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If you've been paying attention during rehearsal - you have been paying attention, haven't you?! - then you have definitely heard me talk about practicing with a metronome before. Today's practice tip involves a different way to keep a beat. If practicing with a metronome is getting kind of stale, try using a drum machine! There are many free web-based options available; one that I stumbled across is called "drumbit" found at https://drumbit.app/ You can set the tempo, create a tasty beat, and then get to practicing! The drum machine keeps the tempo but also gives you something a little spicier to listen to while working on your scales, long tones, or difficult parts of your band music. Dr. Beat was never so fun!  Yesterday during "Coffee with Ren" I suggested using backing tracks as you practice. Students in jazz have talked about this in rehearsal before, but the applications extend far beyond just playing the blues or working on improv. As an example, check out this pop/rock backing track in concert D major. These backing tracks do several different things as you practice.
I turned this on and was playing my concert D major scale. I started by playing half notes, quarters, and eighths, but then I started making up patterns. Here is a sample scale practice routine that you can try with this track: ⭐ Play the concert D major scale in half notes, up and down, repeating the top note.  ⭐ Next, play the same scale but this time in eighth notes. Always play with the beat.  ⭐ Now, make up your own rhythm patterns as you play along with the backing track.  ⭐ Finally, make up your own patterns of rhythms and notes. See if you can make it sound melodic, like someone is singing along with the backing track.
We call that improvisation. You are now an improviser. Go sign up for jazz band. Check here to make sure your name is on the State Hockey Pep Band roster. You will need to be signed in to your @chipfalls.org account. Things to Bring:
⚠️ What to wear? School spirit, hockey jersey/sweatshirts, etc - dress warm-ish. Crazy clothes are more of a basketball thing. ⚠️ The bus will not be stopping on the way down or the way back. Our timeline is very tight to be able to also play for the playoff basketball game. Plan accordingly. ⚠️ Percussion should all bring an instrument to use - cymbals, tambourines, extra bass drums, etc. Itinerary for Friday, March 67:30am
Ren arrives Load drumset, rug, stands, instruments 8:00am Bus leaves 11:00am Bus arrives in Madison Check in, security, unload, setup band ~12:15pm Game begins Pregame, National Anthem We will play during timeouts and during zamboni time ~2:30 Load the bus Depart for Chippewa ~6:00pm Bus arrives in Chippewa 6:40pm Pregame begins for PLAYOFF BASKETBALL! 🏀 November 11, 2019 All music students report directly to the music department at the beginning of the day. Do not go to your first hour class. The band will be setup in the gym in the same area as we play for assemblies. Next to the band will be all choir students. It is important that we are in the gym right away in the morning so that the freshmen class doesn't spread over into our area. The band needs to be completely in the bleachers. We will be performing only the National Anthem. We are not wearing uniforms and you don't need to wear concert black. This is a community performance, so do dress appropriately - but there is no particular dress code.
Dear Music Parents,
We are in DESPERATE NEED OF CONCESSIONS HELP, PUPPY CHOW AND BAKED GOODS for next week's Supershow. We are hosting multiple area schools, and our show choirs are getting ready to strut their stuff for the first time this season. We appreciate your generous donations. Our concessions stand at Chi-Hi is very popular, so we are looking to have people purchase their dinner/snacks from us rather than going out between shows. ANYTHING YOU CAN OFFER IS APPRECIATED !In addition, CHI Hi Music will be hosting Singing in Wisconsin the following weekend, on November 9. We are just looking for a few shifts of individuals to set up and serve food for the singers, in our own cafeteria. Look for that sign-up below as well. Once again, thank you for all that you do to support our music students and staff! Sherry Friedel Vice President, CFMA https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054bada62aa5fe3-harmonics https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054bada62aa5fe3-singing  In the early morning hours of October 16, 2005 a bus filled with Chippewa Falls Marching Cardinals returning from a competition in Whitewater crashed into an overturned semi on I-94 near Osseo, killing five passengers, including band director Doug Greenhalgh.
Greenhalgh, 48, his wife Therese, 51, and their 11-year-old granddaughter Morgan Greenhalgh were killed in the crash along with 78-year-old bus driver Paul Rasmus. Also killed was 24-year-old band student teacher from UW-Eau Claire, Branden Atherton, who worked with Chi-Hi’s marching band program the previous two summers. Thirty others were injured, with 24 being transported to regional hospitals by ground ambulances and six being airlifted by helicopter. Injuries ranged from serious to non-life-threatening. In the aftermath of this tragedy, the Greenhalgh Memorial Music Endowment (GMME) was formed through the Community Foundation of Chippewa County. The GMME to date has raised around $200,000 to support music activities at the high school. I'd like to invite you to join us for the 6th Annual GMME Celebration of Music at Lake Wissota Golf on Friday, October 4, 2019 at 6pm. A $20 ticket supports the GMME fund, and you get an amazing evening of food, great music, prizes, and a chance to come together to remember, honor, and support. You can find our Facebook event here: https://www.facebook.com/events/666612160490188/ You can buy tickets online: https://cfhs.ludus.com/show_page.php?show_id=5474 There are many local musicians joining together to provide an evening of music, including our very own Chi Hi Jazz 1. Good morning CFHS Band Fam!
Like we previously mentioned, volunteer opportunities for Music Along the Chippewa (our home marching show) would be coming in a separate email. THIS IS THAT EMAIL! You can volunteer to sell concessions, take tickets, donate food, work the gate, and more! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054bada62aa5fe3-music See the below message from the Chippewa Falls Music Association (CFMA): Dear Music Parents: Please consider signing up to support our Marching Band Home Show on October 5. This is one of our biggest fundraisers, and one where we need help from all music parents. Maybe you would like to attend this amazing event, but can volunteer for a few hours while you are there. There are jobs needed to be filled to work in the stands, in concessions, or behind the scenes. Maybe you would like to donate food or other items. If you click on the link, or copy and paste the link below, it will take you to the sign up. We appreciate anything that you can do to support our students and their directors. Remember, all CFMA money gets divided evenly between band, choir and orchestra at the end of the year. Thank you for your support! Sherry Friedel, Vice President CFMA https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60b054bada62aa5fe3-music Hello CFHS Band Fam!
I'm looking forward to getting back to our Wednesday Summer Band rehearsals, tonight at 5:00pm! Each summer they clean out the music department, and that is currently underway. Because of this, we MAY not have access to the band room, depending on whether they have started waxing the floors or not. Tonight's rehearsal will be outside and we will be working on marching fundamentals! Be sure to bring the following:
Let me know if you have any questions! I'm very excited to get back to work! MR |
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