December 10, 2013

Click on the "calendar" button in the upper right hand part of the

window to access the band activities for the school year.

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An updated lesson schedule (updated 12/10/13) has been posted on the Instrumental Lessons page.

Rehearsals for December

• Thursday, December 12 (day 6) - 9th period and after school until 4:00
• **Monday, December 16 (day 2) - added 9th period rehearsal - all members are to attend.  Be sure to have your instrument and music.  This will be our final full rehearsal before the concert.
• Tuesday, December 17 (day 3) - due to 7th grade field trip we will not have a regular rehearsal.  Students will be given directions about this 9th period on Monday, Dec. 16
• Wednesday, December 18 (day 4) - 9th period rehearsal

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As we finish up the Winter Concert Music Playing Quizzes and as grades start to get entered into the grading system I want to remind everyone that these grades count toward less than half of the 2nd marking period grade.  While some students' grades may be less than desirable it is the beginning of the school year and there is a lot of time for improvement. A student can still get an A or a B for the marking period even if their playing quizzes did not go well. I recognize that grades don't always reflect effort (sometimes a student studies really hard for a test but still doesn't do well) and I want to make it clear that the students were evaluated on how they played the assignment (grading rubrics were handed out a month in advance so that students knew the exact elements they would be graded on).

This is the first time playing quizzes have been done in the fall and a lot has been learned from doing them at this time of year.  Playing quizzes will be held again in the spring.  I hope to see and hear improvement from everyone.

Students are given at home practice tools/tricks/tips on a weekly basis during lessons and 9th period band rehearsals.  Please talk with your child to see if he/she can explain some of these tools to you. If your child can explain them, he/she will probably use those tools.  If your child cannot explain them then most likely these things won't happen at home.

The top of the playing quiz assignment paper said that if students needed help with their playing quiz assignments they could ask for help during a lesson.  Less than 5 students took advantage of this opportunity yet when done with their playing quiz almost 10 students said they had questions or problems practicing their assignments.  Teachers don't know students need help unless the students tell us.  Help can also be given during a lunch period if students are in need of additional help/time.

Again, while playing quizzes are a great assessment tool and give students immediate and specific feedback on what needs to be improved these are not the only grades that go in to the marking period grade.  Please consult your band handbook for the list of items that go into your child's grade.

I know there is a lot of work to be done with many of these students and I look forward to working with everyone on improving their skills.  There is a little less than 5 weeks until the concert.  That is plenty of time to learn from mistakes that have been made and work to make the music even better.

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Please add the following date to your calendar:

Thursday, April 10 - after school Concert Band rehearsal until 4:00 p.m.

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