The 5th grade band students have started playing their instruments this week. It has been fantastic to start working with them. I love the enthusiasm showed at the very beginning. It makes it very fun to have my job.
We have nearly 80 kids in the fifth grade band and the instrumentation is excellent. We have 14 flutes, 20 clarinets, 5 saxes, 13 trumpets, 18 trombones, a baritone and 5 drummers. That should make for an excellent sound.
For our concert on December 6th, we will be performing Aunt Rhodie's Diet. This is the continuation of the story that I have used the last couple of years with 5th grade bands. I must admit I am excited to have something that is at least a little bit different. The other change for the 5th grade concert this year will be that instead of high school students playing the various roles I will probably be using 6th graders. That should be really neat. I can't wait to see how the 6th graders do with that.
If you are a 5th grade band student, I encourage you to keep practicing hard because the music will be challenging but, if we practice a lot, it should be really fun.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
A New Year
Hello everyone,
The new year is off to a great start. I tested the last 5th grade students yesterday and will be letting them know what instruments they should play soon. It is always exciting to start a new bunch of kids on their instruments. They are always so excited to get started. I like hearing "Mr. Taylor, when do we get to start practicing?" :-)
The 6th grade band is off to an excellent start as well. We have already begun work on Scarlet and Black and have begun work on one of our songs for the Winter Concert. We are working ahead of schedule at this point and I intend to keep that going. I think that this group is going to have a nice sound. Our instrumentation is fantastic and, if we can rehearse the way we did the other day, we should get a lot done in rehearsals.
Lakeview started a new program called PBIS and that has made a big difference in the halls. I have been impressed with the behavior of the kids this year. Hopefully that is able to continue for the whole school year.
Have a great week everyone!
-Mr. Taylor
The new year is off to a great start. I tested the last 5th grade students yesterday and will be letting them know what instruments they should play soon. It is always exciting to start a new bunch of kids on their instruments. They are always so excited to get started. I like hearing "Mr. Taylor, when do we get to start practicing?" :-)
The 6th grade band is off to an excellent start as well. We have already begun work on Scarlet and Black and have begun work on one of our songs for the Winter Concert. We are working ahead of schedule at this point and I intend to keep that going. I think that this group is going to have a nice sound. Our instrumentation is fantastic and, if we can rehearse the way we did the other day, we should get a lot done in rehearsals.
Lakeview started a new program called PBIS and that has made a big difference in the halls. I have been impressed with the behavior of the kids this year. Hopefully that is able to continue for the whole school year.
Have a great week everyone!
-Mr. Taylor
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Summer with Katie
Well, it has been a while since I blogged about my daughter. My wife informs me that it has been too long since I blogged about her. She says the last post says that Katie was working on crawling.....she is past that now.
Katie constantly runs around our house now. Her favorite things to do are chase the dog (who she calls "beast) and sneak up to my computer as soon as I get up from it. She actually tries to find Elmo on the computer...usually she just succeeds in opening random windows and deleting files.
When she isn't trying to practice her hacking skills on my computer, she likes to ask "What's that?" and "Why?" She really is quite inquisitive. Usually after I tell her why something has to be one way, she asks why about that. It is a never-ending cycle. :-)
She also likes to sing her ABCs. She makes it to P and then gets lost. The notes are pretty good but the words leave a bit to be desired...I guess she will be an instrumentalist not a singer. She loves to play her little piano each day and she plays music that sounds a lot like the stuff written by John Cage (but not 4'33")...if you don't know what I mean, you should look him up.
Also this summer, I got to see my wife's new room at the high school. I am jealous. She is up on the third floor in a huge classroom with a couple of very comfortable couches. She is planning some awesome lessons for her classes next year so it should be fun for her and her students.
Well time to get back to playing with Katie...it's peak-a-boo time.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Summer Lessons and "The Rank System"
Hello everyone,
It has been a little while since last I blogged. :-) Summer lessons are over halfway over and I feel like we have just begun. I have been extremely pleased with the students that I have been working with so far this summer. We have had a number of people complete lesson books and have gotten an excellent start to "The Rank System."
For those of you who are not aware of the rank system, this is designed to make learning scales and advanced techniques more interesting. "The Rank System" is a new incentive program that will give students various ranks for accomplishing certain tasks on their instruments. Later this summer you will find more information on the rank system on the band webpage. Most importantly though, all students achieving the rank of Captain by the end of next school year will get to have a pizza party. That should be pretty fun. :-)
Summer band has also been going pretty well. I think that we will be in good shape for our performance. We are definitely performing "Prehistoric Suite," "Chesapeake March," and "Rockin' Drummers." We will try out "Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious" next week in rehearsal. I can't wait to see how well that one works out.
So I would like to try to make my blog slightly more interactive....meaning I want you, the reader, involved. :-) So....I am going to try asking a question.... For those of you who have gone through band at Lakeview, and those of you still in band at Lakeview...What was your favorite piece of band music that you played while at Lakeview? Feel free to post your answers in the comments section below. I hope to learn from the discussion this should provide. :-)
It has been a little while since last I blogged. :-) Summer lessons are over halfway over and I feel like we have just begun. I have been extremely pleased with the students that I have been working with so far this summer. We have had a number of people complete lesson books and have gotten an excellent start to "The Rank System."
For those of you who are not aware of the rank system, this is designed to make learning scales and advanced techniques more interesting. "The Rank System" is a new incentive program that will give students various ranks for accomplishing certain tasks on their instruments. Later this summer you will find more information on the rank system on the band webpage. Most importantly though, all students achieving the rank of Captain by the end of next school year will get to have a pizza party. That should be pretty fun. :-)
Summer band has also been going pretty well. I think that we will be in good shape for our performance. We are definitely performing "Prehistoric Suite," "Chesapeake March," and "Rockin' Drummers." We will try out "Supercalifragilisticexpialodocious" next week in rehearsal. I can't wait to see how well that one works out.
So I would like to try to make my blog slightly more interactive....meaning I want you, the reader, involved. :-) So....I am going to try asking a question.... For those of you who have gone through band at Lakeview, and those of you still in band at Lakeview...What was your favorite piece of band music that you played while at Lakeview? Feel free to post your answers in the comments section below. I hope to learn from the discussion this should provide. :-)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Jazz Band Stuff
I got to go with the high school Jazz I the other day to Jazz Championships. I have to say that I was proud to be a band teacher in Centerville as I watched them perform. The kids did an excellent job. It is a sad thing that this was the last performance in the jazz band for the seniors. We had an excellent group of seniors this year and I know I speak for all of us when I say that we will miss them.
Also, this weekend, the junior high jazz band played at Dallas Center-Grimes. I was so impressed. I think that the kids in that group have worked extremely hard. I could tell that you guys really liked the music that you were performing. That shows when you perform. Keep up the great work, we can't wait to hear you when you come to Lakeview this spring. By the way, I also thought the concert band was EXCELLENT! I know this is a jazz post so I won't talk too much about it, but great job to everyone in the junior high concert band.
We have been having some excellent rehearsals with the 6th grade jazz band. The group is coming along nicely. I have been enjoying the swing tune the most but I am guessing that you kids have been enjoying the rock tunes. :-) That is the way of the world. Our performance on the 22nd of May will be really good. I can't wait to share the work that you guys are doing.
Well until my next post...have a good one and (my kids love this one) stay out of trouble. :-)
Also, this weekend, the junior high jazz band played at Dallas Center-Grimes. I was so impressed. I think that the kids in that group have worked extremely hard. I could tell that you guys really liked the music that you were performing. That shows when you perform. Keep up the great work, we can't wait to hear you when you come to Lakeview this spring. By the way, I also thought the concert band was EXCELLENT! I know this is a jazz post so I won't talk too much about it, but great job to everyone in the junior high concert band.
We have been having some excellent rehearsals with the 6th grade jazz band. The group is coming along nicely. I have been enjoying the swing tune the most but I am guessing that you kids have been enjoying the rock tunes. :-) That is the way of the world. Our performance on the 22nd of May will be really good. I can't wait to share the work that you guys are doing.
Well until my next post...have a good one and (my kids love this one) stay out of trouble. :-)
Thursday, January 15, 2009
It is too cold!
Hello all,
I hope that you are warm and comfortable in your homes today. Don't forget to practice a whole bunch today. :-)
Just wanted to post here how you can find recordings of some of our band songs on-line. If you go to www.jwpepper.com you can often find the songs we do so that you can listen to them. Of course, I have been told that YouTube also has recordings. Just remember that the quality of recordings on there depends on who put it there. The recordings on JWPepper are done by professionals.
6th Graders- You should check out There Will Come Soft Rains and As Winds Dance on there. Those would be good listening. Happy listening.
I hope that you are warm and comfortable in your homes today. Don't forget to practice a whole bunch today. :-)
Just wanted to post here how you can find recordings of some of our band songs on-line. If you go to www.jwpepper.com you can often find the songs we do so that you can listen to them. Of course, I have been told that YouTube also has recordings. Just remember that the quality of recordings on there depends on who put it there. The recordings on JWPepper are done by professionals.
6th Graders- You should check out There Will Come Soft Rains and As Winds Dance on there. Those would be good listening. Happy listening.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Great Work On IBA Recording
Hello all,
I just wanted to take a minute to tell all of my sixth grade band kids that they did a fantastic job on our preparation of an IBA recording. Regardless of the outcome, I am extremely proud. The recording that we have is quite good and I think that those of you who asked for a copy will thoroughly enjoy it.
Now we get to get into a really fun part of the year preparing for solo/ensemble contest and pep band. I think that you all will have a great time over the next month or so.
Oh no....I hear my daughter saying "Uh-oh" that means she is up to no good. :-) I should go. Have a great day everyone and welcome back from winter break.
-Mr. Taylor
I just wanted to take a minute to tell all of my sixth grade band kids that they did a fantastic job on our preparation of an IBA recording. Regardless of the outcome, I am extremely proud. The recording that we have is quite good and I think that those of you who asked for a copy will thoroughly enjoy it.
Now we get to get into a really fun part of the year preparing for solo/ensemble contest and pep band. I think that you all will have a great time over the next month or so.
Oh no....I hear my daughter saying "Uh-oh" that means she is up to no good. :-) I should go. Have a great day everyone and welcome back from winter break.
-Mr. Taylor
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