"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 10/4-10/12
Greetings Wildcat Band Family!
I appreciate all the support for my growing family and all the kind words regarding the district's Extra Mile Award. You all make my heart full!!
I am hearing great things from Mrs. Q regarding how classes are going. She continually tells me how awesome the students are! :) I ran by the school this weekend and noticed we had 13 instruments left over the weekend. This is unacceptable. 12 of them were seventh graders. It is IMPOSSIBLE to be prepared for class if we are not practicing at least 75 minutes per week. Let's be sure we are getting all instruments home every day AND that we are practicing. If your instrument was left over the weekend, your goal needs to be to get 100 minutes of practice this week to try and make up for it. Practice plan can be found below.
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 - 8th Grade Band students will stay after school. Concert will begin at 6:30pm in the WJHS Gym. Students should bring their concert black to change into for the concert as well as a snack for after school. WJHS Alumni Parent Scott McClain will take individual headshot photos with instruments of each student after school.
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 Band Fall Concert at 6:00pm in WJHS Little Theater. Student can stay after school but should arrive no later than 5:00pm for a sound check. Doors to theater will open for families at 5:40pm.
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.
The Mums and Candle fundraiser were huge successes! The mums brought in $435 for jazz band which with the Slim Chickens Fundraiser brings us up to $500. The Candle Fundraiser brought in over $1,400 that will be applied to student band expenses for those who sold candles. Our next fundraiser will be Poinsettias. The profits of this will also go to student band expenses. We will begin this at the end of October and they will be delivered the week after Thanksgiving.
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 continue with Mrs. Q while Mr. Jones is gone on leave.
Euphoniums will meet during priority on Thursday.
Percussion will be IN person Wednesday 3:45-4:30.
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 week everyone!
Musically Yours,
