December Update
4th grade
Beginner band students are doing great! Our woodwind and percussion students
are a little behind our brass students as the calendar has caused us to miss
a few rehearsals this year. With some practice, hard work in class, and a
more ‘friendly’ schedule after Thanksgiving we should be able to catch up.
Mark your calendars for the Christmas Program on December 17th at 11:15!
You are going to love listening to your children play!
Note: All information regarding practice, progress, etc. is posted regularly
on the homework site! Please make use of this wonderful technology!
5th grade
The fifth grade Concert Band is doing well and we are all very excited about
performing for the first time this year at the Christmas program on
Dec.17th. Please continue to check the homework site to find out what your
children on working on in band, as well as to keep up to date with all things
related to our Music Programs at SCR.
Symphonic Band
Symphonic Band began the year on a strong note with the Veterans Day
Performances. Thank you to all the students and parents who showed up at
6:30 a.m. to help set up, and stayed late after the concert to help tear
down. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! A special note of appreciation goes
out to Rosa McLaughlin for spending the whole day with us in preparation for
the concert running errands, setting up lights, etc. Thank you, Rosa.
We are hard at work on our Christmas Music in preparation for our December
17th concert. This is sure to be another beautiful one! Please consult the
homework site and check in with your children on their practice assignments.
In order for us to maintain a high level of musicianship and performance in
this group each child must be held accountable for the music he/she is asked
to play. (Math homework left undone affects only the negligent student. A
practice assignment left undone affects all 86 members of our Symphonic Band
and negatively impacts our performances. Listening to your children play the
assigned music can be an 'eye-opening' experience.)
Symphonic Band Uniforms have been distributed. Please check the website for
the specifications of these uniforms in regards to dress length, shoes,
camisoles, stockings, belts, etc. Any child out of uniform, particularly in
reference to dress length, will not be allowed to perform with us. The
consequences for missing a performance are outlined in the syllabus
distributed at the beginning of the year. This, too, is posted on the band
website.
Jazz Bands
Both Jazz groups are playing great! Jazz I partook in a wonderful field trip
involving Café Du Monde, Jackson Square, a class on blues and folk art at the
House of Blues, and lunch at Margaritaville (Thank you Robbie Tomlinson!).
It was a fun and educational day for all of us. We have many unique
performance opportunities this year and information will be coming home
soon!
Schedule change for Jazz II: Jazz II on Dec. 1st is cancelled.
Honor Band
Elementary Honor Band auditions are Dec. 5th and Junior High are Dec. 12. I
am looking for volunteers to help with both of these dates. Please sign up
in the band room if you are interested. Auditioning students have received
several letters in regards to auditions, music, and extra help sessions.
Please check the ‘Current Letters’ section of the website to find the most up
to date information. Note: In order to ensure a positive experience at
auditions, I require attendance at least one help session.
Account Balances
All students with outstanding band accounts received an invoice this week.
Please ask your child if he/she received an invoice and make an appropriate
payment at your earliest convenience. I will be in the band room on Tuesday
and Wednesday of next week and will take payments at that time as well.
Because of an unusually large number of instrument repairs and an increase in
the cost of supplies for our program, we are forced to cut a few corners here
and there this year. Please speak with your children about cleaning, oiling,
greasing, swabbing, and protecting their instruments on a regular basis.
This includes school-owned instruments played during the school day!
Smart Music
Smart Music is an incredible program available online that will assist your
children in practice. I encourage all SCR Band families to purchase it. I
will be attending a music educators’ conference this Thanksgiving break to
learn more about this program. Details will be coming home soon, but you can
learn more by going to the website: www.smartmusic.com. We have begun using
this program with some of our 5th-7th graders, and in a few short weeks I
have seen tremendous growth in their music comprehension and performance.
Christmas Presents
Excellent Christmas presents for band students are music stands, tuners,
metronomes, ‘fun’ music. All of these items can be found at local music
stores or online at the following websites:
· Jwpepper.com
· wwbw.com
Christmas Program
Our annual Christmas Programs will be held on December 17th. Our 4th and 5th
grade will perform with choir at 11:15, and our Chorale and Symphonic Band
will perform at 1:15 and 7 PM. All concerts will be held in the Church.
This is a change as these concerts were previously scheduled to take place in
the gym. In order for us to use the Church we must make some changes in the
way we do things for our concerts. More information is on the way!
Thank you for all you do to support our Music Programs here at SCR. I truly
enjoy working with your children, and any success we have together is because
of your involvement, encouragement, and support. Thank you, again.
Please contact me with any questions or concerns. I wish you all a very
Happy Thanksgiving and hope that enjoy your week off! Don’t forget to
practice!!!! Our concert is right around the corner!