WGN CLASS NOTES: 2025/12/16

TO: WONDER WGN MEMBERS
MEMO: WGN CLASS NOTES: 2025/12/16
DATE: Tuesday, December 16, 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

THE WONDER GAMES

  • Remember to share about the Wonder Games during break!

PRACTICE RECORDS (For ALL ENSEMBLES – Bands, Orchestras, Recorder, Drumline, Flags, Choirs)

  • Practice DURING break.
  • Prelude Band and Orchestra: Practicing during breaks is especially important for newer musicians because it takes time and consistency to make the skills taught become more natural and dependable. Extended breaks are not helpful for individual progression or the group.
  • Going a trip with no instrument?: If you are out of town and unable to bring your instrument, you can practice everything without an instrument by mime playing (which still helps develop muscle memory and skills). Remember practicing can happen without your instrument. Take your book and practice counting rhythms, saying names of notes, and fingering. You can use a pencil for your instrument or something straight-or just an imaginary something. ✈️ & 🚗 time can be excellent for practicing the basics! Listening is our way, as musicians, to study. Listening to our pieces doesn’t have to occur daily, but should be frequent.
  • Be sure to practice the REQUIRED amount of time for the week (noted in the Class Notes for each class). The guides and coaches post what you need to practice for the week.
  • Bring your SIGNED Practice Record to class upon your return.
  • ABSENCES: If you are absent always be sure to look at the Class Notes so you know what to work on that week.

PRIVATE LESSONS (DURING BREAK)

  • If a student is required to take private lessons because of absences or because a student needs more practice mastering skills taught, an email will be sent to the family email directly.
  • If a student wants extra practice during break please request a private lesson.
  • To Request a Private Lesson: Select ‘Private Lessons’ on the Wonder Contact Page. A guide or coach will contact you directly.

INSTRUMENT CARE

  • Break is a good time to get any needed maintenance work done on your instruments.
  • Strings
    • Humidifiers: Students, begin using your humidifiers now that the air is dryer. The recommended humidifier is on the Instrument Guide on the website.

MUSIC FOUNDATIONS

  • No Class Notes. Have a great break!

PIANO 1

  • Practice Time: 15/5d
  • Practice
    • -page 46, Sight Reading
    • -page 47, My Clever Pup
    • -page 48, Rhythm Drills
    • -page 51, The Zoo
  • Complete Theory, page 44, and Composition/Improvisation, page 48.

PIANO 2

  • Practice Time: 15m/5d
  • Practice pages 17, 19, 21, 23, and 24.
  • Complete page 18.

BUCKETLINE

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Play through Bucket Head with a metronome starting at 60 bpm and increase it a little each day. Concentrating on the accents! Practice the rhythms in the new piece Bucket Stomp from practice letter A to the end.
  • Practice both Bucket stomp 1 and 2.
  • Wonder Drumline Book
    • -MEMORIZE and connect all of “Legatos”, “Count-Up Legatos”, ” Sticking Patterns”, “Taps & Accents”, “Double/Triple Beat” and “Timing Patterns” (m. 105-113 only)
    • -Finish learning “Roving Accents” (hands together) and “Timing Patterns” (m. 114-118).
    • -Practice these exercises at a variety of tempos and stick heights: – TEMPOS: 64, 72, 80, 88, 96, 104, 112, 120, 128, 136,and 144 bpm – STICK HEIGHTS: 3″ (piano), 6″ (mezzo-piano), 9″ (mezzo-forte), & 12″ (forte)

DRUMLINE

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.
  • 🚩🚩🚩You will each show us a 1 minute routine you make up during break at our next class.🚩🚩🚩

PRELUDE BAND (Beginner Students)

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Ensemble
    • Essential Elements Book 1 aka Yellow Book
      • Keep our class songs under your fingers: Lightly Row, March Steps, A Mozart Melody, Jingle Bells and Skip to my Lou. All found in our class book. In our performance book practice Rock Point Five and Starfire March.
  • 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.
  •  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
    • Practice #61-80 for both Snare and Mallets. Practice “Hugga-Hugga Burr” exercise with both closed and open rolls. Study Ms. Carol’s assigned pieces, too! Practice minor scales (Isaiah, Pascal) and C major/F major/Bb major/Eb major (John)
  • 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 upper lip flat – stretch till your upper lip muscles feel it – even your cheeks
    • Work harder on increasing range – Get to A Bflat and C easily and even higher
    • Try shorter workouts two times a day if you can
    • Keep your thumb under the lead pipe next to your valves and finger tips strong
    • Work on seeing notes in songs quicker and getting fingerings to follow
    • Keep tonguing – “”Too – Too”” with keeping good tones
    • Hold notes longer without losing breath control
    • Do Rhythm Rap on pages 10 to 15. play through songs also
    • Work on Daily Warmups page18 and School Spirit on page 29
    • Note new sharps and flats and work on fingerings
    • In First performance book work on Starfire March and Rock Point 5 for band

TRAINING BAND (2nd Level Students or Above)

  • Practice Time: 30m/5d
  • Ensemble
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves (Use a metronome)
    • In your classroom books Practice pg 18 86-91 Also on page 29 practice #152 and 153. School Spirit and Carnival of Venice.
    • 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.
  • 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
    • Prepare a snare solo of your choice (minimum 16 bars) from the Book 2. Learn all minor scales. Practice your assigned instrument part for “Hill and Gully Rider” and “The Thunderer”
  • 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.
    • Keep working on lip tightness and strengthening the muscles – stretch til you feel it
    • Get your fingerings smooth for the C scale – Also the F scale with Bflat
    • Go for the high C and D and even E notes
    • Work on long tones with no waver – in tune – great breath control
    • Pick a new song in your book and impress me with it after New Year.
    • Work on rhythm patterns – count it and get so you can feel rhythms.

MIDPOINT BAND (3rd Level Students or Above)

  • Practice Time: 45m/5d
  • Ensemble:
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2-3 octaves (Use a metronome) – pick a scale
    • We have a new song Hoss in Bb to practice. Keep your fingers on Swing Fever and Caravan. Play with a metronome!! We could be performing pretty soon in when we get back from break.
    • 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. Learn to arpeggiate (1-3-5-8) all qualities of a triad (major, minor, diminished, augmented). Learn a snare solo of your choice (minimum 16 bars) from the Book 3 OR outside sources.
  • 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
    • See if you can get some of the higher notes consistently and hold the tones
    • Keep working on rhythms and rest counting – various rhythmic patterns.
    • Long note holds – counting and don’t run out of breath.
    • Keep working on dynamics – very soft but not breathy – loud but not blatty.
    • And also on the accents – extreme volume change with great tone quality
    • You all know the songs to work on and what you need for yourself.

PRELUDE ORCHESTRA (Beginner Students)

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Bass and Cello
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 1 (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: Please don’t feel rushed when doing the following practice routine:
        • Tune
        • Open Strings
        • Ringing Tones (2x bows per note)
        • D Major scale
        • Twinkle Variations
        • French Folk Song
        • Consentrate on ease of playing, but keep the following three factors a priority:
          • 1. Tone
          • 2. Intonation
          • 3. Rhythm
      • Have a wonderful holiday break!
  • 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 rep! I can’t wait to hear your progress after the break!
    • * 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
  • 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 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 11 and 12 rhythm and pitch
    • Table top exercise
    • Cat Cow
    • allegro
    • perpetual motion

MIDPOINT ORCHESTRA (3rd Level Students or above)

  • Practice Time: 45m/5d
  • Ensemble:
    • 1. Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves – G Harmonic Minor Scale: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F#, G
    • 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
  • 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 – c 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. Begin learning the second movement of the Revueltas, focusing on notes and rhythms.
  • * 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:
    1. Reading Music. Left hand on top!
    2. – Fingering for the E, low D, B, A, G, and High C notes. Make sure you cover up the entire hole and blow softly.
    3. – Review the notes we learned, E and D. Finger a G (top three fingers) with your left hand, then put down two more fingers with your bottom hand (right hand). For low D, Finger a G (top three fingers) with your left hand, then put down three more fingers with your bottom hand (right hand).
    4. – Keep working on Song #4 in your Recorder Karate book: It’s Raining. *Play along with this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C543uhJavvo We’ll try to get everyone’s green belt after break!
    5. – In your Recorder Star book, you can work on all of the songs on page 9, as well as pages 11-13. Focus on smooth transitions between notes and using “too, too” to play each note for a nice crisp sound.
    6. – Clap through Rhythm Chart 3 on Page 13 in your Recorder Star book.
    7. – Work on Concert Piece: Peace Like a River. Play along with this video or your sheet music! Warm-Up Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JGOhSfOX_o Main Song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTFXKwEx5QA
  • 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.
  • I hope you have a great break with lots of fun and family time! Don’t forget to practice!

RECORDERS 2

  • Practice Time: 15m/4d
  • During your practice, please work on:
    1. Tonging and slurring. Focus on smooth transitions between notes and using “too, too” to play each note for a nice crisp sound.
    2. – Reading Music from low C to high E. You can also familiarize yourself with how to read high F and G on treble clef.
    3. – Practice Here Comes Winter. Part A: Sam, Alaiya, and Gabby(we missed you!). Part B: Isla and Abby. Make sure to practice that fingering for B2! Take note of the dynammic markings as well (mf = mezzo forte, moderately loud. aka pretty loud) (mp = mezzo piano, moderately soft. aka pretty soft)
    4. – We have a long break so pick 3 of these to master over break! Chinese Lullaby, My Dreydel, Old MacDonald (2A only), Easy Rockin’, Looby Loo, Jolly Good Fellow. You can perform them when we get back!
    5. – In case you missed it last time, here are the videos for Frere Jacques. 2 Part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMIIYEht-VM 4 Part: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBhFbj75D90
    6. – Go over Peace Like a River a few times over the break to become familiar with it. This will be the Recorder 1 song that you guys will accompany 🙂
    7. – Start listening to our concert piece: In Christ Alone. There are two notes we haven’t learned yet, but take time over break to become familiar with the song! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgfU7M_s3mc
  • 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.
  • I hope everyone has a great and relaxing break with lots of fun family time! And don’t forget to practice!

PRIME CHOIR

JUNIOR/SENIOR CHOIR (YOUTH CHOIR)

SIGNS AND WONDERS: ASL SIGNING CHOIR

  • 1. FOR BEGINNER STUDENTS – Record a video of yourselves signing 2 Corinthians 9:15. You can either translate it on your own or use the gloss provided (Remember, the gloss is the list of specific signs written out). Please include your name and the reference (fingerspelled) in your video, and post it in the Google photos or the Google Drive folder.
    • 2 Corinthians 9:15 – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (NKJV)
      Gloss – GOD THANK HIS GIFT WONDERFUL
  • 2. FOR MORE ADVANCED STUDENTS – Pick one of the two following versus and translate it into ASL. After you have translated the words into signs, record a video of yourself signing it. Please include your name and the reference (fingerspelled) in your video, and post it in the Google photos or the Google Drive folder.
    • John 1:14 – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NKJV)
    • 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.” (NKJV)
  • 3. Practice 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 –
    • Practice 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-WAYREFRAIN:
      Trusting in the Father,
      TRUST FATHERHearts are fully blest,
      HEARTS FULLY BLESSED

      finding, as he promised,
      FINDING HE PROMISE

      Perfect peace and rest.
      PERFECT PEACE REST

  • 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
  • No practice over the break. Hope that this time with your family and friends brings you many blessings. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year.

GUIDED PE

  • Great class guys!! You all did great on your evaluations! Everyone should have an idea of what their strong movements are and what they need to work on! Keep working guys and be an awesome team mate for the end of the year obstacle course! Have a great break!

ART (DRAWING & WATERCOLOR)

  • No notes for this week.

ART (TEXTILES – NEEDLE PUNCH)

  • No notes for this week.

ART (PHOTOGRAPHY)

  • 1st Year Students
    • Practice ISO and different settings of ISO to see how that changes your photo. Have a great break!
  • 2nd+ Year Students
    • Read all of the Storytelling With Photography cards given to you in class.
    • Take more interesting pictures of family, friends, and pets!
    • Remember to FILL THE FRAME with your subject.
    • Get Close
    • Get Interested
    • Change Angles
  • Wonder Student Photography 25-26 Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AA9Lot8NgFikQ1gPnG49q3-STs4nDSAj?usp=drive_link

THEATER

  • Have a fantastic break. See you in January!
  • 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

  • Remember to listen to recordings and check out your books daily this week.
  • For our next class, draw a picture of a tortoise OR a hare!

MUSIC MAKERS 1

  • Parents: It’s that time of year where we start working on our song and memory scripture/poem…Our Hymn this year is Like a River Glorious and is in most hymnals. Please start familiarizing your children with this beautiful old hymn. And our scripture/poem for the year. Thank you. That will be the Home Assignment for our wonderul break. See you in 2026!

MUSIC MAKERS 2

  • Parents: It’s that time of year where we start working on our song and memory scripture/poem…Our Hymn this year is Like a River Glorious and is in most hymnals. Please start familiarizing your children with this beautiful old hymn. And our scripture/poem for the year. Thank you. That will be the Home Assignment for our wonderul break. See you in 2026!
  • 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…
  • Hopefully I will have it correctly this time
  • 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
    • No practice over the break. Hope that this time with your family and friends brings you many blessings. Looking forward to seeing you in the new year.

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 Continued. For further review, you may reference https://learnpythontherightway.com/chapter/chapter-8.html

COMPUTER SCIENCE (FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBEDDED PROGRAMMING)

  • Topics Covered: Cryptography

JUNIOR HELPER

  • No notes for this week.

STUDY HALL

  • No notes for this week.
Wonder Memo

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