Band Procedures
What two things should you grab when you walk into the band room?
Your instrument and a stand
How many beats does a dotted half note get?
3
What is Mr. Trimmer's primary instrument?
Percussion
How do we stay together and keep a steady pulse when we play?
Watch the conductor, count in our heads, quietly tap our feet, listen to the instruments around us
What instrument family does the French Horn belong to?
Brass
Line up at the outside door, walk out when Mr. Trimmer says so, go straight back, and stop at the top of the hill
What instrument family does the saxophone belong to?
The woodwinds
What college did Mr. Trimmer attend?
Randolph-Macon College
Describe proper playing posture
Sitting up tall and not slouched, arms and hands relaxed with no tension, eyes facing the director (not the floor!)
What does a dot above a note tell us to do?
Play the note short and separated (staccato)
Where should a woodwind player's reed go after playing?
It should be taken OFF the mouthpiece and put in a reed holder
What dynamic level is louder than piano but softer than mezzo forte?
Mezzo piano (mp)
What is the name of Mr. Trimmer's outside-of-school band?
Wicked Phat
How do we play legato or slurred notes?
Constant air with no tonguing as we change the notes
What does "D.C." stand for in music?
Da Capo, or to go back to the top
How often should a brass player clean their instrument?
A quick rinse/re-oiling every 1-2 weeks as needed, a deep clean every month
What is the name of the machine that plays a steady beat for us?
Metronome
What instrument does Mr. Trimmer's girlfriend play?
Clarinet
When do our instruments go up/down while on stage?
They go up when Mr. Trimmer's hands go up, and come down when Mr. Trimmer's hands come down
Who composed many of our concert pieces, such as Dragon Lord, Mechanical Monsters, Winter Winds, and Blackthorn March?
Randall Standridge (AKA Randy Standy)
What do we do after a cut-off?
Stop playing and quietly listen
When we have really high or low notes, we add extra lines to the staff. What are those lines called?
Ledger lines
Name two things Mr. Trimmer likes to do other than band/music?
Cooking, video games, reading, hiking, spending time with friends
How do we practice difficult sections of music?
Why do certain instruments sit in certain areas in a band?
Quieter instruments like woodwinds go in the front so they can be heard, louder instruments like low brass go in the back so they don't cover up the quieter instruments (and so we can listen back)