The Coal City Intermediate School fifth grade beginning band’s year is in full swing with regular rehearsals and lessons. So far band students have learned how to assemble, take care of, and play a few notes on their instruments.
The musicians have also spent plenty of time working on tempo by tapping their toes, clapping rhythms, and playing those rhythms on their mouthpieces. “These are essential beginning skills for our fifth grade students to learn and continue mastering during the first year of band,” said director Andrew Brimm.
After the band’s 40-minute rehearsal in the morning, each instrument section has a 25 minute lesson focusing on skills and instrument specific techniques. These lessons are essential and help the students improve quicker on their instrument. “We also have a lot of fun making unique sounds on our instruments,” Brimm said.
Looking ahead to the Winter Concert, the band will be preparing a few tunes to play that highlight the skills they have been working on this first semester. The fifth/sixth grade Winter Band Concert will be held in the Coal City Performing Arts Center at Coal City High School on Thursday, Nov. 30 at 7 p.m.
Brimm invites the community to check out his teacher page on the Intermediate School website or the CCIS/CCMS Band Facebook page, “if you are ever interested in seeing what we are doing in the band room.”