1. I only performed at the required games. I never went to any of the volunteer games because I have basketball 6 times a week, so if it is possible for me to catch up on my sleep and homework, I take the opportunity. I think possibly an A for my Pep Band contributions. I believe this because even though I never went to any volunteer games, I was always on time for the required games. I made sure that I was in tune the whole time when we were playing. Finally, I ensured that I played the whole time and only made a few small errors for the whole thing. I did my best and didn't just sit there and not play. This is why I think an A would be fitting. 2. I 100% believe that Pep Band is an important part of Newark Band. I know that it is important because it helps progress us as musicians. It allows us to play in front of people and teaches us that it is mandatory to be in tune and play the right notes. Next, playing Pep Band lets us play for an audience more than just the concerts we hold. I think it is great that we get this opportunity to play more that just a couple times a year. Finally, Pep Band is beneficially because it get you more used to playing in front of crowds and overtime less nervous about playing in front of them. This helps because when it comes to concert time you are less likely to be as nervous as you normally would. This is why I believe Pep Band is a crucial part of Newark Band. 3. My top three Pep Band songs are Living on a Prayer, Crazy Train, and YMCA. These are my favorite songs that we play because my instrument, the alto saxophone, has a lot to play in it. We don't have a lot of long periods of rests or long notes. I like these songs because they have eighth notes in them and I just enjoy playing eighth notes. I love feeling my fingers run along my buttons. Another reason why they are my favorite is due to the fact that I already loved listening to those songs before I knew we would get to play them in Pep Band last year. My three least favorite songs are Party Rock, Frozen, and Rubber Duckie. I dislike these songs because most of the time I am just playing the same notes over and over or holding notes out for what feels like forever. The only reason I even dislike Rubber Duckie is because I sit behind the trumpets during Pep Band and during this song my ears ring the entire time. I think it is pretty funny though, so I am okay with it. These are my favorite and least favorite songs in Pep Band. 4.I think I improved on measures 5-11 and 63-69 on Crazy Train. I believe I improved on these measure because I don't squeak every single time I play the notes. I also don't play F# when I am going from E to A on the runs. I can play it through, without my fingers slipping up. That is why I believe I improved on Crazy Train. 5. If I could add a song to our Pep Band list it would be We Like to Party by the Vengaboys.
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On every scale I got 100% on all of the major and minor scales in smart music. I can easily do all of my scales. I don't think they are very hard, but I don't have them memorized by heart yet. I can figure them out in a matter of seconds by transposing and using the tricks to find out the key signature, but technically that means I haven't memorized them. I know I need to work on that, so when a scale comes up I don't even have to think about what I am going to play and I just do it. I need to stop using the keyboard to achieve the goal of memorizing all of the major and minor scales.
Rejoice the Season!: I notice that it is really repetitive and I have a hard time paying attention when it is repetitive. I don't know what the articulation is called, but I do know how to play it, and I have no idea what G.P. is or means. How the Grinch Stole Christmas Concert Medley: Once again I don't know what the articulation note is called, but I know how to play it. I do know the staccato articulation though. I don't notice anything else that is too hard or surprising. It looks reletively easy. Once in Royal David's City: I initially noticed the scale running through measures 16 to 18. I also noticed the time and key signature changes. Once again that articulation, that I don't know the name of, is in this song. I really need to find out what it is called. Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24: I noticed the triplets on page 3 and that articulation note again. It is everywhere! I'm annoyed that I don't know what it is called. The last thing that I noticed was the slurs on the first page of the song. *These are all the things in my music that I initially took notice of.* Instruments have different ways to transpose, so naturally the alto saxophone is unique compared to the flute in transposition. To transpose on an alto saxophone you must find the note used in the scale. For example in the scale Eb major you would start at Eb on the scale. Then specific to the alto saxophone you would go down three half steps, so going on the Eb major scale your tonic would be C. After you find your starting note you can follow WWH W WWH steps to find the rest of your scale. Concert Bb Major: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G. - Concert G Minor: E, F#, G, A, B, C, D, E. Concert Eb Major: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C. -Concert C Minor: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A. Concert F Major: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D. -Concert D Minor: B, C#, D, E, F#, G, A, B. Concert Ab Major: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F. -Concert F Minor: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, D. Concert C Major: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A. -Concert A Minor: F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E, F#. Concert Db Major: Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb. -Concert Bb Minor: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G. Concert G Major: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E. -Concert E Minor: C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A, B, C#. Concert Gb Major: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb. -Concert Eb Minor: C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C. Concert D Major: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B. -Concert B Minor: G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#. Concert A Major: F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, F#. -Concert F# Minor: D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#. Concert E Major: C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#, C#. -Concert C# Minor: A#, B#, C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#. Concert B Major: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab. -Concert G# Minor: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F. I know a lot about my major scales. I know how to transpose them and then write them on the page. I can find them out easily by going down three half steps and then using WWH W WWH. Now after learning that the minor scales of major scales consists of taking a major scales’ sixth note as a minor scales’ tonic I can figure those out too! The only thing I want to get better at with them is learning and possibly memorizing them or being able to find my notes for a certain scale quickly. The 9/11 concert went really well. I don’t think we did amazing, but I definitely don’t think it went as bad as last year. I thought we sounded really good and I liked playing the sheet music. It kinda sucked that we couldn’t play super loud during America the Beautiful, though. It’s alright though because we got to play the other songs! I think the songs really fit with the concert. I can’t wait to get to play in the next concert! The pretest was challenging. I had to remember how to transpose, what symbols mean, and how to count rythms. I had no idea on how to figure out the minor scales. I couldn't even come up with a way to make up a minor scale let alone do a specific scale. I know for a fact that is something I need to learn and become good at. I believe I got most of the symbols and articulation questions right, except for a few of them that I always seem to get mixed up. I can't wait to give it another shot when we take it again and see what I've learned! |
Madison BolteAlto Saxophone, Articulation, Range, Tuning, Major & Minor Scales Archives
January 2017
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