Wood Park Concert - June 12th, 2012
As much as I can't believe it, this is the 5th year we will be playing the concert at Wood Park (65 Park St.). We had a good rehearsal at the high school on May 2nd, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done - practicing the music at home is top priority! Thank you to those who volunteered to chaperone. Here is the information I sent home about the concert. I will be looking for chaperones for the rehearsal we do at Wood Park on June 6th. Here is the music we will be playing:
Grade 4 is playing March of the Champions, Two Sunset Sketches, Jubilee, and Attack of the Garden Gnomes.
Grade 5 is playing Union March, Pachelbel's Canon, Doot Du Da, and Creatures in the Attic.
Click on the selected songs above to hear the recordings (Two Sunset Sketches is a video).
April Recitals
Great job to everyone who performed at the April recitals! Even though recitals are over, many lesson teachers are still teaching. Please check the lesson calendar at the top to find out if your student still has more lessons. Here are the recordings and photos from each night (I do not have photos from Monday):
Monday, April 23rd - Students of Michelle Gorgone, Jane Bailey, and Alex Andrews
Tuesday, April 24th - Students of Kasey Galligan, Phil Grenadier, and Arnie Krakowski
Wednesday, April 25th - Students of Kasey Galligan, Seth Hamlin, Phil Andrews, and Caroline Graham
Thursday, April 26th - Students of Kasey Galligan and Kristine Kirby
BANDFEST! 2012
The Bandfest! concert was great! Many people commented that the progression of skills could really be heard from group to group. That's one of the best reasons for doing the performance! Some of the 5th grade students couldn't believe that they could be playing some of the music the 6th grade played and I can't believe some of my former students are now at the high school playing at such a high level! Click here for the recording.
January Elementary Concerts
Nice work by everyone who played in the winter concerts in January!! They will be played periodically on Hud TV, so check to catch yourselves on TV! You can also request a copy of the DVD from them by clicking on this link. In fact, any of the concerts that have been recorded either this year or in the past can be purchased from them. Click here for the audio recordings.
Home Assignment #5
Assignment #5 will be handed out near the end of May and is the last assignment for the year. Students should be playing one or more of their band songs with at least 4 stars, which is proficient. Every month starting in November, I hand out a sheet that is to be completed by at least one adult who is supposed to listen to the student play a minimum of one song from a current lesson and then tell the student how he/she did. The assignment sheet should be filled out, signed, and either returned to me in band or sent into school and put in my mailbox (I have a mailbox at each school). Please let me know if you have any questions. I would really like to have all students playing this music well for the final concert and that means playing through their music at least every other day.
All band students should be bringing the following to class (Forest on Wednesday, Farley on Thursday, Mulready on Friday):
INSTRUMENTS! All students need instruments for band each week. They should also bring the music folder which I handed out in class, all music related books and papers inside the folder, a pencil, and a breathing tube. I handed out the tubes in class at the beginning of the year. It is a 1" PVC connector tube (the 1" is important because they come in other sizes) that can be purchased at Lowe's, Home Depot, Robinson's or other building supply store in the plumbing section should your child somehow lose it (students were asked to write a name on it or decorate it). They cost about 40 cents and are an invaluable tool for group breathing and rhythm exercises in band. We will use them all year. Students do not need the tube for after school lessons.
Please be sure to click on the lesson calendar link on the menu above if you are wondering if there is a lesson on a particular day or the lesson schedule info. link to see lesson information. As always, call the Arts Alliance at 562-1646 if you have any questions or email me. Please take a minute to check in with the lesson teacher to find out how lessons are going. We look forward to and expect a great partnership between students, parents, and lesson teachers.
2011 All-Town Elementary Band Concert at Wood Park
Thank you to students and families for a great performance at Wood Park this year! It was a pleasure to see the culmination of the musical skills growth in students this year. I look forward to seeing grade 4 students continue on in 5th grade and for 5th grade students to move to the next level at JFK.
Click here for the recording of the concert.
Click here for a concert program if you did not get one.
April Recitals
As part of the Band Lesson Program, we design a series of recital nights in April to showcase the skills that students have developed in lessons. In conjunction with the lesson teacher, students work on a short song to play individually or in a small group for the recital performance. The solo or small group performance should build confidence in performance in the same way as preparing a class presentation or speaking at an assembly. Recitals are always a great indication as to the skills that have been learned in just 6 short months and this year was no exception! Here are the recordings and some photos from the recital nights:
Monday, April 4th: Students of Jane Bailey & Arnie Krakowski
Tuesday, April 5th: Students of Barbara Siktberg, Bill Fanning, Kasey Galligan (Tuesday students), & Michelle Gorgone
Wednesday, April 6th: Students of Caroline Graham, Alex Andrews, Phil Andrews, & Kasey Galligan (Wednesday students)
Thursday, April 7th: Students of Kristine Kirby & Kasey Galligan (Thursday students)
Bandfest!
Bandfest was great this year! All of the groups sounded great and it was a fun night as usual. Hearing the bands from 4th grade through the tremendous work that the HHS band played just outlined perfectly the progression of skills that students who play a musical instrument will experience. Some of the HHS students are in 8th grade, so all of this can happen in 5 years or less! Here is the recording and you can contact HUD TV to order a DVD. The concert will also be televised (Comcast 8 and 9 and Verizon 43 and 47).
If you cannot find the answers you need here, email me. Students should NOT be bringing in instruments until late October. I will be handing out materials that they DO NEED for every class: music folders and a PVC tube. Students should ALWAYS bring a pencil to every class. I highly recommend purchasing a folding portable music stand for home use and to bring to concerts. If your student loses the tube, you will need to replace it. It is a 1" PVC connector and you can find it in the plumbing section at Home Depot or Lowe's for 37¢. They should write their name on it with permanent marker or "stickerize" it. Their folder should also be personalized.
Great job on the Winter Concerts everyone! Students should be very proud of their work. You may contact HUD TV to request a DVD of the concert by clicking here. Here are the audio concert recordings:
Farley 2011 Winter Concert - January 13th, 2011
Mulready 2011 Winter Concert - January 19th, 2011
Forest Avenue 2011 Winter Concert - January 25th, 2011
As part of the in-school holiday assemblies at Farley and Mulready before vacation, both the 4th and 5th grade bands played. The 5th grade played Jingle Bells (page 12 in the red book) and the 4th grade played Good King Wenceslas (#26 in the red book). Great job everyone!
Should there be an an issue with a student's instrument (stuck valves, not sounding/playing right, etc.):
STOP!! DO NOT TRY TO FIX IT.
Let me know immediately (email or send a note in to school) and in many cases, I can fix it! In the event I can't, I can tell you if it needs to get repaired and probably what's wrong with it. Fixing instruments is often delicate work and I have seen further problems caused by a student or parent trying to fix the first problem. I would be more than happy to help!
Wood Park Concert, 2010
Great work by all students playing in the Wood Park concert!! It was a very successful concert on many levels and students should be proud of themselves and also congratulated for all of the work they have done to learn a great skill and have fun in the process. There will be a DVD available (click here to request one) of the performance, but in the meantime, here is the audio recording and photos:
Wood Park Concert, June 8th, 2010
JFK BAND INFORMATION
We would love to have
as many 5th grade instrumental music students continue at JFK as possible. Our
excellent JFK Band Director, Michelle Gorgone, has prepared a letter with
information as well as a Course Enrollment Form that parents can complete and
send in with other JFK registration materials. You can download the letter here.
In March 2010, we celebrated Music in Our Schools Month with Bandfest! It was a very impressive showing of over 200 students playing both together and by group. Here is the recording! You may also request a DVD from HUD-TV. You can contact them here.
Here is the recording of the 2009 Bandfest performance.
The Arts Alliance recital week was fantastic! What a great week it was to hear the skills students have developed this year! There are photos and recordings of each night of recitals:
Monday, April 5th,
2010: Recital and Photos
Tuesday, April 6th, 2010: Recital and Photos
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010: Recital and Photos
Thursday, April 8th, 2010: Recital and Photos
Great job to everyone at the January concerts!
Here are the audio recordings of the 2010 Winter Concerts:
Forest Avenue Winter Concert 2010
Mulready Winter Concert 2010
Farley Winter Concert 2010
You may request a DVD of any of the January concerts from HUD TV here.
Setting the Stage for Success!
Many times over the years, parents have asked me what they can do to help students be successful with playing an instrument. The main
tips are to keep them playing by setting routines and encouraging them as much as possible. I have created a full list of tips for parents. As always, please contact me via email or by phone (978-567-6190 x49) if you have questions or concerns.
I will be posting information here over the course of the year (especially important dates, forms to be completed, recordings), so please check back often. If you are taking lessons in the Hudson Band Lesson Program and the student will be absent, please go to the Arts Alliance web site (upwitharts.org) and call or email to let them know. Please check my links for parents and students as well as the band calendar to the right for class and concert information.
Here's to a successful musical year!!
