Music

AMS Band Update

October 2008

Greetings!

Band classes here at AMS are currently in full swing.  There are approximately 150 students enrolled who are busy rehearsing and getting back in shape after what was probably a musically relaxing summer.

I ask that parents encourage and insist that your child find some regular practice time at home during the week.  I am not so interested in long sessions of practice, but would rather see that all students find at least three or four days during the week when they could set aside at least fifteen minutes.  The regularity of the practice session is very important.

Students are expected to have their instruments in school for all rehearsals.  I realize that this can cause some inconvenience on the bus, but please do what you can to encourage your child to meet his or her musical obligation.

Parents of Grade Seven and Eight students, please note that your child is enrolled in a group lesson during school time unless he or she opts out because they are studying privately.  So far, they have been very good at showing up for lessons.

Our first concert is scheduled for Tuesday, December 9th at AHS.

Please feel free to contact me here at AMS either by phone at 508 832 7722 or by email at, bchadwick@auburn.k12.ma.us

AMS Chorus Update

November 2008

The Holiday Chorus Concert will take place on Thursday, December 11th at 7:00pm in the Auburn High School Auditorium. All 6th grade students need to report to the high school chorus room at 6:30 and all 7th and 8th grade students to the band room at 6:45.  Tickets will be on sale beginning December 1st.  Students will receive informational packets and ticket order forms before Thanksgiving break.

 Select Choir schedule:

• Tuesday, November 25th  2:30-3:15

• Tuesday, December 2nd   2:30-3:15
• Tuesday, December 9th    2:30-3:15
• Tuesday, December 16th  2:30-3:15 for any select choir member auditioning for Central District

Select Choir students will also be performing for the Bryn Mawr 2nd Grade for “Polar Express Day.”  This will take place on Friday, December 12th.

• Wednesday, December 3rd    2:30-4:30

• Wednesday, December 10th  2:30-4:30
• Wednesday, December 17th  2:30-6:00  ***Mandatory Choreography Rehearsal

Caring for and Nurturing a Band Member

How much practicing should I expect my AMS Band student to be doing??

The key to practicing an instrument is that it should become a regularly occurring activity. Think about it the way we ought to think about exercise or diet. If we save our exercising for one day for a couple of hours, we won’t get the same results we would if we were to break those two hours into twenty or thirty minute segments several days a week. We would probably end up with a few sore muscles, too! We all know about diets….more on that later. In short, insist that they practice. It’s the only way they can improve their playing.

Please understand that practicing doesn’t have to sound good all the time. If your child is practicing properly, he or she is working on material that is in the process of being mastered. So, put up with some squeaks and wrong notes, realizing that your child is going through a learning process. Having said that, it’s always gratifying and fun if your child ends practice with songs he or she knows and can play well.

A sample practice session might look like this:

• 5-10 minutes Warm up with long tones, scales
• 10-15 minutes Work on difficult assignments, Band Music
• 5-10 minutes Play some learned songs or other fun exercises.

Set up an area where your child will be able to work successfully.

Get interested in what your child is playing at home. Ask them to explain some of the music they are practicing. It will inform you and help them understand concepts better.