-Your kids can have a fingering chart on their stands to look up fingerings. They can also have a copy of your chorale so memorization isn’t an obstacle.
-If you have any kids with an IEP that use a transparent colored overlay you should bring it. It helps those kids tremendously.
-I have my students share a stand in sightreading as much as possible. That way if they don’t know a fingering hopefully their stand partner does.
-Have your students touch things on the paper as much as possible. I also have students finger any accidentals and then check their neighbor. It is widely accepted in my band hall that if your neighbor doesn’t know a fingering, it is your fault for not checking them.
-Teach your students to start any questions they may have with...”In measure ??” That way while they ask the question you can find it in the score.
-I have my students tap their toes and finger along the entire time and they have a unison way of holding their instruments during this part. They also check the key when they “make sure they have the right part” and when they turn music back over they immediately start fingering through the scale until I start my explanation.
-During the general explanation period you can keep time with your baton on the stand as long as you don’t subdivide.
-Don’t be afraid to sing the melodies during the summary period even if you aren’t exactly on pitch it will help kids know how it should sound. When I sing I like to sing with our counting system and tap the rhythm on the stand. Really hammer in that rhythms.
-Assign your percussion parts ahead of time.
-Don’t forget to check on your percussionists and sing any low brass melodies or tricky parts. It is easy just to focus on the melody.
-Have your brass players empty their water keys after your chorale/concert f before you start.
-Don’t forget to tell them to turn the music back over before you start. (Speaking from experience here lol)
Biggest advice. Go to a contest and sit in the sightreading room all day. You will learn so much! Best of luck!
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