First Open Door Band rehearsal recap + what to work on this week
Hi everyone,
Thank you again for such a joyful and encouraging first Open Door Band meeting. I’m still smiling about it — and I hope you left feeling the same sense of accomplishment and fun.
Below is a recap of what we covered, along with ideas for what to work on at home before next week.
Opening & learning mindset
We talked about learning music the way first graders learn to read: nothing is “by sight” yet. Everything is sounded out — sometimes slowly, sometimes painfully — and that’s exactly how learning works. Over time, some notes become sight notes, just like sight words.
Music reading: treble & bass clef
Using the whiteboard, we introduced the grand staff:
Treble clef circles the G line
Bass clef dots “hug” the F line
We learned note names in two ways:
An alphabetical finding method (working notes out logically)
Mnemonics (FACE / Every Good Boy Does Fine, etc.)
We went around the room naming notes together and worked them out as needed. Not knowing immediately was expected and completely okay. We’ll return to note reading next week and begin introducing rhythm as well.
For home practice: Flash cards, apps, or simply writing notes on staff paper are all great options — use what works best for you.
Instrument of the Week: Trumpet
Our Instrument of the Week was trumpet, thanks to Jim Z. and Michael G., who brought instruments for everyone to see, hold, and try.
After a little initial hesitation, curiosity took over. People gathered close, questions flowed, and when Sue B. made her first sound, the room erupted in cheers — a perfect Open Door Band moment.
We talked about:
Proper holding and embouchure
Trumpet vs. cornet
The physics and mechanics of brass instruments
Additional instruments appeared, excitement was high, and we let the session run slightly long until it reached a natural close.
How to Band: safety & setup
Our first “How to Band” topic was safety, both in rehearsals and future performances. We covered:
Using carts, backpacks, and wheels
Taking multiple trips to your chair instead of carrying everything at once. Taking an additional 30–60 seconds can prevent injuries and damage
Using automatic doors and never rushing
Being especially careful around stairs and stage edges
The importance of proper posture -- especially for flutes, trumpets, trombones, and saxes
Questions about conductor cues and starting the band came up — we’ll absolutely cover those topics next week.
Rehearsal recap
We began with a warm welcome and a bit of my “origin story,” including a confession: I had never conducted before yesterday — and your cheers were the perfect way to start our journey together. I also shared the story of my friend Al Sweet, who began composing successfully at age 90 -- a reminder that learning, creativity, and growth have no expiration date.
In rehearsal, we focused on:
Breathing, including what it feels like to breathe using the diaphragm
Simple breathing exercises you can continue at home
We then:
Found the note and fingering for concert Bb and played it together
Added a second note, then a third
Explored those notes with long tones, tongued notes, and simple patterns
We listened to a recording of “Beginners Rock!” and did a detailed walk-through of the music:
rehearsal marks
repeats
D.C.
how the music functions as a road map
Before playing, we paused to look at the first measure, find notes, and think about sound and rhythm. Although the piece is marked at ♩= 144, we played it closer to 100 — exactly the right choice.
We also talked about using a metronome app at home to build comfort gradually by increasing tempo in small steps.
After several stops to regroup and prepare for repeats, we completed a full play-through of the piece.
We also began working on “Go With the Flow.” Since we didn’t have a recording, we jumped in blind — touring the road map first and noting that the tempo matched Beginners Rock!.
This piece presented more of a challenge due to exposed parts and differing rhythms, but we worked through about half of the piece together. We successfully played through everything up to the 3/4 time change section, which we intentionally saved for next week.
It felt like a natural stopping point — and it was.
Wrapping up
We ended rehearsal slightly early at a convenient break, and I reminded you that it’s completely normal (and good!) to feel mentally tired after an hour of that kind of focused work.
You all agreed — tired, but not too tired.
Several people shared how happy they felt to be playing again. Jackie B.'s comment stuck with me -- how good it felt to use your brain this way — and how much fun it was to rediscover that joy.
That’s exactly why Open Door Band exists.
For this week
If you’d like to work at home:
Review treble or bass clef note names. Identify and hang on to at least one note that feels easy to you as your anchor.
Practice breathing exercises
Get comfortable with the first few notes we played from our warm up -- concert Bb
Look through Beginners Rock! and Go With the Flow, following the road maps before playing
Use a metronome app to explore tempo gradually
Next week, we’ll revisit both pieces, continue building skills, and add “Shining Moments.”
Thank you for bringing your curiosity, courage, and enthusiasm to our very first rehearsal. I’m truly grateful — and I can’t wait to continue building this together.
See you next week,
Amy