Welcome! Thanks for taking the time to visit this page. It should really help you avoid some mistakes that a lot of people make in the beginning. It will also help you remember what to do. I will add another page each week for a while until we start learning to read music, then we will begin using books.

First, here's some information that applies to Everyone:

Assignment

1)Practice Hot Cross Buns

2)Try to figure out Mary Had a Little Lamb.

We have learned 3 notes so far: High, Middle, and Low.

Using these 3 notes, you can play 2 songs! Hot Cross Buns and Mary Had a Little Lamb!

Hot Cross Buns

H=High, M=Middle, L=Low

H M L, HML, LLLL MMMM HML

Mary Had a Little Lamb-Here's the first few notes, you figure out the rest!

HMLMHHH, .......... Sing the song in your head (or out loud). Should the next note be higher or lower?

*Total practice time should be 10-20 minutes per day, 5 days this week. You should not go over 20 minutes in the beginning. You will get tired-your body and your brain. You could split your time up into 2 different practices-morning and evening. Try to get into a practice routine. For example, "I always practice right after dinner." Or maybe "I always practice before school."

If you get frustrated, remind yourself that it may be difficult for a while, but the only way to get better is to keep trying! Remember what we talk about in class, look in a mirror while you play to see if you can spot the problem, or come to extra help! At first, we need to get comfortable assembling and holding the instrument. This happens a lot quicker if you do it every day. Once you are comfortable, then it will be easier to control the sounds that come out!

Extra Help

Extra help meets every Friday on the stage (in the gym). It starts at 8:00AM and goes until 8:30AM. We review everything that we've done that week. We go nice and slow, so it's a good way to improve your playing in a hurry.

Each instrument has its own help section. Have fun!

Flute

1) Practice making a sound on the headjoint. Keep the headjoint under your bottom lip. Blow the air down into the headjoint. If you get dizzy, stop for a minute! You are using too much air, squeeze your lips together more to make the hole where the air comes out smaller. Please compose your own headjoint song! Try with and without your hand over the end.

2) Where do your fingers go? Left Hand: Skip, put, skip, put, put. Thumb on big key in back. Right Hand: Put, put, put. Pinkie on "half-moon" key.

3) If you are not getting much sound out of the flute, pull the headjoint out and practice it by itself.

4) Keep the flute straight! Don't let the end point towards the ground!

5) If you add a key, it will sound lower. If you pick up a key, it will sound higher.

6)The High note uses your first finger and your thumb on the your left hand (Remember, skip, put, skip, put, put!). It also uses your right hand pinkie.

7)The Middle note is the same, but add the second finger on your left hand.

8)The Low note uses the same fingers as the Middle note, plus add the third finger on your left hand. (Your are now pushing 3 fingers on your left hand).

Clarinet

1)Keep your right hand on the bottom! Your left hand is doing all the playing right now.

2)Your High note uses your thumb and first finger on your left (top) hand.

3)Your Middle note uses your thumb and first 2 fingers.

4)Your Low note uses your thumb and all 3 fingers.

5) If you add a key, it will sound lower. If you pick up a key, it will sound higher.

6) Keep your bottom lip curled over your teeth! Keep your top teeth on the mouthpiece!

7) If it squeaks, try less mouthpiece. If nothing comes out, check the reed. If it's OK, try more mouthpiece.

8)Please have a supply (at least 3) Size 2 reeds at all times! When you get below 3, it's time to buy more. I can give you an order form at school. Reeds for clarinets are $9.98 for 10 reeds.

Saxophone

1)Keep your right hand on the bottom! Your left hand is doing all the playing right now.

2)Where do your fingers go? Left hand: Skip, put, skip, put put. Thumb on black plastic circle. Right hand: Thumb under black plastic hook in back. Fingers on pearl keys.

2)Your High note uses your first finger on your left (top) hand.

3)Your Middle note uses your first 2 fingers.

4)Your Low note uses all 3 fingers.

5) If you add a key, it will sound lower. If you pick up a key, it will sound higher.

6) Keep your bottom lip curled over your teeth! Keep your top teeth on the mouthpiece!

7) If it squeaks, try less mouthpiece. If nothing comes out, check the reed. If it's OK, try more mouthpiece.

8)Please have a supply (at least 3) Size 2 reeds at all times! When you get below 3, it's time to buy more. I can give you an order form at school. Reeds for saxophones are $15.23 for 10 reeds.

Trumpet

1) Practice buzzing your lips. Say "Mmmm". Keep your lips flat to your teeth.

2) Use air from your belly, not just what's in your mouth.

3) Your High note uses valves 1 and 2. (1 is closest to you when you play)

4) Your Middle note uses valves 1 and 3.

5) Your Low note uses no valves.

Trombone

1) Practice buzzing your lips. Say "Mmmm". Keep your lips flat to your teeth.

2) Use air from your belly, not just what's in your mouth.

3) Your High note is in 4th position (end of slide just in front of the bell).

4) Your Middle note is in 6th position (arm all the way out).

5) Your Low note is in 1st position (slide all the way in).

Percussion

1) Get comfortable putting together and taking apart your bells and pad by putting it away after every time you practice. Being fast at doing this helps us save time in the lesson so we can play more!

2) Your high note is "E"

3) Your middle note is "D"

4) Your low note is "C"

5) At a steady tempo (speed), play 4 times on the pad using the right hand. Repeat.

6) At a steady tempo, play 4 times on the pad using the left hand. Repeat.

7) Try to alternate hands (Left, Right, Left, Right) on the pad. Repeat.

8) Try to see how long you can make each stick "buzz" by hitting it on the pad.

9) Remember to pinch the sticks like a lobster claw.

10) Remember to keep your hands with the thumbs facing each other (not up) so you can see the tops of your hands.