We've officially begun counting down until our very first concert! 7 weeks until Tuesday, Dec. 13 for SGS and Thursday, Dec. 15 for RGS! Our concert will consist of mostly pages 16 and 17 in the band books and the students know that if the are well prepared with their homework for band that they should start looking at the concert music. I know 7 weeks sounds like a lot, but it really isn't when you only have band one time a week and when you throw in crazy schedules like for Parent-Teacher conferences and Thanksgiving. I sent home schedules for November/December with the band students this week. I will post the schedules on my website next week. I left the file on my C drive at school and can't access it to post it until then.
If you have some time, you should look around on my You Tube channel. I have my own "channel" that has playlists of videos of different instruments, full bands, small groups and other interesting things. I know that every household has different rules and that some of the 5th graders might not be allowed to surf around You Tube. I haven't really been promoting my You Tube channel to the students. I will leave that up to you, as the parents, to show them the channel and then take a look and listen together, if you so wish. I will be taking some time next week to add many more videos, so check back next week too!
It's coming to the point for many students where they have to start practicing a little more in order to be prepared for lessons. It's not quite as easy as it was in the beginning and we are learning new notes more frequently. Please encourage your child to practice 20-30 minutes for 3-5 days a week. Unfortunately, some students have already thrown around the dreaded "Q" word...shhhh.....quit.....It's only been 8 weeks and we're more than half-way to our concert! I don't think that anyone should be considering that right now. They haven't even experienced a tiny bit of what band is really like. Please encourage your child to stick with it and not take the easy way out. When one person considers this, it's like a horrible domino effect on the whole group. Besides, it's way too early to be thinking about that, anyway! Many of the students (and me too!) are getting really excited for the concert in December. It will be here before you know it!
Have a great week! Feel free to stop by my office during Parent/Teacher conferences next week. I'll be at RGS on Wednesday 4-8, and Thursday 12:30-3:45 and at SGS on Thursday from 4-8. My office is in the cafeteria at both schools. I'd love to discuss your child's progress with you!
Amanda Storer
678-6726
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