Practice: No One Gets Better Without it

THOUGHTS ON PRACTICING

• Practice makes permanent, not perfect! If you start out by practicing wrong, you will permanently play that spot wrong!!
• Good practice is hard work.
• Practice is NOT always fun (sometimes it is - especially when you can feel the improvement!). (Guess what! Even professional musicians don't always want to practice (too busy, too tired, want to do something else), but our mothers are no longer living with us, so we have to nag ourselves: "You know the only way to get better is to practice, so just go do it!")
• Practice is working on small sections until you can play them; then add the small sections together to make slightly larger sections, etc.
• Practice and run-through are different procedures (both useful).
• Putting the horn to your face and blowing (or grabbing the sticks & banging) is not practice. Think before you play. Think before you play. Think before you play.
• Don't quit as soon as you "get it". Do it three more times!! If you really want to make it permanent, make yourself do it correctly three times in a row. If you mess up the 3rd time, you have to start counting all over again.
• "Great! I got it!!" Tomorrow you probably will have lost it... But the good news is that it won't take as long to get it back as it took to learn it the first time!
• It may take many days or weeks to get it right and be able to play it correctly every time!!
• Practice is more than just notes and rhythms. Go for the details. Get a beautiful tone. Make sure the notes speak clearly. Get the dynamics & accents... DETAILS!
• If you start making more mistakes or getting really frustrated, take a break. Come back to the spot later in your practice, or even tomorrow.
• DO NOT PRACTICE UNTIL IT HURTS!!!!!! If a body part hurts, stop. If it continues to hurt every time you play, see a doctor!

Nessacus Winter Concert-December 10, 2009

The Winter Concert took place on December 10th after being postponed by a snow day the day before. It was an outstanding concert and all students who took part should be proud of their efforts.

For those who missed it, here is the program that was performed:

Nessacus Middle School Winter Concert-December 2009 by nrmsmusic

Nessacus Music News-December 2009

WINTER CONCERT-WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9th

The Nessacus Winter Concert is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9th at 7pm. It will feature the 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Bands, the Nessacus Chorus, Jazz Band and various smaller instrumental ensembles. Some seasonal selections will played, however, this is not a "Holiday Concert".

CHRISTMAS IN DALTON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12th
For exclusive Holiday Music and to get in the spirit of the season, please join the Central Berkshire Music Program on Main St. in Dalton on Saturday, December 12th beginning at 6pm. Music students from the Elementary, Middle School and High School will be on the streets and in buildings playing holiday favorites. The annual tree lighting will take place at 7pm at the CRA where all the student musicians will come together to play and sing.
JUNIOR DISTRICT AUDITIONS
Several of our students will be auditioning for the Junior Western MA Music Festival on Saturday, December 5th. Students making it into the Festival will be announced at the Winter Concert.

STUDENTS TO CONNECT GLOBALLY
Mr. Garcia is currently establishing a collaboration with a music class in Yokohama, Japan. The idea is that our music tech students will use a Web-based music program to create music compositions which would be shared with a 'classmate' in Japan. One idea is to have students compose a piece for a picture, using the elements of music. Both classes would use the same picture and then compare the finished songs. All the music files would be able to be shared digitally and connections to students can be made via e-mail, via Google Docs and possibly using SKYPE and a projector.

This unit would be the first in a series designed to teach students about 21st century collaborative technologies and Web2.0 applications in (music) education.

Stay tuned for more.....we're very about this!!

Inspirational day at UMASS for Nessacus Musicians!

"Being in a Band is one of the best things you can do with your life. And don't let anyone tell you different."
-George Parks

It was an awesome and inspiring day at the University of Massachusetts yesterday as the Music Department staged its annual Multiband Pops concert. Nearly 120 Nessacus Music Students attended the event which required 3 school buses to get us there!

Once there, members of the Minuteman Marching Band escorted all of us into the Fine Arts Center where we joined 1,800 other elementary, middle and high school students. The energy and excitement in the room was palpable. After a brief introduction by Music and Dance Department Head, Dr. Cox, the lights dimmed and the show began with a French Horn ensemble with no less than 9 Horn players! The program continued with performances by two wind ensembles, 3 jazz groups, an orchestra and several mallet and percussion ensembles, one of which included a contemporary dance performance.

Following a needed intermission (most students expressed an urgent need for the bathroom at this point!) the real excitement began as the UMASS Minutemen Marching Band took the stage and played through their PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN show which was in turns inspiring and downright foot tapping and hand clapping stuff.

Towards the end of the program Marching Band Director George Parks took the stage (his charismatic leadership style in full force) to conduct the band-members of whom then moved out into the auditorium and literally stood and played directly in front of us (we had the sousaphone section with us!!) while the drumline directed by Thom Hannum remained on stage.

The finale featured the UMASS Minuteman signature song MY WAY (made famous by Frank Sinatra) which they sing arm in arm:

And now, the end is near;
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, Ill say it clear,
Ill state my case, of which I'm certain.

Ive lived a life that's full.
Ive traveled each and ev'ry highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

To add to the message, George Parks (who by now is standing on a wall in the middle of the auditorium) said this to all 2000 of us in attendance:

"Being in a Band is one of the best things you can do with your life. And don't let anyone tell you different."

Amen. Thunderous applause by all students in the house indicated agreement with this statement. As a Middle School Band Director, it doesn't get much better than that.

Thank you to our parent chaperones-Mrs. Genaway, Mrs. Beauchesne, Mrs. Knapp, Mrs. Paro, Mr. Ciepiela, Mrs. Hopmans, Mr. Ellsworth, Mr Garrett, Mr. Roos and Mrs. Volk.

Why Use SMARTMUSIC?: A Guide for Parents

Multipband Pops Field Trip is October 16th

Message to Band Parents:

As a Band/Chorus Student, your child has an exciting opportunity to take field trip to the University of Massachusetts to attend the Multiband Pops Concert Matinee. This program is designed especially for school music students and will feature various bands from the University performing for students. We will depart at 8:20am and return about 1:00. Please pack a bag lunch for your child.

This is an exciting, enriching day where students get to see and hear “what’s possible” to achieve by playing an instrument. The UMASS Minuteman Marching Band has been termed the “Pride and Class of New England” for their dedication to outstanding performances. Members of the Marching Unit will be performing that day.

Please fill out a permission slip for this trip and return at as soon as possible.

Permission slips can be downloaded under calendar of events-->
to the right

Please let me know if you would be interested in chaperoning as well.
Thanks!

-Mr Garcia

Welcome Back to School! See Schedules Here!

Hey everyone!

I would like to take this time to welcome you all back to school! I'm looking forward to another year of excellence and FUN in the music program at Nessacus. For those of you new to Nessacus Music, HI and WELCOME!! I hope you will feel comfortable soon as you get into the routine of school and new and improved schedule.

Nessacus Classes will meet on an A-F schedule.

The following bands will remain this year:

• 6th Grade Band
• 7th Grade Band
• 8th Grade Band

All Grade Level Bands will meet on A,C and E days. It looks like JAZZ BAND will meet as an Activity on F days.

I have listed links to the schedules and Calendar of Events below.

Lesson and Band Schedule
Calendar of Events

Please note that our Winter Concert will take place on December 9th at 7pm.

SMARTMUSIC
All students will be required to do monthly assessments using Smartmusic this year. This will be WICKED FUN and it puts students in control of their own learning!! To get a jump start, please download smartmusic directly at www.smartmusic.com