Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 4/3-4/7

Upcoming Events

Greetings Wildcat Band Family,

I am incredibly proud of the work all of our band students put in last week! Concert music is coming along really well and we continue to develop our technical abilities through scale studies. As it it gets warmer outside it is imperative that students maintain a consistent homework and practice schedule outside the school day so that they don't get behind in any of their classes. Staying on top of homework and practice leads to less stress since students are more prepared. Our practice expectation for students is at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

Please be sure to review our calendar for the rest of the semester located here.

7th Grade Families, here is our initial calendar for the 2023-2024 school year. You will see several events on the calendar without dates. These are events we typically participate in but we do not have dates yet. As they come available I will update it.

This quarter the band room will open at 7:45am each day. All students should enter the school through the main doors. The back band room door will not be used as an entrance; it is exit only. Students in the room before school have 2 options: 1) practice current music or 2) work on homework/study/read. Fridays are open for students to just hang out. Students will be reminded once of the procedure. The second time they will be required to go to the commons until the 8:28 bell.

Auditions

8th grade band students should be practicing concert music and the BHS Audition Music daily. Help videos have been posted to our google classroom for Exercise A and Exercise B. The audition music is NOT whether a student will be in the BHS Band but to put them in a like-ability based band. Audition recordings should be turned in absolutely no later than 11:59pm on Friday, April 14th. Instructions to do so correctly are specific and listed in the assignment in the BHS Band Audition Google Classroom.

Students who fail to submit an audition recording will have band dropped from their BHS Schedule for next year at the end of May.

Winter band photos are NOW AVAILABLE for purchase from: https://snapped4u.com/galleries/18912. They are $10 each and will be available for you to download immediately after purchase. Thank you for your patience for the delay in offering these to you. All proceeds go to Mr. Chris Moore who professionally shot and edited each photo. The average cost for a professional photographer to do this many photos is $3,500! Mr. Moore agreed to do it for $450. We've currently sold $360 worth. Let's show this new dad (Baby Claira was born 10 weeks early and is doing well!) some extra love and support and get his growing family a bit extra. :)

The BHS Band Boosters will be holding a meeting for prospective Chaperones for the 2023-2024 band year!

Details:

Chaperone Meeting

Who: Prospective Chaperones for the 2023-2024 Band Year @BHS

When: Tuesday, April 4th @ 6:30 p.m.

Where: BHS South Commons

What: We will be discussing what being a Chaperone for the BHS Band is like. Requirements to be a Chaperone and details regarding background checks for all Chaperones.

*Attendance is not mandatory, but is highly encouraged for anyone wishing to be a Chaperone next year.

Thanks all! Keri Letson 2022-2023 Student Coordinator

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 $527 short to pay our upcoming invoices for the trip. Please remember that these payments are now a week past due.

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! Registration opens Monday, April 10th!

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 7:45am

• Band Room is open until 4:45pm for those who would like help with BHS Audition Music.

• Good luck track team!!

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

• Band Room opens at 7:45am

• 7th Grade Band Leadership Rehearsal during Priority Time

• Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:50-7:20pm.

• I look forward to talking with you all!

• BHS Band Perspective Chaperone Meeting @6:30pm

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

• Band Room opens at 8:30am due to Faculty Meeting

• Keep instruments with you. Don't leave in hallway. We will open the room as soon as we can.

• Band Room Open until 4:45pm for those who would like help with BHS Audition Music

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

• Band Room opens at 7:45am

• Open Band Practice during Priority

• Band Room closes at 3:45pm

• Mr. Jones out right after school to drive trailer for LJHS Band to CPA in Van Buren.

• Good luck to those trying out for Volleyball!

• Friday -A Day (Classes 1-4 and Engagement)

• Band Room Opens at 7:45am

• Band Room Open Until 4:30pm for those who want help on the BHS Audition Music.

• Good luck to those trying out for Volleyball!

• Saturday

• Break a leg Forensics!!!!!

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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.	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

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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!

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

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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.

Musically Yours,