Practice Records

Practice Records are due each Friday for 6th, 7th and 8th grade woodwind and brass students. Students must practice outside of class in order to reinforce skills and concepts we develop in class. Daily practice will reinforce these skills and build positive practice habits, and is strongly encouraged. however, we know students' schedules are often very busy; therefore we have set minimum target practice minutes per week for each grade level:

6th - 45 minutes
7th - 90 minutes
8th - 120 minutes

Students practicing these amounts of time each week and turning in a SIGNED practice report will receive full credit for their practice record assignment.

Here are the Practice Record due dates for this quarter:
Friday, September 3rd
Friday, September 10th
Friday, September 17th
Friday, October 1st

Click here for a blank practice record.

Smart Music

We will once again be using the SmartMusic internet program in classes this year.  SmartMusic allows students to practice their music on a computer at home or at school and perform pieces with full accompaniment.  It will assess students' performances, giving instant feedback both visually and with audio recordings, and allow students to submit playing assessments and practice records from home.

If you had a SmartMusic subscription last year, it is probably still valid (they are good for one calendar year), and all you have to do is go to www.smartmusic.com to click on the "Download SmartMusic 2011" icon.  You can login and download the fantastic new version of SmartMusic, which you must do in order to enroll in classes and submit assignments.

If you did not subscribe to SmartMusic, then download these instructions on how to set up your account.  You can follow this link to order SmartMusic:

https://www.smartmusic.com/Store/Default.aspx?p=1

Keep in mind the price listed is $36.00 for a year's subscription, but the Cobb County price will end up being only $22.50.  This is a bargain when you see all your child can do with SmartMusic!  Once you have the program on your computer at home, your child can enroll in his or her class for assignments and for the method book and practice records.

8th Grade Band Night at Walton High School

The Dickerson and Dodgen 8th grade bands have been invited to attend the Walton/Campbell High School football game on Friday, September 10th! 

Dickerson band students will get to march in with the Walton High School Band and perform with the band in the stands during the game!

Chaperones are needed for this event, so please let us know on the permission form if you are available!

Students should arrive by 5:50 pm to Walton High School.  The information letter/permission form can be downloaded here:

Walton Marching Band Flyer

Upcoming Playing Assessments

These are some of the major playing assessments coming up this nine weeks.  There will be other announced assessments and unannounced spot-checks throughout the grading period.

9/3 - 6th grade Brass and Woodwinds - "Hot Cross Buns"

9/15 - 8th Grade Brass and Woodwinds - GMEA state scales as listed on the GMEA scale sheet

9/15 - 7th Grade Brass and Woodwinds - One-octave GMEA scales

9/30 - 7th and 8th Grade Solo/Ensemble Project in class

Welcome Back to School!

Please click on the following links to download the various files:

• 2010 - 2011 Band Handbook
• 2010 - 2011 Band Calendar of Events
• Cobb County Blanket Permission Form

Thank you for your support of the
Dickerson Band Program!