February Newsletter

Jazz Colloquium
We look forward to hosting the Urbandale Jazz Colloquium this Saturday, Feb. 8th. Special thanks to Emily and Jason Holub for coordinating this event.

Urbandale will host 12 bands giving performances in the PAC all day (8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.).  Please consider coming to hear a few of these performances.  The performance schedule and student itineraries are posted here.

It will be an all day event for all jazz band students.  Admission is $5 for adults and students.  (participants – free).

Volunteerism

Thank you for signing up! We appreciate your help and support!

Solo/Ensemble Festivals:
– Urbandale Solo Festival: Feb. 13
– Perry Band Olympics: Feb. 22
The preliminary performance schedule for Feb. 13th is posted on the band website. (a final schedule will be posted on Friday)

The schedule for Perry will be posted once they release a final version.
Note for Perry: Due to the vast majority of students not wanting to stay at Perry the whole day, we do not take a bus to this event; families are responsible for getting students to Perry and back. Let us know if you need assistance working out a carpool, or if assistance is needed.  We can help problem-solve along the way.

Solo/Ensemble To Do List:
These tasks should be completed by now!
• Students should have their own original copy of the music
• Music can be ordered through Reiman’s Music, JW Pepper (online), or other music outlet
• Students should be rehearsing with their accompanist
• Accompanist Information is posted in the band hall and on the band website

Southeast Polk Jazz Fest
Feb. 15, 2019
The itinerary for this event is posted on the band website.  Parents and friends of the program are encouraged to join for the performances.

Coe College Jazz Summit:
February 27 – 28, 2020
Both Jazz Bands will travel to Cedar Rapids for the Coe College Jazz Summit.  A complete itinerary will be posted soon.  Parents and friends of the program are encouraged to join for the performances.

Concert Band Concert:
Friday, March 6 2020
7:00 PM
This concert will feature all three UHS Concert Bands.  We expect the program to last app. 60 minutes.

2020-21 Band Placements
Band placements for the 2020-2021 concert bands will take place shortly after spring break.  Students will be assessed on the following skills:
Music reading – sight-reading via the “sightreadingfactory.com”
Technique development – Major scales and chromatic scale
Tone quality
History: attendance habits, quality of participation, and attitude.

Student will showcase their best if they are building skills over time rather than attempting to cram their progress at the last minute.

Strategic Practice:
While in the phase of learning new music for band, preparing solos and small ensembles, jazz band music, etc.. this is the perfect time for students to employ mature, effective practice strategies in their personal practice.  Practice:

  • Slowly (very slowly; unrecognizably slowly)
  • in chunks – and then the chunks in even smaller chunks
  • with a few seconds in between repetitions to focus on what to improve (error recovery).

This strategy is explored in detail in Daniel Coyle’s book, The Talent Code.  He explores several locations across the world where an extraordinary number of highly “talented” individuals have grown up – so called “talent hot beds” (in many fields: sports, music, dance, etc.).   He discovered the individuals were not more talented on average than at any other place across the world.  Instead, what these “talent hot beds” have in common is how they practice: slowly, in chunks, and with reflection between each repetition.  His eloquent research and writing is great news because it supports the notion that practice is the real ingredient to success – and anyone willing to put forth the effort over a period of time can achieve high levels of success.

We are using these strategies in rehearsal, however it’s most effective place is in personal practice.

A humorous take on practice:

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