Students,
I hope you are all doing well! In the coming days I will be posting some things on this website for you to keep working on your musical skills. In the meantime, I hope you are practicing things you know to be practicing. You can be working on scales/concert music etc.
A great resource for you is sightreadingfactory.com. If you go there you can click "try it for free". There you'll have the ability to practice rhythms or you can select your instrument and sight read melodies. For those of you that don't have your instruments, you could just practice counting the rhythms and saying the note names rather than actually playing.
More info coming soon!
#excellenceisahabit #workhardbenice
JG
Courses Taught:
High School Band
How to practice effectively...for just about anything
Assignments for Distance Learning
April 1 - April 8
1. Please visit sightreadingfactory.com and read 2-3 rhythms and melodies daily. Use the instructions from the March 25-27 assignments to help you navigate the website/do the assignment. (Below)
2. I would like everyone (including percussionist who are primary battery percussion) to practice/work on understanding these scales
- Concert G
- Concert Gb
- Concert D
- Concert Db
**Use the instructions from the March 25-27 assignment for these scales as well. (Below)
3. Dynamic Marching is offering free courses through May 1. You can take Advanced Marching, Dynamic Marching and Movement, Dynamic Symphonic Band, Fundamentals of Dance Level 1 and 2, and Fundamentals of Flag Level 1 and 2. There are a few other courses that are specially for band directors, but you can obviously view those as well. If you are interested use the link below. All you have to do is create an account.
FYI, my courses didn't appear right away. However, after a few minutes they popped up. So be patient if you don't see them right away.
March 25 - March 27
These instructions are long, however the assignments are easy and won't take long! Read everything carefully. I'd like to you do both of these things Thursday and Friday.
1. Please visit sightradingfactory.com to practice sightreading. Instructions
- You may need to play around with this website a little to get the hang of how it works. However, it is very user friendly. You'll get the hang of things quickly. If you have questions, just email me.
- Click "try for free" if you do not have an account. If you have an account, you can sign in and practice.
- Select the Rhythm only option. Please sightread one level 2, two level 3's, and attempt one level 4. If you feel confident, try a level 5. You should: 1. Count through it on your own. 2. Play it on your instrument if you have it with you (If not just sing it on TA). 3. Listen to it - there is a play button that will play the rhythm for you to help you know if you were correct in your playing and counting. (You may select any time signature you wish)
*Once you select your time signature it will give you the option to "free play" or "Challenge". You can do whichever you prefer.
*If you find that level 3's and 4's are too difficult, try level 1s and 2s. If you have questions about how to count anything feel free to reach out to me. You can email me a picture of the rhythm you cannot count and I'll help you.
*Using the "try for free option" you will be limited in the number of things it let's you do. I may look into getting everyone full accounts in the next week or so.
2. I would like everyone (including percussionist who are primary battery percussion) to practice/work on understanding these scales
- Concert Bb
- Concert F
- Concert C
- Concert Eb
- Concert Ab
Use the links that are on this page under "Documents" to find scale sheets if you need them. Practice SAYING the:
- Name of the scale, and what scale you play. (Trumpets/Clarinets would say "Concert Bb, the C scale for me" etc)
- How many flat's or sharps are in the scale
- Then the note names. If you're working on YOUR C scale. You would say: C D E F G A B C B A G F E D C. (Don't worry about multiple octaves at this point.)
Notice that I haven't asked you to PLAY the scales. So if you don't have your instrument, you are in the clear. Just practice learning the names of scales and saying your note names.
This isn't something we normally spend a lot of time on in class, however it is very important and will help you become a better player!
Happy practicing!
Mr. Gunn graduated from Kossuth High School in 2005. He then attended Itawamba Community College for two years and then the University of Mississippi for 2 1/2 years. After graduating Mr. Gunn taught as adjunct staff at Lewisburg High School in the spring of 2010. Mr. Gunn began his full time teaching career at Olive Branch Middle School in the fall of 2010. He remained at OBMS for 7 years teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands as well as the OBMS colorguard class. During those 7 years he also at Olive Branch High School where he taught the colorguard, winterguard, concert band, and symphonic band. In the fall of 2017 Mr. Gunn became the Director of Bands at Olive Branch High School where he directs the Conquistador Marching Band and the OBHS Wind Ensemble. He assists with the 6th and 7th grade bands at OBMS.
Documents
If you visit THIS LINK you will find scale sheets for each instrument. I haven't looked through all of them, but from what I can tell the "concert band" column is one octave scales and the "symphonic band/wind ensemble" column has more octaves. However, even those still have one octave scales for some instruments. You can get two octave scale sheets HERE.
Obviously, if you have your own scale sheet at home, you can use that. This is just for people that don't have one at home.
I'm sure you can google "Flute Scale sheet" etc and find a million different versions! If you are looking at this page with your phone, you literally have the whole internet in your hand! :)
HAPPY PRACTICING