"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 10/11-10/15
Greetings Wildcat Band Family!
It's been another wonderful week making music and developing musicians! I am proud of all the students who are staying on top of their assignments, getting them turned in on time and at such a high level of proficiency! I'm also proud of all the students who are getting missing late assignments turned in. I completely understand that life happens and somethings have to go to the back burner. It's how we respond and get caught up that's important. This is a life skill that will help students throughout their life.
There have been some modifications to our schedule since last week at the request of the district. Please be sure to review these modifications.
Friday, October 22nd - Pep band to play at away game in Rogers with the Fulbright Band. Students will be bussed to and from the game. This is an AMAZING opportunity for us to collaborate with our peers at Fulbright AND to get to represent Bentonville Schools at the away game!
8th Grade Band will rehearse 3:45- 4:45pm in gym
Students will be fed before leaving from the band boosters
Attire: Band shirt and comfortable pants. Wear layers as it will get colder after sunset.
Itinerary is being finalized but we plan to be back at WJHS for student pickup around 10:45pm depending on the pace of the game
*Pep Band = 8th Grade Band Required. 7th graders who attended summer rehearsals are welcome to participate and need to let Mr. Jones know ASAP so we have enough food for dinner
Tuesday, October 26th - Jazz and 8th Grade Band Concert at WJHS.
Attire is concert black
Location is WJHS Gymnatorium
Photoshoot will begin at 5:15 for all 8th grade band and jazz band members
Activity Doors will open for audience at 5:40pm
Jazz Band performs at 6:00p
8th Grade Band performs at 6:30
All students will stay the entire evening and will help break down setup after concert
HUGE congratulations to the Bentonville Pride Marching Band for sweeping the Renegade Review Marching Contest on Saturday! This is a FIRST for our program as we have only been participating in Bands of America style marching band for 10 years. Much less time than most of those we are competing against who have done it for decades. I am incredibly proud of the directors, parents and of course the AMAZING students on this accomplishment! Way to go!!!!
Oct. 13th-15th - No School Fall Break/ End of 1st Quarter. All assignments MUST be turned in no later than October 13th in order to earn credit for first quarter.
Oct. 22nd - Pep band to play at away game in Rogers with the Fulbright Band. Students will be bussed to and from the game.
8th Grade Band will rehearse 3:45- 4:45pm in gym
Students will be fed before leaving provided by the band boosters
Attire: Band shirt and comfortable pants. Wear layers as it will get colder after sunset.
Itinerary is being finalized but we plan to be back at WJHS for student pick up around 10:45pm, depending on the pace of the game
*Pep Band = 8th Grade Band Required. 7th graders who attended summer rehearsals are welcome to participate and need to let Mr. Jones know ASAP so we have enough food for dinner
Oct. 25th - Optional auditions to be a part of the All-Region Honor Symphony Orchestra. This is separate from the all-region band auditions occurring on December 11th, however it is the same music. Those who can audition: Oboes, Flutes, Clarinets, Trumpets, French Horns, Trombones and Percussion.
Oct. 26th - Jazz and 8th Grade Band Concert at WJHS.
Attire is concert black
Location is WJHS Gymnatorium
Photoshoot will begin at 5:15 for all 8th grade band and jazz band members
Activity Doors will open for audience at 5:40pm
Jazz Band performs at 6:00p
8th Grade Band performs at 6:30
All students will stay the entire evening and will help break down setup after concert
We'd LOVE to have our 7th graders join us for the concert as wonderful audience members to get an idea of what they will get to do next year!
Oct. 29th - JH Band students will stay after school, be fed and will be bussed over to BHS to perform with the Bentonville High School Pride Marching Band during pre game. Students will walk over to the south building at the end of the 3rd quarter for parents to pick them up.
Just a reminder that instruments go home every single day and that it's vital for student progress to practice no less than 15 minutes per day, 5 days a week. Please help your band student find time at home to practice and beef up their musical muscles! Students are welcome to practice in the band room before school on A days as early as 7:30am (just come knock on the back band room door) and can stay any day there is a scheduled after sectional until 4:30 to practice in a practice room.
HINT: Students have SOMETHING to practice and prepare for every class even if it isn't a playing test. To be successful, students should be practicing regularly.
What a 15 minute practice session should look like:
2 minutes - Long Tones (F-Remington, Scales in whole notes, pg. 7 of Embouchure Boot Camp)
2 minutes - Lip slurs and buzzing for brass instruments. Chromatic scales or finger exercises for woodwinds.
2 minutes - scales for accuracy and increased speed with great tone.
7 minutes - assignment (focus on a small goal to noticeably improve a difficult part)
2 minutes - pick ANYTHING you enjoy playing
For a 30 minute practice session the above times can simply be doubled
If your student is "bored" with what we are currently doing in class and wants more of a challenge, reach out to me and I will get them some more challenging material to work on.
If your student is struggling with what we are doing in class, please reach out as I have many resources available to assist students at all levels.
If you are available, PLEASE sign up for a shift tonight as our high school bands have their fall concert. Also, Oct. 21st and 22nd our high school band will be going to ST. Louis for Super Regionals taking many of the parents with them. So, if you could sign up for a shift, we'd greatly appreciate it! junior high game or the high school game. The concession stand is the single largest fundraiser for the Bentonville Bands. Funds from this help to offer band feeds, purchase new instruments, provide financial assistance to band families and scholarships for students to attend summer band and music camps. It takes a village!
All-Region Sectionals
Will only have flutes, clarinets and saxophones this week. We will resume full schedule after fall break.
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 $1000 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 were not in class the last year and a half due to covid.
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
Support the WJHS Band AND make your life easier! It's a win-win for everyone. Fundshine is an online service that allows you to purchase paper and plastic goods that will shipped directly to your home. Spot checking prices come in a little cheaper than from local stores plus a portion of sales comes back to the band twice a year. Even better, you can sign up to have recurring shipments so you get set it up and forget about it. Also, family and friends can use this service anywhere in the US! :)
Check it out by going to www.fundshine.org,support the band and make sure your pantry is always stocked!
To stay in the know be sure to follow us on your social media platform of choice: Facebook, Instagram or Twitter - @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 and short week everyone!
Musically Yours,
