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Beginning Band Lessons

Students and parents often ask, "what will my child learn in the first few months of lessons?"  Each child will start by learning three notes on their instrument and within three weeks, will know how to care for their instrument and how to play several familiar songs.
 

Lesson 1 - page 6

Instrument Condition & Care

• Learn how to safely open case.

• Teacher will check to make sure slides, valves and corks are properly lubricated for the week.

Assembling Instrument

• Certain instruments may only assemble part of their instrument in the first week.

• Percussion - holding mallets.

• Reeds - prepping and caring for a reed.

Producing A Tone

• Winds - form embouchure, see page 4 in the lesson book.

• Percussion - mallet movement before during and after a stroke.  Please note, percussion students will only play on their bells for the first eight lessons.

Note & Rhythm Reading

• Learn first three notes.

• Tap, count and play whole notes and whole rests.

Challenge

• Learn a song using graphical notation.

Practicing

• Play the instrument every day, practicing each of the songs on page 6, in order.

• Putting instrument away.

Lesson 2 - page 7

Instrument Condition & Care

• Teacher will check to make sure slides, valves and corks are properly lubricated for the week.

• Certain instruments will discuss daily cleaning expectations.

Producing A Tone

• Wind players will learn more about "tonguing".

Note, Notations & Rhythm Reading

• Tap, count and play quarter notes.

• Play a duet, a composition for two players.

• Observe the suggested breath marks, by breathing in the correct places.

• Name the notes in #14, and indicate the correct fingering.

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play lines #1, 2 and 4 together.

• Individually play lines #3, 5 & 6 (and challenge exercise, if applicable).

Challenge

• Learn another song using graphic notation.

Practicing

• Discuss practicing and distribute practice charts.

• Students will complete their charts for the previous week.

• Play the instrument every day, practicing each of the songs in the assignment.

• Write in minutes practiced and get parents’ initials.

Lesson 3 - page 7 and/or 8

Instrument Condition & Care

• Clarinets, Oboes & Saxophones will grease their corks, approximately once a month.

• Trumpets, French Horns and Baritones will oil their valves. In the future, will oil on the evening before their lesson.

• Trombones will wipe and lubricate their slides, in the future, will lubricate on the evening before their lesson.

• Certain instruments will discuss daily cleaning expectations.

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play lines #3, 5, 6 & 10 together, as a warming-up activity.

• Play lines #8, 9, 12 & 13 individually.

Note & Rhythm Reading

• Tap, count and play half notes and half rests.

• Moving on to page 8 will be a challenge activity for certain groups. Learn two new notes.

Practicing

• Review practice charts, and check for parent initials.

• Establish practice goal of a total of 95 minutes each week (or 15 minutes per day, 6 days a week).

Lesson 4 - page 8 and/or 9

Instrument Condition & Care

• Teacher will check slides, valves and corks.

• Certain instruments will discuss daily cleaning expectations.

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play lines #10 & 11 together, as a warm-up.

• Play lines #15, 16 & 17 individually.

• Perform duet #16 as a group.

Challenge

• Play "Mary Had A Lamb" by ear, and write in the missing notes in #20.

Note & Rhythm Reading

• Learn two new notes and fingerings.

• Tap, count and play half notes and half rests.

• Moving on to page 9 will be a challenge activity for some students. Learn about quarter rests, repeat signs and how to play a round.

Practicing

• Review practice charts, and check for parent initials.

Lesson 5 - finish page 8 and introduce page 9

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play lines #16 & 17 together.

• Play lines #17, 18 & 19 individually.

Note & Rhythm Reading

• Tap, count and play quarter rests.

• Learn how to follow repeat signs.

• Perform a song in a round.

• Moving on to page 10 will be a challenge activity for some  students.

Practicing

• Review practice charts, and check for parent initials.

Lesson 6 - page 9

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play lines #15 together, as a warm-up.

• Play lines #21-24 individually.

Challenge

• Play lines #25 & 26.

Note & Rhythm Reading

• Tap, count and play quarter rests.

• Learn how to follow repeat signs.

• Perform a song in a round.

• Moving on to page 10 will be a challenge activity for some students.

Practicing

• Review practice charts, and check for parent initials.

Lesson 7 - finish page 9 and introduce page 10

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play line #26 together, as a warm-up.

• Play lines #22-25 individually.

Challenge

• Name the notes in #31.

Note & Rhythm Reading

• Learn one new note and its fingering.

• Tap, count and play tied notes.

• Your first key signature.

• Playing in moderato and allegro tempos.

• Moving on to page 11 will be a challenge activity for some students.

Practicing

• Review practice charts, and check for parent initials.

Lesson 8 - page 10

Evaluate Comprehension

• Play line #26 together, as a warm-up.

• Play line #31 together.

• Play lines #27-30 individually.

Challenge

• Play Holiday Sampler, on page 11.

Practicing

• Review practice charts, and check for parent initials.

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