YouTube Clip of the Week

Check out these videos of the HTMS Beginning Band from our Holiday Concert. Does anyone have videos of the Concert Band and Symphonic Band?

Create your own marching band show...

Have you ever wanted to create your own marching band show? There is an interactive online game that allows you to create the movements for a marching band show and compete against other online gamers. You choose how many people are in your marching band and then design pictures for them to create on the field. It is really cool! Check it out.

http://micromarching.com/

Thanks to Autumn for suggesting this game!

Holiday Concert

All three HTMS Bands did a wonderful job in the Holiday Concert yesterday. Thank you students for working so hard over the past few weeks in order to achieve the superb performance. What did you all think of the concert?

Beginning Band
First Christmas March
First Christmas Suite

Concert Band
Holiday Festival
Christmas Bits and Pieces
Jingle Bells and Jungle Drums

Symphonic Band
Santa at the Symphony
Name's Claus, Santa Claus
A Cartoon Christmas

YouTube Clip of the Week

Thanks to Harrison J. in Concert Band for suggesting this week's clip. This performer is really impressive on euphonium.

YouTube Clip of the Week

Well it's that time of the year...time for the Iron Bowl. So of course this week's YouTube clips are halftime shows from the University of Alabama "Million Dollar Band" and the Auburn University Marching Band. Roll Tide and War Eagle! I hope you all enjoy the videos.


University of Alabama "Million Dollar Band"



Auburn University Marching Band

YouTube Clip of the Week

Back by popular demand...this clip comes from the Broadway show Blast. This scene is called "Battery Battle." Check out this cool clip and leave a comment.

YouTube Clip of the Week

This video examines the physical effects on a drum corps member's body. These musicians are often considered "athletes" because of the physical effort that must exert in order to perform the difficult marching and playing found within the show. Do you think these performers can be considered athletes based on how conditioned their bodies must be in order to perform?

Beginning Band Mini-Concert

The Beginning Band presented an open house "Mini Concert" for parents and friends on Thursday. We had over 130 parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends drop by to hear our students. All three beginning band classes did an awesome job! Check out the pictures.

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

YouTube Clip of the Week

This week's clip is of a very famous trumpet player, Wynton Marsalis. He has one of the most amazing trumpet tones I have ever heard. Check out this video of him performing "Carnival of Venice." Be sure to watch the entire video and hear all of the notes he plays near the end! It is absolutely amazing!

YouTube Clip of the Week

This week's clip is a video of a middle school marching band from Japan. This group is made up of 8th graders! Pay attention to the shapes and forms they create and how fast they march in the show. I think it is amazing to see what other middle school band students are doing across the globe. What do you think about this band?

Last Football Game

Enjoy the slideshow from our last football game of the year. HTMS vs. Thompson

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Area Concert

The Birmingham Community Band will perform a concert here in Trussville on Sunday at 3:00 at the First Methodist Church on Chalkville Road. This group is made up of adults from all over Birmingham that enjoy playing their instruments. They are not professional musicians, but have such a strong love for music that they want to continue performing. If you go to the concert be sure to pick up a program. Bring the program to the band room on Monday morning and you will receive 10 bonus points on your daily participation grade.

YouTube Clip of the Week

This week's clip comes from the Broadway show Blast, which combines brass and percussion instruments with unique choreography. Even with the tough choreography, the musicians still produce an incredible sound. What do you think about Blast?

Band is...

Making music with a family of lifelong friends.

Understanding how commitment and dedication lead to success.

Sharing the joy and rewards of working together.

Individuals who develop self-confidence.

Creativity--expressing yourself in a universal language.

Band is...MUSIC!

YouTube Clip of the Week

Check out this video that showcases the members of a marching percussion section. These musicians are members of a drum corps. This video will feature snares, tenors, basses, and the front ensemble. Our percussionists will have the chance to become members of a marching percussion section when they get to HTHS. What do you think?

Materials Check This Week!

This week we will have a materials check in each class. To make sure you earn 100 you will need the following:

BEGINNING BAND
- Folder
- Essential Elements Book 1
- Pencil

CONCERT BAND
- Folder
- Essential Elements Book 1 and Book 2
- Rubank Book (if applicable)
- Flip Folder and Lyre
- Pencil
- Scale Sheet
- America the Beautiful
- Simple Song
- Tone Builders

SYMPHONIC BAND
- Folder
- Essential Elements Book 1 and Book 2
- Rubank Book (if applicable)
- Flip Folder and Lyre
- Pencil
- Scale Sheet
- America the Beautiful
- Simple Song
- Tone Builders

If you play the following instruments make sure you also have these items:

CLARINET
- 3 playable reeds (suggested - Vandoren)
- Suggested - Swab

SAXOPHONE
- 3 playable reeds (suggested - Vandoren)

TRUMPET, FRENCH HORN, BARITONE, TUBA
- Valve Oil
- Suggested - Slide Grease

TROMBONE
- Slide Cream and small spray bottle

PERCUSSION
- Alfred's Drum Method Book
- Stick Bag
- Snare Sticks (preferably Vic Firth SD1)
- Bell Mallets
- Suggested - Metronome

8th Graders Perform with HTHS

The 8th Graders had a blast performing with the HTHS Marching Husky Band this past Friday night. We can't wait for all of you to be in marching band next year! Enjoy the pictures.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

YouTube Clip of the Week

Check out this guy beatboxing as he plays the flute. I bet you didn't think this was possible.

Homecoming Week!

We had a great Homecoming week here at HTMS. Enjoy these slideshows. Click on the "Play" button to watch each show.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

YouTube Clip of the Week

Check out this clip of the University of Alabama "Million Dollar Band" performing one of their shows from the 2005 season: James Bond! See if you can pick out Mr. Peters as he plays mellophone. What did you think of the show?




For more information visit www.mdb.ua.edu.

Practice, Practice, Practice

The number one way to improve our band program is for you to practice individually at home. So far this semester our band students have combined to practice over 66,000 minutes!!!

Congratulations to these students who have practiced the most minutes so far:
Beginning Band:
Jared H. (Percussion) = 480 minutes
Mary Beth B. (Clarinet) = 392 minutes
Bethany B. (Flute) = 300 minutes
Trevian J. (Baritone) = 300 minutes

Concert Band:
Jacob P. (Trumpet) = 925 minutes
Braxton O. (Trumpet) = 840 minutes
Jonathan A. (Percussion) = 825 minutes
Jonathan D. (Trumpet) = 707 minutes

Symphonic Band:
Patric T. (Percussion) = 1580 minutes
Nikki N. (Flute) = 855 minutes
Vishal M. (Trumpet) = 817 minutes
A.J. L. (Alto Sax) = 740 minutes
Kyle M. (Tenor Sax) = 725 minutes


How can you make the most out of your practice time???

1. Choose a spot in which to practice and practice there each day. Be sure that this is an area of your home that is as distraction free as possible.

2. Begin your practice section with a line from your method book that has long note values. This will allow your embouchure muscles to warm-up so that you can progress toward more difficult exercises. This will also allow you to think about your breathing. Make sure to breathe deeply and produce an air stream that is steady and controlled. Use a mirror to check your embouchure, hand position, and posture. These important concepts are essential to good tone production.

3. You should work from your method book each day. Your goal should be to stay several lines ahead of the class. Remember: before you play each line, use the "steps" we use in class to help you break things down (count/clap; count/finger; air play; play). Using this process will help you be more accurate when you play an exercise for the first time.

4. Practice your sheet music. Work on the portions where you are having difficulties in class. Practice these parts slowly to make them accurate. Sometime this means you will need to work one measure at a time – that’s okay!!! Make it your goal to play that measure five times accurately at the slow tempo and then gradually increase the tempo to the speed we perform it in class.

5. Pay very careful attention to the musical details: key signature, correct notes and/or accidentals, rhythms, musical signs and symbols, dynamics and articulations.

6. FINALLY – play something just for fun.

7. At the end of your practice section, make sure that you thoroughly wipe down or swab out your instrument. Woodwinds – make sure that your reeds go into your reed guard. This makes them last longer.

Suggested Practice Timeline
5 min. – warm-up
7-10 min – method book
10 min – sheet music
3-5 min – for fun
Pack up instrument in case

On Your Mark...Get Set...

It's time for everyone to get started with pass-offs for this year. Our Concert and Symphonic Band members have been doing pass-offs occasionally in band class when time has allowed. Now that pep band is almost over, we can all begin to focus more on the music in our pass-off books. All students have the opportunity to pass-off before school. This is done on a first-come, first-serve basis in the band room from 7:15 to 7:45. Students may have the opportunity to pass-off during class based on director availability. After school pass-offs will begin as soon as marching band practices are over in late October.

All students begin passing off out of the Essential Elements 2000 Book 1. When this book is completed students move into the Rubank series. Then students will begin passing off out of the Rubank Elementary Method book. The next book is the Rubank Intermediate Method book and then the Rubank Advanced Method book. Since the pass-off system is designed for students to work at their own pace, we will have students in all of the books at the same time. Students should keep track of their pace and be prepared to purchase the next book at the appropriate time so that they continue the pass-offs. Since many of our 7th graders are nearing the end of EE Book 1, they should begin purchasing the next book: Rubank Elementary Method. This book is available from the local music stores or online. We would like to see all 7th and 8th graders passing off in the Rubank books by January.

The pass-off system allows each individual student to compete with other students on his or her instrument. We will post the chair standings at least twice every 9 week grading period.

Now, On Your Mark...Get Set...PASS OFF!

YouTube Clip of the Week

Check out this clip from The Discovery Channel's How It's Made about the making of a trumpet. Please leave a comment after you watch the video. Did you ever think this much work went into making an instrument?

Cheesecake!

Our annual cheesecake sale will last from now until Tuesday, September 23rd. All HTMS and HTHS Band members are selling cheesecake, cookie dough, cinnamon rolls, funnel cakes, and many other items.

Cheesecake Questions

Do we collect money now? No, we will collect money when we deliver the products in mid-October.

Why do we sell cheesecake? With the profits from all of our fundraisers we buy new music, instruments, and other things needed for our band program.

How much profit do we make off each product? We make about 45% profit off each product sold. If we a box of cookies cost $13.00, we make about $5.85 of each box.

What do I get out of selling? Prizes, Prizes, Prizes!!!!!

Selling Tips
Be friendly
Take a pen with you
Always say thank you, no matter if the person buys or not

YouTube Clip of the Week

This video showcases one of the top Drum Corps in our country. Drum Corps are known as "Marching Music's Major League" or are sometimes considered professional marching bands. Check out this clip which includes Bohemian Rhapsody. For more information on Drum Corps visit www.dci.org. Please leave your comments about the show.

Band T-Shirts

Band T-Shirts go on sale this week. The shirts are $10 and must be ordered by Friday, September 12th. Order forms will go home this week. The shirts will be red and include this logo. What do you think about the new shirts?

Pep Band - HTMS vs. Oak Mountain

Here are some pictures from the HTMS football game vs. Oak Mountain Middle School.

ScaleFEST!

Symphonic Band and Concert Band Members:
Don't forget about ScaleFEST Week 1. On Thursday or Friday of this week each person will play the Concert B-flat Scale. Remember that the scale must be from memory. Good luck!

YouTube Clip of the Week

Check out this BASSOON QUARTET performing music from Super Mario Brothers.

Pep Band - HTMS vs. Berry

Enjoy the pictures from our latest football game. The HTMS Band did a great job adding to the atmosphere of the game. Way to go HT!