East Rochester Instrumental Music

Lesson schedule posted

2011-10-23T20:20:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone, just wanted to let you know that this week's lessons schedule is posted on our website, http://www.gowmanmusic.com/, or is available through a direct link here.

A message for HS Jazz Band & Wind Ensemble Parents

2011-10-12T10:38:00.002-04:00

Dear jazz band & wind ensemble parents,

First, I want to tell you what a pleasure it was seeing so many of you a couple of weeks ago at our open house. Your involvement in your children’s education is the reason they have been and will be successful.

There are several points I want to touch on in this email… our current progress; how to keep up with the information you and your young musician need; supplies needed to be successful (and prevent costly repairs); and supporting our music program.

Looking at our current high school band and jazz band, I am as excited as I have been in a long time. For the first time in at least twenty years, East Rochester has a full jazz band: 5 saxes, 4 trumpets, 4 trombones, and a complete rhythm section. In band, we are playing more musically and with better sound and intonation (tuning) than at any time in my eleven years here.

For students in both groups, home practice is essential. In band, some of our students are able to be successful on our current music without much work outside of class, but our music will be getting much more challenging throughout the year. In jazz band, there are no students who have complete mastery of our current music. Some students are doing much better than others, however, and after just five weeks we are beginning to see a real gap in achievement between those students practicing outside of class and listening to the provided CD, and those who are not doing those things.
The best source of information for you is our website, located at www.gowmanmusic.com. There is a link at the top of the page for the current lesson schedule, and upcoming performances are listed on the left sidebar. Recordings of current music are located on the pages for the different ensembles, and there is currently a button on the main page that sends you to our supply list. It is very important for students to have these supplies so that they can not only play well, but also maintain the quality of their instruments. (Example: A “pad saver” for flute/clarinet/saxophone costs $5-$15, but can add years to the life of the pads, which cost $300 to replace.) I have a stock of many of these supply items available at here at school, and can save you a trip to the music store and even pass on our discount!

Finally, I want to talk to you about supporting what we do here. We will need parents to help with fitting, cleaning, and possibly altering our tuxedos and gowns in time for performance. I am also looking at a fundraiser this year that we will need your help with… likely a dinner of some sort. I would like to do this in the near future, but I think we should have our groups perform at this event, and they are not quite ready. Finally, please support your child’s hard work by attending our performances and encouraging others—friends, family, people you’ve never met—to attend as well. Now that they are teenagers they probably won’t tell you this, but it means as much to your children to see you in the audience—and to have a large, appreciative audience—as it did in the 4th grade.

Two years ago, I regularly posted information on our blog page (linked from the main site), but I got away from that as it seemed no one was reading it. I will be posting again on a fairly regular basis, and I encourage you to sign up as a follower or through an RSS feed.

If you ever have any questions—or if you are interested in volunteering or purchasing supplies—please feel free to contact me at 248-6344 or mark_gowman@er.monroe.edu. Thanks!
-Mark

The End of the School Year!

2010-06-15T12:18:00.000-04:00

Well, here we are again! It seems like every school year goes by quicker than the one before. I want to first congratulate all of our students on an excellent year. This was the best that both the HS and JH bands and jazz bands have sounded in quite a while. It may be the best they've sounded in my time here. It was also a great year for Celtic and Coffeehouse! I hope that students will have some great memories of our times in class and some of the great evets we had this year... our winter and spring concert; An Irish Evening; the Motown Concert; Jazz at the Park; Celtic playing at 171 Cedar Art Center in Corning; Darien Lake; and much more.

I was very honored last Wednesday night to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the East Rochester PTA. Teaching music is my passion, and I am lucky to be able to share that passion with the students and community of East Rochester. The many nice things they said about me last week would not be possible without support from students, parents, community, and school staff. Thank you.

Finally, just a bit of business... I'll be checking out instruments for the summer early next week... several girls still have their concert gowns and those need to be returned ASAP... I haven't yet checked sheet music inventory and SmartMusic microphones, but please get those to me before I call... Congrats to our seniors, have a terrific summer, and we'll see you soon!

Memorial Day

2010-05-28T08:57:00.000-04:00

Just a quick reminder that the 7-12 bands will be performing tomorrow for East Rochester's Memorial Day events. This is a very important commitment for our ensembles at which we honor those from East Rochester who have served and, especially, the dozens remembered at the Station of Heroes who have given their lives defending our nation. I encourage all of our students and parents to remain for the entire event at the gazebo.

The bandroom will be open 9:30-9:45 am if anyone needs to grab an instrument or music.

Dress for all musicians: Blue jeans (not shorts!), Bomber Band t-shirt; Drumline, be sure to wear shoes for marching.

7-12 Wind Players: Meet at Edmund Lyons Park gazebo by 11:00 am; you will be dismissed after performing the Star Spangled Banner.

9-12 Drumline schedule: 9:30 Meet at school, load instruments, carpool to Debbie Supply; 10:00 Warm-up in Debbie Supply parking lot; 10:30 Parade steps off, march to Edmund Lyons Park; 11:00 Memorial Day Ceremony at Edmund Lyons Park; 11:30 Return to school; 11:45 Dismissed (approximate).

End-of-Year Calendar & Summer Lessons

2010-05-17T09:21:00.000-04:00

This week's lesson schedule is posted on the ER Instrumental Music website. We also now have a complete ER Music Dept calendar (including instrumental, vocal, general music, elementary & secondary) for the rest of the year. 17 more events, if you can believe it!

Summer Lessons & Music Camps
As the begin to approach the end of the school year, this is an excellent time to consider private lessons for you child over the summer. There are so many good reasons for this... to keep them working and progressing; to provide individualized instruction and attention; to provide a different perspective, set of skills and teaching techniques from what they get from me; and to give them a "leg up" for next year. Many of our most successful students have achieved that success through private lessons or a summer music camp.

Lessons are available through the Hochstein School, Eastman Community School, and area private teachers, with many right here in ER, Pittsford, Fairport, and Penfield. Contact me if you need help selecting a teacher.

Summer music camps and worksshops are also available through Eastman, Fredonia, and Colgate, just to name a few.

Last Night!

2010-05-11T08:14:00.000-04:00

Congrats to all of our 7-12 instrumental musicians on a great concert last night! All of our groups did an excellent job, and students and parents should be very proud. Pictures should be on the district website today or later this week.

I will have the lesson schedule for the rest of this week posted this evening on our website, http://www.gowmanmusic.com/.

ER Arts Expo
Next Tuesday, May 18, will be the first ER Arts Expo. Come join us from 6-8 pm for live music, displays fom the visual arts department, and food from students in culinary arts.

Darien Lake Music Festival, May 21
For the first time in several years, High School Band, Jazz Band, and Select Choir will be traveling to the school music festival at Darien Lake Theme Park on Friday, May 21. The school is covering all costs, including transportation, group registration, and student admission into the park.

Dress for these performances will be the Bomber Band shirt. Students are free to wear shorts and whatever footwear they wish for this event.
Please return the permission slip to me ASAP.

The Spring Concert and 9-12 Darien Lake Trip!

2010-05-03T13:39:00.000-04:00

This week's lesson schedule is posted here.

The 7-12 Instrumental Spring Concert is just one week from today... Monday, May 10, at 7:00 pm. Student report time is 6:15. 9-12 wearing tuxes and gowns, JH wearing black and white (with ties for the boys) as at the winter concert. Any questions, e-mail me and I'll answer you as soon as I can.

For the first time in several years, High School Band, Jazz Band, and Select Choir will be traveling to the school music festival at Darien Lake Theme Park on Friday, May 21. The school is covering all costs, including transportation, group registration, and student admission into the park. We will be leaving at the beginning of the school day and will return around 7:30 pm. Each time we have gone to this event, there have been several students who have needed to carpool back home before the bus returns. Please let me know if this is the case for you or your child.

Upcoming Events

2010-04-26T20:53:00.000-04:00

This week's lesson schedule is posted on the website.

Upcoming Events in ER Instrumental Music...
Acoustic Coffeehouse this Thursday after school.
Monday, May 10: The 2010 Spring Concert
Friday, May 21: HS Band, Jazz Band, & Select Choir to Darien Lake
Friday, May 28: Moving Up Day
Also Friday, May 28: Celtic @ Dr. Maffucci's retirement party
Saturday, May 29: Drumline @ Memorial Day Parade; 7-12 Band @ Lyon Park Gazebo
Friday, June 4: Elementary Jazz Band @ Darien Lake
Monday, June 7: Jazz Night @ venue TBD (All jazz bands)

If anything else comes up, I'll let you know as soon as I can.

Questions? Email me at mark_gowman@er.monroe.edu or call me at 248-6344.

Coffeehouse Postponed

2010-04-14T09:07:00.000-04:00

With everything else going on, nobody (including me) feels ready for Coffeehouse. We're postponing until the Thursday after break, April 29.

Coffeehouse, Lessons, Brass Instrument Maintenance

2010-04-13T07:31:00.000-04:00

This week's lesson schedule is posted on the ER 7-12 Instrumental Website, at http://www.gowmanmusic.com/. A direct link to the schedule is here.

This Thursday is the return of Acoustic Coffeehouse! 2:45 in the HS bandroom.

Brass players (and parents of brass players): The inside of a brass instrument is a truly disgusting thing. But it doesn't have to be. And it shouldn't be. To keep your instrument in good working condition, and to avoid, oh, say, mold growing on the inside of your instrument, it should be given a bath. You will need a "snake" and a mouthpiece brush, which are a couple of basic tools that together cost less than $10. For instructions on cleaning your instrument, click here. Any questions, let me know!

Woodwinds!

2010-04-04T21:41:00.000-04:00

Two brief announcements first... as always, this week's lesson schedule can be found on the ER Instrumental website at http://www.gowmanmusic.com/. If you don't want to search for it, there's a direct link here. Second, our next Coffeehouse is scheduled for Thursday, April 15 after school. Parents of woodwind players, please read on!

A woodwind instrument (flute, oboe, bassoon, clarinet, saxophone) is a complex device. As most of you know, it is expensive to purchase, and can be expensive to maintain. The simplest thing you can do to extend the life of the leather pads on your child's instrument (one of the more expensive common repairs) is to be sure your child owns and uses a swab on the instrument each time it is played. This removes the moisture from playing, and is especially important for our high school students who have period 5 or no lunch and eat just before or during band.

I strongly encourage you to also purchase one of these furry things that go by various names... PadGard, StuffIt, etc. These continue to wick moisture away from the pads while the instrument sits in the case. They have them for mouthpieces and sax necks as well.

Reeds: Reed players should have a minimum of three good reeds at all times. Clarinet, alto and tenor sax players should start the school year with a box of ten; larger instrument and double reed players (whose reeds are much more expensive and slightly more durable) should have a box of five. These reeds should be numbered with a Sharpie or pen (on the bottom near the maker's stamp) and should be rotated every time the instrument is played. This will extend the life of the reeds and ensure that the reeds are in similar condition.

Reed Selection: Students in grades 7-12 should use a reed that is at least strength 3/medium. Many of the common reed brands are actually owned by the same company, with the brand name telling you the quality of the reed. Common brands that students should use are VanDoren, LaVoz, Mitchell Lurie (clarinet only), and Rico Royal. Please avoid the standard Rico reeds (in the bright orange box) and the store brand.

If you have any more questions on this, please let me know!

Special One-Time Offer!

2010-03-31T21:14:00.000-04:00

Overall, lesson attendance is up, grades are up, skills are up, participation is up, quality of ensemble performance is way up. But there are a few students - some who have made real progress in the 3rd quarter - who missed a bunch of lessons at the beginning of the quarter. Even though they've been participating well and have completed their SmartMusic assignments, they are still on the low end of grades. So I told them today, make me an offer I can't refuse... you come up with how you are going to get extra credit and make up points in the next 10 days. I've already had a couple of good offers. Parents, as always, you can see your child's detailed grade report through the SmartMusic software or at www.smartmusic.com/impact.

The End of March & the 3rd Quarter!

2010-03-29T13:10:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone,

First of all, I have to admit to being a bit of a blogging slacker these past few months. In an effort to continue to improve communication with parents, I am planning now to put up a minimum of one post per week on this blog which will cover important upcoming events and information, as well as other topics that are important for parents to know. If you are reading this in an e-mail and haven't visited the blog, it is at http://gowmanmusic.blogspot.com/. From now on, I will be posting the lesson schedule on the ERHS Instrumental Website at http://www.gowmanmusic.com/. If you are reading this in an e-mail, I have attached the lesson schedule. If not, I will have it uploaded to the website tonight.

Second, I want to congratulate all of our students on excellent concerts throughout March - Music In Our Schools Month - including An Irish Evening, the 2010 Kaleidoscope Concert; the Elementary Prism Concert on March 23; and Celtic Music Society's multiple St. Patrick's Day Events, including the performance and live album recording in Corning on March 19.

And now on to business...

The end of the quarter is coming up soon... next Friday, April 9, to be exact. Most of our students are doing very well since the introduction of SmartMusic at the beginning of the 3rd quarter. Students are practicing more, playing better, are better prepared on their music, and are more invested in what we are doing. No, it's not the case with all, but it is the case with most. Many of our students will also be seeing an improvement in their grade... In HS Band, for example, better than 75% of students currently have an A or a B, and almost all of the rest can get their grades up there by completing late assignments. I want to be clear... Any late SmartMusic assignments can still be completed for full credit until the end of the quarter. Students who are unable to complete the assignments at home need to make arrangements to complete them here at school. My office computer is available before school this Wednesday, after school every day this week, plus nearly any time during the school day (if I have advance notice). Next week my computer is available after school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, before school Monday and Wednesday, and nearly any time during the school day. You and/or your child should make an appointment with me to complete this work.

As always, if you have any questions, I can be reached at 248-6344 or mark_gowman@er.monroe.edu.

Next Coffeehouse...

2009-11-19T20:36:00.000-05:00

The next acoustic coffeehouse will be December 1, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. See me if you're interested in performing or need help picking a song to perform.

Sounds of Motown!

2009-11-15T21:02:00.000-05:00

Congrats to everybody on a great show Thursday night. We've got a few mp3 sound files here already; more audio files and video will be available soon.

Reminders for this week...

2009-11-09T21:41:00.000-05:00

First, congrats to Celtic on an absolutely terrific performance Saturday night.

Wednesday: Drumline meets at Village Hall @ 10am, marches to the gazebo at 10:30. Dress: Jeans and the Bomber Band t-shirt with something warm underneath. If that won't work, wear something that says ER. It should be beautiful, but just in case it's pouring rain... if East Rochester's Veterans march, so do we. JH/HS Jazz Band 12pm pizza lunch at ERHS; dress rehearsal for the Motown concert follows. Expect to finish *definitely in time for dinner*; but hopefully around 3:00 if all goes well.

Thursday. Motown Concert, 7pm at The Auditorium. Performers set on stage by 6:00, doors open 6:30. Dress: HS Jazz boys - Tuxedos (with black shoes and black socks); JH Jazz boys - black dress pants, white shirt, tie. Girls, we'll talk.

As always, if you have any questions, please contact me at mark_gowman@er.monroe.edu or 248-6344.

Important Information for You!

2009-10-22T08:28:00.000-04:00

This will be sent home on a postcard in the next couple of days, but here it is now...

Music College Fair

Lucky for us, the national Music College Fair is held 10 minutes from here. It will take place Wednesday, November 4, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Eastman School of Music. More than 60 music schools, universities, and conservatories will be represented, and students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with admissions reps. I strongly recommend The University of Michigan and Eastman. For more info, visit http://www.esm.rochester.edu/apply/college_fair.php

Concert Date Correction

The Sounds of Motown concert is Thursday, November 12, not Friday the 13th as stated in the Music Notes newsletter that went home recently.

Motown Dress Rehearsal
Most of the students involved in the Motown concert are also involved in the Veteran’s Day events on the morning of Wednesday, November 11 (there is no school that day). Mr. Polvino and I will be providing pizza for lunch for all Jazz Band and Select Choir students at 12:00. We will begin our dress rehearsal promptly at 12:30, and hope to be done by 3:00 pm.

The Lunch Bunch, Clean Instruments, and Gross Stuff
I’m proud of how many students have chosen to be in HS band this year despite it costing them their lunch period. This scenario does bring with it a new set of problems, however. When I was in school, my band director made it clear how absolutely terrible it was to play your instrument after eating food. A swimming rule was encouraged—don’t play within 45 minutes of eating—but he was so scary on this point that I always felt it would be much more horrible than just ruined equipment if you blew food into your instrument. That it would be something that might actually trigger the apocalypse, like the Ghostbusters crossing their streams. But I digress… Due to scheduling, we now have a number of students not only eating just before, but during the time that they’re playing. Parents, please be sure that your child has a new swab (woodwinds), cleaning snake (brass), mouthpiece brush, etc. If you go to any of our local music stores, they will have what you need.

Reeds for Woodwind Players
Quality reeds in good condition are essential to the success of saxophone and clarinet players. Students should have a box of 10 reeds (5 for large instruments), and they should rotate these by numbering each reed. Reed strength should be at least 3/medium and should be of a quality brand: LaVoz, Mitchell Lurie (clar), VanDoren, and Rico Royal. We should avoid Rico (the orange box) and store brands.

Celtic on iTunes!
Celtic’s 2008 release, The Devils of Dublin, and 2003’s Color Blind are now available on iTunes and other major digital outlets. We still have CD’s available at the school and through some area stores. For more info or to link to online music stores, go to http://www.celticmusicsociety.org/devils.htm.

A cancellation and a correction

2009-10-09T14:16:00.001-04:00

The Bomber Band will not be performing at this evening's home football game. This decision was made after Mrs. Slavny and I observed a large green blob, approximately the size of Rhode Island, heading directly toward us. (It was on a weather map, in case there was any confused panic.) It's nice to get the evening off, but it's quite disappointing to keep preparing for an event that seems as though it will never come. I'm not, however, prepared to risk significant damage to students' instruments.The pep band will be playing at some other athletic and school events through the school year.

Also, the newsletter that was recently sent home has an error throughout it... the Motown Concert will be Thursday, November 12, not Friday the 13th as published in the newsletter. (Darn that curse!) Most of the students involved in the Motown Concert are also involved in Veteran's Day events on the 11th through choir or drumline... Mr. Polvino and I will be providing pizza for lunch, and we will then have our Motown dress rehearsal in the afternoon of the 11th instead of coming in for an evening rehearsal.

Audio files and exercises online

2009-10-06T06:42:00.000-04:00

The high school jazz band and wind ensemble pages now have links to iTunes for outstanding professional recordings of our performance music. These will be updated and added to other ensemble pages as more music is added.
The drumline Members page now has exercises posted on it, along with audio files of the music and metronome click files. Drummers... what are your favorite and/or most challenging combinations of the tap/accent exercises?
http://www.gowmanmusic.com/
http://www.erdrumline.com/

Pep Band next Friday evening

2009-10-01T14:14:00.000-04:00

The Bomber Band will be performing next Friday, October 9 at the final ER Varsity Football home game of the season.*

Parents, if your child has an unavoidable, unresolvable conflict for that evening, please let me know ASAP.
* This is Rochester, so I have to say "weather permitting". We won't be taking woodwind instruments (or their players) out in a cold, soaking rain like the one we had for Homecoming.

Congrats Aaron!

2009-09-23T10:05:00.001-04:00

Congratulations to senior Aaron H., the newest bassist in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra!

Congratulations on a Great First Performance!

2009-09-22T14:52:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to all of our students in the High School and Junior High Bands on terrific performances at today's pep rally! I am so proud of how well everyone did... the fight song and Start Spangled Banner are starting to really sound how I always wanted them to, and I have already received several unsolicited compliments for the bands.

I want to also especially recognize students in Percussion Ensemble... two-thirds of the students in that group are new to it this year, and half have had absolutely no experience on percussion. Three rehearsals ago (which was our first rehearsal), we were, well, terrible. Could barely hit the instruments in the same minute. But hard work and enthusiasm have already paid off, and today people saw that this won't just be a year of rebuilding the traditions of this fine group.

Congratulations again!

-MG

Homecoming 2009:
Dress for all Homecoming events: new band shirt, blue jeans (please, not the ripped/chained/stained pair).
Friday (evening pep rally): Arrive/set up 6:00 pm, Perform 6:30, Dismiss by 7:00 (we hope)
Saturday (parade-Drumline only): Line up 5:00, step off 5:30
Saturday (game - all 7-12): Set up @ 6:20, perform 6:40-??? (entire game)

Students in drumline should make arrangements for dinner at the school; pack it, or have a parent bring it. There won't be time between to run out, or to the concession stand.

Elementary Jazz Band Audition Update

2009-09-22T14:47:00.001-04:00

Jazz Band Auditions will be held Wed., Sept 30 after school in my room. The information sheet that was sent out said that students would play 1) a song of their choice 2) B-flat blues scale, and 3) the song Jammin' With Charlie. I am still tracking down copies of Jammin' With Charlie from last year's members, so that will not be on the audition. For the original info, check here: http://www.gowmanmusic.com/elemjazz.htm

Welcome to another great school year!

2009-09-08T21:21:00.001-04:00

Hi everybody... Welcome to another great year and welcome back to all of our student musicians. We have a lot going on this year, including performances next week for Homecoming.

Lessons for 9-12 percussionists will begin Tuesday, Sept. 15, and all others will begin on Monday, September 21. Junior High Jazz Band will also start next week; auditions for Elementary Jazz Band will be held in a couple of weeks.

Homecoming: Drumline will perform in the Homecoming Parade on the afternoon of Saturday, September 26; all 7-12 bands (including Drumline) will be performing at the Tuesday (9/22) in-school pep rally, the Friday (9/25) evening pep rally, and the Saturday (9/26) evening game.

I invite you to sign up to receive updates from this blog, and please feel free to contact me with any questions at mark_gowman@er.monroe.edu or 248-6344. See you soon!