June 23 2020

Summer Work and Zoom Meetings

Hey Everybody-

The summer is upon us, the outlook for the fall is still unclear, but we are still going forward as if everything is on.  The main idea that I’d like to get across to everyone is that I want the work that we are doing to be helpful in our pursuit to becoming better musicians, establishing healthy relationships, and setting and achieving goals.  If we pursue these exercises and assignments as moving towards these goals, then we will be successful even if school is cancelled, and South Carolina is washed off the map due to an overly active hurricane season.  We hope that none of these things happen, of course, but want you to realize that the work you are doing is meaningful and relevant, regardless of the success of our marching band season.

So, details:

  1. Due to work schedules, summer plans, etc, we will not be doing any more recurring Zoom meetings until further notice, so please disregard the June 29 & 30, and July 6, 7, and 13, 14 scheduled meetings.  The 13th and 14th are going to be in-person rehearsals.  I have asked students to replace the time we would have spent on these meetings with time with their sections, either virtually or in person, depending on what works best for you and your families.  This time can also be spent working on assignments.  ( I should have some show music in your hands soon!)
  2. There are a few assignments that were sent out by Mr. Lambert here.  In that document, he lays out the assignments and google classroom codes for turning in the assignments.  There is a little bit more clarification on the Wando Percussion Google Classroom page.  Please email me if you have any trouble logging into the class or the Google Doc.  Handel@WandoBands.org
  3. We are still at the mercy of National and State officials when it comes to rehearsals, but we are still planning to move forward with our plan, and will let you know as soon as we know anything that is counter to that.
  4. Make sure that you are signed up for the Wando Band Remind, as well as the Drumline or Pit specific reminds.  Again, email me if you have any trouble or do not know the codes.
  5. For non-percussion folks joining us in the Pit, check out the Wando Exercises link to the right of this post.  Most of the exercises can be played on keyboard, or have a “piano” specific part.  Start working through these exercises so we can start to put them all together as soon as we meet in person.
  6. Lastly, stay safe and healthy!  We cannot wait to see you all in person!

Handel

March 20 2020

Reminder of Google Classroom required work

Just a reminder to those that have done nothing so far.  These assignments are virtual, but the grades are very real.  Stay on top of the work, and more importantly, stay on top of the paperwork.  Those that are doing the work, thank you!  Some good posts so far on name a percussionist, some great work being done on Theory Assignments, and some of you are getting good practice in.  Stay healthy, stay safe, but don’t just sit in your room and play video games (although that sounds great!), or you may find yourself repeating some classes next semester.

Things due tomorrow:
Individual Practice Week 1.2
Music Theory Assignment 1.2
Week 1 Video Assignment
Name a drummer or percussionist – 1 answer and 2 replies.
Things that are 2 days past due:
Individual Practice Week 1.1
Music Theory 1.1
I have started putting grades into Powerschool.  Missing assignments are now just listed as “missing”, as I am giving everybody a week to get accustomed to the new system.  Starting Saturday, I will enter zeros, and then will follow district policies for late work.
Handel
March 16 2020

Plans for School Cancellations 3/16 – 3/31

I’m sure that some of you are thrilled, some are distraught, some are in the middle.  Hopefully you are all safe, healthy, and have enough TP to get through the next few weeks.  Plans for the coming weeks will be mainly through Google Classroom, and from what I’ve seen, you all seem to have access to devices at home to take care of the work that you need to do.  Assignments will post at 4:00 today, and then on Sunday mornings.  I have sent invites to you all to join the current classes through your school accounts, but if that doesn’t work:

1st block code is: a2qhhah

2nd Block Code is : xacpsan

Please take care of all this work, and if all goes well in the first week, we won’t have to resort to any additional measures, such as SmartMusic.  Thank you for your hard work, and please communicate to me if there are any needs that you have during this time, unless that’s toilet paper, because all I can offer are old marching band parts.

Good luck, and stay healthy!

March 8 2020

Weekly Schedule 3/9/20 – 3/14/20

To start, great work done by the Concert 1 percussionists this weekend.   A LOT of sitting, I get it.  But every snare roll, cymbal crash, timpani tuning, and small percussion hit sounded great, and y’all looked the part while you were doing it.  You’re gonna be great in Atlanta.  But alas, we must forge ahead.  Here’s the plan:

  • Monday, March 9th
    • 1st Block
      • 4-Mallet Work
      • Yurikago
    • 2nd Block
      • 4-Mallet Work
      • Anitra’s Dance
    • After School
      • 4:00-4:30 – Adagio for Strings
      • 4:30-5:15 – PUNX
      • 5:15 – 6:00 – Stool Pigeon
  • Tuesday, March 10th
    • 1st Block
      • Stick Control
      • Perpetuo
    • 2nd Block
      • Stained Glass
      • Stick Control
    • After School – Per Mr. Lambert and Mrs. Radecke
  • Wednesday, March 11
    • 1st Block
      • Perpetuo
    • 2nd Block
      • Senegal Calling
  • Thursday, March 12
    • 1st Block
      • Senegal Calling
      • Yurikago
    • 2nd Block
      • Anitra’s Dance
      • PUNX
  • Friday, March 13th
    • Individual Practice: Focus on Solos, Day of Percussion Materials, and Stick-Control Stuff
March 1 2020

Weekly Schedule 3/2/20-3/6/20

Great job to everybody involved with the Jazz Bands this weekend.  A great job by all our percussionists, and the bands in general.  I hope everybody involved had a good time, and hopefully we can get more involvement with more students next year!  Here’s the plan for the week!

  • Monday, March 2nd – SAT Pre-Coding @ 11:02
    • 1st Block
      • 4 – Mallet Work
      • Yurikago
    • 2nd Block
      • Senegal Calling (1st half)
      • Individual Practice (2nd half)
    • After School
      • 4:00 – 5:00 – Anitra’s Dance
      • 5:00 – 5:30 – Stool Pigeon
  • Tuesday, March 3rd
    • 1st Block
      • Snare Work
      • Perpetuo
    • 2nd Block
      • Stained Glass
      • PUNX
    • After School
      • Concert Rehearsals per Radecke and Lambert
  • Wednesday, March 4th SAT
    • 1st Block
      • Snare Work
      • Pertpetuo
    • 2nd Block
      • Individual Practice on solos due to SAT
  • Thursday, March 5th
    • 1st Block
      • Senegal Calling
    • 2nd Block
      • Student Survey Thang
      • Senegal Calling
    • After School – NO JAZZ BAND
  • Friday, March 6th – Recital Demonstrations
    • 1st Block
      • Solo Demonstrations
      • Yurikago
    • 2nd Block
      • Solo Demonstrations
  • Saturday, March 7th – MATTRESS SALE @ Wando

Handel

February 23 2020

Weekly Schedule 2/24/20 – 2/29/20

Hats off to a great couple of performances and a weekend by all those that participated in Region Band.  A lot of great comments from your clinicians, or at least no pointed complaints, so I’ll take that!  Here’s the plan for the week:

  • Monday, February 24th
    • 1st Block
      • Snare work
      • Perpetuo (solidify and work Tom/Boomwhacker setup)
    • 2nd Block
      • Anitra’s Dance
      • Stool Pigeon
    • After School
      • 4:00-4:30 – Adagio for Strings
      • 4:30-6:00 – Stained Glass
  • Tuesday, February 25th – ACT & Pre-ACT Testing Day
    • 1st Block
      • Individual Practice, likely in band-room
    • 2nd Block
      • Individual Practice
    • After School – Concert Rehearsals per Mr. Lambert and Mrs. Radecke
  • Wednesday, February 26th
    • 1st Block
      • 4-Mallet Work
      • Yurikago (if Perpetuo went well)
    • 2nd Block
      • Stained Glass (cover any sections missed on Monday Night)
      • Continuum
    • After School – Jazz Band Rehearsals
      • 4:00-5:00 – Varsity Jazz Band
      • 5:00-6:00 – Big Band
      • 6:00-6:30 – Festival Band
  • Thursday, February 27th
    • 1st Block
      • TBA – Auditorium Unavailable
    • 2nd Block
      • Anitra’s Dance
  • Friday, February 28th
    • 1st Block
      • Individual Practice
    • 2nd Block
      • Individual Practice
  • Saturday, February 29th
    • All-State Jazz Performances @ Newberry College
    • Jazz Band Performance Assessment @ Newberry College

Handel

February 17 2020

Weekly Schedule 2/18/20 – 2/22/20

Hey Everybody-

Hope you enjoyed your 4 day weekend, and hope that you are all ready to come back in and get some work done this week.  Here is the plan:

  • Tuesday, February 18th
    • 1st Block
      • Snare Solo Work
      • Check Feast, New Piece?
    • 2nd Block
      • Anitra’s Dance
      • Continuum
    • After School – Concert Rehearsals per Radecke and Lambert
  • Wednesday, February 19th – Senegal Solo Audition Day
    • 1st Block
      • Percussion Ensemble Piece
    • 2nd Block
      • Stained Glass
      • Stool Pigeon
  • Thursday, February 20th
    • 1st Block
      • Adagio for Strings
    • 2nd Block
      • Punx!
      • Adagio for Strings
  • Friday, February 21st – Region Band Day 1
    • 1st and 2nd Block – Individual Practice
  • Saturday, February 22nd – Region Band Day 2
February 2 2020

Weekly Schedule 02/03/20 – 02/07/20

Good news, PUNXsutawny Phil didn’t see his shadow, so early Spring.  Bad news, early Spring, so mosquitos will be rough this summer.  Anyways, here’s the plan:

  • Monday, February 3rd
    • 1st Block
      • Rudimental Snare Work
      • Feast
    • 2nd Block
      • Continuum (Anitra’s Dance folks concentrate on 2nd half)
      • Anitra’s Dance work through 2nd half
    • After School – Percussion Rehearsal
      • 3:45-4:00 – Setup
      • 4:00-4:30 – Adagio for Strings (everybody)
      • 4:30-5:30 – Stained Glass
      • 5:30-6:00 – Stool Pigeon
  • Tuesday, February 4th – Technique Tuesday
    • 1st Block
      • 4 – Mallet Work
      • Begin work on Senegal Calling
    • 2nd Block
      • 4 – Mallet Work
      • Begin work on Senegal Calling
    • After School – Concert Band Rehearsals per Lambert/Radecke
  • Wednesday, February 5th
    • 1st Block
      • Rudimental Snare Drum work
      • Feast
    • 2nd Block
      • Stained Glass
      • PUNX!
  • Thursday, February 6th
    • 1st Block
      • Adagio for Strings
    • 2nd Block
      • Continuum
    • After School – Jazz Band
      • 4:00-5:00 – Varsity Band
      • 5:00-5:45 – Big Band
      • 5:45-6:30 – Festival Band
  • Friday, February 7th – SCMEA In-Service Convention
    • 1st Block
      • Individual Practice (Focus on Pratt solos & Feast)
    • 2nd Block
      • Individual Practice (Focus on Individual solos, Stained Glass and Anitra’s Dance)