8th Grade Percussion
Nov. 17 - Percussion students have been spoken to about disrespect, wasting time, not having music, etc. Asked to come up with 5 ways to solve our problem. Rehearsed a little Lion King. Songs to prepare: Lion King, Winter Holidays, Drums of Daruma, The Crossings.
Nov. 7 - Reestablished some routines. Worked with Snare Drum, guys were cutting up in class. Several conduct notices were sent home. Metronome exercises are important. Also had pictures taken.
Nov. 5 - 2nd 9 weeks. Setup entire show, practiced bells for first part on Lion King. Did time signatures in sentences and drew them. Played through Lion King a little bit, then Drums of Daruma. Did not leave the room until it was clean.
Oct. 23 - Practiced the Crossings. Went over naming notes. Devonte, Stephen played drumset and piano.
Oct. 15 - Reviewed scales. Concert F, Bb, Eb. Test on Friday. Had a jam session on drum set while Stephen played piano. Need to pass out Battle Pavane.
Oct. 13 - Talked about construction of scales.
—Updates are now at the top—
Sept. 3 - Issued folders and books. Students are to return parent information form by Sept. 5. Percussion students should prepare number 5 in their book for a seating competition next Thursday, Sept. 11. Students need to have instruments in class by next Tuesday, Sept. 9. Introduced the website to the student, went over expectations. Reviewed Note and Rest Divisions, How to read time signatures. Prepare and study for quiz.
Download Parent Information Sheet
Sept. 5 - Just played the first 5 exercises in the book. Taught them how to play them. Instructed them that they needed snare/bell kits by Tuesday in order to be successful. Seating competition Next Thursday.
Sept. 9 - Started out with Mallets, learned the first song, and showed them how to practice the rest of the page. Switched to snare at 11:45, students played up to number 9. Students are reminded of the audition on Thursday on #5 in the book. Changed heads on 14 ” snare drum. Issued everyone practice records which they are to begin.
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Sept. 15 - Practice records were due today. worked on up to number 5 in the book on mallelts, practiced number 5 on snare. Remember to count and clap your part and name notes before playing mallets.
Sept. 17 - In order to get your choice of drum parts is to play mallet parts first. Worked on number 2 especially sticking and practicing segments in the book for mallets. Wrote in notes for number 3, wrote in sticking patterns as well.
Sept. 19 - Quiz on mallet #2. Taught Snare exercises on page 34
Sept. 23 - Practice for test on thursday on # 159, snare drum, and mallets, number 3.
Sept. 25 - Didn’t do the test. Got hung up on people not practicing their mallet parts. Worked on 3 and 7. Established the need for a director’s assistant to be able to run rehearsals. Began to think about solutions to the problems that we face:
Sept. 29 - Played Drums of Daruma in entirety. Mallets, bells need work. Bass drum counting is an issue. Watch dynamics. Missing Stephen Brown. Tarrell filled in.
Oct. 1 - Drums of Daruma: Devonte, Tarrell worked in practice room. Passed out Crossings. Students are working on mallet parts. Might have to simply assign parts. Next week full rehearsals. Talked about cleaning up and setting up. We need a section leader.
Oct. 10 - Peanut Fest - Great job guys. We just need to be more organized about packing up. Remember that it is a team effort for percussionists in setting up and breaking down. Also, a couple of guys wandered from the group after our performance. That cannot happen next time. Overall, great job. On to scales.