"Common Times" Weekly Newsletter 9/5-9/9
Upcoming Events
September 13th - Perform at Arkansas Natural's Game (8th grade band/pep band)
October 12th - 8th Grade Band and Jazz Band Fall Concert
October 14th - 8th Grade Band plays for BHS Football Game
Oct. 15-19 - Fall Break
Greetings Wildcat Band Families,
You're welcome for a beautiful Friday evening last week! Of course with the water party and First Friday cancelled the weather all moved out by 3:30.
We had a fantastic third week of school are making terrific progress! Instruments going home have improved dramatically this week but we still have a few students that need to get into the habit of taking instruments home each day we have class. There is an assignment to practice between every class and it is impossible to be prepared for class without practicing.
There is a faculty meeting on Wednesday so the band room will not be available for instrument drop off until 8:28 or so. Keep instruments on your person and either be in the cafeteria eating breakfast or in the commons until that time. Do not leave it in hallway.
All-Region sectionals continue this week. Clarinets will meet Wednesday during priority time since we won't have school Monday. Please remember that these are required for all 8th grade band students. GREAT effort was taken to schedule it around individual student schedules based off of feedback last spring. 8th grade assignments this semester are based off what is taught during the sectionals. 7th graders who would like to be challenged to learn the all-region audition music and more than welcome to attend.
ONLINE STORE CLOSES THIS WEDNESDAY
Our online apparel store is open and ready for you! The required t-shirt for all band students was already ordered for all band students. So get you some awesome drip! http://wjhsonlinestore.deco-apparel.com
Order deadline is September 7th. Spend $60 get 10% off your order.
8th Grade band kicked off the Dominos Slice the Price Fundraiser on Friday. Every student needs to sell at least 15 cards. That comes out to 1 card per day. Cost is $15/card. Profit is $7.50/card sold. Doing so gives each student a profit of $112.50 which pays for the first 2 payments towards the St. Louis trip AND gives every student a free shirt we will get to design for the trip. More info can be found with the handout given to your band student last week or here: https://slicethepricecard.com/37592. 7th Graders who would like to utilize this fundraiser to help cover band supply fees may participate as well. Use the link above to create your account.
Please take a few moment to review the information below so you are fully prepared for the week ahead.
This week:
Monday - NO SCHOOL - LABOR DAY
Tuesday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Priority Time)
8:00am - W3 All-Region Week 2 Assignment Due for Clarinets, Trombones, and Euphoniums
8:15-8:30 - Drop off instruments in band room
Natural's Game Performance Tickets DUE with $$. Student tickets are $4.
This is a required performance for 8th grade
8th Grade Band needs concert instruments (oboe, bassoons, euphoniums, etc)
Priority time - Trombone Sectional with Mr. Pierce
3:45-4:30 - Euphonium Sectional (required for 8th graders)
4:50pm - Band Room Closes
Wednesday (A Day - Classes 1-4 and Priority)
8:00am - W3 All-Region Week 2 Assignment Due for Flutes, Saxophones and Tubas
8:25am - Band Room Opens due to faculty meeting.
Keep your instrument with your person. Do not leave in hallway.
Priority Time - Flutes with Mrs. Richardson and Clarinets with Mr. Jones
3:45-4:30 - Saxophone and Tuba All-Region Sectional (required for 8th graders)
4:50pm - Band Room Closes
Thursday (B Day - Classes 5-8 and Priority)
8:00am - W3 All-Region Week 2 Assignment Due for Oboe and Percussion
4:00pm - Band Room Closes
Friday (B Day - Classes 1-4 and Engagement Friday)
8:00am - W3 All-Region Week 2 Assignment Due for Trumpets and French Horns
8:15am - Drop off instruments
Priority Time - Wind Ensemble/Advanced Band
Wanna work on really challenging music and get better on your instrument? Come join us!
3:45-4:30 - Trumpet All-Region Sectional (required for 8th graders)
3:50-4:40 - French Horn All-Region Sectional (required for 8th graders)
5:00pm - Band Room Closes
Below is the schedule for required sectionals for 8th grade band for the year that continues THIS WEEK. 7th graders are welcome to attend sectionals first semester if they want to be challenged to learn the all-region honor band audition music. Auditions occur in December and are required for all 8th Grade Band Students and 7th Grade Percussion.
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! 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)
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,
