Please visit the "NEWSFLASH" Page for this week's important announcements.
The audition music information for Symphonic, District, and State Bands is now listed
on the "Audition Information and Results" link. Music should be available at local music stores including REW Band, JW Pepper, Luyben's Music. You can also get pretty quick service from a number of on-line sources. Just Google it. Be very specific about the title, composer, publisher, and edition.
11/10/09
Here is information about District.
District Band Auditions
Nov. 14, 2009
The auditions for the 2009 KMEA Northeast District Honor Bands will be held at Baldwin High School on Saturday, November 14. Results of the auditions will be posted in the commons area once scores are tabulated.
-All students must be present for a meeting in the Baldwin High School gymnasium starting at 7:30 am on Saturday, November 14th.
-Students must supply their own instrument except in the case of percussion.
-No photocopies of the audition material may be used. The music will be available but you can use your own copy with your markings.
-Students must be present for all portions of their audition to be eligible. No exceptions will be made. You can not request a specific time. Auditions end anywhere from 9:30 to 2PM depending on the size of your section.
-Warm up and practice may only take place in the gym.
-Students selected for the Honor Band should pick up their music folder prior to leaving Baldwin High School, or make arrangements with another student to pick it up for them. Folders will not be mailed if they are not picked up. Mr. Adams and Mr. Kohl cannot pick up folders.
-The South directors will not be available until the end of the audition day. They will be busy in rooms judging. Make sure you ask any questions before the audition day.
-Lunch items will be available for purchase in the Baldwin HS commons.
Directions-Take I-35 South to the Wellsville exit then north (right) on Hwy 33 to Hwy 56, then west (left) on Hwy 56 to Baldwin. Take a right on Washington St. You will be in front of the high school in just a few blocks. Travel time is about 45 minutes.
Baldwin HS’s address is 415 Eisenhower, Baldwin City, KS 66006.
11/9/09
Here is the information that has been posted in the band room regarding auditions-
PROPOSED 2010 SYMPHONIC BAND INSTRUMENTATION
To accept a position in Symphonic Band, you must commit to all performances. If you cannot do this, let me know the conflicts immediately upon being invited into the band so that it can be determined whether you can be accepted. Symphonic dates are 1/26, 3/31, 4/8, 4/14, 4/28, 5/4, and 5/17 (graduation).
This is the approximate size of each section that I am looking for. Sections may be expanded or reduced depending on the quality of auditions. In general, I’m leaning toward a smaller band.
Clarinets and bass clarinets will be asked if they are interested in being considered for the other instrument. Saxophones will be asked for their preference of instrument; examples would be ATB, AAA, TBA, etc.
I will take the top score for each percussion inst (mallet, tymp, snare). The rest of the section will be determined by the highest combined scores of all three instruments.
Flute 7-8
Clarinet 8-10
Bass cl. 2-3
Oboe 2
Bassoon 2
Alto sax 2-3
Tenor sax 1-2
Bari sax 1
Trumpet 7-9
Horn 4-6
Trombone 5-6
Baritone 2-3
Tuba 2-3
Percussion 6-7
ORDER OF AUDITION
Monday-Flute, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Wednesday-Trumpet, oboe, bassoon, baritone
Thursday-Horn, Sax, Trombone, Tuba
Friday-Percussion
Auditions begin promptly at 7AM with the first section listed for each day. No one will be allowed to audition after the first member of the section has entered the audition room. You must audition with the rest of your section to be considered. Those who are not members of 1st hour band will be allowed to audition before 7:40 with the exception of percussion. You would need to plan on auditioning from 7AM until the end of 1st hour.
Auditions are blind and recorded. You must not speak while in the audition room. Any questions should be addressed to the door keeper in the hallway.
11/8/09
Good luck to those auditioning for symphonic band this week! We begin with flutes, clarinets, and bass clarinets on Monday. The flutes will begin promptly at 7AM. Remember that no one will be allowed to audition who is not present when their section begins. 5th hour students will be allowed to audition before the beginning of 1st hour even if their section hasn't started. The exception is percussion who will need to remain through 1st hour on Friday. If you are not auditioning on a given day, be prepared to rehearse or have a study hall. The call will be made each day depending on staff and facility availability.
District auditions are on Saturday the 14th at Baldwin High School. You need to be there at 7:30AM. It is about a 45 minute drive. You must provide your own transportation. Besides the prepared material which is the same as your sym band audition music, make sure you are aware of the scale requirements and brush up on your sight reading skills. Details about what to be prepared for are on the Audition link of this website. I will have directions and further details later in the week. Turn it on! It is a great honor to make district and it is the first step toward making State.
11/1/09
Nice job to everyone on our cold and blustery last game. I loved the senior salute!
No 7AM rehearsals this week. The next time we come early is for symphonic band auditions and only on the day you audition. The auditions start the second week of November. If you are trying out for symphonic and/or district, your preparations should be in high gear!
We are turning in all marching instruments tomorrow-percussion, marching baritones, sousaphones, and frumpets. Make sure any that you have at home come in tomorrow. If you need a concert instrument, make sure to arrange for that tomorrow during class. If you haven't paid rent-it is 50.00 to SM Schools.
We will begin concert rehearsals on Tuesday so make sure you have your instrument and all needed accessories (reeds, sticks, PENCILS).
10/30/09
Our outdoor rehearsals were cold today and it looks like more of the same at the game tonight. The temps will be in the 40s with strong wind. Dress warm! Think layers. You can wear caps and gloves in the stands so stuff them in your shako or in your uniform or ask a parent to bring them to you after you perform. Be in the auditorium in full uniform at 6PM.
This is our last show of the year and we are celebrating our seniors so let's make it a good one!
10/28/09
The weatherman isn't quite sure about tomorrow morning so we will move our 7AM practice to FRIDAY. It will be very important that everyone is there since it is our only time together since October 1st! As weather permits, we will go outside during 1st and 5th hour on Thursday and Friday.
Great job 5th hour and Jazz band at your concert on Tuesday night. Both groups sounded very good and looked excellent in your concert uniforms. On to new music!
10/27/09
Come out and hear the 5th hour band, their percussion ensemble, and the Jazz Band tonight at 7PM in the auditorium. It will be a good one!
The weather is threatening another rain out on Thursday. Watch the website. If it is raining on Thursday, the early rehearsal for 5th and 1st hour will be moved to Friday. This decision may not be made until Wed. evening so check then. There will be no Thursday PM rehearsal for 1st hour.
Following is a copy of an e-mail I received today about Warrensburg DVDs:
Dear Band Directors,
Congratulations to all the bands involved in the Festival of Champions over the weekend… especially to those who made the final 12.
My crew (not knowing much of what to expect of the day) was blown away by the performances and the energy on the field.
We shot great video of the event, and recorded incredible sound, thanks to many of you and your responses on soloist placement.
If any of you, or your students and band parents, are interested you can visit www.landersvisions.com to place any orders of this year’s Festival of Champions on high-definition DVD.
Again, great job to all of you and your students, and we look forward to being there next year for another round of great shows.
Thanks again for the opportunity to be a part of this great event.
Sincerely,
Brian Malicoat
Accounts Manager
Landers' Visions
(816) 442-8012 office
(816) 442-8013 fax
(816) 510-0187 cell
brian@landersvisions.com
10/26/09
Some folks have let me know that there are some nice tux shirt sets also available at Kohl's and JC Penny. They are a little more expensive but still pretty cheap. They are noticely better quality. Remember that all students must be in uniform to play in tomorrow's 5th hour/jazz band performance. The entire band will need their concert uniform for the December concert so you might go ahead and get the shirt and tie now if you need one.
We did earn the ticket trophy on Saturday with 150 tickets sold. That also earned the band a 300.00 rebate but most importantly, it was obvious that we had a large group of supporters in the stands. It makes a difference for the kids to hear that roar when their name is announced. Thanks to Deb and Pete Demars for taking care of sales and to all of you who came out and cheered on the band. A big thanks also to our chaperones and equipment people who made the whole day go smooth. Special thanks to seniors, Curtis Langley and Tim Skillin who stayed behind when the busses left to work with Mr. Kohl and Mr. Hendricks to load the entire equipment truck. When their is some heavy lifting to do, these two always step up!
10/25/09
Freshman/Jazz concert on Tuesday! Be there at 6:30 for the 7PM performance. Just a quick clarification on the uniform shirt; the shirt should have a wing-tip collar and pleated front. If you get your shirt and tie in a set from Michaels or Hobby Lobby, it will be correct. If you get it somewhere else, you might ask to make sure it is correct. This style is by far the most popular tux style shirt sold these day so you won't have a problem.
Warrensburg is now history and I'm very happy with everybody's efforts at the contest and throughout the entire season. We were 3rd overall in prelims then slipped to 4th in finals. Our music and GE scores were very consistant in both rounds. Music was very high (2nd and 3rd), GE was in the middle (6th), but marching was all over the place. In prelims we were given one of the top marching scores but in finals we got one of the lowest. Hmm, same band-better performance but the judges traded between GE and marching in what they were scoring. The competition was tough but we came home with with a trophy and anyone that was there saw our group at their very best! We made steady progress all season and this has been a hard working, super motivated group. It has been fun. We will show it off one more time on Friday night.
I will meet with the group of 1st hour freshmen that have volunteered to play with their classmates on the Tuesday concert at 7AM Monday morning. Otherwise, 1st hour band starts at 7:40. We'll listen to some tapes then record the show on Tuesday.
10/23/09
As announced in class today, the run-throught tomorrow will be at 1:30-15 minutes earlier than first announced. Make sure you are on the field in full uniform at this time. The weather is supposed to be pretty nice which will be a nice change from the last few days. Don't forget money for dinner which you can buy at the Union after prelims. This is it! Bring your best tomorrow-we've been aiming for this day since the beginning of August. This has been one of the most dedicated bands I've had the pleasure to work with-time to make it pay off!
Warrensburg tickets will be available tomorrow afternoon at South. If you buy them from us, the band gets a 20% rebate.
Next week; no 7:00 AM practice until Thursday which will be for 1st and 5th hour. 5th hour and Jazz Band will perform a concert on Tuesday evening at 7PM. Come hear them and get extra credit. They will be playing some really good stuff!
0/21/09
So we made jokes about nobody making a mistake at the marching festival last night and, yes, it has been rescheduled for...next year, but it was disappointing not to get to perform. We all wanted to see the other groups and to, frankly, show off what our guys are doing this year. Thanks to all who came out and helped save the plumes and equipment from the rain. Rats! So now Warrensburg awaits. If you need tickets, please contact Deb and Pete Demars. Unfortunately, they had hoped to sell a bunch at the Festival but that didn't exactly work out. I do hope we have lots of supportive green and gold folks in the stands to pump the kids up this weekend! Our performance time is 5:14.
Again, I want the students to ride on the busses both ways but if you have a special situation, please notify me ASAP and no later than Thurday evening. I received a number of requests very late last time which forced me to update bus lists instead of working with the students at the last minute.
I am strongly considering moving the symphonic band auditions from the 1st week of November to the second week. I've asked the students to tell me if that caused any problems for anyone.
The freshman band and jazz band have their concert next Tuesday, the 27th. The last newsflash gave information about the uniform to wear-jazz band wears the same as the freshman band with the addition of black suspenders. I've invited and encouraged freshmen from 1st hour to come in for a couple rehearsals next week to join their peers for this concert. It isn't required but encouraged. It will be a short but fun concert.
10/19/09
The Shawnee Mission Marching Festival is tomorrow night at 7PM in our stadium. The band needs to be in the band room (not auditorium) at 6PM in full uniform. There will be no 5th hour am rehearsal on Thursday but there will be next week. Our run-through time on Saturday for 1st hour will be 1:45.
5th hour and jazz band have a performance in the auditorium next Tuesday at 7PM. You need to be here in uniform at 6:30. Look over the Band Aid link on pg. 17&18 to make sure everyone has the correct uniform. You must have the correct uniform to perform (and to get your points!).
I was very happy with both of the band's performances on Saturday. I was a bit disappointed with our placement but that had nothing to do with the students' efforts. The finals performance was especially good. Nearly every adjustment the band was asked to make, they did. The competition was stronger than I expected but I did think we had a good chance of placing higher. I was happy to see us placed highest among the bands from the KC area. We have already made some adjustments to the show today to get us ready for tomorrow and Saturday. Whatever the placements, this is one of the best groups I've had the honor to work with. A couple very bright spots-we placed 3rd in finals for marching technique and our drum majors earned 2nd place in the contest. Complete contest results can be found on the MidwestMarching.com link at the top of this page.
Thanks again for all of the help from our chaperones, plume brigade, and others. The students were excellent on and off the field-a class act! Though it was COLD in the evening, nobody backed off from their intensity to do their best. This is the big week, lets turn it on even higher!
10/15/09
Please make sure to send me notification of anyone that is not riding to or from the contest on Saturday. I need those messages today (Thursday). I want the band to ride together so only those with conflicting activities (XC and soccer are the ones I know about) should be missing.
The student leaders have called a rehearsal for Friday, 10-noon. I will not be running this rehearsal so it is not required but it is very important for the progress of the band and a great way for the students to take ownership of their activity. I strongly encourage everyone to participate.
As a reminder, we will do a full uniform run-through of the show at 12:30 then hop on the busses for KU. Our performance time is 3:45. Finals competition begins at 7PM. The weather is calls for sunny and low 50s-nice for prelims but it could get chilly for finals. Dinner is provided. Please check that shakos, shoes, and horns look good and that uniforms are wrinkle free. Tickets for spectators are 10.00. Park on the west side of the stadium. The east side is for bands only.
The Shawnee Mission Marching Festival has been rescheduled for next Tuesday, the 20th.
10/13/09
THE SHAWNEE MISSION MARCHING FESTIVAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL NEXT TUESDAY, THE 20TH, DUE TO THE STRONG POSSIBILITY OF RAIN TONIGHT.
10/12/09
Deadline for all music memory points and jazz band scales and reviews is Wednesday 10/14.
Look at the 10/7 entry for times this week at the SM Festival and KU.
NHS seniors will stay with the band tomorrow morning. I have talked with Mrs. Fast. Do stop by her room tomorrow to pick up a handout.
I would like all 1st hour band members to ride home on the busses on Saturday unless there is some special circumstances. It is so much easier on the chaperones to have the same list going as coming. If you have special requests, please let me know as early in the week as possible. XC people can meet us in Lawrence but please send me notification of who is running at Rim Rock ahead of time.
There will not be AM rehearsal for 5th hour again this Thursday. They are focusing on concert music and 1st hour is focused on their contest this weekend.
Congrats to Julia Nelson (flute,11) who played piano for the Kansas Music Teacher's Association District Honors Auditions and was chosen to perform at the State level in November. She played two challenging numbers before judges at Baker University this weekend. Best of luck in preparing for State!
10/8/09
DUE TO THE NEVER ENDING RAIN, THERE WILL BE NO PEP BAND AT THE NORTH GAME TONIGHT. Dress warm for tomorrow's 1st hour rehearsal. If it isn't raining, we will go outside. The temperature may be in the upper 30s.
10/7/09
THURSDAY IS THE DEADLINE FOR SIGNING UP FOR DISTRICT BAND AUDITIONS
Finally, we have a little less busy week. There is no 5th hour AM practice on Thursday but 1st hour will rehearse after school. We will have a volunteer pep band for the game against SM North at their stadium on Thursday night. Be there at 6:30 PM.
Looking ahead to next week, 1st hour has the Shawnee Mission Marching Festival on Tuesday night right here at South stadium. The arrival time is 6PM and the event starts at 7PM. We perform last. We will be done by 8:30. 5th can get extra credit by attending. The KU Marching Festival is on Satruday the 17th. We will do a run-through at South at 12:30 in full uniform. Our performance time for prelims is 3:30. There will be finals in the evening. We should be a part of that.
10/4/09
TUESDAY-1ST HOUR REHEARSAL BEINGS AT 9:40 IN THE BAND ROOM. I can't get out of my teacher meetings this time.
Well, Blue Springs was certainly a day of ups and downs for us. I felt so good about the intensity of the group as we warmed up for our performance. Even before we left, watching groups of students polishing instruments, working together to load, and listening to talk about challenges in our show told me that we were ready to hit the field and show the judges our best. That we did! I was so proud of your performance which was hands down the best of this year. I watched you from the stands surrounded by supporters of other bands. I overheard so many positive comments about your big sound, the guard contribution, the flashy moves, how "clean" we were, and one that really made me smile, "finally, a fun show!" You heard the applause-you were an audience favorite. As I watched other groups, I naturally compared them to you. I was sure you were better than some, I knew a few were above us, and another group was in the same league as us. I thought we were going to play in the evening based on what I had seen but I hadn't seen the earlier groups and enough of them made it to send us home.
Mrs. Carson and I will go over the judges' tapes and give you an overview of their comments on Tuesday. The reason we added this contest to our schedule was to get feedback to prepare us for KU and Warrensburg. I'm sure it will be a big help in this regard. Currently, I only have our scores-no rankings or scores of other groups. The complete results should be posted at
http://www.midwestmarching.com/marching/. Just find the Blue Springs festival and look for "scores." As of 9:30 AM, it was not posted yet. We had planned on making some changes in the show and the judges will probably suggest some more. Though our individual marching style is much improved this year, hopefully you saw that those top bands are still way ahead of us in that department. One of the great strengths of this year's band is your willingness to push your selves for higher levels of achievement. We need to keep doing that and I know you will.
Thanks so much to everyone that helped yesterday with chaperoning, loading and unloading equipment, and dinner. A special thanks to Mr. Hendricks who, with the help of his crew, fed the entire group for dinner. I watched in awe as he managed multiple charcoal grills single handedly to feed about 180 hungry teenagers!
Enjoy and extra day off and a late start and return ready to take a very good show and really polish it. I am not worried at all. Good things await this great group!
10/2/09
Thanks to the huge number of band members that showed up for the VERY EARLY pep rally this morning. Dr. Gilhaus even came out on the practice field to thank everyone for their spirit and to wish them good luck tomorrow. I heard the trumpets had a pre-rally breakfast; you guys are insane! Get some sleep tonight.
I will have a map and schedule available to pick up at the game tonight. You may pick it up in the band room tonight or tomorrow. This will help for parents driving out to see the performance. There is construction going on around the school and parking will be tricky. The Blue Springs people suggest getting there pretty early because you may have to walk a way to get to the stadium.
I will not accept any more notes for students to ride home with parents. Very few students will not be riding on the busses on the way back. I am printing out the chaperone lists this morning and won't be making changes.
Please look at the other entries from this week if you haven't already so that you have the info you need for this weekend.
10/1/09
PM rehearsal has been cancelled for this afternoon. We covered what I planned to do during 1st hour. There will be another pregame picnic before the game sponsored by the football boosters. Everyone is invited.
Tickets are $5 for anyone with an activity pass, $7 for students without the pass and $10 for adults without the pass. All tickets include admission to the game. This begins at 5PM.
9/30/09
Thursday-5th hour will not have AM practice. 1st hour has a contest this weekend and we will be focusing on that. 5th hour should be bringing concert instruments to class. We are preparing for a sit down concert in late October. We will still march at the home game on Friday and on October 30th.
Friday-Yes, there is a 5:30 AM pep assembly that will be televised on one of the morning news channels. It isn't required and it isn't for extra credit but there will be free food and the first 300 people get a t-shirt. Let's get a big noisy band to wake everyone up. We absolutely have to have a bigger turnout that SM West who is doing the same thing. Everyone needs to be in uniform in the auditiorium at 6PM for the game that night. We should have the new frumpets and plumes!
Saturday-1st hour has the Blue Springs Marching Festival. We will begin a run-through at 10:30 AM then load and leave.
Come with food in your belly because it will be around 2:30 before you can hit the snack bar (bring some cash). Dinner is provided. You need to be in full uniform for the run-through-wear your band shirt under the uniform so we can take the jackets off in the afternoon. Make sure those uniforms look nice. Get the wrinkles out and clean the top of your shako and polish your shoes. Polish your instruments. Glass cleaner or a polishing cloth will take care of most marks or water spots. Use a silver polishing cloth on anything that is tarnished. Looking good is great for the eye but also builds pride in your organization. If all goes well, we should be back around 11PM. You can find out all about our contest by going to
http://www.midwestmarching.com/marching/. Directions, ticket prices, schedules, etc. can be found for each of our contests.
District band sign-ups are posted on the door to the uniform room. This is open to 10-12 graders and is over the state audition music which is posted on the audition link of this site. The auditions are on 11/14 in Baldwin, KS. 10/8 is the deadline to sign up.
9/26/09
The band needs to be at the parade at 1:30 today. We meet between 76th and 77th and Floyd. Double check that you have everything. The band room should be unlocked.
I should be very happy about last night's performances: the students did just what they were supposed to and it was great to see Jordan and Preston recognized during the ceremony. Jake did a perfect job of stepping up to conduct the pregame and halftime. Unfortunately, the action of some in the stands before our ending performance hurt the band's image, insulted our team who we support, and tarnished efforts spearheaded by the football boosters to bring energy and community to our football games. The negative comments that were yelled out and other efforts by some to get the team to move were very upsetting to me. I see the band as an outstanding part of an outstanding school. The team and our school had just suffered a difficult loss and the coach needed to talk to his players. It is their tradition to have that meeting after every game-win or lose. The band was expecting it and we were in no hurry. Had I known something like this would have happened, I would not have had the band perform after the game.
It is great to support the band but never do it through negative comments to others. The guys on that team are the band students' friends. Their families are your neighbors. The band felt their loss and applauded for the team when their meeting broke up as did the vast majority of the audience. That is the way it should have been and that is all. Please get behind the entire South community which the band is a part of. Support all of the efforts that are going on in the school. Look at how many people stayed after and watched the band. It was much more than just the band family. They are supporting us. I know this was only caused by a few but it was hurtful to what people are trying to do at South and hurtful to the boys on the team. Remember, they made a tunnel for the band to take the field last week. That was so cool. Be positive or be quiet! Remember this as we start our contest season next week. Sorry to lecture (but I am a teacher).
9/23/09
Remember to wear your band shirts for the pep assembly tomorrow. You get out of class at 9:30.
We've been asked by the pep club to invite band members to play at the Bonfire tonight. It starts at 7:00 so be there with horn or drum at 6:45. It is in the upper parking lot. Wear your green and gold and help get people fired up for Homecoming and our 3rd win in a row! This is just for fun and volunteer-not an official event.
Looking ahead to 1st hour contests-The arrival time at South for Blue Springs on 10/3 in 10:30 AM. The event lasts all day-we'll probably get home around 11:00 if we make finals. Our performance time is 1:45.
KU and Warrensburg DO NOT CONFLICT WITH THE PSAT OR ACT. Our KU performance time is 3:15 which allows us to leave after the PSAT test. Our performance time in Warrensburg is 5:14 so no problem for the ACT. To get lots of information about the contests including directions, schedules, ticket costs, etc,, check out
http://www.midwestmarching.com/marching/
The Shawnee Mission District website is currently showing a picture of the band running through the football team's tunnel during the East game. Check it out at
www.smsd.org.