Welcome to Band - Your First Lesson!

  1. Practice putting together and taking apart your instrument correctly.  Take your time!

  2. Play on the mouthpiece a few minutes every day.  If you get dizzy or feel "funny" stop playing and rest.  Try again the next day.  Try to "beat the clock" once a day.

  3. Practice your musical alphabet every day.  Say it forwards and backwards, too!  Remember to keep a steady beat with your foot.

    A   B   C   D   E   F   G

  4. Practice your lines and spaces:

    Flute/Bells/Clarinet/Trumpet/Trombones

  5. Have an adult check your "Do It" book on page 2.

  6. Try your CD at home and listen to the beginning of your book.  Try to say the note names for page 6.

Fifth Grade Band - November/December 2005

  1. FIRST CONCERT: All of the 5th and 6th graders will be performing the week-end of January 8 & 9 at Kobacker Hall. Detail will follow soon!

  2. CONCERT SPECIAL REHEARSAL: Tuesday, January 3 (the first day back after vacation) is the only rehearsal for the 5th grade band (or 6th graders who have just begun playing an instrument). We need all the beginning band students brought to Bowling Green High School by 8:45 AM to rehearse all at the same time. BG school buses with take them back to their respective schools. More details will follow.

  3. PRACTICE: Practice is more useful is SMALL doses, several times/week. Even 10-15 minutes can be effective, 4-5 days of the week. Your young musician does not need an hour of continuous playing, yet! Just as with other types of homework, try to have a relatively quiet place for your child to practice, with minimal distractions. However, if they are using the CD that accompanies their books, they will need access to that.

  4. PERFORMANCE: Try to make time to ask your child to play for you - even for just a minute of two! Many of the beginners can make a really impressive rendition of "Hot Cross Buns"!
Karen E. Smith, Band Director
Phone: 419-354-0100 ext. 332
Email: ksmith@bgcs.k12.oh.us