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Happy Friday!
It's been another jam-packed week here at Skyridge, and I'm glad that we all get a well-deserved break. Band Notes for this week are below: All grades We're rescheduling our March concert. Due to the snow/ice days that we had in December and January, we're just not in a position to have our concert at the originally scheduled March 8th date. I'm finalizing the schedule and hope to let you know next week the date of the rescheduled concert. Stay tuned! Please see the following links for two upcoming events: the David Shifrin masterclass and the Northwest Band Camps. The David Shifrin masterclass is designed primarily for clarinet players, but all students will get something out of it if they choose to attend. students who attend the masterclass can receive Band Project credit if they write a short essay (150 words) on what they observed and learned. The Northwest Band Camp unfortunately takes place while we're still in school, but it's definitely something to consider sending your student to if they're interested. I know several of the faculty there, and I can assure you that students will have a rich learning experience while having a great deal of fun! 6th Grade Band Instrument switches are going well. Please make sure students see me before or after school if they need help. As always, private lessons are a great option to those who are able to take them. Please feel free to contact me for some suggestions for private teachers if you'd like to explore this option. 8th Grade Band Thanks to those who registered for the Solo & Ensemble Contest on March 11th. We had Jonathan Lightfoot, Nicole Wasson, and Yonas Duguma sign up, and I look forward to hearing them next month. I'll be reaching out to parents to pass out more information and help with choosing solos. We are going to the LCRMEA Band Festival during the school day on March 14th. Permission slips and additional information will be coming out as soon as I hear from the festival coordinator about our performance time. We will need at least 4 chaperones: please let me know if you're interested in helping out, or else we won't be able to attend. All chaperones need to fill out a Volunteeer Application before they can attend. Jazz Band We have the Clackamas Community College Jazz Festival on March 17th. I'll be sending out permission slips later next week. Thanks to those who volunteered to chaperone: I'll be reaching out to you as we get closer to the event. We've accepted an invitation to play at Camtown this year. That date is Saturday, June 3rd. If you foresee a scheduling conflict, please let me know right away. Closing That's all for now! I hope you all enjoy your 3-day weekend, and I'm looking forward to seeing everybody next week! Dear parents,
So that's what a full week feels like! It's been a long time since we've had one of those. It's nice to be back on a routine again. Here are the Band Notes for this week: 6th Grade Instrument switches are going well! Students are encouraged to come to me before or after school if they need additional help. Just as a reminder, students who were switching need to put in extra practice time at home so they can be caught up. We've seen some really great dedication from students already, so we hope they keep it up! Until we get on a rotation schedule, percussionists need to bring their original instrument, both band books, sticks, mallets, and practice pad to school. 7th & 8th Grade The LCRMEA Solo & Ensemble contest registration deadline is coming up. Please have students see me by Thursday, February 16th to register. I've spoken to a few parents, and I'm happy to answer any additional questions parents may have about the event. Please keep in mind, the contest takes place on Saturday, March 11th, and parents are responsible for transporting students to and from the event. This year's contest takes place at Cascade Middle School in Vancouver. The cost is $10 per solo and $20 per ensemble. If your student is interested in participating, please have him/her come see me so I can compile a list. Jazz Band We have another jazz festival on March 17th in the morning. Thanks to those who volunteered to chaperone. We’d love more parents to come along: if you’re interested, please make sure you have a volunteer form filled out with the district office. Please leave at least 5 days processing time. The volunteer form can be found here. This week's Band Notes are short and sweet! I have a busy weekend of racquetball (of course!), chores, and recharging my batteries. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Dear 6th Grade Parents,
If your student was selected to switch instruments during our recent instrument switch tryouts (they were informed earlier this week), please read the following information. All other students and families can disregard the message below. Students who were selected to play percussion are required to play their current instrument in class and will play percussion on a rotating basis. Beginning band percussionists are asked to rent a bell kit (it looks like a mini metal xylophone). A bell kit also comes with a practice pad as well as sticks and one set of mallets. The bell kit is meant to stay at home so that percussion students can practice when they’re at home. The bell kit never comes to school. Students who were selected also indicated that they’d be willing to take piano or percussion lessons. Please contact me if you need help finding a teacher. Students who were selected to play any other instrument will need to rent the instrument: please check with your preferred music store to see if they have your instrument available for rent (we recommend Beacock Music or Music World). If they do have it, please have it in class and ready for band on Monday. You may return your former instrument when you rent your new instrument: there is no need to keep your old instrument. If the music stores don’t have your instrument available to rent, please E-Mail me and let me know ASAP. We do have a limited number instruments available for rent, but many currently need to be repaired. We are happy to repair and rent them out on an “as needed” basis. Until students receive their repaired instrument, they should bring their current instrument to class. In the event that parents would rather their student stays on the instrument they’re currently playing, please E-Mail me so that I adjust my records. ALL students who were selected to switch instruments should procure the following over the weekend: *Instrument they were selected to switch to. Please rent (do not buy!). Also, please do not assemble or play until I or Mr. Mancini has had an opportunity to instruct you. *Tradition of Excellence Vol. 1 band book for your NEW instrument (each book is instrument-specific). Those switching to baritone/euphonium will be asked whether they’ll need a book in treble or bass clef. We prefer students get their book in bass clef, but if a student already reads treble clef, they may get a book in treble clef. *Care kit *Woodwinds only: box of reeds (2.5 strength) Any music store will be able to easily help you find the above items. Finally, students who are switching have voluntarily taken on an extra responsibility, and the expectation is that once they are set up and Mr. Mancini or I are able to get them started during class, they will take the initiative and practice more than usual until they are caught up with the rest of the class. If they need help, students are always welcome to come in before or after school (just please let me know in advance so that I can be sure to be there when they arrive). Students who are having difficulty and are not practicing or coming in for help will be asked to return to playing their former instrument. Please let me know if you have any questions! I have a busy performance schedule this weekend, but I’ll check E-Mail Saturday evening to answer any instrument switching questions parents might have. Have a great weekend! Dear parents,
Midterm grades have been posted on Skyward. Due to the snow event, I was only now just able to enter the December practice logs that were turned in early January. There are several missing practice logs as well as logs with no names. If your student has a log to turn in, please have them turn it in tomorrow and I will accept it for full credit. The gradebook closes at 8 a.m. sharp Thursday morning (tomorrow 2/2/2017), so if I need to make changes, they need to be made well before then. Practice logs can be found on the band website. I’ll be at school tomorrow at around 7 a.m., so if students have missing work they’d like to turn in, I’d be happy to accept it at that time. Please have students turn in their work directly to me so that I can be sure to get it entered in time. |
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January 2019
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