"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 12/12-12/16

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Concert Opportunities

Greetings Wildcat Band Families,

We had an INCREDIBLE week of music with fantastic concerts last week capped off with a successful day of All-Region Honor Band Audition in Harrison. 60% of the JH All-Region Honor Bands are made up of Bentonville Band students! I am BEYOND PROUD of EVERY.SINGLE student who auditioned Saturday!! It takes a lot of courage to try something out of your comfort zone and ALL of our Wildcat Band students were awesome and grew through the process. EVERY student has gotten better since August through this experience which I think was fairly evident at the concert Friday night. :) I am incredibly proud of all of our students and how they performed well above what is expected of a typical junior high student.

Please help me in congratulating the following students:

During the holiday season, many families like to get cute music related gifts for their student. I have a stocking stuffer+ list of ideas from fun things to items that will help your student out. Here is that list for you.

Itineraries for Upcoming Events:

Dec 14 - Old High Recruitment

Sectionals will resume with the new schedule the week of January 9th for 8th grade band members only. These will last until about February where we change over to a once a week full band rehearsal.

Please take a few moment to review the information below so you are fully prepared for the week ahead.

This week: No Sectionals until January. Band Room will close each day at 4

• Monday - A Day (Classes 1-4)

• Good luck Basketball!

• Break a leg Theater Classes!

• Tuesday - (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Priority)

• Wednesday - A Day (Classes 1-4 and Priority)

• Old High Recruitment Performance - see itinerary

• Arrive no later than 7:50am

• Grey Band shirt and nice pants/jeans. NO HOLES

• 8th Grade band and a few 7th graders who already have music

• Thursday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Priority)

• Friday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Engagement Friday)

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Current 7th Grade Band Members	Current 8th Grade Band Members
Times will be determined once speaking with XC, Cheer, Dance, Volleyball and Football Coaches so that there aren't any conflicts. Typically, these are 12:30-3:30. For those planning to attend Camp War Eagle, please plan to do one of the early sessions. These dates could be moved back to August 7th-11th depending on when school begins.	July 17th - Expected Beginning of Daily Summer Pride Band Rehearsals (only for those who are in the BHS Pride Marching Band or Color Guard. (Could change depending on start of school dates yet to be released.)
​July 31st - Low Brass and Low Reeds Sectional (Bass Clarinets, Saxophone, French Horns, Trombones, Euphoniums and Tubas)
August 1st - High Woodwinds and High Brass Sectional (Flutes, Clarinets and Trumpets)
August 2nd - Percussion Sectional
August 3rd - Full Band Rehearsal
August 4th - Full Band Rehearsal

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You can find a complete copy of this year's calendar of events here.

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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)

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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,