Category Archives: Class News

Any student interested in participating in the Solo and Ensemble Festival on Feb. 8th needs their completed form and fee to Mrs. H by the end of day Tuesday Oct. 29th.

Any 7th or 8th Grade Musician interested in participating in the Solo and Ensemble Festival on February 8th, 2020 at Livonia Franklin High School needs to submit the application and fee by Tuesday, October 29th at the latest. This event is optional and students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the event. Mrs. Hartrick will provide music and after-school lessons to ensure students are prepared.

The details of Solo and Ensemble were reviewed in class so ask your child for more details. You can also find an overview here: https://www.msboa.org/Events/SoloEnsemble.aspx

8th Grade: Performance Test on Monday on Trepak. Mrs. H will randomly select a section to play in class so students should know from mm. 1- 49. Hassan will complete a written assessment on notes of D Major scale. Students should sight read Cliffs of Mohar. Performance rubric below.

6th Grade: Written test on Wednesday on all notes in D Major scale. Students should continue to practice exercises in EE book over the weekend. New players + Leo practice Dreidel and songs with no note names given. Experienced musicians aim to practice 2-3 songs in book.

7th Grade: Same as 8th. Khaldoun does D Major test, everyone else does Trepak performance test.

8th Grade: New musicians have a summative performance test video due Friday in Google Classroom. Experienced Musicians have a practice video for Simple Gifts D-end with a metronome due by Sunday.

6th Grade: Students with missing work must turn in all late assignments by the end of Wednesday. Any student with a C or lower who does not turn in their missing assignments will receive a phone call home on Thursday if they are still behind. Experienced Musicians have practice homework on the Hallelujah Chorus No.1 and No.2 exercises due Sunday. New musicians play 1.24 and 1.26 and turn in their practice videos by Sunday.

7th Grade: New musicians have a summative performance test video due Friday in Google Classroom. Experienced Musicians have a practice video for Ukrainian Christmas mm. 33-end with metronome due by Sunday.

This week marks the launch of the first set of student lessons at STEM with DHS musicians. In just 30 minutes our STEM musician was able to master a difficult passage of music and feel more confident in their ability to perform challenging songs.

“The high school student was really nice and knowledgeable. I can’t believe how much I learned in just one lesson. I am glad I decided to sign up for lessons and I can’t wait for my next one in a week.” – 8th Grade Baritone Player @ STEM

Consider signing up for your student’s first lesson today!! Email Mrs. Hartrick for more info.

The Lighted Holiday Parade on Friday, November 22nd has been cancelled. STEM partners with Edsel Ford High School Marching Band on this performance and STEM musicians are required to learn high school level music. It is a huge undertaking that I feel is not in the best interest of the students because it takes up so much instructional time. With a large number of new players and a winter concert approaching in December, we need to focus on playing fundamentals and ensuring we are prepared for the STEM concert. I apologize to anyone who was looking forward to the event but I feel this is the best decision for STEM students.

Here is the itinerary for the EFHS game tonight. Students can either leave their cases in the car or drop them off in the band room. Students should report to the parade line up by 4:30pm.

Tonight’s rehearsal has been moved to the auditorium due to the weather.

Any student participating in the EFHS Homecoming Game performance this Friday should plan to attend tonight’s rehearsal from 5-6pm. The rehearsal will take place behind EFHS near shipping and receiving. If the weather is bad it will be moved inside to the band room or stage (right next to each other). Call or text Mrs. H with any questions/concerns: 734-646-4644.

8th Grade Orchestra: Experienced musicians review basic techniques such as bow speed, rhythm decoding using eighth note patterns. Review Trepak mm. 1-33. Hassan, review bow grip and D major notes. All students have practice homework due in Google Classroom by Friday.

6th Grade Orchestra: bow warm ups, practice playing exercises that include all notes of D major scale with bow. All students have practice homework due in Google Classroom by Friday.

7th Grade Orchestra: Khaldoun review bow grip and songs that include the notes in the D major scale. All other musicians continue to refine last section of Trepak. All students have practice homework due in Google Classroom by Friday.