John Drugan Band Monthly Newsletter for March/April
Hello Drugan Band Parents first and for most thank you for attending and supporting your
son/daughter at SISD Solo and Ensemble. 63 students who performed a solo and/or an
ensemble earned a Division I Rating (Superior rating) and were rewarded with an SISD fine arts
medal for their achievement. We are now at the home stretch the school year, there are a
couple of performances schedule with in the 4th nine weeks two contest scheduled in the
month of April; SISD Band Contest, UIL Band Contest and the end of the year concert! Our
performance days and times for SISD and UIL contest will be announced soon. On Saturday,
April 30 beginning band student will be attending the SISD Beginning Band/Orchestra Festival at
Americas High school, performance times will be announced the week of the event. Please note
all student must have passed the 3rd Nine weeks report card in order to attend the following
functions. Students who do not passed will not be allowed to participate.
6th Grade Beginning Band member are currently working on the following:
Essential Elements
Daily Warm Ups pg 18 Ex 86-88
Rhythm Studies pg 42 – 43
Mini Scales: C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab in 4/4 time and Cut time
Rubank scales pg. 40 – 41
Musical Pieces being rehearsed in class:
Contest/Concert Pieces: Infinity Concert March, Anasazi, the Tempest
Essential Elements
Review Ex. 1-100
Note names and Review Fingerings/Positions While continue to re-enforce good music habits
Sight Reading
Ex 100 – 150, Smart Music
Parents please take the time to hear your child play their instrument and sign off on the weekly
practice chart located on the front cover of the Essential elements book. The beginning band
student should be practice a minimum of 40 to 50 minutes a day. As the school year progresses
the interval of practice should increase 5 to 10 minutes every month.
Concert band (8th grade band and 7th grade) is currently working on the following:
Long Tone: Exercises (A -D)
Articulation Exercise: Pg 3
Lip slurs: Warm-up Set 1 option 1, Warm-up Set 2 option 1, and Warm-up Set 3 option 1
Scale Studies: Review B flat major, E flat major, A flat Major, F major & C major, Interval
Studies and Chromatic Scale
Chorales Warm Ups: 1 & 2 Pages 30 - 40
Musical Pieces being rehearsed in class:
End of Year Pieces: March of the Aliens, Aura Lea, Afterburn
Sight Reading pieces: Various Genres/styles of pop music and Contemporary music.
The Honor Band is currently working on the following:
Long Tone: Exercises (A -D), Long Tone 2
Lip slurs: Warm-up Set 1 option 1, Warm-up Set 2 option 1, and Warm-up Set 3 option 1
Scale Studies: Review B flat major, E flat major, A flat Major, F major & C major, Interval Studies
and Chromatic Scale
Musical Pieces being rehearsed in bands class:
Contest Music: Advanced March, A song of Hope, Adrenaline Engines
End of Year Piece: Cartoon Symphony
Sight Reading pieces: UIL Level I, UIL Level II
After School Sections Schedule
For Honor Band Only
From 3:30 to 4:30
Monday – Percussion
Tuesday – Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet
Wednesday – Full Honor Band Rehearsal
Thursday – Low Brass (Trombone, Baritone, Tuba)
Low Woodwinds (Tenor and Bari Sax, Bassoon and Bass Clarinet)
Friday – Alto Sax and French Horns
Note: If a band member misses their instrument sectional they are more than welcomed to
attend another group’s sectional
Upcoming Events
SISD Band Contest
Date: Thursday – Saturday April 7 – 9, 2016
Location: El Dorado High school
Time: TBA
UIL Band Contest
Date: Tuesday – Thursday April 19 – 21, 2016
Location: El Dorado High school
Time: TBA
SISD Beginning Festival
Date: Saturday April 30, 2016
Location: Americas High School
Time: TBA
End of the year Band Concert
Date: Tuesday May 17, 2016
Location: John Drugan Gym
Time: 5:30 pm