INCOMING FRESHMEN BAND STUDENT INFORMATION
This page contains information about marching band and varsity band for all incoming freshmen next year.
If you have any questions in the meantime please contact us 734-946-6566 or casselj@taylor.k12.mi.us
Band is a great experience that will help you in other classes. Playing an instrument requires: focus, dedication, discipline, and hard work.
These are all traits that will help you in other classes (and in life during & after high school). Join the Truman Band!
Mr. Cassell is the Band Director.
Any items below that are YELLOW are links to other sites, please utilize this info!!
BAND INFO/SUGGESTIONS (FOR ALL BAND STUDENTS)
Practice your Bb, Eb, Ab & F Concert Scales
Practice your chromatic scale (starting on Concert Bb & Concert F)
Private lessons are recommended (A&R Music, Marshall's Music, Southland Music or Anderson Music)
Owning a tuner/metronome is highly recommended (Korg TM40 Metronome/Tuner is excellent & around $33)
Clean your instrument (at least every week)
Have at least 3 extra reeds (Sax & Clarinet) - high school musicians should be using a size 3 or 3.5 reed
Have your own valve oil (Trumpet, Baritone, Tuba)
Have a small spray bottle for water - slide cream works, but requires the slide to be sprayed - its a two part process (Trombones)
WANT TO BE BETTER THAN OTHER PEOPLE IN YOUR SECTION???
SUGGESTIONS:
PRACTICE EVERY NOTE ON YOUR FINGERING CHART (be able to play high AND low notes with good tone)
BE ABLE TO PLAY ALL 12 MAJOR SCALES (with good tone)
LISTEN TO BAND/CLASSICAL MUSIC (THE INTERNET & CITY LIBRARY ARE GREAT RESOURCES!)
PRACTICE DAILY (with good tone - see below)
TAKE PRIVATE LESSONS
RECORD YOURSELF PLAYING ANYTHING (listen and decide if you have good tone)
IF YOU THINK YOUR TONE IS BAD, THEN TALK TO YOUR BAND DIRECTOR
Here are some simple suggestion for tone and breath support:
Brass - open up! Use "OH" to take in and release air - relax your mouth (no pushing the mouthpiece through your lips!)
Saxes - use warm air (try the syllable "HAA" to produce sound)
Clarinets - use cold air (try using "THEE" to produce sound
Flutes - don't blow harder for higher notes...blow your air UP into your head joint for higher notes
(GOOD TONE MEANS ALL YOUR NOTES SOUND GOOD - NOT AIRY OR THIN BUT RATHER FULL AND BIG)
CHECK OUT THE THEORY & LINKS PAGES ON THIS WEB SITE!!!
VARSITY / SYMPHONIC BAND PERCUSSIONISTS
The school will provide all of the items needed for participation and certain specialty mallets
EACH percussionists must have the following items:
1 pair sticks (2B or 5B or 5A) Vic Firth, Pro Mark, Vater, etc...
1 pair for bells/xylophone [medium to medium-hard plastic, NOT brass] Mike Balter 4R or 5R OR Vic Firth M133 or M134
1 pair of yarn mallets for marimba (medium to medium hard) - Vic Firth M2 or M3 OR Mike Balter 12R or 13R
ALL incoming percussionists must be able to read music (How to Read Music)
ALL incoming percussionists should know the drum rudiments (Rudiment Sheet)
ALL new percussionists WILL play some mallet parts at the first concert
MARCHING BAND INFO
Click HERE for updated MB info for 2009
Marching Band is a class (not a sport or activity - you will received a grade)
Marching Band requires a serious time commitment.
Rehearsals will be Tuesdays & Thursdays FROM 5:00PM - 7:00PM (this is subject to change)
Additional rehearsals are on football game days & before competitions.
Sectionals will be scheduled in addition to the normal rehearsal days.
ATTENDANCE IS YOUR GRADE - IF YOU MISS ANYTHING, YOUR GRADE IS LOWERED!
Summer Rehearsals must be attended
Band Camp must be attended to be in Marching Band.
BAND CAMP IS AUGUST 9-15, 2009 AT YMCA CAMP OHIYESA (HOLLY, MI)
ALL PAYMENTS FOR BAND CAMP MUST BE MADE BEFORE JUNE 11, 2009
PAYMENTS CAN BE MAILED TO:
Truman High School Band
11211 Beech Daly
Taylor, MI 48180
PAYMENTS MAY BE DROPPED OFF AT TRUMAN IN THE MAIN OFFICE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY
THE COST FOR MARCHING BAND CAMP:
$300 CAMP FEE (THIS IS THE COST FOR HOUSING AND FOOD AT CAMP & CAMP SHIRT)
$75 UNIFORM FEE (HAT, SHOES, AND GLOVES - THESE ARE ALL YOUR TOO KEEP FOR 4 YEARS!)
$375 TOTAL
CHECKS CAN BE MADE OUT TO: TRUMAN BAND
Check back for more info (last update 11-19-08)