A special note to all of my Operation Sneaky Spirit secret agents of holiday
cheer...
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED...YOU WERE AMAZING! You sounded wonderful, and I had
soooo much fun running around the school spreading the spirit with each and
every one of you. I actually worked up a sweat. You should be so proud of
yourselves. It feels like just yesterday, we were honking on our headjoints
and mouthpieces, unable to read notes and sound like anything but a goose.
Yet here you are, playing Beethoven, and understanding all the little black
dots on the page. Everyone keeps telling me what a nice group I have, and I
tell them I already know. I am truly blessed, and lucky to work with such
nice students.
By the way, that is me in the bear suit. That's what I've been up to this
winter break. I'm just doing what I do best...which is to break dance dressed
as a bear.
So now it's down to business, which is why you are here, right? You were
just telling yourself, "Self, lets get down to business!" So here's what you
should make your business...
All instruments, play Ode to Joy, Jingle Bells, Good King, and Dreydl for
your family and friends over the break, but not Good King, Dreydl, or Jingle
bells after the holidays, there are rules against that. If you have friends
or older cousins or something, they might even be able to play with you.
Next try the new song..."Fanfare for Fun". It's a song we are going to try
to play for the Winter Concert in January.
Flutes...Au Claire de la Lune in the book, and Down by the Station too. Both
are beautiful little ditties that rock. I'm trying to get you guys to play
some D's here and there. Also we have that new note Eb, which is D plus your
pinky.
Clarinets...Mary Anne in the book. It is Jamaican, but I'll try and refrain
from my "Jamaican me crazy" joke, if you practice.
Saxophonies...Jolly Old Saint Nick in the book. It's got E's, which are just
like D's but you take off your right ring finger. It's higher sounding than
D. Remember, everything up from D gets the octave key
Trumpets...Amigos in the book. It will make you feel powerful, and want to
rule something somewhere. Try it with the CD in your book, it is fun. Watch
out for ties, they equal the two notes combined into one. Watch out for the
secret word too.
Trombones...Lightly Row in the book. It's a crowd pleaser, like wedding cake.
Brookside trombones rocked it this week, and really blew me away.
Percussion...Practice your book stuff, and the new "Fanfare for Fun" sheet.
Stay cozy.
-Mr. W
