:14
- Depart from evil and do good. Seek peace and pursue it.EVIL FLEE GO MAKE GOOD. PEACE SEARCH PURSUE
- Like a River Glorious –
- STANZA 1:
Like a river glorious is God’s perfect peace,– RIVER SAME GOD PEACEover all victorious in its bright increase:
– VICTORY BRIGHT INCREASEperfect, yet still flowing fuller every day;
– PERFECT BUT FLOWING CONTINUEperfect, yet still growing deeper all the way.
– PERFECT BUT BECOME DEEP ALL-THE-WAY
- Reference signs from: https://www.handspeak.com
- Wonder Student ASL Sign Choir 25-26 Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/Yv8jWqgxD4EA159i8 OR Drive Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PWq-froShePz2AiVjZvPqsAmM7FjDOFG?usp=drive_link
DANCE
- Block 4 – 2pm-3pm – Practice Time: 10m/3d
- Block 5 – 3pm-4pm – Practice Time: 15m/5d
-
- both blocks
- steps to practice
- pas de bourree
- back, side, front
- balance
- side, back, rock step
- Watch the nutcracker or read the story. We will be learning variations from the Nutcracker next week.
-
GUIDED PE
- Great Job on the jump box guys! practice safe jumping and quiet safe landings any chance you get! Advanced group get those squats done!
ART (DRAWING & WATERCOLOR)
- No notes for this week.
ART (TEXTILES – NEEDLE PUNCH)
- No notes for this week.
ART (PHOTOGRAPHY)
- 1st Year Students
- Practice metering and exposure compensation. Please take at least three pictures using these settings and plan to show me next week in class
- 2nd+ Year Students
- https://www.better-digital-photo-tips.com
- Holding a DSLR shaped camera properly reduces movement from unavoidable factors like heart beats and muscle fatigue.
- Wonder Student Photography 25-26 Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AA9Lot8NgFikQ1gPnG49q3-STs4nDSAj?usp=drive_link
THEATER
- I loved your work and drawings today. Look forward to seeing you next week.
- History I: Creation to the Resurrection: Covers the period from 4004 B.C. to c.A.D 33
LITTLE MOVERS & LITTLE SHAKERS
- Remember to listen to recordings daily this week
LITTLE CYCLES
- For our next class, make up a drum pattern like in Crystal’s Drum Story!
MUSIC MAKERS 1
- Please be sure that you child brings a snack and water bottle to class each week. We do not have a water fountain upstairs and we are trying to remember to give the kids snack time, especially Music Makers 1 as lunch at 1:00 is really hard for these little ones.
- Children need to be listening to their CD’s, doing their home assignments and Practicing on their paper Glocks! I will send out a new one next week with the proper letters for the bars(my fingers must have moved or something weird happened!). We are not working on the names of the lines and spaces that is for your information. We use solfège at this point in time. Major tones start with Do, Re, Mi. Minor tones start with La, Ti, Do…Song pages always give the key in the upper left corner so you know if it major or minor. If you have questions you may call or text me. 719-650-1080. Miss Ro
- Listen to your CD everyday!
- Parents: Some of the children (especially the younger ones) did their copy work. Thank you. With the younger ones in this class let them do what they can perhaps over a couple of days… Please play games with your child to encourage visual and aural recognition using the cards. Have the children draw my a picture of their favorite part of class
MUSIC MAKERS 2
- Be sure children bring a snack, water bottle and their binder and music bag!
Listen to your CD especially:Summ, Summ, Summ and Be-Ba-Butzeman and The Surprise Symphony by Franz Joseph Haydn and Bremen Towne Musicians Sing along and/or play the games/dances - Play your paper Glock using two sticks or pencils as your mallets. Don’t forget your pincher grasp…Show your parents how you can “play” it…
- Draw me a picture of your favorite part of the First Cuckoo Clock story
DISCOVERY
- No notes for this week.
- Dance
- No Practice Records required
- Watch the nutcracker or read the story. We will read the story and learning variations from the Nutcracker ballet next week.
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: Strings. For further review, you may reference https://learnpythontherightway.com/chapter/chapter-8.html
COMPUTER SCIENCE (FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBEDDED PROGRAMMING)
- Topics Covered: Temperature and Humidity Sensor
JUNIOR HELPER
- No notes for this week.
STUDY HALL
- No notes for this week.