Weekly Update

UPDATES

100% of Advanced Band turned in their practice sheets last week!  As long as they keep practicing at home, they will no longer be required to fill them out!

Sparks Christmas Parade - Saturday, December 7.
I have official information regarding the parade, available HERE.  A copy of this will be given to the students on Monday.  Call time for all participants (intermediate and advanced band) will be 9:00 AM.  The parade starts at 1:00 PM, and our entry number is 38.  Following the parade, we will reward the group with a stop at Meadowood Mall so they can eat and shop.  Please let me know if you'd like to tag along as a chaperone.

Updated Advanced Band News:  Honor band auditions are in the books. Results will be published in an additional update on Tuesday.  As of  now, the spring trip is still on hold, but students are making progress in their efforts to earn back the trip. The class is halfway to spelling "D-I-S-N-E-Y-L-A-N-D"  If the class spells it out with at least 5 more well behaved and productive rehearsals between now and December 12, they will earn back the trip.  We will discuss the trip and payment options at the meeting on Dec. 3.

Students who are in two different ensembles: if they are having trouble fulfilling their practice requirements, they can split their practice time between the two instruments. This means at least 50 minutes and at least two days per week on each instrument. Please either write both instruments on one sheet or staple the two together to ensure they are given full credit.

CALENDAR OF UPCOMING EVENTS


December 3: Parent Meeting, CMS Band Room, 6:30 PM.
December 4: Marching Rehearsal, 2:30-3:30 PM.
December 7: Sparks Hometowne Christmas Parade (mandatory for marching members): 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
December 12: Winter Concert (mandatory for all bands and strings): 5:30-8:30 PM. Community Center.

PRACTICING

*Practice Sheets due Tuesday*  Advanced Band was the first class to reach 100%.  The next class with 100% turned in on time will earn the reward of no longer needing to fill them out.

Starting this week, instead of lunch detentions, students will have writing assignments during class on their block schedule days.  They will be required to complete a paper on responsibility in order to reinforce their need to turn in work.  Lunch detentions are taking a lot of time away from my students who need help on Fridays at lunch.

Please practice the following this week:

Beginning Band: First Concert March, Name That Christmas Carol, Holiday Fanfare.
Concert Band: Sounds of the Season, Irish Tune from County Derry, Linus and Lucy.
Intermediate Band: Merry Bells, In The Bleak Midwinter, Ding Dong Merrily on High, Holiday Classics, and Cartoon Christmas (Measures 11-37 and 79-end ONLY).
Advanced Band: It's The Holiday Season, Cartoon Christmas, Russian Christmas Music.
Strings: Experienced students should work on any Strazz music and Diggy Liggy.
Beginners, violas, and low strings should work on Lackawanna Locomotive and Countdown to Christmas.  Everybody should work on all Christmas carols that we rehearsed this week.

That's the news for this week! 

-Mr. Jacques