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Welcome to Music Notes, the
*
Current Events *
The Woodside School Spring
Concert will be held on Wednesday, May 14th at
The Woodside School Band will participate in the Music
Educator’s of Bergen County Inc.’s Elementary and Middle School Band Festival
on Monday May 12th. The
festival is being held at
The Woodside School Band will march with Roberge
and
The Fourth Graders will play for the Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony in June.
The Fifth Grade Hand Chimes will visit local Senior Citizen Residences in June.
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* Rehearsal Schedule *
Advanced Band Rehearsals
Advanced Band rehearses every Monday and Friday with some
Wednesday rehearsals. It rehearses from
April 28th
May 2, 5, 9, 12
Practice for Memorial Day
May 16, 19, 21, 23
Fourth Grade Practice only on May 30, June 2, 4, 6
Chorus Rehearsals
Fourth & Fifth Chorus rehearses every Tuesday and Thursday
from
April 29
May 1, 6, 8, 13 & 14th (with 3rd Grade Chorus)
Third Grade Chorus rehearses every Wednesday from
April 30
May 7, 14 (with 4th and 5th Chorus)
Hand Chimes
5th Grade Hand Chimes rehearses every Tuesday
from
April 19
May 6, 13, 20, 27
June 3
4th Grade Hand Chimes rehearses every Wednesday
from
April 30th, May 7th
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* How Lessons Work at
Students will attend weekly small group lessons scheduled on a rotating basis during the regular school day. Each week the lesson will take place at a different time, and every few weeks the lessons change to a different day of the week to avoid impacting any specific subject. Every effort is made to avoid scheduling students during Math. However, before a concert or during weeks of less than five days, some lessons might have to be scheduled at those times. The lessons last for either twenty or twenty five minutes depending upon the time slot available.
Students at Woodside use Essential Elements 2000 as their lesson book. Each week they work at exercises in the book, music from Beginning or Advanced Band and supplemental solo material.
Make-Up lessons are sometimes available on Fridays for students who missed a lesson due to tests, special programs, class trips, or forgetfulness. They are not available during weeks that have less than five days or that have assemblies.
Students are assigned to a group that has a letter name. Every Friday, lesson schedules are distributed in each homeroom. It is the student’s responsibility to make certain that they get their schedule from their teacher.
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To have the most fun with your instrument, you will need to play your instrument at your own home.
Here are some suggestions:
- One of the best days to practice at home is the same day that you have a lesson in school. You will remember what you did at your lesson better.
- Try to play every day that you can.
- Try to practice in the same place in the house every time you play.
- Find a time when you will not disturb your parents or brothers and sisters.
- Whenever you have learned a new song well, play it for your family.
- When you practice, play some of the things that you know well first, then work on the new exercises that you have to learn.
- There is no exact number of minutes that you should practice. Play until you feel that you have learned something new.
- Some days just play the songs that you know well for fun.
Sometimes you will get a Dr. Music sheet. Do the things that Dr. Music says.
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* Buying Reeds and other Supplies *
Clarinet, saxophone and oboe reeds wear out or break. Generally, the more experienced the player,
the longer the reeds tend to last.
Rarely will a clarinet or saxophone reed last more than a month. When buying reeds, don’t
rely on the store person. Fourth
grade players should purchase #2 strength reeds for clarinet or saxophone. Fifth grade musicians should purchase #2 1/2
reeds. Oboe players should purchase
medium soft or medium reeds. Most store carry Rico brand reeds. It is not necessary at this age to purchase
premium reeds like Mitchell Lurie or Rico Royals. Avoid reeds made in
Every student should have a at least one spare reed at all times.
Any brand of cork grease or valve oil is fine. Buy the cheap brands.
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Students at
The grade of “1” in participation indicates that the student chooses to not take part in classroom music activities by not participating in singing, moving, playing activities with other students or upon direction by the teacher. It may also mean that the student disrupts the class, chooses to disregard directions given by the teacher or engages in anti-social or hurtful behavior toward their classmates.
The grade of “1” in concepts indicates that the student shows no or very little comprehension of the concepts or ideas the students are working on in class. A grade of “1” in participation may often result in the grade of “1” in concepts.
The grade of “2” in participation indicates that the student usually participates in classroom music activities and generally shows acceptable classroom behavior.
The grade of “2” in concepts indicates that the student shows understanding of the concepts or ideas that the students are working on in class. Understanding can be assessed by classroom observation or by paper tests.
The grade of “3” in participation indicates that the student consistently participates in activities and readily offers answers, ask questions, and helps their classmates. These students excel their peers. Only about 20 % of students will receive a “3” in participation.
The grade of “3” in concepts indicates that the student is in the top 20% by consistently exceeding the expectations of the class as indicated by classroom participation, observation and by paper tests.
At
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Introduction
Membership in the choral program
will be open to all students interested in singing and participating in a vocal
group. Music is an important facet in
the educational, emotional, physical and social development of the student, and
it is the purpose of the program to offer choral experiences that will assist
students in their development.
Realizing the life long value of
musical training into adulthood, the general aim of this program will be to
stimulate the emotional, physical, and social growth of the student while the
specific aim will be to develop vocal ability and musicianship.
Fourth and Fifth Grade Chorus
Membership is open to all students in Grades Four and
Five. The chorus will meet on Tuesday
and Thursday mornings from
Third Grade Chorus
Membership is open to all Grade Three students. The ensemble will meet once a week on
Wednesday mornings from
Other choral groups may be formed for all or part of a year dependent upon interest, special needs, etc., subject to the availability of time, space and resources.
*
Instrumental Music *
Introduction
Membership in the Instrumental
Music program will be open to all students interested in playing an instrument
appropriate for a standard wind ensemble.
Instruments may
be chosen by the students, with recommendations from the music director
concerning elements such as individual physical strength, stature,
coordination, dexterity, facial/dental structure, and attention span.
Music is an important facet in the educational, emotional, physical and social development of the student, and it is the purpose of the program to offer instrumental experiences that will assist students in their development. Realizing the life long value of musical training into adulthood, the general aim of this program will be to stimulate the emotional, physical and social growth of the student, while the specific aim will be to develop instrumental technique and musicianship.
Beginning
Band
Membership
is open to any student entering the Fourth Grade and to Fifth Grade students
who wish to commence the study of a band instrument. The ensemble will meet once a week outside of
the school day from October/November to the winter break. Additional rehearsals are encouraged as space
and time permit. The Beginning Band will
perform at the Winter Concert and will learn the basic fundaments of ensemble
playing and individual instrument technique.
The music chosen will represent different styles and periods of music
while remaining age appropriate and suitable for the beginning
instrumentalist. During the second half
of the year students from the Beginning Band will become members of the Concert
Band upon reaching a predetermined level of achievement.
Advanced
Band
The
Advanced Band is available or those students who have previous instrumental
experience. Band will meet on Monday and
Friday mornings from
* Hand Chimes *
Starting
in February a Fourth Grade Hand Chime Choir is organized and rehearses on
Thursday afternoons from
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