Week of November 9th...

Good morning Davis Academy Students and Families. This week in class we will be focusing on "run-throughs" of our upcoming December 2nd concert @ 7pm. At the beginning of every class, students are given 5 minutes to"warm-up" and begin our "run-through" with a discussion about concert ediquette.

Concert ediquette is equally as important as being able to play music. They go "hand-in-hand" with eachother. A group that looks professional and mature, will set the tome fow how well they perform in front of their peers.

• Guitar One is working on: Au Claire De La Lune, and Chanuka Song. In addition to their concert music, we have moved ahead, and begun working on new notes and chords. We are learning to play Blues Progressions in different keys.

• Guitar Two is working on In The Hall Of The Mountain King, and Canon in D. As a group, we have come up with an interesting FORM that incorporates all of the players to contribute as an ensemble. In addition, I have given them "new" music to work on. We are working on Taking Care Of Business and La Grange. Both songs encourage students to improvise and to have fun while learning their instrument.

• Advanced Percussion is working very hard on mastering their first ensemble piece, "Mambo Schmambo." I want them to experience what it takes to work hard on a piece of music, and that their teacher will not settle for "average." My enthusiam is paying off, and I get very excited when we play through the piece! In addition, we are sight-reading new music, and working towards "accompanying" FUSION at the December Concert. It should be fun!

• FUSION is working this week on preparing for their first performance at Fine Arts Night this Wednesday evening. Our "first" gig is to support the Fine Arts Department by playing music in between scene changes, as well as when parents, students, faculty, family, and friends are being seated. This "gig" is very challenging for us in that we have to be focused and ready to stop playing at any given moment. The evening is dedicated to the Fine Arts Students, and we are complimenting the evening by providing musical interludes to make the evening seamless! In addition to preparing for Wednesday night, we have been building our repertoire of songs. I'm inpressed with FUSION very much. THis is a new class, and I'm excited with the progress they have made so far this year!