Mrs. Storer is slacking!

I didn't post anything last week, so I'll post twice this week!

Last week many of the band students at each grade school took a playing test. The clarinets, oboes, trumpets and most of the low brass prepared #23 in their book and while they played it for me by themselves, I audio recorded them. I sent a copy of this recording to the parent's email address so that you can hear their progress. I will do this at least once a quarter. If you did not receive a recording of your child performing the playing test this week, perhaps one of the following is a reason: 1) Your child did not take the test yet because their group is not at that spot in the book, 2)Your child did was not ready to take the test and I gave him/her one more week to prepare, or 3) I do not have your correct email address. If you believe you should have gotten an email with a recording, feel free to send me an emai, or leave me a message at school and we can get it cleared up.

Last week I sent home a note about an OPTIONAL full-band rehearsal that will take place on Tuesday, October 19 from 6:30-7:15pm at Richmond Grade School. Please note that this rehearsal is completely optional and members of both RGS and SGS are invited. Parents are invited to stick around and listen to rehearsal or you may drop off. I think it will be great fun to get my students together and let them make music together early. Otherwise they won't meet each other until the Spring Concert in May, or in Band Camp this summer or maybe not even until band next year in 6th grade. If everyone comes, there could be 100 students at rehearsal! No sweat if you can't make it on the 19th. I'm going to schedule one rehearsal like this each quarter. We will switch locations and times to make it more accessible for families.

Tomorrow I will blog about note-reading and how to make the flashcards I sent home with students last week and today. I will also include links to cool websites and games that promote note-reading. Many students are having a hard time reading and knowing the names of the notes on their music. I'm allowing some to write in the note letters, but I don't want that habit to become a crutch and to be used all year long. Being pro-active now will help in the long run. We only know 5 or 6 notes now. Helping your child with their note-reading now will be much easier than in a few months when the number of notes we know will have more than doubled.

As always, please leave comments here or send me an email or voice message if you have any thoughts, questions or concerns. BTW...It's National Hug-a-Musician day!! Hug your bandlings an extra time tonight!