Concert Preparation

We have two weeks to prepare for our Winter Concert on Monday, December 17 (7 pm in the EDHS Gym, concert dress, call time TBA). For these two weeks we will be back on our regular rehearsal schedule. On Monday morning, December 3, we will record ourselves! We will listen and fix things during the afternoon rehearsal. Be in your seat, music and pencils out, bows rosined, at 7:53 when the bell rings. During the 3 or 4 days between rehearsals, your homework is to practice.

Practice List for Monday, December 3

We Need a Little Christmas

• Goal tempo is half note = 132
• Measures with a lot of accidentals, including
• 4 measures before 25
• 4 measures before 41
• 57 (for cello and bass)

• 4 measures before 69

The Christmas Song (Chipmunks Roasting on an Open Fire)

• Practice at a slow tempo – quarter note = 76
• Practice with vibrato on any note longer than an eighth note

Holly vs. Ivy vs. Godzilla

• Goal tempo is quarter note = 96
• The best way to practice this piece is one section at a time
• Measures 19-27, 27-35, etc.
• Look for repeated notes and rhythms from section to section
• Then put sections together
• Pay close attention to measures where you have an entrance NOT on beat one

The Bells of Christmas

• Measure 49 – first two notes are on beats one and two; last note is on the AND of three
• Cellos measure 76-91
• 2^nd violin and viola measure 114 – starts on the AND of 1
• All violins – measures 130-134
• Everyone measures 174-178
• 2^nd  violin, viola, cello, bass measure 178-185 – some of these entrances are on 1, but others are on 2
• Everyone cross off measure 186 (5 from the end) – just an empty measure of rest where the audience will start clapping
• Everyone last two measures – first quarter note short so there is space before the final four notes.