MUED 54000 Rehearsal Techniques

Lesson Plan Template

Part I: Identifiable Information

Name: Alessandra Shellard Date: 7/27/22

Piece/Composer: Kentucky 1800 by Clare Grundman

Part II: General Knowledge of Students

This is a small ensemble with limited instrumentation, but all students are current band directors with a vast
knowledge of music and ensemble playing. They are playing on strong secondary instruments so their tone
quality and technique may not be as strong as if they were to perform on their primary, but are still able to
produce a decent tone. All students are sight reading, but their musical experience will allow them to learn the
pieces and correct any mistakes rather easily.

Part III: Lesson Plan

Objective(s):
1. Students will play John McAllister’s “Cinematic Long Tones #1” to focus on air support and playing
chromatic notes
2. Students will play John McAllister’s “Name that Song”
3. Students will play correct notes and rhythms of the beginning to rehearsal “B” in “Kentucky 1800” by
Clare Grundman
4. Students will improve tone production, articulations, and confident entrances by playing “Kentucky
1800”

National Standards Used:

Performing (Pr)4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation.
Performing (Pr) 5: Develop and refine artistic techniques and works for presentation.
Performing (Pr) 6: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Responding (Rn) 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
Responding (Rn) 8: Interpret meaning of artistic work.
Creating (Cr) 3: Refine and complete artistic work.

Warm Up:
1. “Cinematic Long Tones #1” by John McAllister
a. Play through two measures of slurred whole notes without taking a breath
b. Take a large breath in the measure rests
2. “Name that Song” by John McAllister
a. Students have to play their parts correctly so the band can recognize what song they’re playing
b. This is good practice with keeping a steady beat, counting, and listening across the ensemble

Rehearsal Procedure
 Measures Parts to Isolate Concepts/Skills to Address Rehearsal Strategies
Beginning-B Tutti Sight reading - Run-throughs to experience the
(run twice) Getting a feel for the piece music
- 2nd time through: Choose
something to improve on that you
missed in the first run
1-5 Fl/cl Playing together - Run with each of the three
Alto/tpt Proper articulation sections so they can practice
Tbn playing their part together
Tbn/tuba/bass drum - Steady beat from those not
playing
1-5 Tutti Correct entrances - Bopping

Beginning-A Tutti Confident entrances - Run section

Accents - Conduct proper gestures that
Dynamics indicate certain
Following the conductor articulations/dynamics
Change in style into A - Synthesizing what we’ve worked
on thus far
Pickups to A - Clarinet/sax cues Phrasing - “Listen to each other and see if
4 before B Tone you’re matching your articulation
Slurs and breaths”
- Use good air
- Try this a few times until it feels
comfortable and identical
Pickups to A - Trombone/Tuba Holding notes - Use good air! Strong supported
4 before B Strong, well-supported sound sound
- Everyone else, clap on beat one
when they have the rest
Pickups to Tutti All covered in the last two points - Keep in mind what we just
A-B Swell in phrase/dynamics 4 measures reviewed
before B - Move through the phrase →
growth and decay
- Listen to e/o, watch conductor
Beginning-B Tutti Solidify material we’ve covered in this - Run through with all our fixes
rehearsal - What do you think we can go
back and work on?
- What should we focus on in
future rehearsals?

If time, Tutti Accented vs. slurred articulation - Conduct clear gestures to

rehearsal B-C indicate articulations and phrasing

Assessment
Student Self-Assessment: In a real school setting, I would have students fill out a Google Form with answers to
the following questions (slightly different from last week’s):
1. What are your first impressions of Kentucky 1800?
2. Are we working well together as an ensemble? Why or why not?
3. What did you improve on in rehearsal today?
4. What are you going to practice at home to insure you’re ready for next rehearsal?

Materials Needed:
1. Computer/projector
2. Young Ensemble Warm-Up score and printouts
3. “Name that Song” score and printouts
4. “Kentucky 1800” score
5. Baton