As most of you know, the end of the 2013-14 academic year is just around the corner and most students will be off for the summer! During the summer recess, roughly 60 to 90 day span, depending on the school district, many music teachers worry about returning students not practicing and keeping up their playing chops. Moreover, some students may have to enroll in the summer school academic program, work full-time jobs, attend music camps, take private lessons, or participate in other music or non-music related activities. However, several of the above mentioned activities may be costly and not all students can afford them. Consequently, we must look for alternative ways to guide and provide all students with cost effective opportunities.
So you ask, how do we keep the students practicing, or at least playing their instrument during the summer recess? The following is a suggestion:
As many of you know, Alfred Music has a wealth of supplemental materials for learning and teaching music. Most recently published are The Flex-Ability Series, which is ideal for solos, duets, trios, quartets, or any size ensembles, including woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion. Players of various abilities, levels 1–3, can play together. An optional play-along CD is available separately. Each instrument book includes 11 songs in four-part score form. The arrangements are carefully crafted to be educationally sound and effective across different groups of instruments. Optional octaves and cue notes are included to allow for range flexibility. Here is a break down for each book:
Line 1: Melody; Level 2½–3; intermediate range; sixteenth-note combinations; rock/jazz syncopation
Line 2: Harmony; Level 2–2 ½; wide range; sixteenth notes; easy syncopation
Line 3: Harmony; Level 1 ½; limited range; dotted rhythms; some eighth-quarter-eighth syncopation
Line 4: (Bass) Harmony; Level 1; narrow range; simple rhythms (eighth notes); alternate note suggestions
1) Flex-Ability Pops titles: La Bamba • When the Saints Go Marching In • Eye of the Tiger • Peter Gunn • In the Midnight Hour • China Grove • Jeepers Creepers • Soul Man • Sweet Georgia Brown • Frosty the Snowman • Celebration.
2) Flex-Ability More Pops titles: Alegria (from the Cirque du Soleil show Alegria) • American Idiot • Because of You • Boulevard of Broken Dreams • Gonna Fly Now (Theme from Rocky) • Hedwig’s Theme (from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) •Hips Don’t Lie • Jumpin’ Jack Flash •The New Girl in Town (from Hairspray) •We Are Family • Wonka’s Welcome Song (from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).
3) The Flex-Ability Classics books include classical themes from opera, symphony, piano, and lute compositions, but are arranged in rock, jazz, swing, and other contemporary styles. It’s a fun way to learn about these classics! Composer biographies and program notes are included. Titles: Overture from the Opera The Barber of Seville • Bourée from Lute Suite No. 1 • Habanera from the Opera Carmen • Theme from Hungarian Dance No. 5 • Minuet from Anna Magdalena Bach Notebook • Theme from the “New World Symphony” • Ode to Joy from Symphony No. 9 • Theme from “Pomp and Circumstance” • Prince of Denmark’s March • Toreador from the Opera Carmen • Overture from the Opera William Tell.
4) Flex-Ability Holidays titles are: Jingle Bells • Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town • Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas • (I’m Gettin’) Nuttin’ for Christmas • Frosty the Snowman • I’ll Be Home for Christmas • Angels We Have Heard on High • Joy to the World • We Wish You a Merry Christmas • Auld Lang Syne • Chanukah Medley: Chanukah/I Have a Little Dreydl.
These books provide music teachers with a wide range of opportunities. The series work well for any combination of instruments and almost any ability level. They are also of great use when the instrumentation is small and unusual. No matter the instrumentation, they are great for get-togethers or just playing along!
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