Niagara Elementary Instrumental Music Program

With DSBN closing schools today all after-school ensembles are canceled. If you are traveling today please drive carefully!

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2020/21 is going to be a year like no other for our program! Here's a picture from our first virtual lesson of the year with 3rd year flute player Elizabeth! We are so excited to work with all of our students and are looking forward to a rewarding year.

Workshops:
Obviously we don't know when this unprecedented time will end but we are hopeful for these new dates! We are planning on running our workshops the week of Aug 31st.
Monday Aug 31st: Experienced Band
Tuesday September 1st: Beginner Strings
Wednesday September 2nd: Beginner Band
Thursday September 3rd: Experienced Full Orchestra
I hope everyone is safe and healthy!
Craig

Some tips for your home practice routine:
1. Create atmosphere: Get the right set-up for you. Whether you prefer to concentrate in a quiet practice room or somewhere with more stimulation, try to be consistent with your choice. Also if possible sit or stand where you can see your music directly in front of you (with a music stand or just propped up)
2. Warm up: Always start with playing scales or an easy piece. Warm up playing slow long notes and concentrate on making a nice sound on each note and playing in tune.
3. Have a goal: Just playing through the songs you can already play from start to end isn't good practising. Set a goal to learn a hard passage, or to add dynamics or articulation. Set small, focused objectives then you'll feel a great sense of accomplishment as you improve each objective.
4. Identify and overcome the problems: Don't just play a piece or passage over and over again. Identify where you are stumbling then work on that small area. When you have overcome the problem don't go straight back to the beginning of the piece to play through,practise working in and out of the section from a few measures before until a few after to ensure continuity.
5. Record yourself: By recording your practice sessions you can listen back and perhaps spot some things you might want to work on. Also all of us teachers would love to hear you play. WE all love teaching music and miss our students during this time. So please send your teachers videos of you playing.
Thanks and most importantly enjoy playing!
Craig

After school bands and orchestras continue even during an Ontario teacher strike!
We look forward to continuing making music with NEIM students!