Canfield Bands

Dear Sixth Grade Band Parent,

      Wow! What a great year we had in sixth grade band.  These kids have come a long way.  We have learned many new rhythms and a chromatic scale using our fingering chart.  Now comes three months of not playing in school.  This letter is going to give you some tips to have your child keep playing during the summer months so they don’t forget everything they’ve learned.  Please sit down and read over this letter with your child so they know what we expect over the summer.

          If they wish to pick up in September where they are leaving off in May, they need to practice 4 or 5 days a week for 30 minutes each time.  Anything less than this will result in them forgetting over 65% of what they learned this year.  Each practice session should start with 3 - 4 minutes of slow long tone playing to develop the embouchure muscles and work on a clear steady tone.  Next should come 12 -14 minutes of practicing new material.  Again, go slow and be accurate with notes and rhythm.  Sometimes they will have to observe articulations and dynamics.  Next will be 11 -13 minutes of practicing something that they have been working on a while.  Consider this part of practicing review work.  This would be things they can play perfectly or almost perfectly.  Here they can work on playing a little faster to develop some speed.  However, remember that accuracy of notes, rhythms and articulation is most important.

            Summer is a great time for private lessons.  If your child took lessons during the school year, keep them going over the summer.  Even with family vacations and teacher vacations, some are better than none.  If you did not take lessons, now is a great time to start.  You don’t have other homework or school so you can really spend some quality time practicing your instrument.

            We have been using the Ed Sueta Band Method Book 2 all school year.  We have learned Lessons 26 - 39 this year.  Your child should review these lessons and work to increase the speed while maintaining the accuracy of the notes, rhythms and articulations. They should try to move ahead in the book as well.  See if they can work through Lessons 39 -50.  This will keep them prepared to hit the ground running in September. 

            Lastly, sometime during the summer, you should have your child’s instrument looked at by a repair technician.  Brass instruments need to be checked to make sure all slides and valves are moving freely, no stuck slides.  Trombone slides have to be moving freely.  Check all corks and braces.  Woodwinds need to be checked for leaks and replace any worn pads or corks.  I suggest you take it to Motter’s Music unless you are renting from another store.  If you have any questions, please contact us at the middle school.  Have a great summer and see you in September.

Sincerely,

Mr. Volenik 

Mr. Pupino

GOOD LUCK WITH EACH PRACTICE SESSION !!!!