Transcript Elementary Band In-service Power Point

Elementary Band In-Service
September 16, 2009
3:00 – 4:00 pm
Johnson Elementary Music Room
Presenter: Janel Huyett, Band Specialist
Elementary Band Concerts
Question:
1.Why do beginning orchestra concerts
sound better than beginning band
concerts?
1. Open Strings – intonation can be controlled by
teacher
2. Piano accompaniment provides harmony and stability
3. Very simple melodies (2-5 notes)
4. Three groups (4,5,6 to fill time for a concert
requiring each group to perform fewer selections)
5. More (different) instruments in band create different problems
6. Mixed instrumentation classes difficult to teach
7. Other?
Question: What can be done to address this
concern?
1. Add piano accompaniment to most/all beginning band tunes
to provide harmony and stability
2. Keep concert program simple - Don’t try to tackle too much
3. Focus on tone production and remember that you won’t
play in tune if you don’t play “in tone”!
4. Keep percussion to a minimum – if at all possible, keep
percussionists on bells (melody instrument) or “color”
instruments (triangle or sleigh bells) for the first concert.
Nothing can ruin a performance faster than a snare/bass
drummer with no concept of pulse.
5. Create variations of the simple tunes to create length in the
program;
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
All play
Repeat, featuring various sections of the band
Repeat, featuring small mixed ensembles or soloists
Repeat and have students sing one time through or sing
the “B section”. This works well with Jingle Bells.
Students can sing, “Dashing through the snow”, then play
the refrain.
v. Perform selections in a round when appropriate (e.g., Are
You Sleeping?)
6. Consider presenting band concerts/assemblies
separately from orchestra concerts
7. Other ideas?
And the night shall be filled
with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs
And as silently steal away.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, The Day Is Done