First Time Taking a 1C non varsity MS group to UIL-sighteeading help
Posted by Jonathan on 11/22/2022, 8:05 am
This is my first year taking a MS group to UIL contest. It is a 1C MS. What are some reccomendations for practicing sightreading with them? What should I do? What resources should I look into? Looking for all and any suggestions.
Re: First Time Taking a 1C non varsity MS group to UIL-sighteeading help
We use a beginner band method book starting day one of playing. We use "Sound Innovations" for this as it is different than their beginner book (EE2000). At first, we do several lines a day, but as we get to half way through level 2, we switch to doing two a day, and when we reach level 3 we do one line a day. We don't do all of the lines, and we usually finish the book by the end of the first semester.
We also read lots of full band beginner level music starting the first week of September. We sightread it one day then work on it the rest of the week (it helps to build up a repertoire for when the principal says, "Hey, we need you to play for this event next week"). We gradually progress in difficultly to match the "SI" book. We don't do any old UIL SR music until January. We either do the odd or even release years so the kids will not have seen that piece before (this is an odd year). We read about three level 1, three level 2, four level 3, and two level 4 (we are a 3C). By the time we get to UIL, they have read a TON of new material and are pretty comfortable with the process.
We also do weird stuff with rhythm charts. We will have different sections play different rhythms (some that don't really line up) and give them different concert pitches to play, will even have them change notes every so often. It keeps them on their toes and makes them focus on their part and not relying on another section. It helps to build confidence.
Re: First Time Taking a 1C non varsity MS group to UIL-sighteeading help
I believe there’s a book of short pieces by Emerson and McGinty that I used for sight reading with my first extremely unexperienced group. One of the pieces is clarinet caprice.
Try to do daily, or about 3 times a week, sight reading exercises of some kind. Even if it’s something you write out on your own on a music writing program or Musescore then just transpose for all instruments. I did one key at a time to build consistency.
Always remind each instrument of the notes to watch out for. Tell them the fingerings. It’s as much practice for them as it is for you. Always pretend you’re in the sight reading room and run through the process. You don’t have to do the entire 7 minutes, but enough for you and them to get the practice in.
I also used the Foundations for Superior Performance book to practice the scale exercises. That’s all sight reading is: scale exercises. They’ll be confident in doing them from the book, and when they see them in music they’ll recognize them. Start incorporating all these things on Monday, one or two at a time. SR preparation is like preparing for a marathon. It’s not done in a few weeks. It takes months, especially for a young group. Best of luck!
Re: First Time Taking a 1C non varsity MS group to UIL-sighteeading help
Start with simple lines out of a book. Manhattan Beach Music put out the 'Making Music Matter' as a beginning band book a few years ago. I bought a set to trial it with our NV group figuring it would be good review and let us see if we wanted to use it. Two pages in I was certain I would never consider using it with a beginning band. (Pacing is completely non-sensical, horrible scope and sequence for first year players) That being said it really covered some gaps for the non-varsity kids while not keeping things too simple for them. It's fantastic for reading a few lines a day and getting some review in for the first half. By the second half you're probably catching concepts that never stuck with those kids.
The lines are setup in such a way though that it really helps with reading! Even if it's not that book, find something equivalent that you can just read some every day. Rhythm Bee and Sightreading Factory could also be great resources!
The next part has to be to use old sightreading tunes. I tend to start with the easiest Willie Owens ones and move through to more challenging Clifton Jones tunes. If I need to bust an ego with a group Give me Death March (Give me Liberty March) is always a good standby. I rarely have used that with the NV group though.
Now the real wildcard here is if your region is doing the new pilot program or not. We are in our region, so this will be different for us this year with the actual teaching period being a thing. If you're still stuck in the old ways, make sure you practice the 4/4 minute periods. (Remember NV gets that extra minute) If you're in the new system make sure you practice that as well in the timing and discuss your plans. My thought with the new system is what I do in the real world. Talk less, play more myself.
