Archive for the ‘Skyview Junior High’ Category
Activities, events and happenings at Skyview Jr. High in Bothell, WA, where, as an assistant to the band director, I teach brass instruments (trumpet and trombone) to beginning band students.
Posted by glennled on April 13, 2015
Chris Botti, trumpeter
Natalie Dungey. trumpeter
“We’re a musical family!” says the Mom of my 22nd trumpet student, a 7th grade student at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. His first lesson with me was on 1 July. He plays his Mom’s trumpet, the one her parents bought for her when she was in 10th grade at age 16. (Her Dad played cornet.) She made All-State Band in Texas, and now her son (13), has an even loftier ambition–to become a professional musician and play “awesome” trumpet. His favorite trumpeter is Chris Botti (www.chrisbotti.com/us), and he’s a great admirer of Natalie Dungey (www.nataliedungey.com).
He likes classical music but also plays in the school jazz band, which he says helps him make different sounds and improves his ability to read music. Within the past year, he’s taken up drums (his Dad plays drums) and tinkers around on the piano. He’s started a composition for an ensemble of 2 trumpets, 2 violas, 1 tuba, 1 snare drum, 1 alto sax, and 1 flute. Meanwhile, he also wrestles and plays soccer. And his older sister sings and plays piano, guitar, and clarinet, while his younger sister “sings like a mocking bird,” says her Mom.
Why did he choose trumpet? Because it has such a “powerful sound that it hits you in the face, but at the same time it can make soft sounds that are pure beauty.” Right on!
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, Chris Botti, classical, drums, ensemble, jazz, lesson, musical, Natalie Dungey, piano, trumpet, trumpeter | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on April 10, 2015
I’m back! Lucky me, commencing on 8 September 2014, with the first class of this school year, I get to continue teaching beginning brass students at Skyline Jr. High School in Bothell. Fifth and sixth grade band students arrive early in the morning at Skyline for band classes, and afterwards, they go to their respective schools, Fernwood, Crystal Springs, and Canyon Creek elementary schools for regular classes. Shawn McGinn is the Director of Instrumental Music at Skyline.
I teach brass sectionals on Mondays-Thursdays, including trumpets, trombones, French horns, and baritones. On Fridays, I teach the full 2nd year elementary band, comprised of 6th graders. We present three concerts by the fifth and sixth grade bands each year. It’s fun!
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, concerts, instrumental, music, Shawn McGinn, trumpets | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 26, 2014
Skyview Jr. High School, Bothell, WA
On 16 September 2013, I resumed teaching beginning brass at Skyview Jr. High School (SJHS). Students from three elementary schools come to SJHS for classes from 7:55-8:35 a.m. The three elementary schools are Canyon Creek, Fernwood, and Crystal Springs. A few students from other nearby schools also attend.
First-year band students come on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings for sectional classes, and second-year band students come on Mondays and Wednesdays. Then on Fridays, I conduct a class for the whole second-year band. Mr. Shawn McGinn has been Director of Instrumental Music at SJHS since 1999, and has taught over 10,000 students! His students feed into Bothell High School.
There are numerous other posts, with photos, on this blog about the many band concerts that have been held at Skyview and at the Northshore Performing Arts Center in Bothell since I’ve been been teaching trumpet and other brass instruments here.
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, Canyon Creek, Crystal Springs, elementary, Fernwood, music, Northshore Performing Arts Center, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, trumpet | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on December 20, 2012
Please click on any of the 32 photos to enlarge it.
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7th-Grade Band, SJH
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Six trumpets, four trombones, one baritone
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Two French Horns
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8th-9th Grade Band, SJH, entertains orchestra (upper right), 7th grade band (middle right), and full-house audience
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The Brassy side of the band
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The Woodwinds side
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Trumpets (lead on left)
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More trumpets…
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And more trumpets…
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And even more trumpets…
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Hit it!
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Who’s playing? Saxes, tuba, baritones and French horns
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Muted trumpets
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Front and center
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Full orchestra
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Advanced orchestra
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Mr. Shawn McGinn, SJH Director of Instrumental Music
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Jazz 1 Band, SJH
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The Four trumpets
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Trumpet solo 1 (lead)
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Trumpet solo 2
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Trumpet solo 3
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Trumpet solo 4
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Alto sax solo
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Tenor sax solo
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Baritone sax solo
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Piano solo
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Mr. Shawn McGinn conducts
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Jazz 2 Band
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Four trumpets
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The Four Trumpeters
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Dawn Mark, SJH Principal, congratulates Shawn McGinn on the concert and the music program
Posted in School Concerts, Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, concert, Dawn Mark, instrumental, jazz, music, muted, orchestra, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, solo, trumpet, trumpeters | 6 Comments »
Posted by glennled on October 1, 2010
Nine boys and I have now had three band classes together. The oldest boy in the group just turned 12 last week. They are the trumpeters (8) and trombonist (1) who play in the second-year elementary school band which practices at 7:45 a.m. at Skyview Jr. High in Bothell. On the first day, we played a name game to help me get acquainted—they already know each other—and since then, we’ve worked on lip slur exercises, “Apollo Fanfare,” and “Cameroon.” For fun, during warmups, we play some little tune on our mouthpieces like “Happy Birthday” and “Old MacDonald.” I play a phrase, and they repeat after me.
Today, after talking about proper breathing using the diaphragm, we had a contest to see who could play and hold Concert B-flat the longest. The guy who won the first round had to drop out of round 2. Then the winner of round 2 had to drop out of round 3. Finally, we were down to the last two guys, and that established the order: every guy now knows how windy he is (i.e., his lung capacity), as compared to his classmates. They’re competitive, and it was fun! We’ll do it again someday to see if there are any changes. It pays to practice…
Next week, the new kids in first-year elementary band start work. The band director was a master recruiter this year–about 70 kids signed up, paid their fees, and rented or purchased their horns. That’s terrific! Next week, we start learning music together. Stay tuned… 🙂
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, brass, breathing, diaphragm, elementary, horns, trombonist, trumpeters, tune | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on September 6, 2010
Concert, 8 June 2010 - L-to-R: 2nd-year band, jazz band, & 1st-year band
Wow, here’s a totally new experience for me! I’m now an assistant to the band director at Skyview Jr. High School in Bothell. He hired me for the 2010-11 school year to teach brass instruments to beginning band students from the local elementary schools which feed into that junior high. Each week, early in the morning, elementary band students will be bussed to Skyview for band classes. I’ll conduct rehearsals and teach the brass players (trumpet and trombone).
How did this happen? It’s all the result of a chain of events after I helped one of his band members last spring. Please go to “Archives” on the left side of this blog and click on “May 2010”; then find the post, “6th Grade Student Earns Quick Promotion!”
At that time, I wasn’t seeking a teaching position with any school, but I was (and am) seeking new students for private lessons. I met the band director, attended the concert in June, spoke to both his bands about private lessons during the summer—one thing led to another, and “Voila!”—here we are. This is gonna be fun! 🙂
Posted in Skyview Junior High | Tagged: band, Bothell, brass instruments, concert, jazz, Northshore School District, private lessons, Skyview Jr. High, trombone, trumpet | 12 Comments »
Glenn's Trumpet Notes 