Last Week Overview (Aug. 31 – Sept. 4)
Last week, we went over our first 3 notes for our new students and applied them to the beloved song, “Hot Cross Buns.”
Intermediate/advanced students practiced variations III & IV of “Hot Cross Rhythms” to review different rhythms (eighth notes, quarter rests, dotted half notes, etc.)
Students were given a homework assignment to assess their ability to access our band website, input a password for a “protected” page, and follow directions. This was due on Friday, September 4th, but students may still turn in their completed assignment.
Percussionists are working on sixteenth note technique exercises to prepare them for future music literature with mroe challenging rhythms.
This Week – Veterans Day Assembly Prep
Our first performance as the 2026-2027 ACS Band is on Tuesday, November 10th, 2026. We will be performing a few patriotic tunes in honor of Veteran’s Day.
Last week, students received a page with several tunes: students were instructed to look over the notes and rhythms of the patriotic hymn, “Chester.”
This hymn was written to unite a colonists during the political unrest of the Revolutionary War. I especially like the 4th verse:
What grateful Off’ring shall we bring?
What shall we render to the Lord?
Loud Halleluiahs let us Sing,
And praise his name on ev’ry Chord.
Our intermediate/advanced students will also be given “Armed Forces Service Songs” to prepare for this performance. We worked the Army and Marine songs for the 2026 Memorial Day Parade, so I am hoping to pick up where we left off and prepare the Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force songs; sorry, Space Force!
Music Theory Books
Our “Five Minute Theory Books” were generously purchased by band mom, Mrs. Libby Stark! Each student will receive their own copy to use in class. Students will begin to work on the lessons in these books on Friday, September 11th.