Weekly Wolf Warmup

Email: Loren.Taylor@rockwallisd.org
Website: utleywolfband.org
Location: Herman E Utley Middle School, T L Townsend Drive, Rockwall, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 771-5281
Facebook: facebook.com/UtleyMSBand
Twitter: @Utleywolfband

• All rehearsals for March 16-20 are cancelled
• March 20th: The new deadline to submit any UIL video retakes for Symphonic or Honors band students!
• March 23rd: Honors Band Rehearsal - Keep this tentatively on your calendar. We are continuing to monitor the situation to determine whether this rehearsal will still be a possibility.
• March 24-25: UIL Concert and Sight Reading Evaluation has been POSTPONED
• March 31: Symphonic Band UIL C&SR Evalutaion NEW DATE
• April 1: Honors Band UIL C&SR Evaluation NEW DATE

3/31: Percussion Dress Rehearsal @ Heath *This will likely change due to the UIL Change*
4/3: Night of Percussion @ Heath *Keep an eye out for any potential changes here*

This newsletter is a long one, but has many important details moving forward. Please try to bear with us until the end of the newsletter.

We will do our best with the fluidness of the current situation to keep all of our stakeholders up to date on all things Utley Band. In the meantime, please make sure to sign up for your child's Remind group for quick information, check your child's Google Classroom page daily for any updates to assignments, and keep an eye on email for additional newsletters and updates.

Still need to sign up for the UMS Band remind pages?

Honors: @utleyhb

Symphonic: @utleysb

Concert: @utleycb

Text your group's remind code to the phone number 81010 to sign up.

We are HIGHLY ENCOURAGING families who take private lessons to communicate with their teachers and work to the best of their ability to continue lessons remotely through Skype, Facetime, or work out home lessons.

If you feel that you are uncomfortable in this situation, then we suggest "donating" your normal lesson fees and working with your teacher to reschedule as necessary.

***This suggestion is for your discretion**

We want to make sure that you are aware that teaching privately in many cases is the only source of income for many of our teachers. Any week/day that school is cancelled directly impacts their livelihood. Our teachers also have families, mortgages, rent, bills, and groceries to take care of. Please keep this in mind when making your decisions.

Due to extended breaks for most Region 25 schools, UIL has been postponed. All performance times will remain the same, but the dates have changed!

SYMPHONIC BAND

New Date: March 31st

HONORS BAND

New Date: April 1st

CHAPERONES STILL NEEDED!

If you are available to help us chaperone, please consider signing up! We need 3-4 people to help us monitor students on the buses, in the building, and at dinner on both days. Chaperones are asked to meet in the band hall 15 minutes before student call time. Please make sure to fill out the district online background check (found in Skyward). Please sign up by March 27th.

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY SIGNED UP:

Please confirm via email whether you are still available for the new date(s).

Please click the button below to sign up or visit chaperone.utleywolfband.org

Over this extended break, it is highly important that every student spend some time practicing their instrument. Playing an instrument requires focus on very small muscles that need to be exercised daily as well as muscle memory that will diminish if not practiced over time. The success of the entire band program depends on every student focusing at least 30 minutes each day on playing their instrument.

What should my child have at home?

• Instrument
• Band Binder and any concert music
• Band Book: Essential Elements (Concert) or Blue Foundations for Superior Performance book (Honors) or spring break practice packet (Symphonic)
• Pencil
• Tuner/Metronome
• Something fun to practice!

What should my child practice?

Every child has lots of resources and materials in their binder to practice. A typical, efficient practice routine should be split into 5 parts:

1. Tone Development: (5 mins) Long tones, Nelson warmups, play low and slow.
2. Flexibility: (5 mins) Lip slurs, octave slurs, vibrato exercises, register key exercises, interval studies (can be found in Nelson Technique or in the Warmup Sets in the blue book for Honors Band students)
3. Technique Development: (5 mins) Scales, scale patterns, articulation and rhythm studies. Can be found in Nelson Technique Packets, scale sheets, tetrachord titans, any rhythm sheets, or throughout the blue book starting on page 10. Scales should be practiced in ALL ranges of the instrument!
4. Sight Reading: (5 mins) Sight reading is when you play a piece of music for the first time without prior practice. Concert Band students can use the Essential Elements book to practice. Symphonic and Honors students can use any of the Nelson Sight Reading or Herring Sight Reading packets. Spend 30 seconds to silent practice a line, then play one time through without stopping.
5. Literature: (10 mins) Concert music, Solo Contest Music, and fun music! Honors Band students should focus on their "Top 5" - spend this time focusing on the materials that are the weakest. Really pinpoint places that need improvement and break them down into smaller, bite-sized chunks to practice. Start slow and then gradually work up speed. Be VERY detailed - focus first on notes and rhythms, then add in articulations, then add in the musical side of things (vibrato, style, and dynamics). Once all parts are perfected, then put them into context and play the entire segment or the entire piece. 10 minutes of hyper-focused musical practice will way farther than 30 minutes of running through music.
   

How can my child stay healthy while practicing with the current health crisis?

We recently sent out a newsletter with all of this information! In case you missed or lost the email, it is pretty simple! Visit https://www.smore.com/jhyuc-spring-break-update for more detailed information.

What if my child left his/her instrument at school?

Please click below to fill out the Instrument/Music Request Form. Campus admin will be allowing teachers to access UMS for a very limited time at some point this week. The directors will communicate to any parents who fill out the request directly when we have been given a day and time that the school will be accessible. This information will only be sent to parents who fill out the request form.

Please understand that the form is only for students who need to get something out of the band hall. As much as we would love to hang out with all of our awesome students and catch up, their health is way more important to us! This time can only be used for students to quickly come in, grab what they need, and head back out. We are excited to catch up when we are allowed to return to school!

1. Continue to monitor your child and reinforce proper instrument cleaning and maintenance. A well-maintained instrument will collect fewer germs than a moldy one!
2. While the directors make every effort to have products available for students, we often are left to pay for cleaning materials out of pocket at the start and end of the school year. Please consider purchasing some basic cleaning and hygiene items for the band hall, such as:

• Tissues
• Hand Sanitizer
• Clorox/Lysol Wipes
• Alcohol Prep Swabs (for cleaning mouthpieces)
• Extra reeds (we often throw away a child's reed if we see mold buildup and give them a fresh one in return).
• You can find some of these items on our Amazon Wishlist; however, most items are not available on Amazon right now for us to request! Our wishlist link: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3F67IWGKSQ2E0?ref_=wl_share

3. Talk to your child about why it is important NOT to share instruments. Students should not share their mouthpiece with others; nor should they try to play on another person's instrument.

4. Reinforce with your child the concept of washing hands frequently.

More info to come as we know more! Our goal is to resume in April.

Jazz Band related questions? Email Mr. Beaty! Preston.beaty@rockwallisd.org

SYMPHONIC BAND

Date: March 31

Call Time - 2:30 PM in the band hall

Warmup Time - 4:05 PM at Wylie East HS

Concert Time - 4:35 PM at Wylie East HS

Sight Reading Time - 5:00 PM at Wylie East HS

Estimated return to UMS after results and dinner - 7:15-7:30PM

HONORS BAND

Date: April 1

Call Time - 2:15 in the band hall (Come straight to band instead of PACK time)

Warmup Time - 4:10 PM at Wylie East HS

Concert Time - 4:45 PM at Wylie East HS

Sight Reading Time - 5:15 PM at Wylie East HS

Estimated return to UMS after results and dinner - 7:15-7:30 PM

Honors Band UIL will now take place on Wednesday, April 1st. Please plan accordingly!

Practice Time

With this extension of the break, it is absolutely a necessity for each and every member of Honors Band to put in practice time. Please keep an eye out on Google Classroom - Ms. Taylor will periodically post practice ideas/inspiration and possibly some extra practice materials throughout the week. IMSLP.org is a great resource for free music or if you want to look for some fun music, jwpepper.com and penders.com are great places to purchase a fun solo or collection of popular songs.

Google Classroom

Remember to resubmit any assignments that received below a 90! All resubmissions should be turned in at concert speed.

The resubmission deadline has been extended to Friday, March 20th!

Tempo Markings:

La Madre - 1-95: 132 bpm / 95-end: 85 bpm (in one)

Balalaika - 126 bpm

Arctic - 1-21: 70bpm / 21-end: 144 bpm

• Make sure your concert clothes are appropriate. Both judges were distracted by some discrepancies in concert attire at Pre-UIL. Tennis shoes with markings and white/short socks were the main culprits.
• Make sure to clean/dry clean and iron your concert clothes over the break. Get them ready now so you do not need to worry when we return!
• Parents: If you are struggling to buy black dress shoes or black dress socks, please contact Ms. Taylor asap for help.
• Please use your tuners during your practice time!
• Practice with the reference recordings - practice listening to the other parts going on around you and try to listen for tuning with the reference recordings (this isn't always perfect, but is a great exercise!)
• Practice the things we have discussed in class and in sectionals daily!
• Practice your Top 5 daily!
• Take care of yourself! Stay healthy, don't break any limbs (at least arms, fingers, and faces....), get plenty of sleep, stay hydrated, and wash your hands often!

• No new recorded assignments through UIL at this time.
• All previously submitted UIL assignments need to be checked in Google Classroom (not Skyward) for a grade throughout this week. Anything below a 90 should be resubmitted until a 90 or higher is awarded.
• All Resubmissions need to be completed at concert speed.
• Last day to resubmit is 3/20. Anything submitted after 3/20 will likely not get graded.
• Please send a Google Classroom comment on the assignment when you have submitted late or done a resubmission. Google Classroom does not always get past school spam filters when something is done late or redone. Ms. Taylor does not know to check your video without communication!

ALL UIL VIDEOS:

• La Madre 1-57
• La Madre 57-90
  
• La Madre 95-end
• Arctic 34-67

• Arctic 67-end

See tempo markings listed in the Note on Spring Break section of this email

More to come as we receive more information...

Practice Time

With this extension of the break, it is absolutely a necessity for each and every member of Symphonic Band to put in practice time. Please keep an eye out on Google Classroom - there is a potential for new materials to get posted throughout the week.

Additionally, IMSLP.org is a great resource for free music or if you want to look for some fun music, jwpepper.com and penders.com are great places to purchase a fun solo or collection of popular songs.

Google Classroom

Remember to resubmit any assignments that received below a 90! Resubmissions should be turned in at concert speed.

NEW: All UIL videos can be resubmitted through March 20th! Please turn in any retakes this week.

Armory 1-27

Danza 1-40

Fortitude 1-20

Armory 52-end

Danza 41-end

Practice Records due signed by a parent in class each Tuesday.

More information will be communicated as we receive updates.....

Required for all Honors and Symphonic Band members. Below is a guideline for required attire for UIL Concert and Sight Reading season. Please make sure your child has the appropriate attire.

PANTS:

Black slacks (not sweatpants, leggings, tights, jeans, or jeggings.)

Pants should fit comfortably - skin-tight pants are highly discouraged.

SHIRT:

White button down band shirt (if you did not receive yours, please see Ms. Taylor) - tucked in!

**Please iron your shirt prior to concert day**

SHOES:

Black dress shoes (must be fully black - no white should be visible; Girls - avoid heels; please avoid tennis shoes)

SOCKS:

Tall black socks (dress socks or trouser socks)

BELT:

If you choose to wear a belt, please make sure it is black. Belts are not required.

Here are some great links for tuner or microphone replacements if you need them!

Korg Tuner/Microphone Combo Pack

Korg Tuner (No Microphone)

Peterson Microphone (More durable)

If your child uses a tuner app on his/her phone when practicing at home, Peterson makes a microphone that will plug into any headphone jack:

Peterson Mobile Contact Microphone

Want a carrying case to protect your tuner and microphone?

Tuner/Microphone Carrying Case

Want to volunteer to help at one of our upcoming events? Interested in taking photos for the band? Have cool and unique ideas for helping out the band?

Email Ms. Taylor today!

Loren.Taylor@rockwallisd.org

Want to help but can't donate time?

Scan the following QR Code to access our Amazon Wishlist!

Or visit https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3F67IWGKSQ2E0?ref_=wl_share if you cannot scan the code.

Clarinet Reeds:

WWBW Rue LePic - Don't forget to change the reed size

WWBW Blue Box - Don't forget to change the reed size

Amazon Blue Box - Don't forget to change the reed size

Amazon Rue LePic - Don't forget to change the reed size

Bass Clarinet Reeds:

Amazon Bass Clarinet - Don't forget to change the reed size

WWBA Bass Clarinet - Don't forget to change the reed size

Saxophone Reeds:

Amazon Alto Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size

WWBW Alto Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size

Amazon Tenor Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size

WWBW Tenor Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size

Amazon Bari Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size

WWBW Bari Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size

Oboe Reeds:

*Always talk to your lesson teacher first! They might have better and cheaper reed options

Bocal Majority - 5 Pack of Basic Reeds

Bocal Majority - Intermediate Reed Sampler Pack (pick what works best for you!)

Bocal Majority - 5 Pack of Intermediate Reeds (be ready to pick the cut that works for you!)

Bassoon Reeds:

*Always talk to your lesson teacher first!

Reeds from Ms. Foley

Bocal Majority - 5 Pack Soft Reeds

Bocal Majority - 5 Pack Medium Reeds

REED HEALTH

Please review how to take basic care of your reeds! This information is important for the health of ALL reed instrument players.

http://www.learntworeed.com/reed-care.html

CLEANING SUPPLIES

Flute:

Cleaning Rod

This is like Ms. Taylor's swab

This is a standard microfiber swab

Powdered Pad Paper (to stop that sticky sound)

Reusable pad cleaner

Double Reeds:

Cleaning Swabs Galore!

Oboe Reed Case

Bassoon Reed Case

Clarinet/Bass Clarinet:

Silk Swab

Cork Grease

Large Reed Case

Small Reed Case

Bass Clarinet Reed Case

Large Bass Clarinet Reed Case

Saxophone:

Swab option 1 (can fit through neck too!)

Swab option 2 (very highly recommended!)

Cork Grease

Large Reed Case

Bari Sax Reed Case

Large Tenor/Bari Sax Reed Case

Brass Maintenance Supplies

Valve Oil

Rotor Oil

Tuning Slide Grease

Trombotine

Spray Bottle

Trumpet Cleaning Snake

Horn Cleaning Snake

Trombone Cleaning Snake

Trumpet/Horn Mouthpiece Brush

Low Brass Mouthpiece Brush

Instrument Stands

**I do not recommend using an instrument stand if the instrument is not carefully monitored. However, if you would like to purchase a stand, the Hercules brand is the most trustworthy. Make sure to select the one that fits your instrument**

Find Hercules Instrument Stands Here