Webberville Bands shine in pre-festival concert
On February 24 th, the Webberville Bands performed to an enthusiastic crowd of parents, students, and staff. The performance marked the debut of the Fifth Grade Band which is one of the two new bands added to the music curriculum this year.
Fifth Grade Band is comprised of flutes, clarinets, and alto saxophones which meet on Mondays and Wednesdays. Trumpets, trombones, and percussion meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays with all students coming together on Fridays to practice as a group. The addition of a fifth grade band was met with great enthusiasm from parents and students as it offers the students an additional year of training and experience with the various instruments. All students have been working hard on some facet of their instrument. Flutes are working to control the direction of their breath in order to make the most efficient use of their air. Clarinets are working hard at covering the keyholes of their instrument completely. Saxophones are working on getting the fingers to move fast enough without hitting the side keys. Trumpets and trombones are working to develop their embouchure in keeping the corners of their lips tight enough and blowing fast enough air to produce higher notes. Percussion is working on keeping their palms face down to the ground as they play rhythms on their practice pads.
The Fifth Grade Band, under the direction of Mr. Don Hyvarinen, Band Director, was joined by the Sixth Grade Band at the Pre-Festival concert. They performed familiar songs such as Rolling Along and Hot Cross Buns. The performance of the combined band was a demonstration of how much can be accomplished musically with these young performers. The students have had only 4 months to not only learn about their instruments, but also to learn to read the music.
The other addition to the music curriculum this year is the Jazz Band. Last year Jazz Band was an extra-curricular, after-school program offered with the volunteer instruction of Mr. Hyvarinen. This year, Jazz band meets every other day during school from 9:45 A.M. until 11:15 A.M. The transition was unique because the normal band styles has a very regimented and strict beat, while the jazz band playing style flows more and has a more laid back sound. The students have valued the experience in the jazz band and their dedication and hard work was evident at the concert. They performed a jazzed up version of Crazy Train and the Beatles song, I Saw Her Standing There.
The band concert also included performances by the Middle School Band, the High School Band and a percussion performance under the direction of a guest conductor from Michigan State University. The middle and high school bands were treated to a critique of their performance by a guest adjudicator in preparation for their upcoming participation in the M.S.B.O.A. band festival.