What We Do In Band Lessons
Items we work on in lessons:
- Scales
- Rhythm exercise (Basics in Rhythm)
- Tuning
- Method book (Starting with Sound Innovations Book 1 and progressing to additional methods)
- Band music- working on the music we are preparing for concerts
- Extra materials (detailed below)
- Skills that are taught during our group lessons include:
- * Proper assembly and care of instrument
- * Good posture and playing position
- * Deep breathing and clear, full tone production
- * How to form correct embouchure (winds)/stick technique (percussion)
- * How to tune to a tuner and to peers
- * How to articulate (tongue) notes
- * How to interpret a time signature and count the rhythms students will encounter in elementary & middle school music
- * Technical exercises from method books that teach fingerings or sticking patterns, dynamics and articulations, musical signs and symbols, and more.
- * Memorization of scales
- * Band music to be performed in our concerts
- * Duets, chorales, solos and improvisation exercises for advanced students
- * Sight reading
As you can see, there is so much more we do than simply preparing for concerts. All these skills build a necessary foundation for future success on the instrument and prepare the students to become middle school musicians.