WGN CLASS NOTES: 2026/03/31

TO: WONDER WGN MEMBERS
MEMO: WGN CLASS NOTES: 2026/03/31
DATE: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

 

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MEMORY VERSES (SEE ALL)

  • Scripture of the Month: Galatians 5:22-25 — The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Messiah have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit. — Galatians 5:22-25
  • Character Scripture:
    • Proverbs 16:32 — Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. — Proverbs 16:32 New Living Translation (NLT)
    • James 5:7-8 — Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. — James 5:7-8 English Standard Version (ESV)
    • Proverbs 14:29 — Patient people have great understanding, but people with quick tempers show their foolishness. — Proverbs 14:29 New Century Version (NCV)
    • Psalms 40:1 — I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. — Psalms 40:1 King James Version (KJV)

REMINDER (PRACTICE DURING BREAK)

If your student is in an ensemble (Bands, Orchestras, Drumline, Bucket Drums, Flags, Recorder, Choirs, Dance) or Theater, please remember the following:

  • Be sure to remind your child to practice the REQUIRED amount for the week DURING BREAK (noted in the Class Notes, linked below). The guides and coaches post what students need to practice for the week.
  • Instruments: Practicing during breaks is especially important for new 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.
  • Voices: Please be sure your child has access to the sound files for choir so they can practice along with their parts.
  • ASL Choir: Please be sure your child has access to the sound files for choir so they can practice along with their parts.
  • Dance & Flags: Please be sure your child has access to the video file for dance so they can practice the choreography.
  • Theater: Please be sure your child is practicing their lines and characters.

Performance Attire: Be sure sure your have your performance attire for each ensemble and prepare accordingly (ALL instruments, choirs, ASL, Music Makers, and theater)

ALL PERFORMANCE ENSEMBLES

  • Please note the REQUIRED Practice Time for each ensemble and be sure to complete the listed number of minutes 5 days a week. Please practice what is listed on the memo.
  • Repetition: You need adequate, consistent practice. You need to do repetitions. Rather than practicing your skills one time each practice session, do them a few times each time you practice so the skills become more natural and automatic.
  • Metronome & Tuner: Remember to Practice with a metronome & use a tuner to check your pitch
  • Mirror: Practice in front of a mirror for some of your practice times.
  • Reed Instruments: Make sure you have 3 extra reeds at all time.
  • String Instrument: Make sure you have an extra set of strings at all times.

MUSIC FOUNDATIONS

  • 2A & 3A: With your parents’ permission, practice naming piano keys here.

PIANO 1

  • Practice Time: 10/5d
  • Lost My Partner:
    • Part 1: Logan
    • Part 2: Annabelle
    • Part 3: Louise
    • Part 4: Jeremiah
  • What Can I Share?
    • Part 1: Jeremiah
    • Part 2: Louise
    • Part 3: Annabelle
    • Part 4: Logan
  • Our performance is during the lunchtime assembly on April 14 when we get back from break! (Reminder: This is our only performance as we do not perform at the Year of Wonder Concert.)

PIANO 2

  • Practice Time: 15m/5d
  • If I Won…
    • Part 1: Noah
    • Part 2: Maebel
    • Part 3: Thalia
  • Review any of the recent songs and move on the any other song in the book! You know all the concepts needed to play them!
  • Our performance is during the lunchtime assembly on April 14 when we get back from break! (Reminder: This is our only performance as we do not perform at the Year of Wonder Concert.)

BUCKETLINE

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • PLAY WITH A METRONOME ON BUCKET HEAD!!! 72BPM. Work on rhythms on Bucket stomp
  • Wonder Drumline Book
    • Practice all exercises (excluding “Rolls & Rhythms”) to the goal of memorization at moderate tempos (80-120bpm) and stick heights (mezzo-forte and forte (plus piano-forte for accent exercises). Keep utilizing the mark time to guide your ability to keep good tempo. Write in the foot work (lefts and rights) above the staff for “Count Up Legatos” and practice these individual measures to see how the feet align with the hands; keep in mind the subdivided ‘upbeat’ motion in the mark time to help with the measures that have a left hand starting on an upbeat.

DRUMLINE

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Practice your rhythms for your specific parts in the Drumline Book working all stick heights and a range of tempos. Keep prioritizing memorization! Also specifically target some “chop building” by taking tempos up past your personal threshold for “Legatos” and “Double/Triple Beat.” Snares, Flubs, and Quads also focus extra on the “Rolls & Rhythm Tree” exercise. All players need to memorize “Bacon & Eggs” cadence and keep looking ahead at learning “Piper’s Processional” cadence.

FLAGS

PRELUDE BAND (Beginner Students)

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Ensemble
    • Essential Elements Book 1 aka Yellow Book
      • Practice aura lee and chant and celebration.
  • Rhythms (clapping https://photos.app.goo.gl/nrxnCqvWbuBghF7x5)
    • Huckleberry Jello
    • Gooseberry, Gooseberry
    • Pineapple, Pineapple
    • Huckleberry, Huckleberry
    • Jello (shh) lo
  •  Clarinet
    • Practice in method book and Chant and Celebration as mentioned in prelude band notes. Be careful with accidentals in Chant and Celebration
  •  Flute
    • Master #s 64, 67, and 68.
  •  Horn
    • Remember to work on knowing the first pitch of the music before it starts.
    • Do this when you warm up by hearing the pitch in your head or even sing your pitch before you play it.
    • Work on:
      • ♬ Chant & Celebration.
      • ♬ Time for a Little Swing
  •  Percussion
    • Practice individual instrument assignments for Starfire March, Ode To Joy, and the mallet part for Aura Lee (Part A for John & Isaiah; Part B for Pascal). Also work on “Hugga-Hugga Burr” with buzz roll focus and look ahead at “A Little Bit of Swing” on snare drum + ride cymbal (Pascal), bells (Isaiah), and bass drum (John). Try to memorize all mallet parts (or get as close as you can!) and practice all parts with a metronome.
  • Saxophone
    • Chant and celebration – work on correct notes and then allegro section at 100 with metronome. Practice A Little Bit of Swing. For A Little Bit of Swing, especially work on measures 39-49. For yellow book #90-#93.
  • Trombone
    • Bring pencil to class!
    • For A Little Bit of Swing, especially work on measures 39-49. Ascot Overture. If extra time, work on yellow book #90-#93.
  • Trumpet
    • For all three ensembles
    • Practice holding steady tones, both loud and soft.
    • Hold tones with even breath control, control the tone with a soft ending, not a loud harsh sound.
    • Practice notes and fingerings going faster, and solid high notes.

TRAINING BAND (2nd Level Students or Above)

  • Practice Time: 30m/5d
  • Ensemble
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves (Use a metronome)
    • Practice 1812 overature with a metronome at 90 BPM. keeping a steady tempo is key at this point. Work on Ascot overture.
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Essential Elements Book 2 aka Red Book
  • Bass Guitar
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves.
    • Trouble spots
  • Clarinet
    • Get your fingerings down for the accidentals. It’s a little bit of the chromatic scale, so use those fingerings from the fingering chart. The Chromatic Fingereing is usually the 2nd one listed if there is more than one. The exception for that is Eb on the first line of the staff.
  • Electric Guitar
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves.
    • Work on warm-up routine, include scale work in the warm up
  • Flute
    • Technique: warm up on those octave slides (G, A, Bb), don’t stop the high note until it sounds lovely; work on playing Bb scales #1-4 at the same tempo.
    • Lesson book: #94 – practice D-Eb-D-Eb; #95 & 96 contain this progression as well.
    • Performance book: Ascot Overture needs to get up to tempo, so use a metronome
  • Percussion
    • Practice variations of rolls: buzz & open-stroke through 5-, and 9-stroke roll types. Apply this to “The Thunderer”. Practice “Hugga-Hugga-Burr” for these roll types, including also single-stroke rolls (32nd-notes with alternating sticking). Work on minor scales (with flats).
  • Saxophone
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2 octaves. Ascot Overture down
  •  Trombone
    • 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)
    • Method book 1: work on speed for 88
    • For ensemble, practice Ascot Overtire (especially measures 51-56) and Blues at Frog Bottom (use online recording for rhythms) and Caravan.
    • Go back and forth from Bflat to Cflat (like in Caravan) using a tuner to make sure that you’re hitting the perfect slide position for that Cflat.
  •  Trumpet
    • Ascot Overture and 1812 Overture
    • Try something new and more difficult in one of the books

MIDPOINT BAND (3rd Level Students or Above)

  • Practice Time: 45m/5d
  • Ensemble:
    • Scales, arp & 3rds, 2-3 octaves (Use a metronome) – pick a scale
    • Work on rhythms and notes on The Blues at frog bottom Clean-up caravan. Practice Caravan
    • 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
    • Prepare “Birdland” and “Take Five” making sure to use a metronome, starting slow and gradually working up especially with the more ‘aggressive’ chord progression changes. Preview our arranged versions and also listen to originals to get insight on how to ‘modify’ your parts to make them more effective and musical.
  • Saxophone
    • When playing the high notes, remember to keep your embouchure relaxed and the air supported. Use the alternate fingering for C when slurring the the B or Bb below it. Chormatic fingerings are usually listed 2nd. The exception is the A#/Bb, it is both the normal & chromatice fingering.
  •  Trumpet
    • Memorize Bugle Boy
    • Work on new Time signatures and rhythms

PRELUDE ORCHESTRA (Beginner Students)

  • Practice Time: 20m/5d
  • Bass and Cello
    • O Come Little Children
    • up bow – left bow
    • There were some who still need to practice Lightly Row, Song of the Wind, and Go Tell Aunt Rhody. Please keep these in your practice routine and aim for perfection. Listen to the recordings as a guide. Those who feel more comfortable with them, still refine your sound and keep tone a priority.
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 1 (Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPC7G0nvMEg&list=PL11XNZ_T1dFNYL-MUVJTQH7fh2TsJdjAg)
    • Watch:
    • 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.
      • Keep up with your practice routine:
        • Tune
        • listen to good tone on open strings + ringing tones
        • review all the pieces that we have learned
        • D Major scale
        • G Major scale
        • Song of the Wind
        • French Folk Song
        • Lightly Row
        • Go Tell Aunt Rhody
        • Twinkle Variation
  • Violin & Viola

TRAINING ORCHESTRA (2nd Level Students or above)

  • Practice Time: 30m/5d
  •  Ensemble:
    • 1. Scales, arp & 3rds, 1 octaves – A Major
    • 2. Review – Suzuki B1-Your current book
    • 3. Appalachia Waltz
    • 4. Boogie Woogie
    • 5. Tchaikovsky
    • 6. Golden Slippers
    • 7. All the new pieces! (Johnny has Gone for a Soldier, Sweet Betsy from Pike, Soldiers Joy, The World Turned Upside Down, When the Saints Go Marching In)
    • * 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
    • I’m very impressed with where everyone is with Volume 1. Keep playing these through the next weeks to keep everything in your fingers, and refine our sound.
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 1 (Playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPC7G0nvMEg&list=PL11XNZ_T1dFNYL-MUVJTQH7fh2TsJdjAg)
    • Watch:
    • Practice Routine:
      • Tune
      • Ringing tones (2x bows per note)
      • Scales – C Major scale
      • I Can Read Music: up through the entire book.
      • Review (Use a metronome)
        • Book 1
  • 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
    • D 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 23 & 24 rhythm and pitch (DO THE RYTHMS WITH A METRONOME)
    • Table top exercise
    • Cat Cow
    • you should start practice with 3 old songs
    • All review songs
    • perpetual motion
    • allegretto
    • andantino
    • etude

MIDPOINT ORCHESTRA (3rd Level Students or above)

  • Practice Time: 45m/5d
  • Ensemble:
    • Great job today! You all sound SO good on Brandenburg! Please practice the following this week:
    • 1. Scales, arp & 3rds, 3 octaves – A Major
    • 2. Review – Suzuki B1-Your current book
    • 3. Brandenburg, whole thing. Pay attention to the phrasing (bring out 8th notes, follow the line of the notes up and down with a crescendo and decrescendo
    • 4. Moonlight Odyssey, whole thing! Paying attention to dynamics, articulation, and tricky 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!) 🙂
  • Cello
    • Volume 2 – Keep practicing all the (even) pieces that we have covered this year. Some of the earlier pieces may not be as familiar as the ones we have recently played. Practice them frequently. Enjoy the week off.
    • Listen Daily: Suzuki 2-3
    • Watch: Japanese National Anthem (https://youtu.be/0K-5RkFEagc?si=cH2Im74bJU0yWfNc)
    • Practice Routine:
      • Tune
      • Ringing tones (2x bows per note)
      • C Major 2-8ve scale
      • Review songs (Your choice)
      • Advanced: C Major 3 octave, a melodic minor 3 octave
      • Vibrato practice – elbow must feel open, support in the wrist, flexibility in the playing finger, only 1 finger down at a time. (or 4 and 3 together).
    • Review (Use a metronome)
      • Suzuki B1-Current
    • Repertoire
      • Witches Dance
      • Gavotte
  • 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
    • D 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
    • ITP ex4 viola ex. 5 violin
    • Beethoven Minuet

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. Prelude and Fugue 1st and 3rd movements
    • 4. Mozart 2nd and 3rd movements.
    • 5. Sheep May Safely Graze (0-2:35)
  • * 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
  • Remember Practice Records
  • Practice:
    • Keep working on Peace Like a River. The first time you practice it each day, play with the music (or along with the video). Then play from memory after that!
    • Peace Like a River warm-up video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JGOhSfOX_o&t=2s. Full song video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTFXKwEx5QA.
    • Play one song from each page of your book from 12 to 20. Some of these pages are repeats from last week: challenge yourself to play different songs than last time.
  • Clean out your recorders and have a great break! Happy practicing!
  • You guys are doing so well. Happy practicing!

RECORDERS 2

  • Practice Time: 15m/4d
  • Remember Practice Records
  • Practice:
    • Fingering from low C to High G
    • Play 1 song from every page in your book up from pages 9-18. There are some repeat pages on purpose, so challenge yourself to play something new!
    • Make sure In Christ Alone is really nailed down! Each day that you practice this song, play it first with the video or the sheet music. Then play it from memory!
    • In Christ Alone video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgfU7M_s3mc.
    • Write another 4+ measure song. Thank you all for sharing your beautiful compositions over the past few weeks! Let’s have fun and do it again!
  • You guys are doing a wonderful job! Have a great break and happy practicing!

PRIME CHOIR

JUNIOR/SENIOR CHOIR (YOUTH CHOIR)

SIGNS AND WONDERS: ASL SIGNING CHOIR

DANCE

GUIDED PE

  • No notes for this week.

ART (DRAWING & WATERCOLOR)

  • No notes for this week.

ART (TEXTILES – NEEDLE PUNCH)

  • No notes for this week.

ART (PHOTOGRAPHY)

  • 1st Year Students
    • Please bring tripod and flash lights or glow sticks for painting with light
    • Add your top photos for the end of year projects and yearbook (include the usage in the title (for example: name-1-yearbook, name-1-individual, name-1-collab). If you have trouble, you can get help during class.
    • Your collab photos will be taken on either the 14th or 21st in class
  • 2nd+ Year Students
    • Add your top photos for the end of year projects and yearbook (include the usage in the title (for example: name-1-yearbook, name-1-individual, name-1-collab). If you have trouble, you can get help during class.
    • Your collab photos will be taken on either the 14th or 21st in class
  • Wonder Student Photography 25-26 Folder: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1AA9Lot8NgFikQ1gPnG49q3-STs4nDSAj?usp=drive_link

THEATER

  • Parents: Please look at the update message on the Theater Spreadsheet and make sure all costumes and props are at Wonder on April 14.
  • Theater Photo Album [LINK] – Add a photo or a screenshot of the costume items your child will need before next class
  • Peace Theater 25-26 Spreadsheet: [LINK]
  • History II: 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.

MUSIC MAKERS 1

MUSIC MAKERS 2

DISCOVERY

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: Object Oriented Programming. For further review, you may reference https://learnpythontherightway.com/chapter/chapter-21.html

COMPUTER SCIENCE (FUNDAMENTALS OF EMBEDDED PROGRAMMING)

  • No notes for this week.

JUNIOR HELPER

  • No notes for this week.

STUDY HALL

  • No notes for this week.
Wonder Memo

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