11:50-12:30
12:30-12:50
12:50-1:00
Lunch
Share our Learning/Performance
Pack our Belongings and Head for Home
Because the day is short, master teachers played with the students in both rehearsals
and performance. We believe that modeling proper playing at this level is vital for
students. In addition, one of our staff played tuba to give the ensemble a foundation.
Key to Success #3: Choose the Right Music
The band worked on three selections. The first two were out of the Essential Elements
Book I: Ode to Joy and Hard Rock Blues. The third selection was arranged from the
song Whatzit!. It was a song Larry, Sherri and Paul had all used with their 5th Grade
Bands, but had been lost through schools opening and closing and the transitions to new
teachers. We tried to order it, but did not have success finding it in print, so Larry rearranged it with his own twists. This song worked exceptionally well for the ensemble
and was playable in a short period of time. We, as a group, do not have the rights to sell
it, but are happy to share it with anyone who would like to have free copies. Contact
information can be found at the end of the article.
Master class teachers chose a variety of materials. Flutes and clarinets both played
songs from the Essential Elements Book. Saxophones played an arrangement of
Another One Bites the Dust arranged by Sean Diette. Paul LaPointe arranged a trumpet
accompaniment for You’re Sixteen, You’re Beautiful, and You’re Mine. He accompanied
his group with guitar and vocal lead. We have learned that Paul’s arrangement can also
be played along with the following youtube link if you do not have a guitar player and
singer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upytFIvcMJY Jon arranged a familiar pep
band melody, filled with glissandos for the trombones and Dan Schneider taught the 20piece drum line the rousing cadence Bubblegum.
In order to give the students a vision of what they will be able to do as they progress, the
master teachers all performed for the students. Also, it was necessary to give the
students a brief break during the course of the morning and we believe that there is
value in learning concert etiquette. Because we have a history of playing together, the
eight of us played in a variety of ensembles. There was a flute duet, a clarinet choir and
saxophone ensemble both with six players, a trumpet trio that played Bugler’s Holiday,
and low brass ensemble we like to call No Trumpets Allowed that played Born to be
Wild. We would have liked to do some jazz or other solo literature, but there wasn’t
time to include them and complete the rest of the instruction.