Resources
Below are a number of resources that are referenced in our assignments or are suggestions for outside resources you can explore. Should you have any questions about your student’s musical progress during the break, please don’t hesitate to contact me at dan[dot]norris[at]prosserschools[dot]org, via Parentsquare, or with the Contact Me
ParentSquare:
We will use ParentSquare for a number of communications throughout the year. As a numbr of our band activities take place outside of the school day, I strongly encourage parents and students to download the ParentSquare/StudentSquare app and elect to receive notifications on your phone.
**HMS Students (& their parents) who will be participating in PHS Pep Band activities are also encouraged to get signed up for those ParentSquare notifications. Contact Mr. Norris to make sure you're on the list.
Choir students:
Accompaniment tracks can be found on our website at HMS Choir Demo Recordings
Practice your sight singing skills at Sight Reading Factory (Click the "Try It Free" button)
Band Students:
Demo play-along tracks can be found on my website at HMS Band Demo Recordings or PHS Band Demo Recordings. The tracks that are on youtube can also be slowed down for easier learning by clicking the settings "gear" and then changing playback speed.
Band Book play-along tracks
Book 1 Play-Along Downloads (Beginning Band--Yellow Book).
Book 2 Play-Along Downloads (Intermediate Band--Red Book)
Book 3 Play-Along Downloads (Advanced Band--Blue Book--you'll need the activation code on the inside cover or title page)
Practice your sightreading skills at Sight Reading Factory (Click the "Try It Free" button)
Ideas for students of all ages:
Explore the other Lessons and Exercises at MusicTheory.net. A couple of my favorites are the ear training by Keyboard or note. You can use the Settings gear to add sharps & flats or change the range. Or click NOTE-READING EXERCISES at the left menu for a series of note3-reading exercises in a set progression.
Flutes! Check out "Flute Talk", a monthly magazine for flutists and flute teachers. The March issue is available for free.
Brass Warmup (8am PST Daily) by Harry Waters (Retired US Army Field Band & Jazz Ambassadors) Daily Warmup Announcement (Youtube)
Piano players: Check out "Piano Explorer", a monthly magazine for piano students. Many of their online materials are currently free.
Percussionists--why not learn some drumset skills? Search "Drumset tutorial [Style]" on Youtube. Suggested styles include swing, funk, rock, slow rock, ska, Latin jazz, Latin rock, Salsa, bossa nova, etc... You can practice many of these even without a drumset.
Many of the titles at jwpepper.com include a demonstration video that scrolls the music so you can play or sing along!
Check out the WMEA All-State Audition Materials (Junior All-State and/or High School Wind Symphony).
Check out In Tune Monthly Student Edition, a publication of National Association for Music Educators with info about current popular music (and some stuff to learn, too!)
Full-length performances: (Acceptable for PHS Concert/Musical Review provided the length is more than 70 minutes--check before you commit!)
Seattle Symphony Free Live Broadcasts--only at set times?
Live at Lincoln Center Full Concert Playlist--play anytime.
Metropolitan Opera "Nightly Met Opera Streams" (May require log-in?)
Concert Streams at ARMYFIELDBAND.COM
"The Shows Must Go On" on youtube--Broadway musicals & adaptations (usually available 7pm Friday-7pm Sunday).
BroadwayHD--Streaming service for Broadway Hits. Free 7-day trial, then has a subscription fee.
Ted Talks: (for PHS Ted Talk Assignments)
Benjamin Zander: The Transformative Power of Classical Music
Evelyn Glennie: How to Truly Listen (This one is much longer, but very interesting--she is a percussionist who is deaf.)
Nicolas Ellis: Beethoven, the Heavy Metal of the Early 19th Century!
The Warning: Young Girls Love To Rock Ted Talk *New 4/17/20
Tommy Emmanuel: My Life as a One Man Band *New 4/17/20
Alpin Hong: Transform Yourself Into a Performer *New 4/17/20
Snubby J: From PVC Pipe to RimbaTubes *New 4/17/20
Victor Wooten: Music as a Language *New 4/17/20
Colin Morris: Pop Music is Stuck on Repeat *New 4/17/20
Dan Formosa: Why not Admit there is a problem with Math and Music? *New 4/17/20
Scott Rickard: The world's ugliest music *New 4/17/20
Erin Seibert Why I want to Change the World with Music Therapy *New 4/17/20
Tom Thumb: Beatbox Brilliance *New 4/17/20
John D'earth "Let the Music Tell You What to Do!" (Longer--Children's Music Project) *New 4/17/20
Other groups to check out for fun or exploration:
Postmodern Jukebox (Youtube--Modern Songs in various older styles)
Search for your instrument (or voice) and "solos" in youtube. Get a chance to hear top professionals!
Sample song parodies for parody project: