Visual Lesson Plan (Teaching Progression)

publication date: Mar 19, 2009
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author/source: Jeff Young
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Always start with the beginning and work your way to more advance concepts.  It is important to stay within the limits of what the band director wants to use as the "style" and you need to think about how to detail it out for them.  I have purposefully left detail out of this progression so that you can be flexible (and creative).  I put suggested breaks in, but don't forget water breaks on HOT days.

If the band wants to learn a body/stretch routine... teach that progression before these.

POSTURE

Focus:  "The Look", Lengthen, Expand, Straighten, Float, Timing, Details
  1. Posture (The checklist-feet, knees, hips, mid-section, upper body, arms, neck, chin, eyes)
  2. Timing (Use clapping, stomping, etc.)
  3. Mark-Time
  4. Horn Positions and Instrument Carriage
  5. Horns up/down/parade rest
  6. The Push (Weight shift to the ball of the Right Foot)
  7. HABT ("Heel Arch Ball Toe" exercise- or something half-time showing the breakdown)
  8. The Roll Step Forward One Step
  9. (break)
  10. The Back Step (The Platform)
  11. Body Positions When Feet are 90° to shoulders (30 hips,60 check,90 shoulders)
  12. Horn Flash Position (to box)
  13. 8 Steps Forward
  14. 8 Steps Backward
  15. 8 Steps Forward Slide (L & R)
  16. 8 Steps Backward Slide (L & R)
  17. How to use Step-outs during music rehearsals
  18. (break)

BLOCK DRILLS

Focus:  Distance, Interval, Dress, Cover, Timing, Technique
  1. Teach how to go forward to backward and backward to forward (avoid "touch and go's" please)
  2. 90 degree Prep Steps/Stabs/Angles (how to make the transition at all 90 degree angles)
  3. Box Drill "A" in pieces
  4. Box Drill "B" in pieces
  5. Connect box Drills
  6. (break)
  7. Plus Drill (with various combinations of slides) Teach in pieces... then all at once
  8. (break)

LINES (Across-the-Floors)

Focus:  Step Size, Sliding, Distance, Interval, Dress, Cover, FAST-PACED!!
  1. How to set up Across-The-Floors (lines of 5-7 collapsed down on the front line)
  2. Walking in time (Step off every 8 counts)
  3. Fwd. Marching (Step off every 8 counts)
  4. Fwd. Marching Half-Time (Slow ROLL) (Step off every 8 counts)
  5. Fwd. 8+8  (Step off every 16 counts... move 8 hold 8)
  6. Slide Fwd. March  (L&R) (Step off every 8 counts)
  7. Slide Fwd. March 8+8 (L&R) (Step off every 16 counts)
  8. Prep Steps/Stabs/Angles (how to make the transition between fwd and slide)
  9. Fwd. Traffic (Step off every 8 counts)
  10. Fwd. Traffic 8+8+hold 4 (Step off every 16 counts)
  11. Jazz Runs (Step off every 8 counts)
  12. (break)
  13. 8,7,6,5,4's or any combination thereof
  14. Bkwd. March (Step off every 8 counts)
  15. Bkwd. March 8+8 (Step off every 16 counts)
  16. Slide Bkwd. (L&R) (Step off every 8 counts)
  17. Slide Bkwd. 8+8 (L&R) (Step off every 16 counts)
  18. Traffic Fwd. With Bckwd. Slides (Step off every 8 counts)
  19. Traffic Fwd. With Bckwd. Slides 8+8+Hold 4 (Step off every 16 counts)
  20. Front to back to fronts
  21. (to the left... R up on 8, L open on 1)(to the right... R up on 8, R open on 8)
  22. Back to front to backs
  23. (to the left... L open on 1, R up on 8)(to the right... R open on 8, R up on 8)
  24. Backward jazz runs! (6 to 5?  5 to 5?)
  25. (break)

ADVANCE DRILLS & EXERCISES

Focus:  Specific drill situations and problems solved!
  1. V Drill
  2. Circle Drill
  3. Whatever Floats your Boat!

STRETCH & BODY

The following things should be in the stretch
  1. The head and neck
  2. The shoulders
  3. The back
  4. The legs
  5. The arms
Body Movement Basics
  1. Foot positions
  2. Tendú
  3. Coupé
  4. Lunge (in all directions)
  5. Passé
  6. Ballet arm and hand positions
  7. Demi and Grand Plié 1st
  8. Demi and Grand Plié 2nd
  9. Forced Arch
  10. Chassé
  11. Relevé
  12. Tension and Release


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