Challenge #4 -
Here's a challenge "just for fun..." Take your practicing on the road this week! With summer here, and (hopefully) good weather at least most of the days, take your horn outside and practice outside. Be careful not to drop it in a mud puddle and be sure you take it back inside before you do something else. Get your parent/guardian to sign a sheet saying that you practiced outside and bring it to your lesson for a piece of candy!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
High School Band Students are AWESOME!
I want to take a moment to thank the CHS Band Students who have been coming to help us with the elementary and junior high rehearsals and mentoring some of the younger students. Thanks to these students not only are there some awesome role models around, but they sure make the rehearsals and the "down time" between events more fun for everyone involved. Thanks!!
Friday, June 20, 2008
Challenge #3
Greetings Everyone!
We're entering the third week of summer lessons! This is the half-way point of the summer band lesson session...and of course, the third challenge. Here's the deal... I'm DOUBLING the incentive for doing scales, arpeggios, and rudiments... Any scale, arpeggio, or rudiment that you haven't already crossed off in your current scale club level is worth TWO Jolly Ranchers or Tootsie Rolls. You can do as many this week as you choose, just remember to have them memorized before you come to your lesson!
Good luck!
We're entering the third week of summer lessons! This is the half-way point of the summer band lesson session...and of course, the third challenge. Here's the deal... I'm DOUBLING the incentive for doing scales, arpeggios, and rudiments... Any scale, arpeggio, or rudiment that you haven't already crossed off in your current scale club level is worth TWO Jolly Ranchers or Tootsie Rolls. You can do as many this week as you choose, just remember to have them memorized before you come to your lesson!
Good luck!
What a week!
What a week it's been! To anyone who thinks that summer is "down time" for teachers never lived the life of a band director! It was a full week, but I can't say anything bad about the week except that I'm exhausted beyond exhausted...
First, summer lessons this week have been wonderful. There were some exceptional lessons and a lot of things learned, and a number of scales crossed off this week again. Several of you will be starting off the 2008/2009 school year way ahead! Keep it up! A HUGE thank you goes out to the Wednesday and Thursday people who came on the funny days this week.
Second, thank you to the Centerville Municipal Band. An excellent concert under strange circumstances, it was a blast to have the opportunity to direct a full concert.
And finally, brass players...get ready to BUZZ! I went to an amazing class in Pella on playing brass instruments this week. It made a couple of very long days, but I'm so excited about what I learned that I can't wait to get all of the brass players in for lessons next week!
Everything should be back to "normal" next week and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at rehearsals and lessons!
First, summer lessons this week have been wonderful. There were some exceptional lessons and a lot of things learned, and a number of scales crossed off this week again. Several of you will be starting off the 2008/2009 school year way ahead! Keep it up! A HUGE thank you goes out to the Wednesday and Thursday people who came on the funny days this week.
Second, thank you to the Centerville Municipal Band. An excellent concert under strange circumstances, it was a blast to have the opportunity to direct a full concert.
And finally, brass players...get ready to BUZZ! I went to an amazing class in Pella on playing brass instruments this week. It made a couple of very long days, but I'm so excited about what I learned that I can't wait to get all of the brass players in for lessons next week!
Everything should be back to "normal" next week and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone at rehearsals and lessons!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Looking forward to flag team!
Hey there! I promised to blog about flag team, too, so here's the first blog about flag team... If you're on the team next year feel free to make a comment off of this posting, I can't wait to hear from y'all...
We're looking at another wonderful season this upcoming fall with some fun music that Mr. D. selected and a talented, dedicated group of girls on the team. When we start work in August I predict some discussion of t-shirt designs, so start the creative juices flowing (there's already been one idea thrown into the pot of "I would rather twirl my flag than..." and list several things you would rather not do. This idea isn't set in stone, so if there are other ideas out there let's hear them!
I'm going to start the choreography hopefully next week and will be talking to several flag sources to get some fresh ideas to shock and awe our crowd this season!
And now the top five reasons that I'm looking forward to flag team in August...
5. I want another shot at breaking my nose...
4. The flags are just so pretty...
3. Butterflies and backscratchers and tick tocks, oh my!
2. What an amazing group of girls that I'll get to coach!
1. This year is going to be the best yet!
We're looking at another wonderful season this upcoming fall with some fun music that Mr. D. selected and a talented, dedicated group of girls on the team. When we start work in August I predict some discussion of t-shirt designs, so start the creative juices flowing (there's already been one idea thrown into the pot of "I would rather twirl my flag than..." and list several things you would rather not do. This idea isn't set in stone, so if there are other ideas out there let's hear them!
I'm going to start the choreography hopefully next week and will be talking to several flag sources to get some fresh ideas to shock and awe our crowd this season!
And now the top five reasons that I'm looking forward to flag team in August...
5. I want another shot at breaking my nose...
4. The flags are just so pretty...
3. Butterflies and backscratchers and tick tocks, oh my!
2. What an amazing group of girls that I'll get to coach!
1. This year is going to be the best yet!
Monday, June 16, 2008
Oh! Be sure to check it out!...and a top four!
I've done some experimenting today with the blog layout... Check out the left hand margin of the page, there's some *NEW* content there that you might be interested in! This includes a survey, who met last week's challenge, and other such updates!
Don't forget that Wednesday lessons will be TOMORROW (Tuesday) and Thursday lessons will be on FRIDAY this week ONLY!
And now, on the lighter side, a Top Four Comments Overheard at Summer Jazz Rehearsal today:
4. Poor Mr. Taylor, stuck in a flood!
3. Where the heck is my shampoo?
2. Why are you smelling me?
1. Isn't summer jazz the best?
P.S. To everyone who was at Summer Jazz rehearsal this afternoon, excellent job! The group is going to be sounding AMAZING!! I'm looking forward to starting jazz band in the fall!
Don't forget that Wednesday lessons will be TOMORROW (Tuesday) and Thursday lessons will be on FRIDAY this week ONLY!
And now, on the lighter side, a Top Four Comments Overheard at Summer Jazz Rehearsal today:
4. Poor Mr. Taylor, stuck in a flood!
3. Where the heck is my shampoo?
2. Why are you smelling me?
1. Isn't summer jazz the best?
P.S. To everyone who was at Summer Jazz rehearsal this afternoon, excellent job! The group is going to be sounding AMAZING!! I'm looking forward to starting jazz band in the fall!
Top Ten Things To Do When Boredom Sets In...
Bored with summer yet? Here's Ms. Philipsen's Top Ten Things To Do When Boredom Sets In...
10. Clean out your sock drawer. Make sock puppets out of the socks that are missing their mates. Put on a puppet show for your neighborhood.
9. Memorize scales, arpeggios, and rudiments. This will not only keep you busy for an afternoon, but if you play them for Ms. P. you'll get a sweet reward.
8. Chase squirrels. Don't forget to look both ways before you cross the street, and remember, climbing utility poles isn't such a good idea for us humans.
7. Practice for your band lesson. Maybe practice outside or in the bathroom or somewhere weird...
6. Come up with your own top ten list. If it's good and school appropriate, post it as a comment to this post and share it with the rest of the band! Be creative with topics. (Please try to keep them positive!) Oh, and while you're working online, take the online poll that's with this blog...there will be a new one each week...
5. Practice long tones. How long can you hold a note? Can you hold every note just as long? Can you make your tone sound better? Just be careful not to pass out!
4. Make a picnic lunch and take your teddy bear out for a nice stroll and picnic. Don't forget the sunblock and bug spray.
3. Play through some of your favorite lesson lines from lessons past. Do you sound better playing them now than you did when you first worked on that lesson? What are your favorite lines?
2. Check out www.freerice.com. It's a great web site that costs you nothing, but by answering vocabulary questions you are donating rice to poor countries through the site's sponsors. Don't worry about your vocab level, they have easy words as well as much harder words and the computer will help find the level that you should work at. Check it out and make a difference!
1. Did I mention PRACTICE?? As a band director, I would be in trouble if this wasn't in my #1 boredom buster slot...
10. Clean out your sock drawer. Make sock puppets out of the socks that are missing their mates. Put on a puppet show for your neighborhood.
9. Memorize scales, arpeggios, and rudiments. This will not only keep you busy for an afternoon, but if you play them for Ms. P. you'll get a sweet reward.
8. Chase squirrels. Don't forget to look both ways before you cross the street, and remember, climbing utility poles isn't such a good idea for us humans.
7. Practice for your band lesson. Maybe practice outside or in the bathroom or somewhere weird...
6. Come up with your own top ten list. If it's good and school appropriate, post it as a comment to this post and share it with the rest of the band! Be creative with topics. (Please try to keep them positive!) Oh, and while you're working online, take the online poll that's with this blog...there will be a new one each week...
5. Practice long tones. How long can you hold a note? Can you hold every note just as long? Can you make your tone sound better? Just be careful not to pass out!
4. Make a picnic lunch and take your teddy bear out for a nice stroll and picnic. Don't forget the sunblock and bug spray.
3. Play through some of your favorite lesson lines from lessons past. Do you sound better playing them now than you did when you first worked on that lesson? What are your favorite lines?
2. Check out www.freerice.com. It's a great web site that costs you nothing, but by answering vocabulary questions you are donating rice to poor countries through the site's sponsors. Don't worry about your vocab level, they have easy words as well as much harder words and the computer will help find the level that you should work at. Check it out and make a difference!
1. Did I mention PRACTICE?? As a band director, I would be in trouble if this wasn't in my #1 boredom buster slot...
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Don't Forget - Change in schedule this week only!
Just a friendly reminder that this week's lessons are going to be a little different. Monday folks stay the same. Wednesday lessons will be on TUESDAY and Thursday lessons will be on FRIDAY. YOUTH BAND will remain on Wednesday, Mr. Taylor is going to work with y'all. This change in schedule is so I can take a class in Pella on Wednesday and Thursday on teaching brass, so look out brass players, I'm going to come back with lots of good ideas to share with you!
Muni Band is also going to be different this week only, too... We're going to perform on WEDNESDAY at the HIGH SCHOOL LAWN due to some other community events (concert will still be at 8 p.m.). Oh, and I'll be directing...I'm looking forward to that. Should be a lot of fun!
Be sure to sign the guest book on the Centerville Band web page and post some comments. I enjoy seeing everyone who has been to the site!
Muni Band is also going to be different this week only, too... We're going to perform on WEDNESDAY at the HIGH SCHOOL LAWN due to some other community events (concert will still be at 8 p.m.). Oh, and I'll be directing...I'm looking forward to that. Should be a lot of fun!
Be sure to sign the guest book on the Centerville Band web page and post some comments. I enjoy seeing everyone who has been to the site!
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The Second Challenge!
Challenge #2: Find a sheet of paper and a pencil. Pick a line that you're working on in your lesson book and write the page number and line number that you're using on the paper. Play the line once. List two things that went well when you plaed the line. List two things that you want to improve on when you play that line. Play the line again. Answer the question "how did I improve the second time over the first time I played this line?" Bring this to your lesson for a piece of candy. You can do this with up to three lines for candy (so you can get up to three pieces of candy for this practicing exercise). Of course you can ask yourself these questions every single time you practice a line... Good luck and good practicing!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Summer Lesson Update
WOW! Summer lessons have started off with a bang! What a couple of days so far! I'm exhausted after today's record attendance. Congratulations to everyone who has so far met the first summer challenge. (If your lesson isn't until tomorrow, check out the challenge in the last posting.) The challenge is still good through tomorrow, so hopefully I'll get to hear a few more scales! Everyone who has crossed off one or more scale or rudiment will also be getting their scale club chart posted in the HJH band room next week to start filling up for the 08/09 school year.
Thanks also to all of the wonderful high school students who are helping with youth band (and all of the summer groups for that matter). I appreciate that you're giving up part of your summer to help us out! Things wouldn't go as smoothly without you!
Don't forget that my lessons next week will be a little mixed up. Wednesday lessons will be on Tuesday and Thursday lessons will be on Friday. I'm taking a class in Pella on teaching brass instruments, and looking forward to getting some new ideas to bring back with me to share with our brass players. There will be another posting on Thursday or Friday with a challenge for week two of summer lessons, so check up on that when you get a chance.
Municipal Band concert will be tomorrow night at 8:00 in the band shell on the square. Hope to see you there for good music and an ice cream social! (Weather permitting, of course!)
Thanks also to all of the wonderful high school students who are helping with youth band (and all of the summer groups for that matter). I appreciate that you're giving up part of your summer to help us out! Things wouldn't go as smoothly without you!
Don't forget that my lessons next week will be a little mixed up. Wednesday lessons will be on Tuesday and Thursday lessons will be on Friday. I'm taking a class in Pella on teaching brass instruments, and looking forward to getting some new ideas to bring back with me to share with our brass players. There will be another posting on Thursday or Friday with a challenge for week two of summer lessons, so check up on that when you get a chance.
Municipal Band concert will be tomorrow night at 8:00 in the band shell on the square. Hope to see you there for good music and an ice cream social! (Weather permitting, of course!)
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Challenge #1 and Top Ten Things Band Students will be doing on June 4th
Challenge #1 – To anyone taking summer lessons, I am issuing a challenge to cross off your one octave concert Bb scale (your Bb, C, G, or F scale depending on the instrument) at your first summer lesson (the week of June 9). Your reward? Not only will you have one scale already crossed off on your chart, but you will also gain the reward of TWO Jolly Ranchers or similar candies! Good Luck!
Top Ten Things Band Students will be doing on June 4th (their first day off!):
10. Chuckle as they think of their teachers still working one last day.
9. Wonder "did I really pass all of my classes?"
8. Finally remember their locker combinations!!
7. Buy ice cream or other frozen novelty.
6. Text everyone they know…
5. Forget that school’s out for the summer and show up at 8:00 anyway.
4. Proclaim that it’s boring already!
3. Drive siblings/parents/neighbors crazy…
2. Sleep in.
1. PRACTICE for that first summer lesson
Top Ten Things Band Students will be doing on June 4th (their first day off!):
10. Chuckle as they think of their teachers still working one last day.
9. Wonder "did I really pass all of my classes?"
8. Finally remember their locker combinations!!
7. Buy ice cream or other frozen novelty.
6. Text everyone they know…
5. Forget that school’s out for the summer and show up at 8:00 anyway.
4. Proclaim that it’s boring already!
3. Drive siblings/parents/neighbors crazy…
2. Sleep in.
1. PRACTICE for that first summer lesson
Monday, June 2, 2008
Municipal Band Begins
It must be summer... Even though we're still in school through tomorrow, a sure sign that it's summer is that the Centerville Municipal Band is beginning it's 2008 season this week! Tonight is the first rehearsal and Thursday night at 8:00 is our first performance in the band shell on the square (weather permitting).
The neatest part of playing in the municipal band is the variety of people who come together to play each summer. There are band directors both current and retired, community members, and high school students. It may surprise you who all is playing in this year's band. Try to make it to at least one concert. Concerts will be each Thursday night through the second week in July!
The neatest part of playing in the municipal band is the variety of people who come together to play each summer. There are band directors both current and retired, community members, and high school students. It may surprise you who all is playing in this year's band. Try to make it to at least one concert. Concerts will be each Thursday night through the second week in July!
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