Thursday, December 6, 2012

6th Grade Winter Concert


Thursday, December 13th – 7:30 pm – BV PAC

Report to the HS Band Room by 6:45 pm.

Dress clothing – no jeans or shirts with writing. Ladies, shoulders must be covered and skirts/dresses must be an appropriate length.


Friday, November 30, 2012

All-State Band Auditions

We're so excited for All-State Band Auditions coming up next week!

A few reminders:
Please try to be at the Middle School about 15 minutes early.  
Please do not enter the band room while another student is recording.  
Plan to warm up quietly in the commons for about 5 minutes before your audition time.  Be careful not to warm up so much that you wear yourself out and can't play your audition!
If you haven't already, please bring your $9.00 audition fee to the band room ASAP.


Monday:
3:30 Kayla Knutson
4:00 Sarah Knutson
4:30 Bri King
5:00 Emily Kluin
5:30 Tucker Loosbrock
6:00 Tristan Stauffacher
6:30 Tess Erickson
7:00 Amanda Westcott

Tuesday:
3:30 Johnny Hoffmann
4:00 Alex Haug
4:30 Jessica Berg
5:00 Derek Gonseth
5:30 Faith Burch
6:00 Emma Eichelberg
6:30 Keaton Reindl
7:00 Rose Kellogg
7:30 Chloe Hauge

Wednesday:
3:30 Mason Blue
4:00 Christian Headrick
4:30 Layne Symington
5:00 Morgan Else
5:30 Lexis Sherron
6:00 Max Howard

Thursday:
3:30 Amber Dubbelde
4:00 Erin Livingston
4:30 Tanya Tingle
5:00 MaRena Dybdahl
5:30 Hannah Hendrick

Thank you!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Jazz Band is Here!

EDIT: A few jazz rehearsals and sectionals have been changed!

Good news!  It's time for jazz band to start! :)



We will have our second rehearsal next FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26th at 7:00am.  Please bring your instrument and come prepared to play!  
Our rehearsal schedule is as follows:
Full Group Rehearsals:
October 26, 30
November 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 27, 30
December 4, 7, 11, 14, 18

Sectionals:
Trumpets- Oct. 31, Nov. 14, 29
Saxophones- Nov. 1, 15
Trombones- Nov. 7, 21
Rhythm- Nov. 8, 28

December sectionals are TBD.

Please make plans to arrive early enough to get your instrument set up before rehearsal begins.  Also, plan on having a sectional with your instrument once every two weeks.   The first sectional will be trumpets on October 31st.

We have our first concert on December 18th, and we will be taking our tour around to the elementary schools in December as well.  Get excited!

Monday, September 17, 2012

Marching Performance!


All middle school bands will have their first performance at the Varsity Football game on September 21! 

The game starts at 7:00, and the performance times will be as follows:
Seventh Grade: 6:30
Sixth Grade: 6:35
Eighth Grade 6:40

ALL GRADES:  Report to the High School at 6:00.

Uniforms:
Sixth Grade: BV Spirit Wear or Red/Black top, Blue jeans with no holes, and tennis shoes.
Seventh and Eighth Grade: BVMS Band Shirt, Blue Jeans with no holes, and tennis shoes.  Yes, your shirts will be tucked in.  If you have not yet paid for your shirt, please bring a check for $15.00 made out to BVMS.

Students will be admitted to the football game for free after their performances.  We encourage them to stay and watch the Brandon Valley Marching Lynx performance at half time.  Please make arrangements to bring your instrument home after the game.

Monday, August 20, 2012


Dear Middle School Band Parents,

We are very excited to have the opportunity to teach your children this year in band!  Please read through this important information and the grading policies, then electronically sign the agreement.

BVMS Band students will have several large group concerts this year along with middle school solo contest in the spring.  Our first performance opportunity is just around the corner; we will be playing at the football game against Sioux Falls Lincoln High School on September 21!  The full schedule is included with this letter, and we hope that by giving you these dates now you will be able to plan your schedule so that your child can attend all required concerts.

For the football game performance, seventh grade students will be required to purchase a uniform shirt.  It is a long-sleeved t-shirt that they will wear several times in 7th and 8th grade.  The cost for this shirt is $15, and will be fit and ordered after school starts.  A check made payable to Brandon Valley Middle School can be brought to school when the student picks up their shirt.  If your eighth grader doesn’t have a shirt or needs a new one for any reason, please let Ms. Baker or Ms. Lundin know ASAP.  Sixth grade students, plan to wear BV Spirit Wear.

In addition to group band, your son or daughter will also have small group lessons once per week.  This schedule will be posted once school has begun.  These lessons are a great way for your student to improve musically, so please help your child remember to bring their instrument back and forth to school on the days that it is needed.  If a lesson is missed, our expectation is that it be made up within three school days.  Students are expected to practice at home.  Please encourage your child to play for you- it is always more fun and rewarding to play when you have an audience!

As parents, you can help ensure your child’s success in band by making sure that they have all the required supplies.  Instruments should be in good working order and kept clean to maintain good tone and pitch.  Students should bring their music to each rehearsal, and should always have a pencil.  Woodwind instruments should have at least three good reeds with them at all times so that if one gets chipped they don’t have to miss out on any rehearsals or performances.  We suggest purchasing the small plastic reed guards along with your reeds for storage.  This will probably save you money in the long run as it will extend the life of your reeds!  Brass players should have valve or slide oil with them at all times to keep their instrument running smoothly.  Percussionists are expected to bring their own snare drum sticks to each rehearsal.  Required books will be discussed at students’ first lesson.

We are confident that we will have a great school year!  We will work hard, learn a lot, and have a ton of fun along the way.  We will keep our website updated throughout the year with our schedule, what we’re working on, and other things you may find helpful.  In an effort to go green, we will post all information you may need online rather than sending paper copies home once the school year begins.  Our website address is www.bvmsbands.blogspot.com.  You can “follow” the blog so that you will be automatically notified via e-mail whenever an update becomes available.  If you have any questions for us during the school year, please feel free to contact us at school anytime.  Our email addresses are Laura.C.Baker@k12.sd.us or Elanor.Lundin@k12.sd.us and the Middle School phone number is 582-3214.

Brandon Valley Middle School Band
Course Expectations

In order to reward students for the hard work that they are doing in band, students will earn a grade in middle school band.  This is to recognize the efforts that they put forth to become musicians.  The school grading scale will be followed, and the student’s grade will be broken into five categories. 

1.  Lessons- 30%
Lessons are a vital part of the band curriculum.  Students work in small groups according to their instrument and individual ability level to gain new skills.  The lesson times are assigned by the teacher to coordinate with the student’s schedule.  The lesson grade will be determined by the teacher and will include both lesson attendance and preparedness for the lesson.  If a student must miss a lesson for any reason, it must be made up within three school days.  Students can sign up for make-up lessons in the band office. 

2.  Daily Participation- 30%
Participation points for group band rehearsals will be awarded in this category.  Points can be earned by coming to band on time with all materials and ready to learn.  Good rehearsal etiquette will ensure maximum points are earned.

3.  Practice Records- 10%
Because everyone progresses at a slightly different pace, at-home practice is a very important factor in musical success.  The practice requirement is meant to allow students to work on individual needs at their own pace.  Practice time should be substantial enough to accomplish a goal while not being overwhelming.  It is best to break the practice requirement into 4 to 5 blocks of time throughout the week, rather than trying to complete it all in one sitting.  This year’s goal is 100 minutes per week.

4.  Concert Participation- 30%
We work very hard to put together outstanding performances for our friends, family, and community members, and students will be rewarded for those efforts as well!  All concert dates are considered mandatory, and the dates are provided below.  Please put those dates on your family calendars right away to avoid any conflicts.

We believe that these guidelines will help us to create a successful music learning environment while maintaining the current high standards of music performance.  If you have any questions regarding these policies, please feel free to contact us at any time.


Sincerely,        
Laura Baker and Ellie Lundin


2012-2013 BVMS Band Calendar
Please put these dates on your calendars today to avoid conflicts!

Monday & Tuesday, August 13-14- MS Marching Camp 
Friday, Spetember 21st - Marching Performance – HS Football Game – 7:00 - All Grades 
Thursday, December 13th - 6th Grade Winter Band Concert – PAC – 7:30 
Tuesday, December 18th - 7th and 8th Grade Winter Band Concert – PAC – 7:30 
Tuesday, March 5th - Augustana Jazz Festival – All Day - Jazz Band Students Only 
Monday-Thursday, April 8-11 - Recital Week - All Grades 
Saturday, April 13th - Turkey Supper – PAC – 5:00-8:00pm - 7th, 8th, and Jazz Only 
Saturday, April 20th - Middle School Solo Contest – BVMS – All Day - All Grades 
Sunday, May 5th - Brandon Loyalty Day Parade – 2:00pm - 7th and 8th Grades Only 
Tuesday, May 14th - 6th Grade Spring Concert – PAC – 7:30 
Thursday, May 16th - 7th and 8th Grade Spring Concert – PAC – 7:30pm



Monday, May 7, 2012

Summer Band Camps and Summer Youth Band

Summer is a great time to play your instrument!
There are several great opportunities for you to keep up the progress you've been making all year.

1.  Sioux Falls Youth Summer Band
This program is offered through the Sioux Falls Parks and Rec department.  Mr. Bob Carlson from Lincoln High School runs this 6-week summer program.  Students meet Tuesday and Thursday mornings for an hour (varies depending on grade) and put together a program of fun and challenging band music.  The cost is only $30 for the whole summer, and it includes a t-shirt.
Dates:  May 29-July 12 (No camp the week of July 4th)
Cost: $30
More Information/Registration:  http://www.siouxfalls.org/parks/recreation/music-theatre-arts/programs/youth-band.aspx

2. Summer Band Camps
There are several camps run throughout the state at SDSU, USD, or Mt. Rushmore.  This is a great way to get away for a week and have a great time meeting new people while playing your instrument.  Some of the camps offer singing, too, for you chorus kids!  Check out the websites of each for more information.
Remember:  Brandon Valley Band Parents provides a $100 scholarship for any student wanting to attend band camp.  Please let your band director know which camp you are attending so we can send your scholarship!
SDSU: http://www.sdstate.edu/mus/outreach/all-state/index.cfm
USD: http://www.usd.edu/fine-arts/music/upload/Upper-Midwest-Summer-Music-Camp01.pdf
Mt. Rushmore (put on by NSU): http://www.rushmoremusiccamp.com

3.  Private Lessons
One-on-one help over the summer can help you continue to improve your playing, and is especially great if you want to work on your All-State audition music over the summer!  See Mr. Miller or Ms. Baker if you are interested in getting a private instructor.

Have a wonderful summer!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Parade

The weather looks much better today, and the parade is on!
With temperatures expected to be in the low to mid-60's and a bit of wind, please dress appropriately. 

See you all at 1:00.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Spring Concerts and Performances


The year may be almost over, but we've still got a lot going on in the band room.  Our solo contest was held on April 21 and we had outstanding results.  Students performed very well and received great scores.  Please take an opportunity to congratulate your students on their hard work.  Thank you also to all who came out to our annual Turkey Supper in April.  We had a blast!

On Sunday, May 6th, the 7th and 8th grade bands will march in the Brandon Loyalty Day parade.  The parade starts at 2:00 and runs along Holly Blvd. from the high school to Main Street and then turns south on Main to the lumberyard.  The seventh grade band is the first thing in the parade and the eighth graders are last, so come out and show support for those students.  7th grade and 8th grade students should report to the middle school at 1:00pm.  Holly Blvd. will be blocked off for the parade beginning at 1:00, so please don’t be late!  *Due to the Aspen road construction project and the altered route, students will be dismissed from the end of the parade route, which is the corner of Main St. and Dogwood Ave.  They can either walk back to the middle school or find their family and friends along the route.  Please make arrangements with your students ahead of time for what you would like them to do after the parade is through.

Spring concerts will be held on Thursday, May 3 for the 6th grade band and chorus at 7:45 in the PAC.  The time has pushed back to accommodate the senior athletic banquet, so please note the time change.  The 7th and 8th grade bands will perform in their spring concert on Friday, May 11th at 7:00 in the PAC.

Over the summer, consider enrolling in a music camp or the Sioux Falls Parks and Rec Summer band program.  Camps are held at SDSU from June 10-15, at USD from July 8-13, and at Mt. Rushmore from July 29-August 3.  Sioux Falls Summer Band meets at Edison Middle School two mornings per week throughout the summer, and is only $30 for the entire summer!  These are all great ways to keep yourself playing and increase your musicianship throughout the summer.  Scholarships of $100 are awarded to any student attending a music camp from the BV Band Parents!  More information is available from either Mrs. Baker or Mr. Miller.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Solo Contest Schedule

Please plan to arrive about 15 minutes early for warm-ups and arrive to your assigned room 5 minutes ahead of schedule.

A full schedule with rooms listed will be posted on the office door on Saturday.

7:53 Bayleigh Holter Lindsey Schobert Sydnee Pottebaum
8:00 Kaitlyn Gloege Arika Jacobsen Tatum Mork Ellie Holmes
8:07 Ali Woodward Keaton Reindl Jennika Wrightsman
8:10 McKenzie Gloege
8:14 Emily Thompson Kennedy Vandemore Hannah Hendrick
8:20 Dana Schroeder
8:21 Sarah Archer Hannah Bulatao Bri King
8:28 David Baillie Macy Clark Macy Beck
8:30 Gracie Adams
8:35 Josie Puetz Taylor Dawley James House
8:37 Sydney Trout
8:42 Arianna Stanghor Isaac Bertsch Dawson Kremlacek
8:44 Kaitlyn Nelson
8:49 Erin Livingston Faith Burch Mason Rusten
8:51 Payton Livingston 
8:56 Morgan Johnson Alex Miller Grace Bennett
9:00 Shayla Beck
9:03 Johnny Hoffmann Kylie Pickering Derek Hubers
9:10 Kali Lein Kayla Moss Riley Bennett Grant Ellis
9:17 Hannah DeVille Dylan Blom Allen Wright Derek Gonseth
9:24 Morgan Palmer Nick Wagley Isaac Buteyn Jordan Anderson
9:31 Ally Boerhave
9:33 Gaven Bowman Jaden Carlson Josh Mikeworth
9:40 Moira McCollam-Larson Adam Else Kenyan Mikeworth Katie Wright
9:47 Hannah Pruett Andrea Hubert Alex Broderson
9:50 Lara Ellis
9:55 Natalie Wagley Tanner Burkman Joel Kocer
10:00 Jacob Hubers
10:02 Kaylee Hamann Isaiah Dietz Rayne Huettmann-Larson
10:09 Katelyn Baanwarth Alyssa Fick Seamus Vandemore
10:10 Layne Symington
10:16 Ashlea Wolfe Rylie Nettestad Jacob Scherb
10:20 Christian Headrick
10:23 Alexis Barrett Marissa Herll Courtney Meeker
10:30 Kaily Davis Grace Bender Nick Hanson Chloe Hauge
10:37 Lexie Godwin Heather Kirkpatrick Curt Flaten
10:40 Riley Johnke
10:44 Sadie Sehr Erik Honken Elizabeth Michaels
10:50 Mason Blue
10:51 Paige Moeller Andrea Poole Cassie Huebert
10:58 Christina Waller Martin DeKam William Kruse
11:00 Kjarstyn Davis
11:05 Alyssa Bierwagen Max Howard
11:10 Mikaela Neubauer
11:12 Laramie Giles Remmy Larson Taylor Bush
11:19 Kristina Pike Tanya Tingle Brooke Thoelke
11:20 Bridget DeKam
11:26 Allyson Thuringer Courtney Klatt Sommer West
11:30 Lennon Keller
11:33 Kenneth Keuser Tessa Johnson Charlie Weise
11:40 Tess Erickson Drexton Trantina Katelynn Mulvihill Jake Forster
11:47 Kailee Duncanson Andrew Sandbulte Gerrit Van de Kieft Bryce Ahlers
11:54 Katelyn Nissen Jeremy Heirigs Ethan Brown Bailey Bernal

12:50 Lance Rasmussen
12:52 Shianne Dutson Drew Jurgens Anthony Girton
1:00 Hannah Jarovski Jamie Johnson Kayla Knutson Bailey Stroud
1:07 Jayde Schroeder Chase Kunkel Dylan Tyree
1:14 Brenden Richardson Sabrina Simons Ryan Williams
1:20 Emily Ullom
1:21 Gage Ruhlman Amber Dubbelde Morgan Mashlan
1:28 Claudia Martin Amy Vardsveen Kaylee Riley
1:30 Trevor Dean
1:35 Kaitlin Sorenson Kaitlyn Hanna Karissa Ternus
1:40 Claire Jeanson
1:42 Emily Strasser George Wright Madison Lee
1:49 Hannah Hofer Nicole Priola Ryan Backer
1:50 Lincy Rodriguez
1:56 Shanley Zahn Andy Holmes Spencer Brandsrud
2:00 Seth Short
2:03 Hannah Antrim Jeremy Bute Nick Moeller
2:10 Kaeli Anderson Kyle Heidbrink Dalton Vielmette Dayton Johnson
2:17 Jaecie Brouwer Lexis Sherron Damen Holmes
2:20 Zoey Sjogren
2:24 Becca Koehn Dustin Kemner Kirstyn Polasky  
2:30 Elizabeth Schumacher
2:33 Lam Pham Gracie Lubbers Ethan Reese      
2:40 Breana Meyerink Alex Johnson Darian Blue Gage Hoffmann
2:47 Peter Schumacher Josie Duin Alex Gomez      
2:50 John Funches
2:54 Lauren Blue Haley Hammond          
3:00 Emily Kluin
3:03 Emily Rief Anthony Benitez Amanda Miller      
3:07 Kaylee Mork
3:10 Eric Hanson AK Ojuluwayo Rylea Webb      
3:14 Nick Rise
3:17 Rebecca Hicks Jessica Berg Kaitlyn Withee      
3:21 Morgan Smith
3:24 MaRena Dybdahl Morgan Lindemann Lucas Mace      
3:28 Will DeCurtins
3:31 Chloe Askdal Hanna Mutschelknaus Carson Haase      
3:35 Braeden Sorenson
3:38 Tucker Loosbrock Braden Paulsen Noah Holm      
3:42 Will Thompson
3:45 Malory Lacey Dawson Schaap Kylie Stephens      
3:49 Erika Christopherson
3:52 Brian Waller            
3:56 Kevin Gillespie
4:03 Emmett Simmons

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Turkey Supper!

I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to eat some turkey!  Our pops concert is upon us, so here are some details for this weekend:

7th Grade Band:  Warm up at 4:15, play at 5:00.
7th Grade Jazz:  Warm up at 4:00, play at 4:45.  *Rhythm section arrive early to set up.
8th Grade Jazz:  Warm up at 4:00, play at 5:40.  *Rhythm section arrive early to set up.

EVERYONE:
Attire:  Band shirt (yes, it should be tucked in), blue jeans, any shoes besides flip-flops.
Arrival:  Please be dropped off 5-10 minutes early so that we can start playing at our warm-up time.  We are going to have a pretty tight schedule.  Be in your seat in the PAC at the assigned warm-up time.  An area will be set aside for your instrument cases.

Thank you all for your help in allowing the concert to run smoothly!

Monday, March 5, 2012

Solo Contest

Dear band parents and students,

            We have had a great year so far, and it’s hard to believe that the end is near!  We have only a few short months left of school but we have a lot left to accomplish.  We still get to perform as a group in our spring concerts this May, but this letter is to discuss something different- our annual solo contest. 
The South Dakota Grade School Instrumental Solo Contest will again be held at Brandon Valley this year.  It will take place on Saturday, April 21.  It is a regional contest, so in addition to Brandon Valley students, several other schools may be participating.  The contest begins at 8:00am and concludes around 4:00 in the afternoon.  The judges are band directors and specialists from surrounding communities and they will be assigned to certain instruments and grade levels.  For example, one judge will get to hear all the sixth grade clarinet players.  That way, the judge will be able to compare students’ abilities and be consistent in awarding ribbons.  It is possible for every student to receive a Superior rating at contest, and to earn top honors, every student will need to do their best job to be prepared.  Parents can be a big help by encouraging their students to put in extra practice time to achieve the goal that we have for our students:  that they play to the very best of their abilities, regardless of the rating they may receive.  Here is some other information you need to know:

  • Every student in the band program is required to participate in solo contest.
  • Every student will need to find a piano player to accompany the solo.  You may use someone you know, and we have included a list of players on the back of this letter if you do not know a pianist.  The piano music will be handed out in late March.  In addition to those names on the back, there are many high school students willing to play for students.  Many students know someone from church who plays.  Parents, if you play, this is a wonderful way to share a musical experience with your child, and middle school solos usually have a fairly easy piano part.  Percussionists will not need a pianist.  We’re always looking for good accompanists, so if you know of someone who may be willing to help out, please let us know!  If accompanist fees create a financial hardship for your family, please let us know.  Funds have been set aside to offset these costs.
  • We will have an in-school recital week prior to the contest.  This gives each student the opportunity to perform their solo for a guest clinician.  Our guest clinicians this year are Mr. Bruce Wildes and Mr. Bob Goheen.  The piano player is not required to attend the recital. 
  • Students who begin practicing now will have a better chance at success than those who try to cram their practicing in the last few weeks prior to contest.  Most solos are divided into three or four sections, and we will begin by working on one section a week.  Encourage your student to practice the solo about 20 minutes per day.  After the third or fourth week the solo will be ready to rehearse with the accompanist.  Even though they may be anxious to practice with their accompanist, we encourage students to wait until they have learned the entire solo.  If not, it can be frustrating and time consuming for everyone involved.
  • If you have scheduling concerns, please let Mrs. Baker know as soon as possible so that we can make arrangements for that.  We will honor all requests made before April 10th.  After that date, we cannot guarantee a time change will be possible.  On contest day, we ask that students be ready 10-15 minutes early for their scheduled time slot.
  • Dress clothes should be worn for solo contest.  This means no jeans, t-shirts or sweatshirts with writing, etc.  Please dress as you would for a band concert.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of your student in solo contest.  We are looking forward to working with you and your child on this project.  We believe that it will be a challenging, rewarding, enjoyable, and educational musical experience for your child.  If you have any questions regarding this contest, please let us know.  Contact us via email at Laura.C.Baker@k12.sd.us or Jesse.Miller@k12.sd.us or by phone at 582-3214.

Piano Accompanists

Donna Schwartz - 360-6265
Denise Edwards - 582-7779
Susan Heezen - 582-7167
Deanna Wehrspann - 357-8825
Yona Weinberg - 338-1163
Gayle Strand - 335-1098
Gea Gjesdal - 334-7071
Janice Noonan - 582-6209
Kristie Happeny - 351-0562

Many of these pianists take a limited number of students. 
Please call early to ensure that your students get to work with the pianist of your choice.


Upcoming Dates to Remember:

April 10-13:     Recital Week
April 14:          Turkey Supper (7th, 8th, Jazz bands only)
April 21:          Solo Contest – All Day
May 3:             6th Grade Band and Choir Concert – 7:45
May 6:             Brandon Loyalty Day Parade (7th and 8th only) – 2:00
May 11:           7th and 8th and Jazz Band Concert – 7:45


Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Jazz Band Contest

On March 6th, the BVMS Jazz Band will attend a contest at Augustana College.

6:30- Load Busses
7:15- Warm-up at Augie
7:45- Performance time at Augie- Parents are welcome to attend!  Please join us in the Lillehaug Instrumental Rehearsal Room.  It is on the far south end of the Humanities Building on the Augustana Campus off Grange Avenue.

After our performance, we will watch other jazz bands perform and observe clinics by several prominent jazz musicians.  We will eat lunch on campus and watch the noon concert of Augustana's Jazz Band.  We'll return to the Middle School about 2:00.

Please bring $8.30 for lunch.  Students should wear all black for the performance.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Get Ready for March Madness!

Are you ready to compete in the March Madness WebRhythm tournament?

To practice at home, visit the following website:

http://www.vicfirth.com/education/features/webrhythms/intro.php.

Choose the lesson that you would like to practice.  You can print a copy by clicking on the PDF link.  Any of the lessons we've worked on in band are fair game for the tournament!

Good luck!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

6th Grade Playing Test

The 6th grade playing tests will be held January 17-19.  Please prepare the following:

1.  Bb Major Scale  (from scale sheet or p. 42 in your blue book)
2.  Chromatic Scale  (from scale sheet or p. 15 in your blue book)
3.  #50 and #98 (from your blue book)

These exercises have been picked to allow you to showcase many different skills you have learned this year.  Please pay close attention to the following when you're preparing in order to get the best grade possible:
- Quality of Tone- Always work for beautiful playing!  Think an "Oh" shape, avoid an "Eee" shape.
- Dotted rhythms
- 16th note rhythms (1e&a or 1 &a)
- Tonguing and Slurring
- Check all key signatures
- Phrasing- breathe only when marked
- Mapping- follow all repeats, 1st and 2nd endings, DC al Coda, etc.
- Tap your foot and keep a steady tempo

PERCUSSION:  Please be prepared to play the same scales as everyone else on the mallet instrument of your choice.  Also be prepared to play Mr. Miller's snare drum warm-up.  You do not need to prepare #50 nor #98.

Tuesday instruments:  Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and French horn
Wednesday instruments:  Tuba, Baritone, Trombone, and Tenor Sax
Thursday instruments:  Percussion, Trumpet, and Alto Sax

Friday, January 6, 2012

Jazz Band Schedule- 2nd Semester

Welcome back!  Now that we've all had a very restful break, it's time to get back in the swing of things with Jazz Band!  (Haha... "swing" of things... get it? :)

It is important that every member of the jazz band is at each rehearsal.  Our rehearsal time is limited, so please let Mrs. Baker know in advance if you should have a conflict with a rehearsal.

7th Grade Jazz will meet every Wednesday morning starting on January 11th at 7am in the band room.  We will rehearse every week up through May 9th.

Our schedule for 8th Grade Jazz will be as it was first semester- we'll meet Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the semester with a few exceptions for weeks that have altered schedules.  During the week before President's Day weekend and Good Friday, we will meet Tuesday and THURSDAY since there is no school Friday of those weeks.  

Important Dates
Augie Jazz Festival:  March 6th
Turkey Supper:  April 14th
Spring Concert: May 11

FOR EVERYONE:  Should we happen to have a snow day or a late start due to bad weather, jazz band is cancelled on that day.

Any questions?  Please let Mrs. Baker know.

8th Grade Jazz Music Listening Links:
http://www.jwpepper.com/10188511.item
http://www.jwpepper.com/2433787.item
http://www.jwpepper.com/2481488.item
Hakuna Matata coming soon...

Monday, January 2, 2012

Jazz Band

Spring Jazz Band will start on FRIDAY, JANUARY 6th for 8th Grade Jazz Band.

7th Grade Jazz Band will start on WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11.

All rehearsals held are in the MS Band Room at 7:00am.