Posts Tagged ‘elementary’
Posted by glennled on December 20, 2010
Photos by Blackberry camera
Early last Wednesday, about 150 parents and relatives swarmed into the cafeteria at Skyview Jr. High (SJH) in Bothell, WA, to see and hear their kids play in the winter concert by the two elementary bands conducted by Mr. Shawn McGinn. It was a standing room only crowd! The 1st-year and 2nd-year bands are comprised of about 85 students in the 5th and 6th grades from three elementary schools which feed into SJH: Crystal Springs, Canyon Park, and Fernwood. As you know, I’m Mr. McGinn’s assistant for brass instruction with both these bands (see my post on 6 September 2010).
1st-year band
First, the 1st-year band played “Jingle Bells,” followed by “Mr. Dreydl,” featuring the flutes. The clarinet section then played “Ode to Joy,” and the brass section (4 trombones and 22 trumpets) played a duet, “London Bridge is Falling Down.” Finally, the percussion section laid down a rock beat.
1st-year brass
Before the 2nd-year band played, one of its members treated the audience to an amazing solo, playing Metallica’s hit song, “Seek and Destroy,” on his electric guitar. Afterwards, the 2nd-year band played “Apollo Fanfare” and their favorite, “Cameroon.”
2nd-year band
The whole concert was very impressive. The kids were well-rehearsed, well-behaved, and played very well. They’re learning their horns. Everyone is proud to be in these bands!
1st-year brass
Guitar soloist
2nd-year brass
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: 1st-year, 2nd-year, Apollo Fanfare, band, Bothell, brass, Cameroon, Canyon Park, Crystal Springs, elementary, Fernwood, Jingle Bells, London Bridge is Falling Down, Metallica, Mr. Dreydl, Ode to Joy, parents, Seek and Destroy, Shawn McGinn, Skyview Jr. High, trombones, trumpets | Leave a Comment »
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 May 25, 2010
Surprise! the condu
ctor at the spring concert last night at an elementary school in downtown Seattle also conducted at the previous
school concert I attended two weeks ago in North Seattle (see post below). He does double duty–whew! That would exhaust me.
At this school, the music program consists of four parts: beginning strings, brass, and winds; intermediate winds and strings; advanced band and strings; and orchestra. For the concert program, there were 8 group performances. My fourth-grade cornet student is in the Intermediate Winds group, along with two trumpet players. I recognized his tone. He has progressed so fast and far this year! His group played “Sawmill Creek,” “Regal March,” and “Minor Rock.” He played well and was very well behaved the entire night.
I was proud of him, but not nearly as much, I’m sure, as were his grandparents, sister, and parents, who filmed the event. They said many musicians from this school eventually feed into Garfield High School. And as we know, Garfield recently won the nationwide Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York for the fourth time. Is that the direction my guy is headed? Let’s just wait and see what happens next year…one step at a time, please. Remember the adage, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: advanced, band, brass, concert, cornet, downtown Seattle, elementary, Essentially Ellington, Garfield High School, intermediate, jazz, Minor Rock, music, New York, North Seattle, orchestra, Regal March, Sawmill Creek, school, trumpet | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on May 12, 2010
Last night I went to hear one of my trumpet students play in the spring music concert at his elementary school. In his introduction, the principal alluded to the 1st place finish by Garfield High School’s jazz band in the Essentially Ellington jazz competition in New York City on Monday. It was their second victory in two years and their fourth (a record) in the 15-year history of this nationwide competition. He endorsed music education and wished his elementary students success in their music endeavors.
Six groups performed: Beginning Strings, Advanced Orchestra, Beginning Brass, Beginning Winds, Beginning Clarinets, and Advanced Band. He’s in Beginning Brass, along with four other trumpeters and one trombonist. The band director commented that they were going to play some Christmas music. It was a typically cool night on an overcast day in Seattle, but Christmas in May?! Yes, we heard the brass ensemble play “Good King Wenceslas” and “Jolly Old St. Nicholas,” as well as “Crusaders March” and “Frere Jacques,” in the school cafeteria with the stage. My student and another played lead trumpet, and I could clearly distinguish his strong, confident tone and clean articulation. Way to go!
Posted in School Concerts | Tagged: articulation, band, brass, Christmas, concert, director, education, elementary, ensemble, Essentially Ellington, Garfield, high, jazz, music, New York City, school, Seattle, spring, tone, trombonist, trumpet, trumpeters | Leave a Comment »
Posted by glennled on May 11, 2010
My 8th trumpet student of this school year, a 12-year old sixth grader in a Bothell elementary school, just started private lessons with me in late April. All year long, he had been in the 1st-year band and was struggling with his tone. It had become very frustrating. Most of the other sixth grade band members, his peers, had started playing trumpet in fifth grade and are now in the 2nd-year band. At our first lesson, I heard the tones and saw the problem: his embouchure. We made one simple, easy adjustment on how he should position the mouthpiece. The following week, his tone was twice as good as before–100% improvement! And the following week, after more practice, it was even better. Now he sounds just like some of my other trumpet students. That’s when he told me an amazing story.
He is now in 2nd-year band! How did this happen? Well, he said, the very next day after our second lesson, he went to the band director and asked to audition for 2nd-year band. He played the required music, won the promotion, and now sits in the Trumpet II section amongst his classmates. Wow! I’m impressed with both his spunk and his capabilities. Only one thing was holding him back, and he overcame it. I’m very proud of what he just did–in only 8 days!
Next year he’ll be in the junior high school band. Wonder how far he wants to go with this? 🙂
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: 6th, 8th, band, band director, Bothell, elementary, embouchure, fifth, junior high, lesson, lessons, music, private, promotion, school, sixth, tone, trumpet | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on April 19, 2010
My 7th student of this school year is a fourth grader in an alternative elementary school in Seattle. The Band meets only one day a week, and the Band Director is already telling him to play ahead of the rest of the band in the school music workbook. There are no formal homework assignments, yet he sits down and practices every week just for the fun of it. He likes trumpet! We began his private lessons today. His tone is very solid, and his articulation is clean. These techniques seem to come naturally to him. What more could a trumpet instructor ask for?–a motivated, talented student! It will be my pleasure to help him become his best. I’m a lucky man.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: 7th, articulation, band, elementary, lessons, school, tone, trumpet | 4 Comments »
Posted by glennled on November 16, 2009
My 3rd student of the new school year got a late start—he just recently signed up for band class, and the other trumpeters have about a two-month head start! They’re all in 6th grade at the same elementary school between Woodinville and Snohomish, so he’s had to get off to a fast start to chase down the leaders. He’s taking weekly one-hour trumpet lessons (instead of half-hour). He’s got the family support, he’s got the interest, he’s got the desire, he’s a quick learner, and he’s a hard worker. If he were a racehorse, I’d say those other horses better watch out! This steed is gaining ground with every stride.
Posted in New Students - Intro Posts | Tagged: 3rd, 6th, band, elementary, lessons, racehorse, school, Snohomish, steed, trumpet, trumpeters, Woodinville | Leave a Comment »
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