Blog Archives

Basic Tempo Markings

1/23/2017

I added a helpful button to the Student Resources page with a link to a PDF of common tempo markings and some of their definitions and associated BPMs. An interesting look for sure, and should be helpful as you fine-tune your Solo & Ensemble projects!

1st Semester Band Final - 2016-2017

1/18/2017

Make a copy for your group of the FINAL EXAM WORKSHEET. Pay attention that there are 5 pages you will be competing!

You will be selecting repertoire and designing a program for two concerts.

I. Repertoire Selection

Use Form A to develop a list of criteria that your group will be using for repertoire selection.
Examples: Rhythmic Challenge, Ensemble Skills, Fun Factor
Using your list of criteria, select a varied repertoire to perform for each of the two concerts from the table of songs below.
Provide a justification (one paragraph) on Form B1 and Form B2 for why you selected the piece of music and why you placed it where you did in the performance order for each of the two concerts.
Example: “Based on our criteria… we selected this piece… and we put it last on the concert because…”

Varsity Band

Song of Earth, Water, Fire and Sky - Robert W Smith
Aquarium - de Meij
Different Voices - Rick Kirby
Villages - Michael Sweeney
Paper Cut - Alex Shapiro
Old Churches - Michael Colgrass
Northland Pines - Michael Sweeney
Danse Macabre - Saint-Saens
Colonel Bogey March - Alford

Symphonic Band

Third Suite - Robert Jager
The View from the Mountaintop - Maher
Vesuvius - Frank Ticheli
Mother Earth Fanfare - Maslanka
Liquid Compass - Alex Shapiro
Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral - Wagner
Second Suite in F - Holst
Variations on a Korean Folk Song - Chance
Tempered Steel - C.R. Young
Washington Post March - Sousa

II. Concert Program

Now that you have selected repertoire for your two concerts, you are going to design a fictional concert program for each fictional concert.
CHECKLIST: Your program should include the following information:
1. Date, Time, and Location
2. Name of School, Bands, Directors
3. Program Order
4. Titles of pieces and names of composers
5. List of performers names by section
6. Thank Yous
7. Other optional “extras” as you would decide to include
You can submit your program two ways:
1. Electronically as a PDF (must be a PDF)
2. Paper copy (print from the library)

You may model your program after Chippewa Falls High School or you can create a fictional school.

Innapropriate names or content will result in an automatic F and referral to administration.

Concert Reflection - Winter Concert

1/16/2017

You will need your chromebook.

Create a new, blank Google doc and share it with both Mr. Renneke and Mr. Hitt.

You will be writing a essay/letter/blog post that is not to exceed one page in length.

Your essay/letter/blog post can use a semi-conversational style, but should not be informal - that means no slang, no "text speak", no memes.

Your essay/letter/blog post should share your thoughts and reflections on the following questions. Always consider the rubric: TONE, INTONATION, ACCURACY, TECHNIQUE, EXPRESSION, BALANCE/SET-UP.

What areas of the concert would you consider to be succesful?
What areas of the concert would you like to improve?
Consider our every-other-day rehearsals earlier in the semester: how do you think that impacted the concert?
From the categories above, what would you consider to be the top priority for the band in the second semester?

On the bottom of your letter/essay/blog post you will be nominating students for the elected Leadership Team. Review the descriptions of the different positions.

Nominate the following:

TWO PEOPLE FOR BAND CO-PRESIDENT
TWO PEOPLE FOR BAND REPRESENTATIVE (FROM YOUR ENSEMBLE)

Instrument Upgrades

1/13/2017

In every young musicians life there will come a point where the instrument they began on will no longer be satisfactory. I don't mean "satisfactory" in the sense that a beginner-level instrument will one day run out of joy to provide, but rather that a student's growth as a musician will be inhibited by the level and quality of the instrument they are using.

But we paid $$$$ for this instrument -
now you're telling me it has gone bad?

No, not exactly! Here is an example of this phenomenon: certain woodwind instruments - when produced for beginners - are designed and built without certain keys. Young players wouldn't be able to reach them anyway, or know how to properly engage them, or really even need them in the music they are playing, for examples. As a musician learns and develops, the music they perform becomes more challenging and those "extra" keys would really come in handy.

Now that might be a bit of an oversimplification, but the idea behind it is very accurate.

Winter Band Concert

1/6/2017

CONCERT DRESS

High school band students wear what we call "concert black" - that is, all-black dress clothes.

Men	Women
Black shirt, sweater Ties are optional Jacket or blazer Black pants Black socks Black dress shoes	Black shirt, sweater Black pants Black dresses (no strapless dresses) Black skirt (be aware of the length) Black socks Black shoes

ITINERARY

6:00pm

6:30pm

Band room is open
Students may arrive, assemble instruments, start to warm-up

Full wind warm-up begins
VARSITY BAND: Instrumental Music Room
SYMPHONIC BAND: Choir Room
PERCUSSION: Double check on stage that instruments are set-up and ready

7:00pm

Concert begins
Varsity Band performs first; Symphonic Band is seated in aud.
Transition quietly between groups
WW Quintet and Sax Choir perform
Symphonic Band performs

8:00pm

Concert ends
Help with clean-up and tear-down

CFHS Band Announcements

1/3/2017

After one weather-related cancellation, pep band season is officially underway tonight! Click here to see the entire pep band schedule. Tonight is also Alumni Night - looking forward to seeing some familiar faces!

The upcoming Winter Band Concert is on January 9, 2017 at 7:00pm in the Chippewa Falls High School Auditorium and features performances by the Varsity Band, Symphonic Band, Woodwind Quintet, and the Sax Choir. We hope you can join us for our Winter Concert.

Mr. Renneke will be running a sample AP Music Theory lesson in the music tech lab on Wednesday and Friday during Lunch A for interested students. AP Music Theory is currently offered to seniors, but a great option for underclassmen is to first enroll in Popular Songwriting.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Basic Tempo Markings

1st Semester Band Final - 2016-2017

Concert Reflection - Winter Concert

Instrument Upgrades

But we paid $$$$ for this instrument -
now you're telling me it has gone bad?

Winter Band Concert

CONCERT DRESS

ITINERARY

CFHS Band Announcements

ABOUT

Archives

Categories

Forever Cardinal Bound.

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Basic Tempo Markings

1st Semester Band Final - 2016-2017

Concert Reflection - Winter Concert

Instrument Upgrades

But we paid $$$$ for this instrument -​now you're telling me it has gone bad?

Winter Band Concert

CONCERT DRESS

ITINERARY

CFHS Band Announcements

ABOUT

Archives

Categories

Forever Cardinal Bound.

But we paid $$$$ for this instrument -
now you're telling me it has gone bad?