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Intermediate AMI Materials

Intermediate Band AMI Days Material – till the end of school year 2019-20

Contact me on Remind (preferred) or google classroom

Remind register.           Text to 81010 then in message put @0d1e0     Smartphone/computers. rmd.at/@0d1e0

eborg@alpenaleopards.org

Facebook -   AlpenaLeopard Music Heartbeat

 

Band AMI May 4-22

 

May 4 - Do the FACE evaluation and turn in the result.  Preferably on the google form but paper will do.  This is helping me to decide if this is a possible evaluation tool for beginning band.

 

May 5 - 13  Make a band promotion video.  Only has to be 30 seconds long.  Tell things about yourself and the band program.  For example, tell what you like about the band, your name, grade, how long you have been in the band, what you play, etc.  Just what you think the younger students would like to hear! Then you can play just a quick phrase from some music that they would enjoy!  Turn it in on google classroom. Will be using it to promote the band to the younger students.  The younger students look up to you like crazy!  If you cannot video tape it and turn it in, write a script for the same thing and include the melody that you would have played.

 

May 14- 19 List 5 songs that you are enjoying listening to while we are out of school.  What is one song that really tells how you feel about the situation you are in right now.

 

May 20-22 Breathe, smile, make music, and help out around the house. 

Check out Smartmusic, staff wars and many other things music related!  Region tryouts can be worked on now even if you don’t have an instrument!  Check out the facebook page – Alpena Leopards Music Heartbeat!

Sure will miss you in the band class time but glad you are healthy right now.  Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you.  If you want to practice and have me give a lesson or help on any music, you will still be able to contact me and I will be happy to help.Please send me notes telling me how you are doing.  Have a great summer!  See you this fall!

 

 

 

 

ALL SCALES ARE STILL DUE ON THE DUE DATE!!!!!

March 17 – dminor and Single Paradiddle (percussion rudiment)

April 7 – G Major Scale

April 14 e minor scale and Flam (percussion rudiment)

April 21 – Ab Major Scale

April 28 – Chromatic Scale

 

Starting April 6, 2020 (Monday) AMI expectations have changed!!

We knew that band materials were optional until today but we were working towards a concert.  With the governor’s announcement, we know that we will not have a spring concert, talent show, solo and ensemble, or play for graduation this year.  This is disappointing but keeping each other safe is the most important factor at this point. You can still turn in the recording if you would like to on these AMI days but it is not required.  I am putting out some things that you can do because you want to. I will post codes that you need for any of the programs on the google classroom.  I would like to change my AMI packets accordingly.  Because we will not be coming back to play the spring concert, the packets where we were working on spring concert music are no longer relevant to what we are doing.  It would be great if you still looked over this music and worked on it but we will not be performing it this spring. The original music will need to be turned in when you return books.  You should know if a piece is original or not.  If in doubt, turn it in. Put a note saying your name on it (this includes any books).

I would really love to have EVERYONE turn in this AMI project before April 29 (replaces AMI days 17-24).  I would love to have you turn in a promotion video for either your instrument or the band.  I would like to use these for the 5th and 6th grade classes to get them to join the band. Fifth grade was going to start trying instruments the week before Spring break so they really have not had a full instrument introduction.  Sixth grade has to decide to stay in band or not and you know how rough of a year they had! Here is a list of what I would like in the video (it doesn’t have to be long): 1) Tell something about yourself (name, grade, instrument and something optional if you would like) and/or about being in band that is fun, 2) Something special about your instrument, 3) why you should join band or play your instrument, and then 4) play something fun on your instrument for them!

I will post a google classroom quiz about your face shape on google classroom.  Please take it for the fun of it and we will see if your face is correct for the instrument you play! There is a study going on that places students on instruments by face shape.  I think it would be fun to see how your face lines up with the study.

I sent out a message about SmartMusic.  I have several people trying it out already and have heard some feedback of “Love it,”  “Cool”, and general people like it as they have just started work on it. This is great to read new music (sight reading practice), work on solos (possible for next year’s solo and ensemble), work on finding music you like and can tell me about and maybe we can play in the future, and work on exercises out of books.  There is a lot in this that I have not gotten to play with yet. I enjoy playing and seeing what I do right and wrong on the testing part. It is good for me too! Please tell me things you like and what you think of this program.

I will post a worksheet on tuning each note on your instrument.  This is an eyeopener when you play your instrument and record the results. Then try to work on bending each note with your embouchure or valve slides in brass, to get it in tune when you play going into the note from a different note. Over time, you begin to automatically adjust and your sound gets better. This is a long term project but is really beneficial for you.  Instruments are not perfect so each instrument you play will have its own idiosyncrasies. I played one English Horn that was so bad on some notes that I had to create a few alternate fingerings to get those notes to even sound the correct tone! You will need to get a tuning app if you don’t have one yet. Soundcorset and Bandmate Chromatic tuners are great FREE apps. Free is great!  Tonal Energy is the one with the smiley face but it does cost a little.

I would like to have you work on the region materials a little at a time.  You can turn in a couple measures and let me give you feedback.  With you having an extra 2 months over the summer to get bored this would be a good ability stretcher for everyone to work on the region material.  This does not mean you have to try out, just use it as a way to get better so we can play better music in the class.

There are some music programs where you can write your own music which some students have really had fun with.  Some have written some really good pieces too! Musescore and  Noteflight are ones that students at Alpena have used, I have also heard of Finale Notepad (similar to Sibelius), Sibelius First (free version of what I use), Flat (I think works on phones), and Scorecloud (Lets you play the music on an instrument and it writes down what you played - I haven’t tried it yet though).  Love to see you being creative with all of this.

I will be sending out some things on a Leadership course.  If you want to be a leader in anything (musical or not) this is a fun course that you may want to delve into to help you with those goals. I would like to have more student leadership in the band including drum major (does not need to be a drum player!).  This is being offered free to us right now so it is a cool resource.  

I have added a facebook page for the performing music groups called Alpena Leopard Music Heartbeat.  I am just learning how to do facebook so be patient with me but Hopefully you can all start seeing some things that are fun for everyone. 

Schedule for next year.  If you did not put band on your schedule because it did not fit what the schedule showed available, please message Mrs. Garrett (hgarrett@alpenaleopards.org) that you do want to be in band.  She is working on scheduling and it looks like things have moved again. They did say it was not final but she is trying really hard to make band work for everyone. 

These are several of the things that I will be sending access, information about, and things you can do instead of the original AMI assignments.  None of these are required (other than I would REALLY like you to do the promotion video - please!).  If you are NOT happy with the grade that you had for your progress report, you need to contact me before April 17 so we can discuss what you can do to bring your grade up.  If you are happy with the grade you had at 9 weeks, then all of this is for yourself, fun, and enjoyment! 

When turn in day is announced (or the April 29-May 1 homework turn in date),  there are some things that you need to get done. 

  1. Turn in any original music 

  2. Turn in the lyre/flip folder if you have not (most of you did not have these).

  3. Make sure band bills are paid (mail check made out to the school, to school address attn: Mrs. Borg)

  4. School instrument - turn in. Need to talk to you first.  Please let me know if it has any specific playing issues.  It will have to go in quarantine before it can be play tested by me and then the repair shop. If you will not be returning to the band next fall and are not going to be playing it over the next month, contact me and we can get it turned in sooner so it goes for any repairs.

  5. Personal instrument: If it is in good shape, enjoy and play for yourself and others!  If it needs repairs, let me know and we can try to get it repaired before summer vacation starts.  

  6. If you need reeds or oil, please let me know so I can get it to you.

I would like to hear from each of you even if it is just a hello and I’m doing okay or not.  I know some of you are having a hard time with this and others are fine. If there is anything that I can do for you, even if it is just talk, let me know.  We can meet in Google or zoom if that would be helpful. Make sure you are talking to grandparents or others that you know that may be completely isolated. Smile, chins up, and play pretty for yourself and others.  See you as soon as we can!

 

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Days 4 and 5 (March 17-18) are in the packet that you have already taken home.  You should have your instrument at home and music.  Turn the recording of the full band piece or 2 exercises from the beginning book in on Google Classroom  Remember to turn in a minor scale also. You can turn in a playing of your solo and ensemble piece for the full band piece.   If you must do the written work, it will be due the day we return to class.  It is in the packet. It would be really good if you started on Day 6 listening and music to get ready for the concert.

AMI Day 6 (March 19 – Thursday)

Practice through Pevensey Castle and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in.  I will put most of the music on Google in case you have lost your music, you will be able to download and print your part for temporary use.  These are not to replace your music or for you to make random copies. You will need to look at Africa.  The new piece. If we do not have class on Monday for me to hand it out, it will be put on the google classroom for you to begin looking at your part.  You can print it out, start marking things you need to remember, learning notes and rhythms.  Again, go to the JWPepper site and listen while following along.

 

AMI Day 7 (March 20 – Friday)

Practice through Serengeti Dreams and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in.  I will put most of the music on Google in case you have lost your music, you will be able to download and print your part for temporary use.  These are not to replace your music or for you to make random copies. You will need to look at Africa.  The new piece. If we do not have class on Monday for me to hand it out, it will be put on the google classroom for you to begin looking at your part.  You can print it out, start marking things you need to remember, learning notes and rhythms.  Again, go to the JWPepper site and listen while following along.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At this point we need to be really working the songs for the spring concert.   Each day will have you play one of the songs for the concert on google classroom. I will then give you comments that you can work on from there.  Yes, you can play them with the music playing in the background but I obviously want to hear you not the recording in the background. Using headphones to listen to while you are playing is a great technique.  If you do not have internet access, you may practice on your own, record and then show me when we return, record on cassette tape and turn it in, or record and put in on a thumb drive and turn in.  I can call your home and set up a time for you to play the material for me live so you can get some feedback quicker if that is better for you. Listen to the music from the JWPepper Website and practice there.  You need to play through these pieces several times per day. Once we have recorded the songs one day, when we come back a week later and record again, they should be much better, stronger and more musical. You cannot use the same recording. Know that I am missing having you in class and working with you.  I will be sending out other materials on remind or Google classroom. All of you have this connection so we can continue to work and discuss various music items.

If you do not have the paper music yet, music is loaded on Google Classroom.  Listen and follow along to the recording on JWPepper then start working on learning your part.

I have opened up a facebook page for the music department.  I invited the students to their email and parents as I know your email.  The page is called Alpena Leopard Music Heartbeat.  You can request to join or pass it on to your family.  I am looking at other ways of listening to you make your music besides google classroom, so please be patient as I am learning as much as you are.

I will also be opening an account in Smartmusic which may also be a way of submitting AMI or working on your music.  This is a really neat program.  You can use it to practice your solo and ensemble music.  It can be the accompaniment part.  Watch for an invite for it and please sign in.

There may be other things that I add as we go so please be watching for more information and ways to keep making music. Let me know if you need supplies and I will try to get them to you. I miss seeing you all in class very much.  I hope to see you soon.  We have to plan on being back and a concert on May 7.  We may still have solo and ensemble in some form so keep working on that also.  If you have next year’s region material (you can pick it up at the annex Mon, Tues, Wed), you can work on that and turn in recordings and I will get comments back to you about it.  Just because the physical school is closed, does not mean that we have to quit!  We can make music for ourselves and others.  We know that what we are doing will be used in some way or form.  Keep your chin up.  There are several places you can order music for fun from home.  One of the best is Musicnotes.com.  This is fully licensed and is a great resource when you are looking for music.

Here is a challenge for you.  Make a chart of your notes.  Take a tuner or tuner app and play each of your notes individually and see if they are sharp, flat, or in tune.  Write the result for each note on the chart and then work on adjusting the sound with just your embouchure/thumb pressure/speed of air, etc. but not changing the instrument.  Trumpets can use the 3rd valve slide and trombones adjust where the slide stops.  Do this on an octave each day and see if it becomes automatic to play those notes in tune over time.

AMI Day 8 (March 30 – Monday)

Practice through Ten masters in 2 minutes and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in.  I will put most of the music on Google in case you have lost your music, you will be able to download and print your part for temporary use.  These are not to replace your music or for you to make random copies. You will need to look at Africa.  The new piece. If we do not have class on Monday for me to hand it out, it will be put on the google classroom for you to begin looking at your part.  You can print it out, start marking things you need to remember, learning notes and rhythms.  Again, go to the JWPepper site and listen while following along.

 

AMI Day 9 (March 31 – Tuesday)

Practice through Marchus maximus and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in.  I will put most of the music on Google in case you have lost your music, you will be able to download and print your part for temporary use.  These are not to replace your music or for you to make random copies. You will need to look at Africa.  The new piece. If we do not have class on Monday for me to hand it out, it will be put on the google classroom for you to begin looking at your part.  You can print it out, start marking things you need to remember, learning notes and rhythms.  Again, go to the JWPepper site and listen while following along. By now you should be able to play some of this with the recording.

 

AMI Day 10 (April 1 – Wednesday)

Practice through Pevensey and turn a recording in on Google Classroom second assignment for Pevensey.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in.  I will put most of the music on Google in case you have lost your music, you will be able to download and print your part for temporary use.  These are not to replace your music or for you to make random copies. You will need to look at Africa.  The new piece. If we do not have class on Monday for me to hand it out, it will be put on the google classroom for you to begin looking at your part.  You can print it out, start marking things you need to remember, learning notes and rhythms.  Again, go to the JWPepper site and listen while following along. By now you should be able to play some of this with the recording.

AMI Day 11 (April 2 – Thursday)

Practice through Africa and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

 

AMI Day 12 (April 3 – Friday)

Practice through Pevensey Castle and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

 

AMI Day 13 (April 6 – Monday)

Practice through Serengeti Dreams and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

 

AMI Day 14 (April 7 – Tuesday)

Practice through Marchus Maximus and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

 

AMI Day 15 (April 8 – Wednesday)

Practice through Ten masters in 2 minutes and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

 

AMI Day 16 (April 9 – Thursday)

Practice through Africa and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

 

AMI Day 17 (April 13 – Monday)

Practice through Pevensey and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

AMI Day 18 (April 14 – Tuesday)

Practice through Serengeti Dreams and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

AMI Day 19 (April 15 – Wednesday)

Practice through Marchus Maximus and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

AMI Day 20 (April 16 – Thursday)

Practice through Ten masters in 2 minutes and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!

AMI Day 21 (April 17 – Friday)

Practice through Africa and turn a recording in on Google Classroom.  If you cannot send it in, record and then show me when we return or play for me if I call.  If you do not have your instrument, number your measures and turn it in when we return and practice fingering the notes/music.  Go to JWPepper website and look up your pieces and practice with them or follow along while fingering. There will be AMI assignments on Google Classroom where you can turn these in just like we do the scales. Play pretty!