This week in Band

This started off on a great NOTE when about 25 band members met at Richmond-Burton High School for our 2nd Band Buddies meeting. The buddies met for about 30 minutes for small group lessons and then we all came together to run through our concert pieces. I received positive feedback from both elementary AND high school students as to how the afternoon went. Mr. Stiles (RB band director) and I would like to plan one more meeting for late April. Specific information TBA soon.

This week I also handed out permission slips for a performance opportunity at a nursing home in Lake Geneva on Saturday, April 9 at 10am. The slips are due next week so that I can hand out music for the performance next week and be able to hear the students play once before Spring Break. If you haven't been able to find the permission slip in your bandling's back pack, click HERE for an electronic copy.

This weekend I'm going with the NMS 7th/8th grade band to a Middle School Band contest at Mchenry Middle School. They perform at 9:30 am and many other area middle school bands will be performing all morning and afternoon. There is probably a small charge to get in the see the bands, but if you're free and want to see and hear some great music performed by middle schoolers, you should come. Mchenry Middle School is across the street from the Mchenry Drive-In theater on Chapel Hill Rd.

Have a great week! RGS parents please remind your children to wear their band t-shirts on Wednesday for our in-school concert!

DATE CORRECTION!

I'm sorry everyone! But the dates for the inschool concerts are NOT in April...

The correct dates are as follows:

RGS: Wednesday, MARCH 16, 2011 at 2:45pm

SGS: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 2:45

Sorry for the confusion!

We're Going Out On The Road!

I've set up a date for those bandlings who are interested, to play at Geneva Lake Manor Senior Housing Facility in Lake Geneva on Saturday, April 9 at 10:00am. I'll send home a permission slip with more details next week. The students have been anxiously asking about this ever since I mentioned it and I can't wait for them to be able to perform for the residents! Please mark the date on your calendar if your child would like to participate.

Next week the 5th graders will be taking ISAT tests in the morning. We will still have lessons and full band. We can't afford to lose any rehearsal time because we have concerts coming up! The RGS band will perform for the 3rd-5th graders on Wednesday, April 16 at 2:45. The SGS band will perform for the 3rd-5th graders on Tuesday, April 22 at 2:45. We will perform two full band pieces and each section of instruments will play separately so that the audience can hear what each instrument sounds like. This is a great recruitment tool. We're really trying to get the 4th graders excited about band for next year. Although I know it isn't possible for everyone, parents are more than welcome to attend the afternoon concerts. Everyone should wear their band t-shirts.

Don't forget that our next Band Buddies meeting is on Monday from 4:30-5:45 at Richmond-Burton High School. Permission slips have already been turned in and hopefully reminder notes went home in today's back-pack. I know a lot of the 5th graders are excited to meet up with the high schoolers again!

I hope you have a great weekend! Encourage your children to practice!

What's Happening in the Beginning Band World

I know that all you parents of clarinet players will appreciate this picture! In case you weren't sure what has been happening...the clarinets have begun working on their high registers! I was pleased to find that some students who haven't been practicing much have upped the ante in the last week or so, but only because they are relishing in how much it seems to annoy their parents and siblings! I know, a little twisted, right? I'm very pleased with the clarinet players progress as a whole. They are moving along quite nicely.

I've been having a problem with my Google Site lately. I haven't been able to edit the homework page in a while. Every time I try, the page freezes. So, I'll post the homework to the blog each week. Speaking of homework, since I was sick and not in school on Tuesday, the SGS bandlings should continue with the same homework they would have played for me this week and maybe add some extra work on the full band music. I will be expecting to record TWO practice records next week since I wasn't there this week. I will be looking at the week of February 15 and they should add February 22 and continue logging minutes for this week.

This week at RGS during the low brass lesson we were able to visit with another beginning band lesson at a school in Texas using Skype. In case you don't know, Skype is a video-conferencing service that is free. We "called" my friend's band room using my computer and then when he answered on his computer, we were able to see and hear him and his band members! We performed for each other and asked questions about how each school does band. It was really cool and I hope to do that all the students at some point this year.

We have another Band Buddies meeting on Monday, March 7. This time we'll meet at Richmond Burton Community High School. Last time I didn't mind if students simply showed up or didn't turn in a form. This time I'd really like to know how many beginning band students will be coming so that we can plan a little better. Please fill out the permission slip and turn it in by next Tuesday, March 1. I just sent an email with the permission slip attached in case you haven't seen the slip in the back-pack.


Have a great week!