February 16, 2026 Rehearsal Recap
We had several new faces yesterday — how fun! It was wonderful to meet you all. Because we had so many newcomers, we used much of our Music Basics time to review foundational concepts so everyone could feel confident moving forward together.
Music Basics Review
We reviewed:
Note names and strategies for figuring them out quickly
I again encouraged everyone to identify a “favorite” line or space as a reliable starting point.
Ledger lines — how they extend the staff upward and downward.
Rhythm fundamentals — how a quarter note can be divided (into eighths, sixteenths, etc.) or multiplied (into half and whole notes), and the same concept applied to rests.
Next Week:
We’ll continue our review with sharps and flats, plus more hand-clapping rhythm exercises to strengthen internal counting.
How to Band – Vocabulary
We explored several important musical terms. Here are refined and clarified definitions:
Articulation
A general term describing how a note is started, shaped, and released. (For wind players, this often involves the tongue — but articulation applies to all instruments.)
Legato (— ): Smooth and connected. Notes flow together with minimal separation.
Staccato (·): Short and detached. The note is separated from the next with clear space.
Accent (>): A note given extra emphasis or weight at the beginning.
Marcato (^): Strongly marked and emphasized — typically heavier and more separated than a regular accent.
Slur (curved line connecting different pitches): Play smoothly with no re-articulation between notes.
Tie (curved line connecting identical pitches): Combine the note values into one sustained sound. For example, two tied quarter notes equal the length of one half note. Often seen across bar lines.
Tuning
Adjusting your instrument to match a standard pitch (usually concert B♭ in concert band).
If you are flat, you pull out.
If you are sharp, you push in.
Tuning establishes a common reference pitch for the ensemble.
Intonation
The ability to play in tune throughout the music, not just on the tuning note.
This may require small embouchure, air, or slide adjustments depending on the instrument.
Balance
How well all parts of the ensemble can be heard in proper proportion.
A helpful rule of thumb: listen down — be aware of the lowest voices (often tubas and low brass), which provide the foundation.
Blend
How well individual sounds merge into a unified section sound.
No one person should dominate. Listen carefully to your section and match tone, volume, and style.
Phrase
A musical “sentence.” Often 4–8 measures long.
Sometimes marked with a breath mark ( , ) indicating a natural place to breathe.
Fermata (𝄐)
Often called a “hold.” It means sustain the note longer than written — until the conductor releases it.
While some theory texts suggest adding roughly half the note value, in ensemble playing the conductor determines the length. Eye contact is essential!
Next Week:
More vocabulary — plus how to navigate musical “road maps” (repeats, D.S., D.C., codas, etc.).
Instrument of the Week – Oboe
We featured the oboe, a double-reed woodwind instrument with a distinctive, penetrating tone.
Highlights:
Oboe uses a double reed, which many players make themselves — a craft that can become a hobby!
Unlike many wind instruments where players struggle for more air, oboists often deal with the opposite problem — the instrument requires very little air, and players sometimes need to exhale before inhaling.
Brave volunteers tried “squawking” on the reed alone and testing the full instrument!
Next Week: Clarinet
If anyone is willing to bring a clarinet for our touch-and-try, please let me know.
Rehearsal Highlights
We worked on:
Celebratory Fanfare
Listened to a recording.
Noted its processional march character (different from something like "Stars and Stripes").
Beginners Rock!
Continued reinforcing steady tempo and confident tone.
Go With the Flow
Pay special attention to the dynamic marking at rehearsal 11.
At home: practice a clear decrescendo in measure 10, so measure 11 feels noticeably softer.
Fandango Festival
Reviewed dynamics in the opening measures, especially for Parts 2, 3, and 4.
Experiment at home with shaping those first four measures musically.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Ended rehearsal with energy and momentum!
Next Week
We will begin with a short “How to Concert” discussion — helpful for both experienced players and beginners.
Rehearsal order:
New Orleans Strut (first read-through!)
Shining Moments
Beginners Rock!
Celebratory Fanfare
Go With the Flow
It is a joy to watch this group grow — musically and in confidence. Thank you for your focus, encouragement of one another, and willingness to keep learning.
See you next week!
Warmly,
Amy