Mrs. Cancino’s Fifth Grade Band Newsletter
October 12, 2015
Dear Band Parents:
What a great week of playing we had! All of my classes played through pages 8 and 9 in our method book,
Standard of Excellence. *I’m noting the title because we have a few stragglers without books…* Because
method books are great at introducing information but terrible at drilling those concepts, your child has extra
material that will keep the brain awake while the fingers figure out how to play correctly. Please check with
your child for the following:
o
“Mrs. Cancino’s Band Practice Pages”—we played through page 1 for the T/R class; all classes can
work on pages 1-3
o
“Real Book” page 35—single sheet with actual songs to play
We have learned six notes already, and so many of the students are recognizing those notes in the music and
remembering the fingerings along with them. Quiz your child. Point to notes, and if he/she cannot identify it
as quickly as his/her numbers or letters…it must be studied. A musician has a split second to play, not time to
think, “well, I think that might be a G and it’s played like this…” because the note has already happened and
the rest of the band is at the end of the piece. Some of the kids are just practicing test exercises, but when
asked to sight-read (play something they’ve never practiced), they can’t do it. They have to READ the music,
not memorize patterns, so the comfy learning plateau on which they were resting has just become much
steeper 
I also sent home several other documents that you should have seen:
o
Instant Band Concert sign-up—this takes place in January at LPHS, and is a fun opportunity for your
child to perform and to meet other fifth and sixth grade band students from around the county.
o
Extra Credit—this is an easy survey for me to check that information is making it to you…+5 points for
your child when he/she returns it to me.
o
Upcoming Quarter One Band Tests—I had some parents wondering what should be practiced and
what is coming up…this is a detailed list of the written and performed exams that will take place over
the next three weeks.
I noticed in several of my classes that many of the children have made it around that turn…the “Wow, I can
actually play this instrument!” turn. They were amazed, and I was super-excited. I want to make sure that
everyone is able to experience that, so please keep up the practicing at home. Have a great week!
Mrs. Cancino
Wade, Diggs, Jenifer, & Berry
mkcancino@ccboe.com
http://www.ccboe.com/departments/music/