Upcoming Events
Greetings Wildcat Band Families,
I am digging this fall weather and hope it hangs around for a bit. We had a great week of rehearsals and classes and continue to improve every day. Please remind your student that learning an instrument is a skill and any skill requires methodical repetition outside of class to improve. To do so, students should be practicing materials from class no less than 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
This week we get TWO performances and they are going to be incredible! Wednesday, the Jazz Band and 8th Grade band will present our Fall Concert at 6:30pm in the WJHS Gym. Everyone is invited to attend and check out our hard work this quarter. Attire for those performing: nice pants/jeans (nothing with holes, no sweatpants/shorts/athletic type bottom, and close toed shoes). Anyone planning to stay after school on Wednesday and participate in the pizza order from Dominos needs to complete this google form published in our google classrooms last week.
The second performance is a required one of our 8th grade band and optional for 7th graders who have been learning the pep music. It is this Friday where we will combine with Fulbright and Lincoln (to form mega junior high band) to perform at the Tigers v. Fayetteville game while Bentonville Pride is gone to St. Louis to compete in the Bands of America Super Regional Marching Contest. Permission forms and itineraries have been emailed out as well as sent home in hard copy with students. These forms must be turned in no later than this Tuesday.
Since the high school band and most parents will be gone to St. Louis WE NEED YOU to sign up to work a shift in the concession stand. There are about 30 spots left to fill and we have 300 parents/guardians. Please please sign up for a shift. It is a lot of fun, easy and a great way to earn up to $50 towards your students band related expenses.. ($25/parent or guardian who signs up to work up to 2 per student). SIGN UP HERE.
Coming up on November 4th, the 8th grade band will participate in Band Night with the BHS band pre game and in the stands. The band boosters are creating a special shirt to gift every student. Please complete this form no later than this Friday so we can have accurate sizes. Family members that would like a shirt may also order one for $15.
Our student teacher Mr. Aguilar is off to a running start and doing awesome! He is engaging with the students, offering input, doing pull out lessons and leading some sectionals. He is an incredible asset to the program and we are blessed to have him with us this quarter!
8th Grade Band and Jazz Band will not have any assignments due this week so that we can focus on our performances and to allow students an opportunity to complete any missing assignments. Next quarter, we will move away from weekly recorded assignments and towards an in-person pass off system. Students won't need to turn something in each week but instead will have pass off check ins every other week to help ensure they are progressing.
The AMP's concert season is coming to a close and we are still in need of some volunteers to help. If you are available on any of the following dates and willing to help out and earn money towards your band students supply fees, please sign up:
· Thursday, October 13th – The Black Keys. We need help starting at 5:00. Gates at 6:00 music at 7:00.
We need 17 more volunteers.
PLEASE check your calendars and sign up where you can help.
Sign up here: https://www.bwestband.com/amp
Wednesday, October 12th is the Jazz Band and 8th Grade Bands' Fall Concert. It begins at 6:30. Students are welcome to stay after school and we will order pizza. They should bring $3 if they want pizza and a bottle of water. Attire for the concert is Band T-shirt and nice jeans/pants. NO athletic type pants or sweatpants.
5:45pm - Jazz Band seated in their seats in the gym for sound check
6:10pm - 8th Grade Band seated in their seats for brief warm-up
6:20pm - Gym doors open for families to enter
6:30pm - Concert begin
7:30pm - Strike gym (all students will need to help move all equipment back to band room and properly store before leaving)
7:50pm - Students are dismissed
Friday, October 14th, we will combine with the Lincoln 8th Grade band to play in place of Bentonville Pride sense they will be in St. Louis for the Bands of America Super Regional Competition.
We also need families to volunteer to work in the concession stands this evening. Since your student will be performing already, please consider signing up for a shift. :) Football Games 2022: Football Concessions (signupgenius.com)
CONGRATULATIONS to the Bentonville Pride Marching Band for earning Outstanding Music, General Effect and Visual, and 1st place in Class 4A in Prelims followed by being back-to-back CHAMPIONS in finals at the Renegade Review on Saturday!!! This is an incredible accomplishment!! I'm soooo proud of our staff and students for the work they have put into making this show as incredible as it is. Be sure to see them at the Region VI Marching Assessment on Tuesday, October 18th hosted at Rogers High School.
Please take a few moment to review the information below so you are fully prepared for the week ahead.
This week:
Monday - (A Day - Classes 1-4 and Advisory)
8:00am - Band Room open for students to help setup/practice
Advisory
3:45-4:30 - Clarinet All-Region Sectional
Tuesday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Priority Time)
8:15-8:30 - Drop off instruments in band room
Priority time - Trombone Sectional with Mr. Pierce
3:45-4:30 - Euphonium Sectional
Wednesday (A Day - Classes 1-4 and Priority)
8:00am - Band Room open for students to help setup/practice
3:45-4:30 - Saxophone and Tuba All-Region Sectional
6:30pm - Jazz Band and 8th Grade Band Fall Concert
Thursday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Priority)
8:15-8:30 - Drop off instruments in band room
4:00pm - Band Room Closes
Friday (A Day - Classes 1-4 and Engagement Friday)
8:15-8:30 - Drop off instruments in band room
2:20pm - 8th Grade Band and 7th Grade Pep band students dismissed from 4th period to go to BHS for Football Game Performance
9:45pm - Approximate time parents can pick students up from south building at BHS. We will not release students to parents at the stadium.
Monday, October 17th-Wednesday, October 19th - Fall Break. See everyone on Thursday!
Below is the schedule for required sectionals for 8th grade band for the year that continues THIS WEEK. 7th graders are welcome to attend sectionals first semester if they want to be challenged to learn the all-region honor band audition music. Auditions occur in December and are required for all 8th Grade Band Students and 7th Grade Percussion.
You can find a complete copy of this year's calendar of events here.
PRIVATE LESSONS ARE AWESOME! They are designed to be fun, engaging, supportive and focused on the individual student.
We have an awesome partnership with Arkansas Music Conservatory where your student can take a lesson or two on US to see what private lessons can do for your band student! We have set aside $1150 for lessons this year. We can also help pay for additional lessons and offset the cost of lessons for families who need financial assistance in this area.
Who should take private lessons:
Advanced students who need to be pushed and challenged
Students who need some 1-on-1 assistance to learn and master concepts covered in class
Students who missed substantial class time due to illness
Students who just began playing this year
Students who want to get better
EVERYONE
To sign up for a free lesson:
Contact Mr. Jones so he can track who is taking the exploratory lessons
Contact Arkansas Music Conservatory to setup a lesson 479-268-3307 (call) or 479-430-2226 (text)
To stay in the know be sure to follow us on your social media platform of choice: Facebook or Instagram - @wjhswildcatband and/or at www.wjhswildcatband.com
If you have any questions or concerns, please never hesitate to reach out. We are partners in your student's growth and need to work together for them to be as successful as possible.
Have a band-tastic week everyone!
Musically Yours,
