Grades 9 and 10 Concert Band March 19, 12 Objectives As a result of this lesson, students will be able to play up and

down a wide-ranged scale with increased confidence and consistent good tone quality. Accommodations Students may not be able to achieve excellent tone at the top of the range; teacher must remind students it is alright if they cant get it yet, that everyone learns at different rates, and that everyones abilities are different. What matters is whether or not you are making an effort. Introduction 0:00-5:00 Stretches: - tensing up and letting go - torso sways with arms floppy, at a 90 degree angle, and straight up breathing exercises: - in through nose vs. in through mouth vs. in through oh vowel (discuss the amount of air that is taken in through each of the above) - breathing gym (biggest breath you can take in and arm movements with breaths in/out for 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 beats) Sequence 5:00-6:00 Tune from the bottom up putting that much air through your instruments 6:00-7:00 Take in that amount of air again; play and hold a big beautiful concert F 7:00-9:00 Play me a concert F scale slowly and tenuto (held for the full value); FOCUS ON USING AIR 9:00-11:00 If students are having difficulties reaching the higher notes, describe: - the feeling of putting air through the instrument vs. into it - birthday candle analogy for high notes (if the birthday candle is right in front of you, you dont have to focus your air much to blow it out; as it gets farther away, you have to focus on it and use more energy and air to blow it out) - not tensing up shoulders, neck, hands, etc. to make it easier for the air to flow (like making a kink in a garden hose) *NOTE: if all of the above are challenges for students, go through them one at a time and have students play a few of the notes to get the idea of the concept 11:00-12:00 Have students play the same scale (still slow and tenuto), paying particular attention to their tone and keeping it the same throughout (like putting a book on the next shelf up; the book doesnt change as it get higher or lower, it stays the same and MOVES) using the concepts discussed throughout the warm-up 12:00-15:00 Apply to Toccata measure 73-91; have students play with big sound no matter what the range is. Assessment Listen for consistent tone and correct articulations. Watch for posture (tensing in the shoulders, arms, face, and neck), air usage.