The auditions have been moved to the week of 4/30-5/4. Sign-up sheets will be available later this week.
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The final video assessment of the year will take place during your student’s lesson the week of 4/23. This assessment will determine your student’s readiness to attend and successfully participate in our Six Flags music festival. You should hear your students practicing at home. Mrs. Kluga is available for help every day after school by appointment.
On Saturday 4/21, Wind Ensemble students will travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the Rhythms International music festival. Look for a separate e-mail later this week with more detailed information. A few reminders are below:
YHSWE P.9 REHEARSALS THIS WEEK
- Tuesday 4/17, p.9
- Wednesday 4/18, p.9
- Friday 4/20, p.9
CNN SERIES – American Dynasties: The Kennedy’s
This series airs every Sunday evening at 9pm. One of our festival pieces, Elegy for a Young American, was written in 1964 in response to President Kennedy’s assassination. To help us interpret our music, we have been learning about the life, times, and contributions of JFK. If you have time to watch, it may help you add deeper meaning to our performance.
WE HAVE 5 REHEARSALS LEFT (!):
- Are you able to play the details, at the correct tempo?
- Can you focus on balance and intonation? Or, are you occupied only with playing the correct notes, rhythms, and tempo?
- Can you perform your music with meaning and emotion?
- Are you proud of your personal performance?
I hope you enjoyed working hard on our music this weekend, the last weekend before our trip. Mrs. Kluag can’t wait to work with you on Monday!
If any YHSWE Seniors are interested in attending the Six Flags trip to cheer on our Concert Band (and help with equipment!), please e-mail Mrs.Kluga ASAP. The number of WE seniors attending will determine the cost. The trip is Saturday 5/12.
The First Nighters is a parent group whose mission is to support the YCSD Performing Arts programs. Each year they honor our junior and senior students at a Performing Arts awards banquet. Junior and senior students should have received an invitation (please let Mrs. Kluga know if you have not). This year’s banquet will take place on Wednesday, May 23th at 7:00pm at the Putnam National Golf Course, and will include catered dinner, entertainment, and awards presentations. Please look “nice” as this banquet is honoring you and your achievements in the Arts. No jeans or sneakers. PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY MAY 4th.
4/21-23 (Sat-Mon) Wind Ensemble Festival Trip to Washington DC
4/24-4/27 (Tue-Fri) ’18-‘19 Wind Ensemble Auditions
4/27-28 (Fri-Sat) NYSSMA Solo Festival @ Westlake HS
5/12 (Sat) Concert Band Hershey Park Festival Trip
5/16 (Wed) YHS Spring Band Concert @ 7:00 pm
5/23 (Wed) First Nighters Awards Dinner (Juniors/Seniors only), Putnam Valley Golf Club @ 7:00pm
6/9 (Fri) Jazz Band performs at Relay for Life @ time TBA
5/28 (Mon) Memorial Day Parade and Annual YHS Band BBQ
6/23 (Sat) YHS Bands perform at Graduation @ SUNY Purchase 10:30am – 3pm
Spring Festival season is upon us! Both the Concert Band (Sat. 5/12) and the Wind Ensemble (Sat thru Mon 4/21-23) will each attend a music festival that I created just for them; each group will perform before a panel of adjudicators AND experience an on-stage clinic with the adjudicators, as they coach the students on how to achieve better musicianship. We are so excited for them to learn from this musical experience!
All students have a homework assignment due at their weekly band lesson. You should hear your student practicing at home. Professional recordings of our festival music are available for download on your student’s YHS Band Dashboard. Mrs. Kluga is always available for help by appointment.
The Greater Westchester Youth Orchestra is a by-audition-only group of advanced student musicians who rehearse weekly, and present concerts at WCC, and Lincoln Center (NYC). Open auditions for the 2018/2019 season will take place Saturday, May 12th.
Our local farm is looking for small groups of student musicians to volunteer to perform at their annual Farm Fest on Saturday 6/2 from 1-4pm. Performances would be 15 minutes to 30 minutes in length. As a thank you, the farm will provide refreshments. Please see Ms. Kluga if you are interested.
Are attached for your enjoyment! Special thanks to the Chee family and the Milhaven family for their time capturing our event on film!
Congratulations again to all YHS Band students on creating a positive and unifying experience for our district-wide 5-12 Band program! Please also see the beautiful congratulatory letter from Dr. Hattar that was sent home with each student via back-pack mail last week. We are all so proud of you!
Spring Festival season is upon us! Both the Concert Band (Sat. 5/12) and the Wind Ensemble (Sat thru Mon 4/21-23) will each attend a music festival that I created just for them; each group will perform before a panel of adjudicators AND experience an on-stage clinic with the adjudicators, as they coach the students on how to achieve better musicianship. I am so excited for them to learn from this musical experience!
All students have a homework assignment due at their weekly band lesson. You should hear your student practicing at home. Professional recordings of our festival music are available for download on your student’s YHS Band Dashboard. I am always available for help by appointment.
New:
o Perfect the notes and rhythms for our song “Nurture” from measures 41- end at quarter note = 60. Use a metronome to practice.
o NYSSMA Solo, learn the first part (the number of measures depends on the lesson group)
· Review:
o Memorize the Db concert scale at quarter note = 100. Use a metronome to practice.
o Perfect the notes and rhythms for our song “Nurture” from measures 1-25 at quarter note = 70. Use a metronome to practice.
o All of your measures should be numbered, in both festival pieces.
- Festive Overture top – rehearsal 13 should be perfected for notes and rhythms at the tempi listed above.
- Listen to rehearsal 13-21. Follow along with your music to see how your part fits.
- Use the warm ups listed above.
- Use a metronome, in the method listed above, to perfect the notes and rhythms of this section.
- Elegy for a Young American
- Listen with your music in front of you. Follow along with the music to help you learn your part and how it fits within the piece as a whole.
- TECHNICAL WU THAT WILL HELP YOU MASTER OUR MUSIC: Memorize Eb minor concert and Eb major concert. Play each scale as long tones (4 beats or greater), with a tuner.
- Use amazing breath support to help you create a gorgeously full sound (forte).
- While focusing on creating a gorgeous sound, look at the tuner for notes that are in tune and out of tune. Mark your music with any changes you need to make to play in tune.
- Practice from the top to rehearsal 5.
- Metronome at quarter note = 54.
- All notes and rhythms perfected. Intonation problems addressed.
- Play with the most gorgeous sound and phrasing you can muster. This piece needs to be dripping with emotion and musicality.
Congratulations to YHS Jazz Band students Javier Alvarez (sophomore, Concert Orchestra, bass), and Justin Chee (sophomore, Wind Ensemble, alto sax) on representing YHS at this week’s All County Jazz Concert! Javier and Justin won these coveted spots based on the scores they earned at the All County Jazz audition in January. The boys played alongside other high school jazz musicians from across Westchester County, participating in rehearsals, an improvisation clinic, and concert. We are so proud of you!
A fantastic opportunity for your child to experience a week (or more!) of musical study, surrounded by college level teachers, enthusiastic counselors, and new band friends from other towns, counties, and states! A huge variety of camps are available (both near and far!). An informational handout is attached. Please contact me with questions.