Message from Your Directors
Week twenty-....something.
As we move forward during this very unique year it is important that we focus on _ very important things such as safety, communication and maintaining our established performance expectations. The first two (safety and communication) are the critical components of what the Harlan Band is here to teach and instill in all of its members. As we gain more clarity on the end of the year it is crucial that we all work together. If you need a replacement band mask (woodwind and brass performers) please email or communicate with your director. Our district is focusing on having the Harlan spring ensembles demonstrate our talented hardworking students from our campus. There is still time but we need to ramp up our intensity, focus and completion of assignments and participation in rehearsals. If you need any assistance please reach out to your director.
Solo and Ensemble
At this time you should have acquired your solo from either a band director or private lesson teachers. If you have not been able to acquire this please email your band director immediately so we can get this material in your hands so you can start practicing.
As we move forward during this very unique year it is important that we focus on _ very important things such as safety, communication and maintaining our established performance expectations. The first two (safety and communication) are the critical components of what the Harlan Band is here to teach and instill in all of its members. As we gain more clarity on the end of the year it is crucial that we all work together. If you need a replacement band mask (woodwind and brass performers) please email or communicate with your director. Our district is focusing on having the Harlan spring ensembles demonstrate our talented hardworking students from our campus. There is still time but we need to ramp up our intensity, focus and completion of assignments and participation in rehearsals. If you need any assistance please reach out to your director.
Solo and Ensemble
At this time you should have acquired your solo from either a band director or private lesson teachers. If you have not been able to acquire this please email your band director immediately so we can get this material in your hands so you can start practicing.
Wind Ensemble
This week we will be starting with a “jumpstart” approach by starting rehearsal on Monday morning at 8:00 AM (just kidding because snow/virtual day now). On Tuesday we have a full woodwind sectional starting at 7:30 AM so we can work on the middle section of Vesuvius which is primarily orchestrated in the woodwinds. Then Wednesday there is a half day therefore we will not have rehearsal but will have an extended horn sectional. We will conclude the week with our normally scheduled sectionals and rehearsals. The ensemble needs to pull together our best effort, participation and performance from now up to the beginning of spring break. We should treat this a sprinting race and make every repetition and minute count in rehearsal.
Please take a moment and listen to the following recordings.
Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmlNBft0pG8
Stampede by Steven Bryant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LzU33lNMkg
Please take a moment and listen to the following recordings.
Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmlNBft0pG8
Stampede by Steven Bryant
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LzU33lNMkg
"Jumpstart" Feb. 22nd-26th
"Jumpstart" the week!
Mon. |
Tues. |
Wed. |
Thurs. |
Friday |
Nothing because snow (virtual day) |
7:30 AM Full Woodwinds 8:30 AM Full Rehearsal |
7:30 AM Horns No Rehearsal (Half Day) |
7:30 AM Trumpets 8:30 AM Full Rehearsal |
7:30 AM Trumpets 8:30 AM Full Rehearsal |
*On student holidays that occur on Monday, Flute/Oboe/Clarinet students will attend sectionals on Tuesday.
Symphonic Band
Our progress in the month of January got us to a good place in our music. Our first full ensemble rehearsal Wednesday was extremely uplifting and something that we all missed. It was great to finally hear multiple parts come together and begin to make sense. The work doesn’t stop!
These rehearsals are crucial to the success of not only this ensemble but our band program as a whole. If you are not attending these rehearsals then it is extremely important that you are keeping up with your online recordings and communicating with Mr. De Leon. Even if you are not participating in any type of in-person activity you still need to be practicing your music as if this was a normal school year.
Brass Sectionals: Every Monday - 5:15 PM to 7:00 PM (Not this week because of the snow-pocalypse)
Woodwind Sectionals: Every Tuesday - 5:15 PM to 7:15 PM
Full Band Rehearsal: Every Wednesday - 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Since this is a short week we will begin to look at the Intermezzo from the First Suite in Eb beginning next week. The part assignments for both the Intermezzo and Vanishing Point are uploaded in your Schoology folders.
Goals for this week:
Pathfinder of Panama - Read up to m. 53 as a full ensemble
Undertow - pushing the tempo: eighth note = 200: CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!
Victor Scales - Scales No. 1s of Pages 17, 18, 19: Recording exam due Friday!
Recordings:
Undertow
https://youtu.be/h_2vO213Frw
The Pathfinder of Panama
https://youtu.be/-zktT3j8J3w
Vanishing Point (Full Band Version)
https://youtu.be/ODnOsg5QnCQ
First Suite in Eb - Intermezzo (Full Band Version)
https://youtu.be/OEoGjQD1hLU
These rehearsals are crucial to the success of not only this ensemble but our band program as a whole. If you are not attending these rehearsals then it is extremely important that you are keeping up with your online recordings and communicating with Mr. De Leon. Even if you are not participating in any type of in-person activity you still need to be practicing your music as if this was a normal school year.
Brass Sectionals: Every Monday - 5:15 PM to 7:00 PM (Not this week because of the snow-pocalypse)
Woodwind Sectionals: Every Tuesday - 5:15 PM to 7:15 PM
Full Band Rehearsal: Every Wednesday - 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Since this is a short week we will begin to look at the Intermezzo from the First Suite in Eb beginning next week. The part assignments for both the Intermezzo and Vanishing Point are uploaded in your Schoology folders.
Goals for this week:
Pathfinder of Panama - Read up to m. 53 as a full ensemble
Undertow - pushing the tempo: eighth note = 200: CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!
Victor Scales - Scales No. 1s of Pages 17, 18, 19: Recording exam due Friday!
Recordings:
Undertow
https://youtu.be/h_2vO213Frw
The Pathfinder of Panama
https://youtu.be/-zktT3j8J3w
Vanishing Point (Full Band Version)
https://youtu.be/ODnOsg5QnCQ
First Suite in Eb - Intermezzo (Full Band Version)
https://youtu.be/OEoGjQD1hLU
Feb. 22nd - 26th
Sectionals after school
Mon. |
Tues. |
Wed. |
Thurs. |
Friday |
(Virtual day this week, no sectional) |
Woodwinds 5:15 - 7:15 PM |
Full band 5:30 - 7:30 |
PRACTICE! |
PRACTICE! |
Concert Band
This fall this ensemble made some tremendous strides in the quality of individual sounds thus leading to a more mature ensemble sound. The ensemble sound at the end of the semester was beautiful and resonant and clear because of this. There were also great strides made in the area of individual technique which directly correlates into the ensemble being able to play more challenging music immediately this spring. We have continued high expectations for this ensemble. On Monday you will be given your objectives for the first three weeks of the grading cycle. This will allow you to put important items into your calendar and stay organized.
Get caught up on recordings. Start looking at Little English Suite Movements 2 & 3. Practice your solos.
Here are the materials that you need to have located for the beginning of the semester. If you can not locate these please communicate with Dr. Tucker via email.
Get caught up on recordings. Start looking at Little English Suite Movements 2 & 3. Practice your solos.
Here are the materials that you need to have located for the beginning of the semester. If you can not locate these please communicate with Dr. Tucker via email.
- Little English Suite
- Prelude and Fugue in B flat
- Essential Musicianship (EM) Books
- Essential Elements (EE) Excerpts
- Tuner - with pickup and batteries
Winter Guard
We have made great progress this month with our after school rehearsals! Seeing you all step up to the plate and take on this challenge of putting together a show during this unusual time has been inspiring to watch. We ask that you continue to push forward in learning your routines, learning your drill and keeping up with your Schoology video submissions! This will help you become extremely successful when we begin competing next month.
Please stay in constant communication with Coach or one of the Band Directors if something ever comes up. Keep up the great work!
Rehearsal Schedule: Full Guard
Tuesday and Thursday - 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
POSSIBLE rehearsal Wednesday after school (5-7:30) this week and next week before our first performance on March 6th. Let's push STRONG to the end!
Please stay in constant communication with Coach or one of the Band Directors if something ever comes up. Keep up the great work!
Rehearsal Schedule: Full Guard
Tuesday and Thursday - 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM
POSSIBLE rehearsal Wednesday after school (5-7:30) this week and next week before our first performance on March 6th. Let's push STRONG to the end!
Performance Schedule
TBD |
"Friends and Family Show" |
Saturday, March 6th |
Jourdanton High School |
Saturday, March 20th |
James Madison High School |
Saturday, April 10th |
James Madison High School |
Flute Ensemble / Sax Ensemble
We had a wonderful two rehearsals in the month of January. Due to the focus on our Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band rehearsals/music, we will have two rehearsals in the month of February. I ask that you commit to these rehearsals as I have lightened our rehearsal schedule to help you.
February 11th (this week) - 5:30 PM to 7:15 PM
February 25th (last week of the month) - 5:30 PM to 7:15 PM
Music to be practicing:
Sixty Exercises of Mechanism
Fifty Exercises from low Bb to F
Shepherd’s Hey
Bohemian Rhapsody
Serenade for Wind Instruments, Op. 44
February 11th (this week) - 5:30 PM to 7:15 PM
February 25th (last week of the month) - 5:30 PM to 7:15 PM
Music to be practicing:
Sixty Exercises of Mechanism
Fifty Exercises from low Bb to F
Shepherd’s Hey
Bohemian Rhapsody
Serenade for Wind Instruments, Op. 44
Percussion
Concert Band SchedulesThe below schedule will be updated weekly to reflect the needs of the Concert Band Ensembles for rehearsal times after school. Remember to get to rehearsal 10-15 minutes prior to your start time for set up in order for rehearsals to start on time!
Wind Ensemble:
Starting this week, we will be having rehearsals before school on Tuesdays and Fridays from 8:30-9:30. We will talk more about this in class this week. Symphonic Band:
Full Band rehearsal every Wednesday from 5:30 - 7:00pm after school. The goal this week is to letter G of Undertow and more music. Concert Band:
No full ensembles for a while - most likely after Spring Break. Lessons with Mr. Millette:
Mr. Millette will be providing online lessons during the school year via Skype, Facetime, or Zoom. If you are interested in participating, the rates are the exact same as regular private lessons during the school year ($18 per half hour). He will have materials for you to work through, and with gearing up for next season, Mr. Millette will also be offering private online instruction with resources geared towards this goal. So, if you are interested, reach out to him: paul.c.millette@gmail.com |
Percussion Ensemble ScheduleThe below schedule will be updated weekly to reflect the needs of the ensemble for rehearsal times and assignments. Remember to get to rehearsal 10-15 minutes prior to your start time for set up in order for rehearsals to start on time!
Tuesday:
5:00pm -
5:30pm - 6:00pm - 6:30pm - Thursday:
5:00pm - Fractalia - top to m.43
5:30pm - Level Playing Field - m.51 - 87 6:00pm - Six - m.107 - 118 (maybe further back?) 6:30pm - Sharpened Stick - top to rehearsal 11 Use this link for the health screening for those who are coming to percussion ensemble:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-uVgASeid7Y7Eqzw25KZUw6gBJYnowcmhrSDEL-Ywi6Oewg/viewform?usp=sf_link |
Percussion Solo and Ensemble
Thursday, March 4th will be the the Percussion Solo and Ensemble Competition, which will take place after school. It will be a virtual competition via Zoom where the students play their solo repertoire for a judge and are rated on it. This is a test grade, and is a requirement for all students. This is also a formal performance, so professionalism in both maturity and attire are a part of it.
A timeslot sheet will be posted when we get closer to that date. If you have any conflicts with that date, I need to know ASAP. Also, if you have any timeslot requests (i.e. - "I need to go early because I have ___ after school," I need to know this as soon as possible as well.
A timeslot sheet will be posted when we get closer to that date. If you have any conflicts with that date, I need to know ASAP. Also, if you have any timeslot requests (i.e. - "I need to go early because I have ___ after school," I need to know this as soon as possible as well.