Hello Everyone,
Well, it's been quite some time since I made an entry in this arena. I
apologize for not keeping it up like I should. That being said, we've had
quite a good year thus far in Band at Greenlanc Central School.
With the new setup this year, having only a 4th Grade Band and a combined
Grades 5-8 Band (Mid-Level Band), there were a fair number of growing
pains. All of that seems to have resolved itself and we've settled into the
routine, with a vast range of grade levels in one band.
During practices, the older band students have worked with the younger
students to help them with musical selections, instrument fingerings and the
overall transition to a real concert band.
Our January 2011 concert was really a pleasure to present. I think that both
of our bands sounded great. In my opinion, the January concert was the best
we've had since I joined the Greenland faculty.
In addition to the two main bands, we have a small "Jazz Band" which
rehearses one time a week before school. These kids have been learning jazz
articulation, different styles, and have quite a few pieces that are near
performance quality. I can't wait to have them perform you.
This past weekend, I took 2/3rds of the Fourth Grade Band to the NHMEA
Elementary Sharing Festival at Hillside Middle School in Manchester, NH. The
kids performed an excellent program of music before a nice audience of family
members, other schools' musical groups and several New Hampshire music
educators. In the true spirit of a "Sharing Festival", several of the
Hillside band members sat in with us during the concert. The result was a
truly wonderful team effort. We could easily have performed without the
extra kids, but it had to be a great experience for our kids and the Hillside
folks as well.
Now, we're getting ready for the next round of events. First comes the
Southeast New Hampshire Middle School Music Festival, on Saturday, May 7th
2011. This event features two performing ensembles: 1. An 85-piece chorus of
students from around a dozen schools, 2. An 85-piece concert band from the
same schools. The two groups are conducted by highly talented and
experienced conductors. WE ARE HOSTING THIS EVENT AND WILL NEED LOTS OF HELP
FROM PARENTS, STAFF AND STUDENTS, before, during and after the concerts.
On Thursday, May 19th, 2011, a number of our students will be playing musical
selection at the school-wide Expo Night. These performances will likely be
held in the Multi-Purpose Room.
On Friday, May 20th, 2011, the mid-level band will travel to the Great East
Festival in the Parks, playing for evaluation at the North Andover, MA High
School, then traveling to Canobie Lake Park in the afternoon.
The next week, on Thursday evening, May 26th, all of our band students will
be performing in our annual Spring Concert at 7PM. Attendance at this event
is expected of every student. Please make arrangements with coaches and
leaders of other extracurricular event to allow your students to play with us
in this msjor TEAM EVENT. It is part of our curriculum.
Following that, comes the Memorial Day Parade. This will be our second
consecutive appearance in this parade. The date is Monday, May 30th, 2011,
from 12:30 to 2:00 PM. Please arrange for your band student to participate
with us if at all possible.
At the end of the year, our entire mid-level band (Gr. 5-8) will participate
in the Eighth Grade Graduation. All Grade 5-8 band members will play one
piece early on in the program, and the Grade 6-8 kids will also play the
Processional and Recessional.
Finally, we're looking to put together a short field trip to Rye Elementary
School for our 4th and 5th grade band students, to provide an Exchange
experience with the RES band students. Last year, the Rye students came to
GCS, so this year, it's our turn to go there.
Stand by for details on all of the above events. We are trying to use e-mail
as much as possible to follow up with flyers from school.
Also, please consider meeting along with other band parents in our Music
Booster meetings. Our next meeting is tonight, March 28th, 2011, at 7:00PM
in the Instrument Rehearsal Room on the 2nd floor next to the Music Room.
Thanks for your support, and I'll see you soon,
Richard Young
Instrumental Music Director
Memo - October 7, 2010
Greetings to all Greenland Central Band enthusiasts,
We're off to a great start with our band program. I am proud to be starting
my fifth year at GCS and having my first group of 8th Grade band students,
each of whom, I started on band instruments when they were in the 4th Grade.
This year's 4th Grade band consists of 29 enthusiastic musicians on the
various instruments of the standard wind band.
This year, with the change from a strictly Junior High concept to more of the
Middle School model, we have combined the 5th Graders into a larger band
known as the Middle Level Band. We have over 40 students in this group and
when we rehearse we take up the entire stage. It's a very good sounding
ensemble and we are working hard to keep every one of the members engaged and
on task, despite the wide range of age levels.
Activities planned for this year include playing at the GCS Veterans Day
observance (Middle Level Band), marching in the Portsmouth Christmas Parade
(all band students), playing during younger students' lunch periods just
before the year-end holidays, playing in two concerts (January and May),
sending students to the solo and ensemble festival, playing in the NHMEA
Elementary Sharing Festival (4th Grade Band), hosting the NHMEA Middle School
Music Festival (in May), and attending the Great East Festival (late May).
Also, the Middle Level Band will play at the 8th Grade Graduation in June.
There are sure to be other events, such as playing for local senior groups,
impromptu morning concerts in the GCS foyer, etc. Specific dates for all of
these events will be posted on the Schedule portion of this web site.
I heartily encourage parents to insist that their band student children put
in at least a minimal amount of practice time at home. I can always tell
when a student has been practicing. Their tone is always better, they hit
more of the right notes, and they need less of my attention during class when
they practice. I recommend a minimum of fifteen minutes at least 2-3 times a
week. Compared to four hours a night on the basketball court or soccer field
after school, this should be an easily attainable goal.
Also, please ensure your band students have the necessary items for care and
maintenance of their instruments such as valve oil and slide grease for brass
instruments, a minimum of four spare reeds for saxophones and clarinets, and
cleaning cloths for all instruments. Trumpets and trombones should be
cleaned regularly to prevent sticky valves and fuzzy sounds. A few minutes
spent cleaning an instrument can save a whole lot in repair expenses and will
be time well spent.
Finally, I would like to make an appeal for parents to join our Band Boosters
group. In the past few years, this group has helped us in many ways,
especially in planning events, chaperoning trips, purchasing band vests and t-
shirts, and in providing help during concerts and band parties. We
especially need help this year in hosting the Southeast NH Middle Music
Festival in May. We'll need ticket tickers, help feeding the students and
their teachers during the day of the festival, printing programs, guides to
help people get to the right places during the concert, etc. I'll be sending
out a flyer soon to ask for your support in this area.
In conclusion, I am looking forward to the rest of the 2010-2011 school in
hopeful anticipation of a highly successful and productive band program.
Thanks in advance for the help you provide in many ways.
Sincerely,
Richard Young, Instrumental Music Director
Greenland Central School
