Enhancing Performance Vocabulary Through Targeted Supplemental Materials

Score Study Scavenger Hunt

Time Signatures

• Utilize these time signatures in fundamentals
• Ex: Remington in 3/4 time
• Ex: Remington in mixed meter 3/4, 7/8, 3/4

Rhythms

• Identify rhythm patterns that the bottom 20% of ensemble would not be able to sight-read with clapping & counting
• Rhythm pre-evaluation: have students fill out written rhythm sheet to identify if they understand the rhythms in the piece
• Identify notes followed by rests that students would not automatically sustain full value
• Select a rhythmic measure from the piece to implement in a scale to build rhythmic repetition in addition to key center mastery and/or range development
• Percussion rhythmic groove during fundamentals for extra reps

Articulations

• Identify articulation style syllables needed
• Identify fastest sequence of notes that need to be tongued
• Make sure articulation speed exercises are in place to get tongue speed fast enough

Speed work: triplets are a great way to do this, even if triplets aren’t the actual rhythm utilized. Ex: If the fastest passage contains 16th notes tongued at 100 bpm, be able to articulate triplets at a tempo of at least 134 bpm

Range

• Identify highest and lowest notes for each instrument
• Create a plan as if you are the personal trainer to make sure the students are working towards this range daily. Ex: Eb Ascending
• Transpose a tricky range excerpt down to a more tangible range, and then sequence the passage up until playable higher than written
• Note name pre-evaluation: note name sheet that includes the entire range of the piece plus all applicable key signatures and accidentals. Do students know the name of every note in their music?

Music Vocabulary

• Provide students with a list of terms used and their definitions. Have students write the definitions in their music. Tell students there will be an “open book” vocabulary test while you are at TMEA

Rehearsal Letters

• Organize your form analysis with rehearsal chunks for major sections of the piece
• Use for rehearsal efficiency

Creating Lead Sheets

• Sequencing: rhythm line, then add style, then add changing notes

• Teach everyone the melody at the same time

• Randall Standridge created many "Handy Dandy Randy Standy Concert Bandy Study Buddies" for his pieces. Here is an example:

• MakeMusic Cloud offers a series of band pieces through Alfred and Belwin called "PerformancePlus+". These pieces all include bonus supplemental materials

Big Sky Round-Up by Robert Sheldon

THANK YOU!

We hope you have a wonderful year!

Contacts:

• Alicia DeSoto: desotoa@lisd.net
• Chris Meredith: meredithc@lisd.net
• Ross Patterson: pattersonr@lisd.net