Learn More about the Lead Mine Continuing Band
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What is Continuing Band?Continuing Band is an ensemble designed especially for 4th and 5th graders who have completed the Beginning Band program at Lead Mine, or for 3rd-5th graders who have previous musical experience equivalent to one year in band. In Continuing Band, students have opportunities to strengthen their playing technique, expand their previous musical understanding, and explore new styles and more challenging music. Ms. Thompson guides Continuing students toward building both technical ability and musical creativity, and encourages students to begin developing their unique "signature" sound and style. |
Why should I join Continuing Band?
If you enjoyed Beginning Band and have a desire to explore music further, Continuing Band is the place to be. In Continuing Band, we start learning more advanced musical concepts that many people don't understand--complex rhythms, different styles, exciting musical textures, and more! You'll work on developing "good ears" that can detect tiny differences among rhythms, harmonies, and pitches--and use your ears to learn new styles like jazz and salsa. Wind and brass players, Continuing Band is time for wild sixteenth note rhythms, cool new high notes, and new techniques like trills and flutter tonguing. And for percussionists...drumset!
Continuing Band "Perks"
As their level of musical expertise grows, seasoned band students become capable of experiencing and making music differently than they did as beginning musicians. As such, the Lead Mine Band offers several exciting opportunities designed specifically for Continuing Band members, including coffeeshop gigs, tailor-made musical arrangements, and student-led rehearsals. These Continuing Band-only programs are designed to give our older students meaningful experience with responsibility, to help them become more confident as individual musicians, and to make band an even more exciting experience!
A Dozen Things You'll Learn in Continuing Band
- How to build a beautiful, solid tone on your instrument
- How to count and perform sixteenth notes
- How to understand and play syncopated rhythms
- Bunches of major scales...and how to use them
- The basics of improvisation, AKA making up music on the spot
- For percussionists - New instruments!
- For brass - Cool breathing exercises to give you super-strong lungs
- For woodwinds - Cool fingering exercises to make your fingers fly fast
- How to give your playing personality with articulations and dynamics
- New tricks and techniques to develop your signature style and sound
- How to use your ears to balance your sound like a pro
- How to play faster, louder, and higher than you could last year!
When does Continuing Band rehearse?
Continuing Band rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the school year from 4:05-5pm in the music room.
How do I join Continuing Band?
To join Continuing Band, your child must have taken Beginning Band at Lead Mine, or have at least one year of group or private lesson experience on a band instrument. If your child fits these requirements, simply fill out our online registration form and pay your band tuition either online or by mail.Return to the About Band page
Learn about Beginning Band.