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Many thanks to our very dedicated YHS Band Officers for hosting a weekly band social event! This week, please join the Officers on Wednesday 5/20 at 3:00pm for band snack time. Because, even in quarantine, Band = Food. This week’s event is hosted by senior and WE President, Connor Townes.  Info below:

Topic: Band Snack Time
Time: May 20, 2020 03:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88559858813?pwd=TUJSQ2dSdXoxbUtkUVNzanJ6RFFYZz09

Meeting ID: 885 5985 8813
Password: 0UwqGR

As you know, one of the pillars of our distance learning has been the Acapella app. Earlier this month, all students experienced using this platform to create small ensembles.  Below are two student ensembles for your enjoyment 🙂

1.     WE Percussion Ensemble – Quadradic Equation by Chris Crockarell

https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/p5ZdHoeS09b5xYFSN4ZAeg/

2.     WE Clarinet Choir – Caprice for Clarinets by Clare Grundman

https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/d-nSm5U5c2cAzay247cXQA/

ASSIGNMENTS for 5/11 – 5/15:

·      No Sight Reading Factory assignments this week

·      Zoom lesson groups this week – see below for details

·      God Bless America Project – information is attached

As part of our God Bless America project, we will hold small group lessons via Zoom. For your lesson, make sure you have your instrument, your sheet music for God Bless America printed, and a pencil.

Here is our schedule:

Tuesday 5/12 @9am: Flute/Clarinet/Oboe

Tuesday 5/12 @10am: Trombone/Tuba/Euphonium/Tenor Sax/Bari Sax/Bassoon

Wednesday 5/13 @9am: Trumpet

Thursday 5/14 @12pm: Percussion

Friday 5/15 @8am: Alto Sax/Horn

This would have been a week filled with beloved senior band traditions; final rehearsals, our pre-concert senior dinner at Little Sorrento’s, our Spring Concert performance (filled with senior recognitions), and post-concert reception/senior celebration.

This Wednesday evening 5/13 at 7:30pm Ms. Kluga would like to invite seniors, their families, and all interested YHS Band families to a Zoom celebration of our seniors. She will send out the meeting invitation later this week.

Will be posted later this week. There are a few auditions left to go. Thank you for your patience.

Seniors in NHS are available for tutoring hours by request. If any band student would like extra help, please reach out to Ms. Kluga and she will put you in touch with an NHS member. The tutoring sessions would take place via Zoom or GoogleMeet.

The Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra Association is a local audition-only student symphony orchestra (strings, woodwinds, brass, and percussion).  It is a wonderful opportunity to grow as a musician, learn advanced repertoire, and perform alongside other dedicated and aspiring music students. A flyer with audition information is attached.  

Ms. Kluga has two offerings for you this week:

1.     Fanfare for the Common Man – https://youtu.be/naErH5YT6uw

A virtual brass choir put together by Matt Brockman, a recent Ithaca College trumpet graduate. It is such an epic brass piece and an excellent recording – totally worth a listen! Mr. Brockman states: “Fanfare for the Common Man was written and used as a rallying call to unite and honor American citizens during difficult times: the aftermath of the Great Depression and the beginning of WWII. During the COVID-19 pandemic I wanted to do just that. I united over 60 friends from all over the world and together we created this performance.”

2.     My brass quintet from when Ms. Kluga was a music student at Ithaca College. They got together this weekend to rehearse and record a movement of Handel’s Water Music via the Acapella app. https://mixcord.co/acapella/p/pC_o9NyXq1h9H2PtRAflqA/

As per Dr. Hattar’s recent communication, here are Ms. Kluga’s Office Hours for the week. If a student would like to meet with her, please send her an e-mail and she will send you the meeting link.

Tuesdays: 10:00-10:40am

Thursdays: 12:00-12:40pm

Fridays: 8:00-8:40am

Ms. Kluga’s goal is to create the best band e-learning experience possible – one that is closest to our experience in the classroom.

Sight Reading Factory (SRF) – It has been such a pleasure to hear your musical growth each week! Students have been mastering the ability to play with a metronome, and interpreting rhythms and notes at sight. Please read Ms. Kluga’s written feedback to guide your progress. (Go to the ‘Assignments’ tab and click ‘Review’ next to the assignment).

All students receive a SRF example to complete on M, TU, W, TH.

Acapella App – is the best platform Ms. Kluga has found to allow for musical collaboration. Students are able to rehearse in small groups (of 9 performers or less), using layering. Larger group projects are first recorded in small groups, and then she uses other software to stitch all the parts together.

All students have a small group Acapella project to work on this week.

ALL: Sight Reading Factory (one assignment due daily M, TU, W, TH).

CB: Acapella Assignment #3 – DUE FRIDAY 5/1. Check your e-mail for feedback from your group’s Assignment #2, and details for this week’s assignment. Details also listed on Dashboard.

WE: Acapella Assignment #4 – DUE FRIDAY 5/1. Check your e-mail for feedback from your group’s Assignment #3, and details for this week’s assignment. Details also listed on Dashboard.

Seniors in NHS are available for tutoring hours by request. If any band student would like extra help, please reach out to Ms. Kluga and she will put you in touch with an NHS member. The tutoring sessions would take place via Zoom or GoogleMeet.