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Concert Band Playing Tests

Below you will find a list of playing tests for Concert Band. A very small number of students have spoken with me about not being able to access Charms. These are the kinds of things we’ll have to struggle with when it comes to technology. Thanks for trying your best to make arrangements to get it recorded through Charms.

If that’s not possible, please try to get me an emailed recording or — like we used to do back in the day — a tape recording. Anything will work. The important thing is that the students are practicing on these very small excerpts among other things. I will accept any and all playing tests through Monday of next week so that we can get scores in the grade book. After that (after the concert) it’s not really m uch use to the ensemble to have the playing tests done.

*Please note, percussionists are being grading on ~3 page readings on mallet technique, timpani history, tuning/technique, etc… and DO NOT have to submit the playing tests via Charms.

Thank you,

Shawn Harrel

CB-Christmas Declaration 1 11/18/2013 Play 8 times. You may insert a measure of rest. Keep the tempo steady. -Flutes, Oboe, Clarinets: m. 22, Bass Cl, Tuba: m. 45-46, Alto, Tenors: m. 35, Tpts/Horn: 38-41, Trb./Bar.=62-65 Concert Band
CB-Christmas Declaration 2 11/25/2013 Play 3 times. Fl, Cl. 47-51; Ob. 38-41; Bs. Cl, Tuba: 42-45; Saxes, Horn 32-36; Tpts, Trob, Euph. 28-32 Concert Band
CB Playing Test 3 Christmas Dec or Snow Day Celebration 12/2/2013 Play 4x: CD: Fl. 62-65; Ob., Cl., Saxes 55-58 SDC: Tpt., Hn. 30-33; Trb., Bar., Tba. 26-30 Concert Band
CB-Snow Day Celebration 12/9/2013 Play 4 times Fl, Ob, Bass. Cl. 24-28 Cl, Alto, Hn. 22-25 Tpt. 19-23 Trb, Bar. 31-34 Tuba 41-45 Concert Band
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Concert/Symphonic Band Playing Tests

Parents and students,

Band members in Concert Band (and Symphonic Band) are being assigned weekly playing tests through www.charmsoffice.com. These tests are designed to keep the students progressing and keep them practicing 20-30 minutes a day.

Here is some information on how to access Charms:
http://titanmusic.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/CHARMS-How-to-access.doc

Here is some information on how to access and use the Charms recording studio:
http://titanmusic.lsr7.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/08/RecordingStudioHelp.pdf

As with any technology, there has been a few problems with certain students getting their computer or iOS device (search for Charms Office in the App Store) to record their playing tests. Please note that this is NOT an excuse to miss a playing test deadline. Making sure your browser and Java version is up to date is the first step in troubleshooting. The students have heard me say it before, but I grade them all on a 7-year-old laptop of my o wn at home.

While having all the tests submitted through Charms would be preferred, the student should make arrangements to submit the recording one way or another by the deadline. See Mr. Harrel or Mr. Thurmond if you need some advice. You can always find the current playing tests and their deadlines by logging into Charmsoffice.com.

Parents, thanks for your help and encouragement of the students as they work consistently to improve their musicality and students, thanks for your hard work as always!

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Major Scales Play-a-Long File

Here’s a recorded audio file, typically referred to in Concert Band as the “lounge lizard” accompaniment, for practicing all 12 of the major scales. The first scale is C Major, followed by F Major and continuing moving up by 4ths through all keys. See Mr. Harrel if you have any questions or would like a copy of the scales on paper.

All Major Keys