Thank you!
Clarinets, from the bottom of my heart I thank you all for what I believe was one of our best rehearsals yet. Everyone hustled to their spot, everyone stayed on-task and moreover, everybody stuck to the techniques we were taught! Our arcs were arcs and we dressed them with ease!
The attitude I got from you guys and the focus you guys showed me truly inspired me and pushed me to better myself. The reports I got of your good behavior while I was off taking the PSAT were nothing but positive from you guys and for that I especially thank you all. Wanna know why I was so hyper during practice? I was proud!
If we keep this focus and drive and determination by giving our all at every performance we have, there's no limit to what we can achieve! WE ARE THE MIGHTY CLARINETS!
Do it up and don't ever stop!
-Patricia
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Practice Tips
Hey Clarinets! As we get ready for another day of awesome focus marching and playing tomorrow, keep in mind these two points as you practice tonight:
1. The 8th note runs during Darkness Descending, starting at measure 101. Focus on these notes and getting the fingerings down at the same time so that you get the notes that you want instead of the same notes plus whatever notes you happen to hit on the way down. This part must be clean and precise.
2. Keeping notes in tune, regardless of dynamic; keeping up the pyramid of sound. Practice the right dynamics at home, even if you're the only one playing, because if you play loudly in practice you'll play just as loud with the rest of the band, turning our pyramid of sound upside down.
Keep up the good work! I'll see you all tomorrow.
-Patricia
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First week of school - DOWN!
Welcome (back) to high school, Clarinets! We don't have nearly as much time to work with each other as we did during band camp, but all of you are keeping the same focus and drive, and as a result we accomplish just as much if not more! Thank you for keeping the bar set high!
Three great things we did:
1. Learning drill! You guys amazed me the way you picked everything up so fast. If we keep this up, our show will rock.
2. Tuning and blending. We've all been learning to listen to one another more and it shows. Keep on refining it.
3. Peripheral vision. You guys have been applying it very well, and our lines have been much straighter.
Two things to focus on next week:
1. Step size. As we work on getting to our spots in time to set the forms, make sure to keep your step size even so that it doesn't look like we're rushing to our spots. This question was asked at rehearsal on Tuesday: Yes, your step size can change between pages; you can be marching an 8-to-5 to one spot and take baby steps to another!
2. Playing and mark-timing/marching. Practice our first show tune with mark-time. Once you can play this way, it'll be much easier to transition into moving around the field and playing.
COOKIE DOUGH SALES: 1ST DEADLINE = MONDAY, AND FINAL DEADLINE = FRIDAY! If our section sells the most cookies, we get an awesome prize, so get to selling!
Keep up the good work! Let's show the band what the Mighty Clarinets can do!
-Patricia
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Pre-Performance Monday!
Awesome things we did today:
»Focused at sectionals.Things to keep in mind for tomorrow:
»Quickly worked to improve techniques and articulation in sectionals and stations.
»Subdividing at sectionals, out loud and as we played.
»Retaining our good techniques and discipline from what we learned yesterday and last week.
»Tip of the tongue, tip of the reed: remember, "ta, ta" or "da, da", not "fwah, fwah"
Words can't express how proud I am of you guys! It inspires me to do better and it inspires your fellow section and band members to do better as well. Practice, practice, practice, and let's all give tomorrow's performance our best!
-Patricia
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Band Camp Day 2!
Hey Clarinets! Thank you for another great day of hard work. We got so much done!
Awesome things we did and should continue to do:
¤Taking and applying directions during marching and musical practiceThe above qualities are things we'll be focusing on throughout all forms of band, so kudos for getting into them so early in the game!
¤Focusing during sectionals
¤Balance and blending with other parts as well as understanding the pyramid of sound
Things we can focus on tomorrow:
¤Glide-stepping: Remember Ms. Trent's example of covering the bottom of your foot with paint. Make it smooth.
¤Note style, such as accents and staccato: utilize emphasis and space between notes.
Thank you for all of your hard work and I'll see you all tomorrow!
-Patricia
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End of Band Camp Day 1: Starting Off on the Right Foot!
Your professionalism and focus shined through today at both marching and music rehearsal. All of you, members new and old, did exactly what you were told and as a result our practices were efficient and accurate. What was even better was that I saw returning members helping out our new members at all of our practices. Thank you for stepping up and taking charge and responsibility! It is this kind of section unity that can make our section the best it can be. Thanks to all of you, all of our members are at the top of the game.
Our sound was very good at music practice and as long as everyone practices and maintains good technique we can all learn from each other and grow as a section. Tonight, please finger through your music so we can be better prepared for practice tomorrow.
For tomorrow, I suggest reviewing and applying techniques we learned today, such as clenching our abs as we pivot, to maneuvers we will learn over the next few days of band camp, so we can refine what we've learned as well as what we will learn. Also, when we get to music rehearsal, keep in mind the fundamental techniques of clarinet playing that are critical to getting a good sound, such as tight mouth corners and a flat chin; a correct embouchre, in short. As you have and will hear, it makes all the difference!
Your body and chops may ache tonight, but if you continue to work as hard as you have today you'll get used to the rigorous activity that comes with marching band and that's when even more fun begins!
Don't forget to drink a lot of water, eat a nutritious breakfast, and bring an equally nutritious lunch and snack and lots of water to band camp. I highly suggest purchasing a Camelbak or a similar device such as the many backpack-looking water carriers that you saw today. They're friendly to the environment with a reusable water holder, can hold more than normal water bottles, and are much more easily accessible. Quick tip: If you fill it with water and lots of ice in the morning before you go, it'll stay nice and cold all throughout the day. Even at 3 pm when I went to empty my Camelbak, the water inside was plenty cold!
I look forward to seeing you all tomorrow. Continue raising the bar; I'm so proud of all of you!
-Patricia
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Woodwind Get-Together 7/10!
I've called/e-mailed everyone I can already, but if you haven't gotten the memo, there will be a woodwind get-together on this Thursday, July 10. I understand that it is of relatively short notice and it is not mandatory. It will be held by Taylynn, our awesome flute section leader. For any information concerning the event please e-mail and/or call me or Taylynn. It'll be a fun day of swimming, playing, and getting to know your fellow band members before band camp.
I sincerely hope that as many of you can go as possible. Do your best to make it - I promise it'll be fun.
If you can't make it, please get in touch with me so that if necessary I can have a separate clarinet meeting at a later date. Said date will, from the looks of everyone's schedules, take place the week before band camp.
Once again, please keep referring people to this website for any and all information about upcoming get-togethers and events for the band!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please don't hesitate to comment/call/e-mail me!
-Patricia
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Practice and Exercise: Your Keys to an Exciting Band Camp!
Hello, everybody! As you can see, I've had time to get a new layout up. It's still a work in progress, but check it out, we have a banner! (I was convinced to play clarinet after being inspired to beat poor Squidward... but there's hope for him yet!)
First and foremost, I would like to announce that any and all questions for me must be e-mailed to me via this e-mail address until further notice:
[email protected]
As I mentioned in the previous post, I have been unable to access the student e-mail accounts. In addition, I will be unavailable via phone and instant messaging [for those who have it; I'll be giving out that information at a later date] until early July (I'll be back for band camp!) and I'll only have time to check this e-mail, if I check any e-mail at all.
I would also like any section members who are reading this to e-mail me with their contact information, for the reasons that will be outlined below. (Translation: keep reading! =D)
I would like to stress practicing your stand tunes and keeping fit over the summer. Now, I know you've just come out of a long and stressful year of school, but you can't settle for any less than your best. Thus, you have to get some practice on your instrument and some exercise over the summer. In band camp, we'll be focusing on marching - the really fun stuff - and it'll be difficult to have to learn both music and marching at the same time, especially if you don't have the stamina for both. Trust me, as a late-comer to last year's band camp, it was quite the rocky transition.
I'm not asking that everybody run through each of their stand tunes every day after walking ten miles with their dogs.
That'll only bring angry exhausted section members with killer legs to band camp =) So, I recommend that you look over your stand tunes, possibly one a day, two if you're daring, for 30 or so minutes. Don't forget to review the songs you already know from time to time. Don't automatically assume that because you know what it sounds like you know how to play it - take the time to count it out and play the rhythms as written on the page. Also, simply remain active over the summer. Walk your dog, jog a little, chase younger siblings around the park, anything that keeps up your stamina, because you can ask any returning member - you'll need it.
Now, don't be scared about coming in to band camp! We'll be working hard, but I promise you that if you give 100%, we will make sure that none of it goes to waste. Band camp is a rewarding experience; you learn all of the basics of marching, get a hang of the music, and moreover you get to meet the rest of the band family all while having lots of fun.
With that being said, because of my schedule as well as the schedules of those who I've come in contact with in our section, we will be having a section meeting sometime between early July and the week before band camp. Please, if you know section members that are either new or do not know about the website, please contact them and let them know about this tentative time frame. I will make sure to update this website if any such change occurs, so please refer them here!
Thank you for taking the time to read this, and please do your best to get some practice and exercise in over the summer. That way, you'll be prepared for anything we can throw at you - and you'll have a fun and exciting band camp experience!
-Patricia
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Welcome 08-09 Clarinets!
Welcome everybody to the new WCHS Band Clarinet page! My name is Patricia and I am the clarinet section leader for the 2008 - 2009 school year. On behalf of the rest of the band I welcome you, clarinet players new and returning, to a new school year.
This year, I'll be making sure to update this site frequently, with info about upcoming games and festivals (New clarinets: don't worry, I'll let you in on what a festival is and what it's all about soon) and I'll also offer helpful information, such as how to cut your gloves and how to better take care of your wonderful instrument.
Please check this website as often as possible throughout your summer break, as I will be making sure that we are as up to date as possible. If you need any information and it isn't on this website, feel free to e-mail me at my student e-mail address:
[email protected]
I hope you all have a refreshing summer and you come prepared for an awesome band camp! I'll be looking forward to meeting you all.
Sincerely,
Patricia
(PS: Please excuse this site's appearance as it is revamped for the 2008 - 2009 school year.)
UPDATED:
I have been unable to access my student account due to an interface change by the DUSD, and so here is my alternate e-mail address:
[email protected]
When in doubt, please e-mail both!
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