10 Easy Ways to Optimize Your Music Practice

Check out this recent article from NPR on setting up productive practicing sessions!

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptivecadence/2013/09/03/216906386/10-easy-ways-to-optimize-your-music-practice

Summer is fast approaching and I wanted to fill you in on some local musical opportunities for your children. Summer can be a difficult time to keep students motivated on their instruments. One of the following programs will keep students busy, engaged and prepared for next year. You may also want to take a trip to a music store to purchase some "fun music" to keep your students interested. It is amazing what some movie music can do for practicing motivation!

1) Private Lessons: I will be starting my Master's program this summer, so unfortunately I will not be able to provide the normal Summer Lesson Program. UConn's Community School of the Arts has wonderful private lesson teachers that offer short term, summer packages. I encourage you to check them out. If you would like a recommendation please give me a call.

2) UConn's Community School of the Arts: Private lessons, Jazz Camp and Rock and Roll Camp, provide students with the opportunity to continue their playing at a higher level with other local musicians. CSA has a wonderful faculty and does an excellent job with our students! Read more about their summer programs here.

3) Hartt's Community Division: An alternative community school at a very well established music college. The faculty is top rate and the programs provide wonderful guidance and inspiration to high level players. Find out more about their programs here.

4) SmartMusic: Smart Music is a computer based music program. For $30/year, students are able to access thousands of band songs, solos, lesson books and exercises from their home computer. This program allows students to receive immediate feedback on notes and rhythms, record themselves playing and share recordings with family, friends and teachers! Students are familiar with the program from our lessons in school. It is a great practice motivator and a very cheap alternative to buying books at the music store.

If you have any questions about the summer opportunities or your child's best option, please contact me by email or phone. Thank you all for another great year of music making. I truly appreciate all of your support and encouragement. It is a pleasure to work with your children!

Penny War & Fundraiser Results

After a grueling Penny War and fabulous Small Ensemble Concert, the results are finally in! The students destroyed the adults with a score of -10,241 to -20,457. In total the students raised $952.54 for the WINGS program.

Congratulations to everyone involved!!

2011 Penny War - Teachers vs. Students!

Do you have loose change hanging around your house, filling up your pockets and piling up in the car?? Put that change to good use at Ashford School. It's time for the Penny War, held by the music department, in support of the 5th Annual Small Ensemble Benefit Concert! This year the Penny War will be adults versus students, so everyone in the Ashford School community is encouraged to play. Bring your change to the lower lobby before/after school or during lunch. Put all of your pennies (worth 1 point) in the jug labeled (students or teachers) and put all of your silver coins and dollars (negative points) in the opposing team's jug. All of the funds raised will go this year's concert beneficiary, the WINGS program. Good luck to both teams!

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Important Dates

Spring time is always a busy and exciting time for the music department. The Small Ensemble Concert, Middle School Jazz Festival, High School Fly-Ups and Spring Concert are just around the corner. Please check the website frequently to stay on top of announcements and dates. Here is a list of upcoming after-school commitments that your child may be involved in:

Tuesday, March 22nd - Trumpets Grades 6-8 (3:30-4:30)

Thursday, March 24th - Clarinets Grades 7-8 (3:30-4:30)

Thursday, March 31st - Saxophones Grades 6-8 (3:30-4:30)

Tuesday, April 5th - Percussion Grades 6-8 (3:30-4:30)

Tuesday, April 12th - All Small Ensemble Musicians Grades 6-8 (*****3:30-5:00***)

Wednesday, April 13th - After School Jazz Band (3:30-4:30)

Thursday, April 14th - Small Ensemble Concert at Night

Tuesday, May 10th - Evening Jazz Band Rehearsal on Stage 5:30-7:00

Thursday, May 12th - MSJF 12:00-8:00 @UConn

Although it looks like many dates, I have worked very hard to limit the amount of out of school rehearsals that an individual student has to attend. I love that our students are very versatile and busy after school, these Small Ensemble Rehearsals and Jazz Band rehearsals require all students to be present in order to be successful. I appreciate your efforts to make sure your children are at the required events. If there is a major conflict please let me know ASAP and we can see if we can adjust.

I appreciate the work that the students are doing. Please remind them to be practicing their parts and listening to the songs online. Their work at home will determine the success of our groups. I am looking forward to a very successful spring season!

Thank you for all of your support of your children and the music program. We could not do this without you!!

4th Grade Band Starting

Our 4th grade instrumentalists will be starting full Concert Band next Monday, February 28th at 2:45pm. All 4th and 5th graders will meet together to learn about ensemble playing and prepare our music for the Spring Concert. 4th grade students will now attend band on Monday in addition to their normal lesson time on Tuesday.

Practicing

The 4th graders are doing a great job in lessons. As we get into harder material, I would like to give you a heads up about how your children should be practicing at home. Please let me know if you have any questions.

• Students have their homework written down on their green practice charts. If they are absent or they are confused about what they wrote down you can check their assignment here.

• Students should be practicing each number in their book about 10 times/week or until that number has been mastered. They should use the following steps when practicing their book exercises.

1. Play just the rhythm on one note
2. Say the note names (both do re mi and then letter names)
3. Say the notes and move their fingers/slides on their instruments
4. Play it!

• The following article from MENC provides many generally helpful practice tips.

• SmartMusic is a wonderful home practicing tool that can purchased for $36/year. Many of our students have had great success with the program. After you look at the website please let me know if you have any follow up questions or if you would like to see the program in action.

Thank you all for your support. I truly enjoy working with your children and am very proud of their progress!