Monday Morning Mustang Memo
Information, News, and Updates for the 7th/8th Grade Bands
View this newsletter anytime at memo.cainmustangband.org
Week 27: March 16-22, 2020
COVID-19 Extended Spring Break Edition
Please read all information thoughtfully and carefully
This newsletter is lengthy but has important details regarding band activities for the next week. Please try to bear with us until the end of the newsletter.
We will do our best with the fluidness of the current situation to keep all of our stakeholders up to date on all things Cain Band. In the meantime, please make sure to sign up for your child's Remind group for quick information and keep an eye on email for additional newsletters and updates.
Rockwall ISD is currently working on a distance/online learning curriculum which will be released on Wednesday. Depending on what information is released on that day, we will send out additional information and resources as necessary.
Who to Contact
Mr. Ousey - trevor.ousey@rockwallisd.org
- Honors Band
Mr. Prior - preston.prior@rockwallisd.org
- Symphonic Band
- Concert Band
- Jazz Band
Mr. Kosterman - kenneth.kosterman@rockwallisd.org
- All Percussion
If you need to reach your child's private lesson teacher, please visit http://cainmustangband.org/lessons to locate their email or phone number.
Remind Text Alerts - Class Code Reminder
Still need to sign up for the Remind?
- Honors Band Woodwinds: @cmshbww
- Honors Band Brass/Percussion: @cmshbbap
- Symphonic Band Woodwinds: @cmssbww
- Symphonic Band Brass/Percussion: @cmssbbap
- Concert Band Woodwinds: @cmscbww
- Concert Band Brass/Percussion: @cmscbbap
Text your group's remind code to the phone number 81010 to sign up. You may also use the Remind app. Use the code above to search and join the class.
Social Media Accounts
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cainmustangband
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/cainmustangband
If you are not receiving Charms emails, please contact Mr. Ousey.
Private Lessons
We HIGHLY ENCOURAGE families who take private lessons to communicate with their teachers and work to the best of their ability to continue lessons remotely through Skype, Facetime, or work at home lessons.
If you feel that you are uncomfortable in this situation, then we suggest "donating" your normal lesson fees and working with your teacher to reschedule as necessary. This suggestion is for your discretion.
We want to make sure that you are aware that teaching privately in many cases is the only source of income for many of our teachers. Any week/day that school is canceled directly impacts their livelihood. Our teachers also have families, mortgages, rent, bills, and groceries to purchase. Please keep this in mind when making your decisions.
UIL Contest Date Change
Due to extended breaks for most Region 25 schools, UIL has been postponed. All performance times will remain the same, but the dates have changed:
- Symphonic Band: March 31st
- Honors Band: April 1st
More about performance times, chaperones, and other information will be sent out upon our return to school.
Please note: While UIL has been re-scheduled, the possibility of further re-scheduling or canceling is still possible depending on the length of our extended break. We will keep you posted as information is communicated to us from our UIL leadership team.
UIL After-School Rehearsals (Postponed)
We will send out a new schedule when a return-to-school date his firm. At this time, we do not want to make any plans until we know for sure that we will return to school on March 23rd. Some districts in the DFW area have already extended their breaks further into late March and even April. Therefore, we will wait to make those decisions.
If school is guaranteed to return to normal on March 23rd, we will send out a new after-school schedule late this week. Please keep checking email, Remind, and our social media accounts for the latest information.
The best way to stay up-to-date on all event changes is by subscribing to our Cain Band calendar!
Instruments/Music Left at School
If your child has left their instrument, band binder, or other materials needed for home practice at school, please email your child's band director. While all Rockwall ISD campuses are locked down for cleaning, we may be able to help by retrieving the instrument for you or sending you any music that your child might need
It is safe to assume that if the break is extended further, online/distance learning will become a priority. Your child will need their instrument in order to do this!
Instrument Cleaning and Health
Continue to monitor your child and reinforce proper instrument cleaning and maintenance. A well-maintained instrument will collect fewer germs and keep your child from getting sick.
Upon returning to school, the band will be in need of new reeds and instrument-safe sanitizing spray. If you are able, we would greatly appreciate your donation of some of these items.
We have updated our band Amazon Wish List to include these items:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1PXRP8DXKDZUC?ref_=wl_share
We also sent out a detailed newsletter on how to properly clean your child's instrument back in the early winter. Here is the link to that newsletter:
If you have any questions, concerns, or need clarification, please contact your child's band director.
Instrument Supplies / Instrument Cleaning Supplies
Instrument Supply Links
Clarinet Reeds:
Amazon Blue Box - Don't forget to change the reed size
Amazon Rue LePic - Don't forget to change the reed size
Bass Clarinet Reeds:
Amazon Bass Clarinet - Don't forget to change the reed size
Saxophone Reeds:
Amazon Alto Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size
Amazon Tenor Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size
Amazon Bari Reeds - Don't forget to change the reed size
Oboe Reeds:
*Always talk to your lesson teacher first! They might have better and cheaper reed options
Bocal Majority - 5 Pack of Basic Reeds
Bocal Majority - Intermediate Reed Sampler Pack (pick what works best for you!)
Bocal Majority - 5 Pack of Intermediate Reeds (be ready to pick the cut that works for you!)
Bassoon Reeds:
*Always talk to your lesson teacher first!
REED HEALTH
Please review how to take basic care of your reeds! This information is important for the health of ALL reed instrument players.
http://www.learntworeed.com/reed-care.html
Instrument Cleaning Supplies
Flute:
This is a standard microfiber swab
Powdered Pad Paper (to stop that sticky sound)
Double Reeds:
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet:
Saxophone:
Swab option 1 (can fit through neck too!)
Swab option 2 (very highly recommended!)
Large Tenor/Bari Sax Reed Case
Brass Maintenance Supplies
Instrument Stands
**We do not recommend using an instrument stand if the instrument is not carefully monitored. However, if you would like to purchase a stand, the Hercules brand is the most trustworthy. Make sure to select the one that fits your instrument**
Practicing
Over this extended break, it is imperative that every student spend time practicing their instrument. Playing an instrument requires focus on very small muscles that need to be exercised daily as well as muscle memory that will diminish if not practiced over time. The success of the entire band program depends on every student focusing at least 30 minutes each day on playing their instrument.
What should my child have at home?
- Instrument
- Band Binder and any concert music
- Pencil
- Tuner/Metronome
- Music stand
- Sturdy chair
What should my child practice?
Every child has lots of resources and materials in their binder to practice. A typical, efficient practice routine should be split into 5 parts:
- Tone Development: (5 mins) Long tones, Nelson warmups, play low and slow.
- Flexibility: (5 mins) Lip slurs, octave slurs, vibrato exercises, register key exercises, interval studies
- Technique Development: (5 mins) Scales, scale patterns, articulation and rhythm studies. Can be found in Nelson Technique Packets, scale sheets, any rhythm sheets. Scales should be practiced in ALL ranges of the instrument!
- Sight Reading: (5 mins) Sight reading is when you play a piece of music for the first time without prior practice. Concert Band students can use the Essential Elements book to practice. Symphonic and Honors students can use any of the Nelson Sight Reading or Herring Sight Reading packets. Spend 30 seconds to silent practice a line, then play one time through without stopping.
- Literature: (10 mins) Concert music, Solo Contest Music, and other music. Honors Band students should focus on their "Top 5" - spend this time focusing on the materials that are the weakest. Really pinpoint places that need improvement and break them down into smaller, bite-sized chunks to practice. Start slow and then gradually work up to speed. Be VERY detailed - focus first on notes and rhythms, then add in articulations, then add in the musical side of things (vibrato, style, and dynamics). Once all parts are perfected, then put them into context and play the entire segment or the entire piece. 10 minutes of hyper-focused musical practice will way farther than 30 minutes of running through the music.
Honors/Symphonic Band Specific Practice Notes
With this extension of the break, it is absolutely a necessity for each and every member of Honors and Symphonic Bands to put in practice time. If we return on March 23rd, we want to be ready, particularly for UIL.
Google Classroom
Remember to resubmit any assignments that received below a 90! All resubmissions should be turned in at concert speed.
The resubmission deadline has been extended to Sunday, March 22nd
Thank you so much for reading the entire newsletter!
Please be safe and healthy! We look forward to returning to normal as soon as possible. In the meantime, enjoy the extra break and go wash your hands!
Contact the Mustang Band
Band Hall Hours
- M-Th: 7AM - 5:30PM
- Friday: 7AM - 4:30PM
Email: trevor.ousey@rockwallisd.org
Website: https://www.cainmustangband.org
Location: Cain Middle School, Farm to Market Road 549, Rockwall, TX, United States
Phone: (972) 772-1155
Facebook: facebook.com/cainmustangband
Twitter: @cainmustangband