Beginning Band Overview – Mr. Cohen
Term 2
In Term 2 students continue to receive reinforcement of the skills learned in Term 1 and are working to develop the following new skills:
• Reading and playing a range of notes; understanding a variety of note and rest values
• Using and understanding a variety of time signatures, key signatures, dynamic markings, tempo markings, music terminology, and symbols
• Following a conductor while memorizing small sections of music
• Becoming an integral part of a musical ensemble and being responsible to the group by knowing individual parts prior to group rehearsals. Students have been instructed in the use of good playing posture, embouchure
development (mouth position), characteristic tone production including playing in tune, appropriate, articulation/tonguing, and playing by ear (playing what was demonstrated without using printed music, the way in which many people from many cultures learned, including British Columbia’s First Peoples).
Ways to support student learning:
• Students should be practicing regularly to ensure that they are continuing to:
develop their embouchure, improve dexterity, increase range, improve tone, and know the pieces we are playing in class.
• Set a regular practice time (15-20 minutes a day, 4-5 times per week) and provide a quiet place to practice.
• Invite your child to play an exercise from their method book for you, or have them perform their part from the sheet music we are working on.
• Ensure your child has their instrument/music etc. on band days.
Band classes take place in the school gym with outside doors open and students have been instructed to sit a minimum of 2 meters from the closest person for maximum safety.
Ian Cohen
Itinerant Band Teacher
ian.cohen@burnabyschools.ca