Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 3/13-3/24
Upcoming Events
3/14 - Instrument Step Up Night
3/15 BHS Band Auditions Music Early release if students complete google form in Audition Google Classroom
3/17 - BHS Band Audition Music will be posted
4/14 - BHS Band Audition Music Due
4/15 - Jazz Band Performance for NWA Jazz Festival at Thaden
4/28-4/30 - 8th Grade Band and Jazz Band St. Louis Trip
5/2-5/3 - Composer Randall Standridge mini-Residency
5/12 - 7th and 8th Grade Bands Spring Concert at Arend Arts Center
Greetings Wildcat Band Family,
Band kids are THE BEST KIDS! They continually strive to overcome obstacles and to be the very best they can be. 7th grade classes had a fantastic week of growth in multiple areas of musicianship and are well on our way to an incredible spring concert!! We will have some check-in quizzes this week during class over items students were assigned to practice to finish out the 3rd quarter strong. This week the band room will not open until 8:00am. All students should enter the school through the main doors. The back band room door will not be opened.
On Friday, the 8th Grade Band participated in the ASBOA Region VI Concert Assessment. The band earned the highest ratings from each judge in program history! I am more than proud of each and every one of these students for their hard work and dedication to musical excellence! Looking forward to celebrating with them this week and starting new music for our St. Louis Trip and Spring Concert!
In addition, ALL bands and orchestras that performed in CPA from Bentonville this weekend all earned superior ratings! This is a first for Bentonville Instrumental Music and not common. Your kids are in THE best band program in the State of Arkansas and it continues! :)
Wishing our choir friends good luck over the next few days as they participate in their CPA!!
Our instrument Step-Up event is happening THIS Tuesday, March 14th. Parents will enter through the gym/activity entrance at the front of the school.
There will be 14 representatives on site to answer all your questions in an absolutely no pressure event. They are not trying to sell as much as they can. They are not paid on commission. This is simply to help families get quality instruments into the hands of their students so they can continue to be successful. In addition to new and used instrument options, we will also have other equipment that can be helpful to student success such as head joints, barrels, mouthpieces, etc.... Even if you don't want to purchase yet, come by, let your student try out some instruments and accessories and get information for the future.
8th Grade band and Jazz Band, please remember to be making your spring trip payments. Thank you to every
one making payments as we are well on are way to being caught up!! We are currently $1,700 short to pay our upcoming invoices for the trip. Please remember that these payments are now a week past due.
8th Grade Parents: Opportunities to Raise Funds for New Freshman BHS Band Fees Available NOW!
There are three key pieces of information to share with our 8th Grade Band families getting ready to be a part of the BHS Band program and the Bentonville Pride Marching Band this Fall.
For the upcoming year, both the Bentonville and Bentonville West Band Booster programs made the difficult decision to no longer participate in the AMP Concessions Volunteer Program. There were some aspects of the plan for this season that the organizations were not comfortable doing, so it will not be available for families to volunteer.
However, the Bentonville High School Band program was just offered the opportunity to run concessions for Spring BHS Track and Soccer events. When a person volunteers in Concessions, a $25 Fair Share donation is applied toward the specific Student's fees for the 2023-2024 Band Season. Up to two volunteers can help for each event (totaling $50), and Student's 14 or older can volunteer as well! Below are links to the available Track and Soccer events for this Spring, so take advantage of this opportunity now!
Link to Sign up for Track Concessions - lots of help needed, if you need to be a little late for the shift, sign up and make a note on your available arrival time
In the "My Comment" section of your sign-up, please type the Band Student's NAME, GRADE (8th), and INSTRUMENT
Mark your calendars for Monday, May 1st, at 7 PM, for the Mandatory Parent Meeting for the upcoming Bentonville Pride season! More details to come.
Please reach out to vpbbboosters@gmail.com with any questions!
I am excited to announce a BRAND NEW offering for this June. The Junior High Bands are offering a 1/2 day All-City Summer Band Camp June 12th-16th 8:30a-11:30a. Cost is $75 and includes a camp shirt, daily snack, instruction and a concert at the end of the week. Students who are CURRENTLY in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade are welcome to attend. More information will be available from the district on how to sign up soon!
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)
Band Room opens at 8:00am
Band Room Closes at 4:00p
Good luck Track Team!!
Good Luck Choir!!!
Tuesday - B Day (Classes 5-8 and Priority)
Band Room opens at 8:00am
Instrument Step-Up Night 5:30-8:00pm at WJHS
Wednesday - A Day (Classes 1-4 and Priority)
Band Room opens at 8:00am
Shopfund orders arrive
Band Room closes at 4:00pm
BHS Audition Music Released at 5:00pm for those who complete the google form in the audition classroom
Thursday - B Day (Classes 5-8 and Priority)
Band Room opens at 8:00am
Band Room closes at 4:00pm
Friday -A Day (Classes 1-4 and Engagement Friday)
Band Room Opens at 8:00am
Band Room Closes at 4:00pm
BHS Auditions music released to everyone at 5:00pm
Saturday, March 18th-Sunday, March 26th - SPRING BREAK!!
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. | July 17th -21st - Mandatory Pride Band Members Music Sectional 1:00p-5:00pm
For full calendar, please see www.bentonvillepride.com |
July 31st- Low Brass and Low Reeds Sectional (Bass Clarinets, Saxophone, French Horns, Trombones, Euphoniums and Tubas) | July 24th-August 4th - Mandatory Pride Band Members Rehearsal 8:00am-5:00pm
For full calendar, please see www.bentonvillepride.com |
August 1st - High Woodwinds and High Brass Sectional (Flutes, Clarinets and Trumpets) | August 7th-15th - Mandatory Pride Band Members Evening Rehearsals Beginning at 5:00pm. End time varies depending on day.
For full calendar, please see www.bentonvillepride.com |
August 2nd - Percussion Sectional | |
August 3rd - Full Band Rehearsal | |
August 4th - Full Band Rehearsal | |
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!
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 stay in the know be sure to follow us on your social media platform of choice: Facebook or Instagram - @wjhswildcatband and/or at