This Summer

Hello again everyone,

I just was thinking yesterday how amazing this summer of band has already been. We have accomplished so much already and we have only had three of the six weeks of summer lessons.

Almost ten of the 6th graders have crossed off scales for next year. In fact, Cassidy came in to one lesson and crossed off five scales in one sitting. Many of those who have crossed off scales, have crossed off more than one. Way to go! If you want to join in the fun, just let me know at your lesson and I will help you to cross off your first scale so that you can get going. I would like to see all of the sixth graders cross off their band scale (concert Bb) by the end of the summer if we can. Since we are entering a new year, there will be a new scale challenge to see who finishes first. The first one gets a king sized candy bar. All other students who finish will get a regular sized candy bar or a can of pop.

We also have had a number of kids finishing books this summer. Keep up the great work with that. Remember you get a lovely "I Love Band" pencil when you finish your book. Since chair placements for sixth grade band are based upon where you are in your book, you also are helping to improve the chair you sit in if you work really hard at crossing songs off. In many of our sections the top few players are going back and forth each week, so the competition is fierce.

I hope that you guys are having a lot of fun this summer. I know that I am. Now, don't forget to go outside and play.

-Mr. Taylor

Excellent First Day of Summer Lessons

Hello gang,

Today was a great first day of summer lessons. I had a lot of really good lessons and an excellent rehearsal of the Summer Jazz Band. I hope that we are able to keep this moment up all summer. Jazz band people, I hope that you had fun with the music I picked. I am going to look for a rock song to add to the mix since there are so many shuffles. I guess I just have an ear for shuffles. :-)

There is no Junior band this week but next week we get to start with it and I can't wait. Anyone who would like to attend, but hasn't signed up would be more than welcomed to come. I love having a lot of people around for that sort of thing.

I look forward to the next couple of days of lessons and the first rehearsal of Youth band on Wednesday. It is always fun to see the new seventh graders with the eighth graders. I know that I will be proud when I see that. :-)

Have a great day and go outside and enjoy the nice weather (when we finally get it again)!

-Mr. Taylor

Municipal Band and Summer

Yesterday was the first municipal band practice of the new season and it was neat to see so many students there. Hopefully we can keep up the great participation. It is nice to get to play sax too so drummers please keep showing up. :-)

Well gang, summer is here and that means summer band and baseball, and softball, and camp, and vacation, and relatives visiting, and soccer, and the list goes on. While you are busy this summer, don't forget to get a little bit of practicing in each week. While it is hard to practice as regularly as you do during the school year, it is nice if you get some time in. It will help you to be better next year so that you can concentrate more on having fun in band rather than hoping that you get the right notes at the right time. :-)

I highly recommend practicing those scales. Since the scales start all over for a new year at Lakeview, there will be a new challenge for the first done in each level. If you would like to get the candy bar for being first, start working towards it now.

Have a happy summer! I will see many of you next week at lessons.

-Mr. Taylor