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"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 12/6-12/11


Greetings Wildcat Band Family,


The first week back from break has been terrific! The students are working hard and our concert preparations are well underway. All classes are playing the music well but as always individuals need to be practicing on a regular basis so that the ensemble has the best possible performance! Learning an instrument is a skill, not a talent. In order to improve a skill it must be regularly practiced. This quarter we are asking students to document practicing NO LESS than 15 minute per day, 5 days per week. This is the absolute minimum for students to be able to maintain their abilities and be most prepared for class. Ideally, student SHOULD be practicing 30 minutes per day, 5 days a week. This practice schedule makes it possible for students to grow exponentially on their instrument. The better we get on our instrument, the more we enjoy playing. The more we enjoy playing, the more we practice! :)

 

As we prepare for the upcoming weeks please be sure to take a look at the events below. It is important for students to stay focused and organized. All classes are wrapping up the semester meaning that all assignments are due before Winter Break that begins on December 23rd. Any missing band assignments must be turned in no later than December 18th so we have time to grade them before going on break.


Assignments Due:

  • 7th Grade High Winds (1st Period)

  • Practice Record due Monday - Hard Copy or Digital

  • "Festive Fanfare" Ms. 16-27 with recording (Due Friday, Dec. 10th)

  • 8th Grade Band

  • Sightreadingfactory.com assignment #3 (playing on instrument) PAST DUE

  • Mock Audition #1 (was due last week via sectionals)

  • If student missed their sectional they will need to complete it via google classroom this week.

  • Mock Audition #2 will be this week during sectionals

  • Sightreadingfactory.com assignment #4 due Thursday, Dec. 9th)

  • Practice Record due Monday - Hard Copy or Digital

  • All-Region Auditions on Saturday at Fulbright JH (info here)

  • 7th Grade Low Brass (3rd Period)

  • Sightreadingfactory.com #3 Due Friday, Dec. 10th (playing on instrument)

  • Practice Record due Monday - Hard Copy or Digital

  • 7th Grade Clarinets (7th Period)

  • Practice Record due Tuesday- Hard Copy or Digital

  • "Santa the Barbarian" Ms. 13-26 1st and 2nd time with recording (due Friday, Dec. 10th)

  • 7th Grade Percussion

  • Practice Record due Tuesday- Hard Copy or Digital

  • All-Region Auditions on Saturday at Fulbright JH (info here)

All assignments turned in as of 5:00pm Friday, December 3rd have been graded and put into HAC. Please note that this quarter students can only turn in the initial assignment 3 weeks after the due date.

Grading Reminders (Click to expand)

 

Concert Info:

  • December 21st

  • 5:30p - Jazz Band Arrives to setup

  • 6:15p - 7th Grade Band Arrives

  • 6:30p - 7th Grade Band Warm-ups up on Stage at Arend Arts Center located @BHS

  • 6:45p - 8th Grade Band Seated in Audience as a band

  • 7:00p - 7th Grade Band Concert Begins

  • 7:40p - 8th Grade Band Concert Begins

  • 8:10p - End of Concert

  • ALL 7th and 8th grade students must help strike the stage. Parents and older siblings may come on stage and assist with moving equipment back to band room/loading into truck.

Concert Black

Concert Black Ideas from Local Stores and Online

 

How to Practice







 

All-Region Sectionals

Flutes Monday - 3:45-4:30

Saxophones & Euphoniums - Tuesday Priority Time

Clarinets - Tuesday 3:45-4:30

Trombones and Percussion - Wednesday 3:45-4:30

Trumpets, Horns and Tubas THURSDAY Priority Time



It's time to start looking ahead to January. In January we regroup our sectionals to make it more helpful to students. This schedule is based upon the responses back August. Please take a look at it to update your student's schedule for January.


It is also important to review our calendar dates for the spring. The most updated calendar can be found linked 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 $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: