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Appling Honor Band marked sections

All-West Music was distributed in class or you can print the PDF from www.wtsboa.com (under What's New posted 8/22).  Appling Honor Band auditions will be the Monday and Tuesday after fall break and will consist of learning the chromatic and the first six scales on the scale sheet (I pick two) and the marked sections of the music which are:
 
Flute:  m.6 - eighth rest in m.10, m.15-m.20, m.21-m.28
Oboe:  m. 5- 10, m.15-19, m.20-middle of 27 (after the 6th note)
Bassoon:  m.1-6, m.15 after first note-m.20, pickup to m.25-33
Clarinet: m.3-after first note in m.12, m.23-28, pickup to m.33-42
Bass clarinet:  m.1-7, 17-21, 32-end
Saxophone:  m.3-middle of m.9 (after 6th note), last two notes of m.16-m.19,
                      last four notes of m.22-29
Trumpet: m.4-8, m.17-20, m.27- after first note of 33
Horn:  last three notes of m.6-after first note m.12, m.14-20, m.27 last            
               note-m.34 after the third note
Trombone: m.1-6, m.17-24, pick up to m.30-m.36 after the fourth note
Baritone:  m.3- m.9 after first tied note, m.13-22, m.30-35
Tuba: m.1- m.8 stop after tie, m.15-19, pick up to m.26-m.35 after fourth note
Percussion:   Timpani m.4-14, Xylophone m.7-13, Snare - m.11-31 (Play in order)
 

Announcements for the week of August 22

I apologize for being a little late on announcements for this week.  Monday we had our first brass/percussion sectional for our 7th and 8th graders and I had 13 students stay...... a great start.  I distributed the All-West TN band audition music that was posted Monday and we began to work on it as well as on scales and sightreading.  We will do the same thing today (Wednesday) with our woodwinds.... working in small groups on All-west music and in bigger groups on sightreading practice.  Next week these will be reversed and woodwinds will meet Monday Aug. 29 and brass and percussion will meet Wednesday Aug. 31. 
 
Tuesday we had our first individual practice session that is geared more toward our 6th graders and 7th and 8th grade beginners to try to catch them up and for my older students to either be peer tutors to them or to practice in groups and help each other.  We had 45 students stay at our first session!  I was so excited to see everyone but it was crowded and it got very loud in there as everyone was doing their own thing.  We were able to use practice rooms and storage rooms and we will keep rotating these to give people a chance.  We had two high schoolers come to help and I hope to have more come next week.  This is a great way to get in practice time and practice with each other.
 
The All-West TN band music is posted and I will post in a separate post where the marked selections are for Appling Honor Band auditions.  Please begin to work on this and don't procrastinate.  Once Smart Music gets settled, we will be using that as a tool.  In the meantime, go to www.wtsboa.com and listen to the mp3 file recordings and/or link to the smp Smart Music file for returning band members. 
 
The car wash that was scheduled for this Saturday has been postponed to Sept. 10 because of scheduling conflicts.  We will fill you in on details later.
 
There are about half of the students that still owe band forms (handbook commitment/information form, media release form, health form, smart music form) and also the $125 band fee. Remember that checks are payable to "Appling Middle School" and are set by the Bartlett School Board.  This covers the Smart Music subscription, band tshirt, solo and ensemble entry fee, All-West TN band audition fee (7th/8th graders), all sheet music expenses, school instruments and repairs, end of the year awards, travel expenses, etc......These are due by Sept. 1 (which is also our first band booster meeting.... next Thursday).  Let us know if you are having trouble getting these in and you need a payment plan.
 
Our sixth graders have officially learned their first five notes and are beginning to take away letter names in their music...... please practice hard on this as these early stages are so so important.  Seventh and eighth graders are finishing up their books from last year and reviewing and should move on to new books the second week of September.  They also should be working on the pep music for the Sept. 13 football game and 8th graders have music for the Oct. 1 Bartlett celebration event.
 
We had a great turn out at the 6th grade orientation last night and 7th/8th grade has theirs tomorrow night (Thursday August 25) at 6 pm.  I hope to see many of you there or please email me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.  Also please remember to enroll in the RemindMe text system and the instructions are on my home webpage. 
Have a great week!
 
Angela Sanders
 
 

Helpful practice tips

Tips for practicing

 

  • Practice your scales every day. Don’t wait until your audition to see if you remember your scales.

 

2) Make sure you practice your scales with a scale sheet and see if you can play them from memory.

 

3) Scales should be repeated 3-5 times in a row for consistency. Make a game out of it and see if you can play them multiple times in a row without making a mistake!

 

4) Students should practice 20-30 minutes every day.

 

5) How to practice:

  • small sections (not the entire song)
  • lots of repetition
  • practice should not sound pretty...you should be working on the passages that are difficult.

 

6) Always warm up. Spend 5-10 minutes on tone development, long tones, articulation, scales, etc. Spend time on the more difficult passages of your band music. End your practice with something fun!

 

7) Logistics:

- Sit on a chair, not the sofa, bed, or couch.

- Use a music stand and not your instrument case.

-  Try to be consistent when you practice (after homework, before dinner, etc.)

- Find a place that no one will bother you (or vice versa). Don’t practice when your family is trying to watch their favorite television show.

 

8) Helpful Hints: Remember to slow down and take your time. Practice transitions before and after the difficult passages in your music. Once you can play the passage slowly, you should add slowly increase yout tempo until you have mastered the difficult passage.

 

9) Use a pencil. Make sure to write on your music (notes, fingerings, etc.)

 

10) Have fun! Don’t get stressed out about playing wrong notes, rhythms, etc. Enjoy the process of playing music and the success that comes from learning how to play a musical instrument.

Announcements for the week of August 15

We had a great first week of school and I am so excited to see my students and start this year.  If you haven't returned your colored forms that were in your packet distributed last week, please take care of that asap (Green - Student info/contract, Pink - volunteer form, Blue - media release form, Yellow - health form, and Purple - Smart Music form). 
 
Also please get your $125 band fee in as soon as possible and definitely no later than Aug. 31 so that we can pay for things we need to pay for to get started with band.  Remember that these are set by the school board and are now run through the school so all checks should be payable to Appling Middl School.  Computers are being issued these next few weeks and our Smart Music subscriptions from last year will be expiring soon and we need these fees to activate them.  I also need fees to pay our school's associaional West TN Band and Orchestra Association dues and my national dues so that our students from Appling may participate in those events.  We will also be ordering tshirts soon and need money for that.  No money will be in our school account to pay for these and we must have fees turned in.  If you have problems getting your money in by this deadline, please let me know and we will try to work out a payment plan. 
 
7th and 8th grade students will be issued some new pep band music to be performed at the last football game of the year on Sept. 13 so please start working on that as well as reviewing your method book from last year.  6th grade students will learn our first notes this week - super exciting!  We will be starting our after school help sessions next week (not required but encouraged) - Brass and percussion 7/8 graders Monday, Individual practice open to anyone Tuesday, and Woodwind 7/8 graders Wednesday.... all over at 4 pm and pickup in back parking lot.  Bring snack from home or $ for a snack from our concession stand. 
Hope everyone has a great week!  Practice practice!
 
Mrs. Sanders
 

Welcome to the Appling Band

Welcome 6th graders and new 7th and 8th graders to the Appling Band family and welcome to all of our returning members!  I hope you had a wonderful summer and are ready to get started with the Appling Band!  We had a great turn out at our welcome meeting last Thursday night and it was so good to see a lot of you at B Ready day. 
I will see you in class Tuesday August 9.  You will not need instruments on the first day of band but you will need them Wednesday for 7th and 8th grade and hopefully Thursday for 6th grade.  If you did not get your letter stating what instrument you are assigned to, I will give those out on Tuesday.  I will also post the letter on this webpage.  Please bring Essential Elements Book One for 7th grade and Essential Elements Book Two for 8th grade.  We will finish and review these before moving on to the next book.  You will need a pencil or pen the first day.  If you have any supply donations you can bring them this week.  Also, all fees will go through the school starting this year instead of the Band Boosters and the fee was set by the Bartlett City School board..... $125 for the year and checks made payable to Appling Middle School due no later than Sept. 1.  Since all monies go through the school, it is super important that you get this in in a timely manner so that we can purchase our Smart Music subscriptions and tshirts and start copying music.  Calendars are posted on my homepage and August and September calendars will be passed out Tuesday in class along with a packet of information (handbook, volunteer form, health form, media release form, etc....).   Also, please make sure you are signing up for the RemindMe text system (info on my home page and also to come home with students).  This will be a great way to communicate this year.
I am looking forward to a great year with the Appling Band!  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns at [email protected].
 
Angela Sanders
 

Concert Information

Reminder:  The 6th and Jazz concert is tonight Thursday May 12 at 6:30 and the 7th, 8th, and honor band concert is Tuesday May 17 at 6:30.  Both concerts are at New Hope Christian Church at the corner of Whitten and Yale.  Students are to be there at 6 for warm up and set up.  We really, really need help with equipment at the school (trucks, vans, SUVs - have timpani, bass drum, xylophone, drumset, keyboard, stands) and need to be in the band room to load at 5:30.  Students are to wear black bottoms, white shirt (guys wear a tie), black shoes, and black socks.  Please leave cases in your car if possible.  We will need parents to help with ticket sales ($2 at the door), student monitoring, and set up/tear down.  Students are expected to stay for the concert's entirity unless it is an emergency and you've cleared it with me..... this is to respect and show support of your fellow band members. 
The students have worked so so hard and are ready.  I'm looking forward to two great concerts!
 
Mrs. S.
 
P.S. Remember that 8th grade will have a required band rehearsal on Monday May 16 until 4.
 

Banquet information form

The following was emailed out from Mrs. Matthews.  PLEASE respond quickly by returning her email or filling out the reservation form by Tuesday morning.  Thank you.
 
Good evening,

Please join us this Friday, May 13th in honoring all of our students who have worked so hard this year. We will have dinner from 5:30-6:30 pm and the awards will begin at 6:30 pm. Everyone will receive an award and several students will receive several awards (Certificates, Solo/Ensemble Medals, Most Improved and Most Outstanding, Service Awards, All-West Plaques, etc...). We will watch the end of the year picture slideshow during dinner. Please make sure all pictures have been submitted by Tuesday, May 10 to be included in the slideshow.

Menu (catered by Sweet Peas)
Choice of Grilled Chicken or Fried Catfish
Green Beans
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Macaroni & Cheese
Choice of Rolls, Cornbread, or Hushpuppies
Drinks -- Sweet Tea, Unsweet Tea or Lemonade
Dessert -- Chocolate Cake or Banana Pudding

Price: $11.50 per person (includes food as well as renting the facility/kitchen staff, set up/tear down, sound, etc....)

Dress is nice casual/semi-formal (no jeans or shorts). We need to give a headcount to the caterer by first thing Tuesday morning, so please return the slip attached right away. You can also reply to this email. You may turn in money in an envelope with your child's name or pay at the door, but if you make a reservation, you will be obligated to pay. If you would like to use money in your ISA, please fill out a charge authorization form from the band room.

I'm sorry for the late notice. We look forward to seeing everyone on May 13th!


Sarah Mathews
AMS Board President