Other

There are a number of documents not linked to from this main one.

Lesson Logs

Your lesson log link is your own, so that I can keep a rolling log of information pertinent to you including assessment scores. If you have lost your link, please reach out to me by email (though the fastest way to get to them is by searching your email for “lesson log”)

For group lessons, your personal log links to the group lesson, but not vice versa to maintain privacy.

Fifth Grade Band Info

I keep the fifth grade band information on a separate note,

This site

Archive of Programs

This is intended to serve as an easy way to go back through pieces you’ve played, or reprint old programs for, say, graduation parties.

2025-2026

Honor Bands

Unfortunately I only have a small handful of honor band programs from the last few years, but these are what I do have.

2022-10-20 TRC JH Honor Band Program.pdf

2023-01-09 TRC HS Honor Band Program.pdf

2023-02-18 Young Musicians Honor Band Program.pdf

TRC JH 2021 Program.pdf

Prior

Choir

Major Scales Practice Samples

Below are the major and minor scales in two different keys – find the one that best suits your voice (as discussed in lessons/choir)

Major

C Major Scale Sung.mp3

F Major Scale Sung.mp3

Minor

C Minor Scale Sung.mp3

F Minor Scale Sung.mp3

Rhythm Assessment Recordings

6th Grade Rhythm Assessment Recordings

7th Grade Rhythm Assessment Recordings

8th Grade Rhythm Assessment Recordings

HS Rhythm Assessment Recordings

Bell Schedules

If you’re for any reason unsure what class period you’re in at a given time when signing up for an extra lesson, please consult the bell schedule

If you are unsure what period is at a certain time:

Period	Time
1st	8:20-9:10
2nd	9:14-9:59
3rd	10:03-10:48
4th	10:52-11:37
5th	HS/MS Vary, starts 11:41
6th	HS/MS Vary, ends 1:38
7th	1:42-2:27
8th	2:31-3:21

5th Period:

MS: 11:41-12:26

HS: 11:41-12:49 with lunches at:

- 11:55-12:15 - 12:04-12:25 - 12:12-12:32

6th Period

HS: 12:53-1:28

MS: 12:30-1:38 with lunches at:

- 12:32-12:52 (6th grade) - 12:28-12:48 (7th grade) - 12:42-1:02 (8th grade)

🎄 “Christmas Books”

John McAllister pieces

All the free arrangements/settings of carols and other tunes I can pull out for us pretty easily from this guy’s website

Jingle Bells
Joy to the World/Deck the Halls (combined)
Up on the Housetop
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
Carol of the Bells
The First Noel
The Holly & The Ivy
Good King Wenceslas
Twelve Days of Christmas
I Saw Three Ships Come Sailing In
Away in a Manger
Silent Night/O Christmas Tree (combined)
O Come All Ye Faithful (AKA Adeste Fidelis)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Once in Royal David’s City
Greensleeves (AKA What Child Is This)
O Come O Come Emmanuel
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Boar’s Head (????)
Angels We Have Heard On High
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Patapan
Tomorrow Will Be My Dancing Day
Dreidel Song

Older materials…

Original list (2021)

The ideas you suggested. NOT NECESSARILY EVERYTHING MR. EHLER WILL BE ABLE TO PUT IN THEM.

The Holiday Season
Jingle Bells
All I want for Christmas is You
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Sleigh Bells
All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
Carol of the Bells
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
We Three Kings
Silent Night
Frosty the Snowman
Peppermint Rag
Polar Express
Hot Chocolate
O Come All Ye Faithful
I’ll be Home for Christmas
Blue Christmas
White Christmas
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree
Deck the Halls
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Jingle Bell Rock
Some Day at Christmas (Steve Wonder?)
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
The First Noel
Last Christmas
Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson
Little Drummer Boy
Santa Baby
You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Christmas
Do You Hear What I Hear
Drummer Boy
Feliz Navidad
Mary Did You Know
Run Run Rudolph
Candy Cane Lnae
Rudolph the Red Nose
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Winter Wonderland
All I Want for Christmas - Ariana Grande??

Results

Carol of the Bells
Feliz Navidad
You’re A Mean One Mr. Grinch (Tied for second)
All I want for Christmas is You
Silent Night
Mary Did You Know
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Frosty the Snowman (Tied for 8th)
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Christmas (Tied for 8th)
Jingle Bell Rock (Tied for 8th)
Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Tied for 8th)
Winter Wonderland
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Tied for 13th)
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree (Tied for 13th)
Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
Last Christmas
I’ll be Home for Christmas
Jingle Bells (Tied for 18th)
White Christmas (Tied for 18th)
Do You Hear What I Hear (The rest are some form of tie)
I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas
Little Drummer Boy
O Come All Ye Faithful
Polar Express
Rudolph the Red Nose
Blue Christmas
Run Run Rudolph
We Three Kings
Deck the Halls
Santa Baby
Candy Cane Lane (Only receiving one person’s 5th place vote)
Drummer Boy (Only receiving one person’s 5th place vote)
Sleigh Bells (Only receiving one person’s 5th place vote)
The First Noel (Only receiving one person’s 5th place vote)

The following received no votes

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth
Hot Chocolate
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus
Peppermint Rag
Some Day at Christmas (Steve Wonder?)
The Holiday Season
Underneath the Tree - Kelly Clarkson

See the raw data for yourself or look at the formula I used to argue that I should have weighted the choices differently

Melody in Book

This page is meant for Mr. Ehler to link to from lesson logs without having to keep track of the individual lesson signup links.

Please don’t just follow these links to sign up for whatever lessons you can under normal circumstances; most of the time there won’t be lessons available at these links (I have to manually enable the availability) but if I haven’t actually encouraged you to use one of them, then it’s more than likely not appreciated for you to just schedule one on.

Regular (15-min) lesson

Calendly

5-minute lesson.

Calendly

Intended for just wrapping up minimal reassessments. Please only sign up on this link if you have only about 1-2 scales or 1 rhythm assessments left.

ISASP Schedule 2022

Lessons can be scheduled here

Monday/Wednesday	Time	Tuesday/Thursday
1st period	8:45-10:15	2nd period
3rd period	10:20-11:55	4th period
5th period	11:55-1:47	6th period
7th period	1:50-3:25	8th period

ISASPs by Day/Grade

Each day, certain periods will take certain ISASPs. If you are in a class at the period it takes an ISASP, please don’t schedule your lesson for that period. For example, if I were a 7th grader who had Reading 5th period, then I shouldn’t schedule my lesson for that period on Monday

I only have so much info, but here’s what I do have:

6th Grade
- Monday
  - 1st period
    - Reading (Koppes 1st Hour)
    - Math (Gebel 1st Hour)
  - 3rd Period
    - Reading (Koppes 1st Hour)
    - Math (Gebel 3rd Hour)
  - 5th Period
    - Math (Gebel 5th Hour)
  - None 7th period
- Tuesday
  - None 2nd Period
  - 4th Period
    - Reading (Koppes 4th Hour)
  - None 6th Period
  - None 8th Period
- Wednesday
  - None 1st Period
  - None 3rd Period
  - 5th Period
    - ELA (Koppes 5th Hour)
  - 7th Period
    - ELA (Koppes 7th Hour)
- Thursday
  - None 2nd Period
  - None 4th Period
  - 6th Period
    - ELA (Koppes 6th Hour)
  - None 8th Period
7th Grade
- Monday
  - 3rd Period
    - ELA
  - 5th Period
    - Reading
  - 7th Period
    - Reading
    - Math
- Tuesday
  - 2nd Period
    - ELA
  - 4th Period
    - ELA
    - Math
  - 6th Period
    - Reading
    - Math
8th Grade
- Monday
  - 1st Period
    - Reading
    - Science
    - Math
  - 3rd Period
    - Science
  - 5th Period
    - ELA
  - 7th Period
    - ELA
    - Math
- Tuesday
  - 2nd Period
    - Reading
    - Science
  - 4th Period
    - Reading
    - Science
  - 6th Period
    - ELA
    - Math
HS

For HS, I’m just listing the classes/periods/days that have an ISASP
- Monday
  - 3rd Period
    - English 2
    - Biology
    - Geometry
    - Alg 2
  - 5th Period
    - Eng 1
    - Pre Calc
    - Alg 1
    - Financial Math
  - 7th Period
    - Eng 2
- Tuesday
  - 2nd Period
    - Eng 3
    - Biology
  - 4th Period
    - Eng 1
    - Eng 3
    - Biology
    - Alg 1
  - 6th Period
    - Eng 1
    - Eng 2
    - Alg 2
  - 8th Period
    - Geometry
    - Alg 1
- Wednesday
  - 1st Period
    - Eng 3
  - 3rd Period
    - Eng 2
  - 5th Period
    - Eng 1
  - 7th Period
    - Eng 2
- Thursday
  - 2nd Period
    - Eng 3
  - 4th Period
    - Eng 1
    - Eng 3
  - 6th Period
    - Eng 1
    - Eng 2

Lunch

Fall 2024

On 10/24/24, I will be at the TRC JH Honor Band at North Cedar and unavailable for conferences.
On 10/29 I am available an extra 30 minutes on the schedule (until 8 rather than 7:30) Appointments
I am also available 10/21 and 10/22 in the earlier parts of the afternoon Parent Teacher Conference

If none of these times are manageable, I am always happy to find a time to meet; simply email me at [email protected]

☀️⛱ Summer Lessons

At Alburnett, we’re able to offer completely free summer band lessons! There’s a lot of benefit in taking part in summer lessons, no matter what year in school you are or what your ability level is.

Wait! Wait! I already know everything about summer lessons, just give me the links for this year!
1. First, I’m glad you know what you want and can be so direct
2. Start with the short Google form
3. Then hit the availability form (if you have multiple children you're signing up and they have the same availability, you only need to do this once)

Lessons are available for any student participating in band next year, including those rejoining band or looking to get started; they are strongly encouraged for anyone looking to jump into band next year who has not been participating so far.

First, our summer lessons are very flexible around summer plans. Every year I work to get a solid ‘regular’ schedule built, but it’s no problem for me to reschedule you if that time doesn’t work that particular week. I use a scheduling service to make the slot available for others, and always build some holes in the schedule for people to grab (or for me to get some work done if no one takes them!) Even if you’re only available for a week or two, it’s still advantageous! And even for those who can’t find a regular time for any weeks, I can still open up my scheduling link.

For beginners on an instrument, summer lessons are the best way for us to start off strong
For those in older grades, it’s a great way for us to focus on what the most impactful work for you is going to be
- We have more time than our regular schoolyear lessons, so we can drill into things in finer detail
- It gives us the opportunity to learn fun music of interest to you
- If you feel behind the curve, it’s a great way for us to catch up!
- If you feel right at the median of your grade, it’s a great way for you to grow your understanding and be ready to step up within your section or perhaps start taking advantage of honor band opportunities
- If you feel ahead of the pack, it’s a great chance for us to work on more meaningful things than we may have the opportunity to in the schoolyear
- No matter what your ability level, it helps me sleep at night knowing your instrument is not just sitting in its case until August!

So what do you need to do for summer lessons?!

For each child you’re signing up, fill out this really short Google Form. Then fill out this availability form. I realize it adds some extra work having to go through two different forms, but the second one is the most practical way I've found of parsing the availability of everyone signing up while building a schedule. If you have more than one child you're signing up and they have the same availability, you can just indicate them all on the availability form in the name field. The availability form also lets you define preferences on a scale – the left side lets you switch between perfect/fine/possible

This year, we have half-hour lesson slots. Lessons will begin the week of 6/18 and end the week of 7/26.

I’ll send out a schedule on Monday 6/10 as I’ll be gone for a few days between then and the start of summer lessons. Please try to have the form completed by 6/8

Darn, it's after 6/8! Did I miss my shot?

Not at all! I might have less availability at that point, but I’m happy to fill the summer lesson schedule up as much as I can. Do still fill out the same forms. I'll follow up with you about what we need to do from there.

Summer 2024 Concert Opportunities

Band Wisdom

Our New Facility

These renders provided by OPN.

There’s some relatively minor differences between the renders and the plans/what we’ll have (for example, we’re not going to use band chairs like the ones in the render – our current ones are better), but they give a pretty good sense of the space all the same.

End of 21-22 music sorting

🎼Score Order

			Manteca
	Christmas cha cha		Chameleon
Bells	Jingle bones	Chorale prelude	Everybody needs somebody to love
	Jingle bones		Mack the Knife
Prospect		Irish Tune from County Derry & Shepherds Hey	I want it that Way
Reindeer rag	At the water’s edge		Caravan
	Clari go round	God rest ye merry gentlemen
Knock before you rock		God rest ye merry gentlemen
	Union March
Leader of the class	Baby it’s cold outside	All I want for Christmas is you
			Pomp and Circumstance (Fanfare and Processional)
March Lamar	Android attack	Pictures at an exhibition	Beauty and the Beast
White Christmas		Holst Christmas
	Alpha Dog	Christmas adoration	Great Locomotive Chase
Coronation scene		Sleigh ride	Rippling Watercolors
	Can-Can	Sleigh ride
Brighthon beach			Boom-Boom Galop
	Andalucía	Russian sailors dance
Swingin holiday		Russian sailors dance
		Fresh Aire
Byzantine dances		All glory	Eighties
		Armenian rhapsody	Tower
Festive fanfare	Marches of the armed forces	Circus days	Stones

Music Software/Apps

For continuing to indulge one’s interest in music, there’s a lot of ways

🌡Tuners, Metronomes, etc.

Music Notation Software

If you have access to a Mac or Windows computer (not just your Chromebook) at home and with your parent’s permission, there are two programs really worth your consideration.

The program Mr. Ehler uses for all our needs in class is called Dorico. Dorico is not free, but has a limited free version. It also has a free version for the iPad (which is a bit harder to use). This free version doesn't have access to every custom layout feature and caps out at 8 players, but that's enough for a lot of needs you might have. In spite of these limitations, there are a lot of things it does better than MuseScore.

MuseScore (or MuseScore Studio) is completely free notation software. It has very good sounds built-in, though

A big part of why Mr. Ehler recommends the free version of Dorico over MuseScore is because of some of the ways each software works. Dorico’s ‘understanding’ of rhythm both will help keep you from making mistakes in how you're notating certain things, and also reinforce some of your conception of these things. MuseScore lets things look ‘wrong’ a lot more easily.

Digital Audio Workstations

…

Tracktion Waveform

GarageBand & Logic Pro

Ableton Live

Ableton Note for mobile

Cubase

Pro Tools

Reaper