THS BAND PROGRAM - Turramurra High School

THS BAND PROGRAM
WEEKLY NOTES: 30/11/14
Rehearsals this week:
Tuesday
Concert Band 2
Concert Band 1
Friday
2.25 – 3.45pm
4.00 – 5.30pm
Stage Band 2
Stage Band 3
Stage Band 1
3.15 – 4.15pm
3.15 – 4.15pm
4.15 – 5.45pm
Events Calendar (new in bold):
EVENT
DATE
Weds 3rd December
8:15-9:30am
Orientation Day – CB1
Tues 9th December
7pm
Presentation night – CB1 (pizza dinner will be organised
between rehearsal and performance
2015!
Sat 31st Jan or Sun 1st
Fev
Auditions for returning students – times TBA
Fri 6th February
Welcome concert for year 7 - CB1
Sat 7th February
Auditions for new students
\
Please let your band manager(s) know (see end of band notes) if you cannot make a
performance or have a band-related problem that needs solving (e.g. how do I get my large
instrument there?....).
Band notes are avai lab le on th e s chool’s we bsite i n the band s ection:
(ww w.turramur rahighs chool.com.au/content/outstan di ng-s chool -ban ds)
Please note that the 2014 band managers are the current band managers to the end of
term 4. Those elected at the BSG take up their new positions at the beginning of 2015.
We apologise for any misunderstanding that there may have been.
THS CD recording
All 5 bands were involved in the CD recording last Tuesday. In a feat of logistical
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wizardry, Humberto Ho, Geeta Jeeveratnam, Anne Perry and Jeff Lambert managed to
ensure each band was ferried to the Uniting Church in Turramurra for its allotted time
slot. Unfortunately Mark was sick
and his wife Sophie was asked to
step in at the last minute to conduct
(this was despite everyone else in
the family being sick – and we!re
talking sicky sick !). The result will
be a professionally recorded CD that
everyone can be proud of. As well as
being a great demonstration of the
strength of the school!s band
program, it will be a unique gift that
you will be able to obtain for your
family and friends. The finished
product is expected to be available ~12th December;
details will be released soon about how to order the CD
via the Flexischool website, or alternatively by emailing
Humberto (humbertoho@yahoo.com.au or 0413752117).
Special thanks go to Humberto, Geeta , Anne and Jeff for their incredible commitment
and outstanding efforts in organizing the lead up to and actual success of Tuesday's
recording session. Also to Sophie for stepping in to help magnificently
Band structure in 2015
We have some very exciting news for the THS Band
Program for 2015- we are ready to expand to 3
concert bands! This is very encouraging and shows
the growth and consistency in numbers and overall
success we have experienced in recent years. This
will also allow us to more accurately place students in
bands that will challenge them but ultimately not be
beyond their ability levels. It will also give us a much
more natural progression through the bands which
will hopefully also allow year groups to be more
consistent as well. Of course, the bands will still not
be restricted by age and age will also not be a reason
for promotion. The placement into the bands will be
based on ability and commitment. The new bands will
be called (in order from highest to lowest)- Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Senior
Concert Band and Junior Concert Band. Rehearsals will still be on Tuesdays with
timings as follows…
Junior Concert Band2:30pm-3:45pm
Senior Concert Band3:45pm-5:00pm
Symphonic Wind Ensemble 5:00pm-6:30pm
As a result of the new 3 tiered band setup we will need to audition everyone in the entire
band program at the beginning of next year. Not only does this make placement into the
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bands fair and equitable, but it also allows all students to be placed into a band that best
suits their ability levels.
This audition process will also be your audition for placement into a stage band (where
applicable), which will also be rearranged next year, the three bands becoming Senior
Stage Band, Intermediate Stage Band and Junior Stage Band. We also expect to see
some movement across these bands.
All of this is a very positive step for our band program and should help to raise the levels
of all bands.
Auditions for ALL current band members (not new band members commencing 2015) will
be held on Saturday 31st January and Sunday 1st February.!
!!
Audition Requirements
1.
2.
3.
4.
Scales- Please prepare 1 major, 1 harmonic minor, 1 melodic minor and 1
chromatic. Students wishing to be included in Symphonic Wind Ensemble
should play all scales over 2 octaves in quavers at != 140. Scales must be
played by memory for everyone auditioning. Students wishing to be included in
Senior Concert Band should prepare at least TWO of their scales over 2
octaves.
Pieces- Please prepare 2 pieces that are appropriate to your current grade
level. These are NOT to be pieces from band.
Sight reading will be given to you on the day.
A photocopy of the sheet music for your pieces (not scales) MUST be brought
into the audition with you and given to Mark. For guitar and bass guitar,
tablature will not be appropriate. Even if you plan on performing by memory, still
bring music in so I can see what you’re playing.
Audition Tips
·
When preparing scales, please practise them thoroughly and regularly with high
repetition. Scales are very easy to learn, but if you only play them once or twice per
practice you will struggle to remember them. The best way to
practise 4 scales (considering your time frame) would be to
play each scale once every day. Then for week 1 focus on 1
scale and play it 10 times in a row correctly with the music
before you move on. Do this 3 times during your practice
separated by other things. Choose a scale to be your focus
scale for each week, but remember to keep playing all scales
each day to keep them fresh. Special note: Use sheet music
when practising scales until you’re absolutely sure that you are
playing them correctly at every repetition. Don’t ‘feel’ your way
through the scale by memory to learn them.
·
Use a metronome for all your preparation- for scales start
learning them slowly, then once you know them thoroughly
and correctly, start to increase the speed.
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·
·
For your pieces it is very important that you choose things you can play really well. Don’t
choose something way too hard for you in order to impress, then not be able to play it.
Conversely if you choose something that is very easy it might not qualify you for entry
into the upper bands.
Sight reading can be practised. There are wonderful books available with playable etudes
appropriate for all instruments. Not only are these great to play, but excellent as sight
reading practice. Please consult your teacher and if you don’t have one already, buy one
immediately and start working on it (to buy sheet music in Sydney, Zephyr Music in
Crows Nest is the best place to go. If you prefer to order online, www.jwpepper.com is
excellent but in order to receive music quickly you need to choose the most expensive
shipping method. Sometimes this choice isn’t made
available so leave a comment with your order).
·
Holidays- many people like to take a break from
playing during the holidays. While it is sometimes good to
have a break in order to come back refreshed, the flip
side is that you lose a substantial amount of quality in
your playing when you don’t practice for even a few days.
If you’re going on holidays and can’t/won’t take your
instrument, there are still ways you can practise- take
your music with you and work through your pieces and
scales in your mind. This means think through the
process of playing, using fingers to pretend to play as
your internally sing/think through the pieces/scales.
The actual audition is a nice atmosphere. It is a time for
you to be able to show me what you can do and a time
for me to enjoy hearing you play on your own rather than
covered within the band (which is why audition days are
one of my favorite musical days of the year). Try not to
stress too much about it- no one is there to jump down your throat. The aim is just to
make sure everyone is placed into the correct band for them.
Band support group
!
The BSG for 2015 is:
President
Steve Taylor
0407 101 814
stevejtaylor@optusnet.com.au
Vice President
Humberto Ho
0413 752 117
humbertoho@yahoo.com.au
Treasurer
Jill Taylor
0410 697 602
jilltaylor@optusnet.com.au
Secretary
Nicole Dale
0418 256 583
n.dale@bigpond.com
Weekly Notes
Co-ordinator
Jo Parr
Music Librarian
Elizabeth Willis
Instrument Coordinator
Elizabeth Willis
Publicity Coordinator
Humberto Ho
Vacant
CB1 Manager
Cathy Sanders
Geeta Jeeveratnam
CB2 Manager
Anne Cornford
0439 431 375
9489 0146
0407 756 798
9489 0146
0407 756 798
jomp@optusnet.com.au
elizabethawillis@hotmail.com
elizabethawillis@hotmail.com
0413 752 117
humbertoho@yahoo.com.au
9418 2882
0431 736 143
0408 698 894
catherinesanders@optusnet.com.au
bigfield@hotmail.com.au
9498 6132
0412 616 691
dcornford@optusnet.com.au
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0412 493 484
dianemaher@outlook.com
!
!
!
Vacant
!
!
!
Band Camp
Committee
(minimum 3)
Anne Perry
Humberto Ho
Elizabeth Willis
9489 9478
0400 987418
anne42perry@gmail.com
humbertoho@yahoo.com.au
Regional Tour
Committee
(minimum 3)
Christine Ashton
Anne Perry
Vacant
International
Tour
Committee
(minimum 4)
Megan Grover
Geeta Jeeveratnam
Mary Hill
Band Master
Mark Barnsley
markbarnsley@hotmail.com
SB3 conductor
Ray Cassar
cassarproductions@gmail.com
SB1 Manager
Diane Maher
SB2 Managers
Vacant
SB3 Manager
0408 698 894
cashton@bigpond.net.au
9440 5836
0481 538 394
mgrover@directional.biz
bigfield@hotmail.com.au
mehill1964@gmail.com
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