Christopher A. Phillips, M.Ed.
Director of Bands

musicstaff

- High School Band
-Middle School Band
-Elementary School Band
-7th Grade Music Appreciation


*Band Students are expected to follow the practice routine as listed below, everyday in lieu of class during the school closure! Please feel free to email or contact Mr. Phillips via Google Classroom if you have any questions at all. Please check back frequently as I will be updating the links with practice tools for all instruments. Please stay healthy and use this time to practice!

*7th Grade Music Appreciation Classin lieu of class during the school closure, students should complete the exercises in the DSO Kids link below. Please feel free to email or contact Mr. Phillips via Google Classroom if you have any questions at all.

Email me at:

[email protected]

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Elementary Band (4th & 5th Grade):
Google Classroom code is: To be announced

~Students group lessons are TBA


~Students should practice their instruments at home 3+ days a week, a minimum of 10+ minutes

      *Download a free tuner app and a free metronome app. to your smart phone or tablet. Tuner app can help with intonation and the             metronome app will help with your tempo. Get in the habit of tapping your foot along with the metronome. Feel the beat!

     1.) Warm-up with long tones to get a nice sound (rudiments for percussion)
     2.) Play through your red lesson books (practicing reading your notes and rhythms (Background tracks : 
           https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9A2z7qUmukrn8nxTSTvwjW4G42jhgKt8)
     3.) Play through your concert songs
     4.) Use the recommended links below to find additional practice/lesson material 
     5.) More practice tips below

~Full Band: 
TBA

~See the Google Classroom for more information
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Middle School Band: Google Classroom code is c3skkhb

~Students in MS Band meet every day during 4th period (Students in both band and chorus go to band on even days and chorus on odd days)

~Students should practice their instruments at home 3+ days a week, at a minimum of 20+ minutes.


      *Download a free tuner app and a free metronome app. to your smart phone or tablet. The Tuner app can help with intonation and            the metronome app will help with your tempo. Get in the habit of tapping your foot along with the metronome. Feel the beat!

      1.) Warm-up with long tones to get a nice sound with breath support (Rudiments for Percussion)
      2.) Play through major scales (Bb & Eb Concert Scale)
      3.) Play through your concert songs (practicing reading your Notes, Rhythms, Dynamics, and Articulation of notes (tonging for       
           winds, sticking for percussion)     
      4.) Use the recommended links below to find additional practice/lesson material 
      5.) Please read the practice tips below 


~There are also weekly group lessons that meet on a rotating schedule between 2nd and 3rd periods.

~See the Google Classroom for more information
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High School Band: Google Classroom code is gqojeyb

~Students in HS Band meet every day during 8th period

~Students should practice their instruments at home 3+ days a week, at a minimum of 20+ minutes.

     
*Download a free tuner app and a free metronome app. to your smart phone or tablet. The Tuner app can help with intonation and           the metronome app will help with your tempo. Get in the habit of tapping your foot along with the metronome. Feel the beat!

     
1.) Warm-up with long tones working on tone quality, breath support, and intonation (Rudiments for percussion)
      2.) Play through major scales (Going through the Circle of 5ths, Chromatic Scales, and Blues scales for jazz band)
      3.) Play through your concert songs (practicing reading your Notes, Rhythms, Dynamics, and Articulation of notes (tonging for        
           winds, sticking for percussion)     
      4.) Use the recommended links below to find additional practice/lesson material 
      5.) Please read the practice tips below

~HS students are permitted to use the practice room during the day during their off periods, and/or receive lessons from
Mr. Phillips on his off periods
 (Rotating 2nd & 3rd opposite the MS lesson schedule, 6th period, during C Lunch, and after school)

~See the Google Classroom for more information
_________________________________________________________________

7th Grade Music Appreciation: 
Google Classroom code is j3kmptm

~This is a quarter class that meets during 7th Period (C Lunch) 

~Students learn about music history, music theory, instrument
families, and more

~See the Google Classroom for more information
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Important Dates:

TBA


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Recommended Links


Music Appreciation, Music Theory, Practice Tools:


www.dsokids.com - Dallas Symphony Orchestra Educational Activities (Recommended for 7th Grade Music class, and musicians in grades 4-8)

www.musictheory.net - Music Theory Educational Tools (Great for instrumentalists of all levels)

www.vicfirth.com - Vic Firth Percussion
(Lots of useful percussion lessons)

www.jwpepper.com - J.W. Pepper
(Recordings to most of our concert/jazz songs can be found here for MS and HS)

https://sites.google.com/site/k12musicresources/ - K12 Music Resources (Says it is for music/band teachers, but there are tons of great links for student musicians)  

https://youtu.be/wHVxf2M20gQ - Bb Blues Background track. Great way to practice improvising using the blues scale. There are many others available on youtube.

https://youtu.be/L6s0RNRaQDk - How To Read and Play Rhythm

www.BasicBand.info - Basic Band Book (Great video lessons for beginner band members)


Instruments (Purchase & Rentals) and Supplies:

www.nemc.com National Educational Music Company

www.dillonmusic.com Dillon Music

www.steveweissmusic.com Steve Weiss Music
(Percussion)

www.sweetwater.com Sweetwater Music
(Electronic)

www.musicarts.com Music & Arts


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PRACTICE TIPS:

Every good musician knows that regular practice is a must, but did you know that careless practice can actually make you worse? Before you tell your parent or your teacher that you have decided not to practice, think about the WHOWHATWHEREWHEN and HOW of practice that will help you play better and enjoy music more.

WHO?

YOU! Good practice involves your mind, your body, your emotions, and the music. Your parent or teacher may be able to force you to spend time playing the notes, but only YOU can focus your mind and your feeling on the sounds you are producing, so that the music you play is beautiful and expressive.

 
WHAT?

Practice that progresses towards excellence will include:

  • Warm-ups
  • Review of scales, etudes, or pieces you have already learned
  • Your new assignment
  • Something you really love playing, or just for fun (maybe even make up a piece on your own)

 

WHERE?

It’s always best to have a special practice place carved out somewhere in your home that everyone knows about.  This will help keep you consistent with your practicing, and it will also help other family members respect your practice time.

Choose a semi-quiet area with a chair and a sturdy music stand. There should be proper lighting and a place to store your musical accessories such as sheet music, pencils, markers, notebook and a metronome (specific instruments will require a drawer or cupboard for other things such as extra strings, reeds, valve oil, etc.). There should be minimal distractions such as TV, radio, other children, pets or telephone.
 

WHEN?

Dr. Suzuki said, "Only on the days that you eat!" The best plan is to make practice a part of your daily routine. If you know you will practice at a certain time every day, it will happen with very few exceptions


HOW?

This is a VERY important question! Many students practice by playing straight through a piece or other assignment (often as quickly as possible) as if they were at a recital, then go on to the next thing, no matter what happened. Money won't buy better playing, but well spent practice time will. Here are some hints for getting the most for your practice "dollar."

  • Set goals to try to accomplish in each practice session
  • Be sure you know what the passage should sound like
  • Work on the most challenging spots first
  • Break the music down into small sections
  • (How do you eat an elephant? - One bite at a time!)
  • Repeat the passage many times AFTER you get it right
  • Before you end each practice session, play the entire piece, and enjoy!


Email me at:

[email protected]






*Mr. Phillips' favorite colors are black and dark red