Weekly Update

Summary

Students are continuing to progress with their new music.  The honor band pre-rehearsal is next Monday, the Jazz Extravaganza is next Tuesday, and the Jazz in the Schools festival is the following Saturday.  The spring trip payment is due and we have plenty of chaperones.  There is a PTA meeting on Tuesday that will address bingo and chili night details, and you are all invited. (dates and times for these events are found below)  I will also be holding after school sectionals and small group rehearsals on various days throughout the coming weeks.

Jazz Band Details

On Tuesday, Jan. 28, our jazz band will be performing with the Carson High School Jazz Band and the Mile High Jazz Band.  I encourage you all to support jazz in our area.  Since this is a fundraiser, parents will need to pay for tickets.  Participating students will be included in the event at no cost.  You may purchase tickets here:  http://tahoe.activitytickets.com/activity/206  Call time for jazz band members will be 6:30 PM at the community center.  I will send more details home in a handout shortly.

On Saturday, February 1, we will also be performing at UNR with the Jazz in the Schools Festival.  The festival features a performance in Nightingale Concert Hall, a feedback clinic, lunch, and an opportunity to listen to other area jazz bands. This event is free and any jazz band parent is welcome to chaperone on the bus. Call time will be 8:00 AM.  I will send home more details shortly.

Honor Band

Honor band students will be meeting at the Carson High School band room on Monday, January 27, from 4:30-6:30 PM to rehearse with the entire northern zone honor band and their guest conductor.  This performance is mandatory.  Let me know if you have any questions.

Spring Trip

The first payment of $150 is due on Tuesday, 1/21.  Please let me know if there's any questions.  I have received confirmation from 8 chaperones and we are now full.  You are still welcome to travel on your own, but we cannot guarantee a room for you.  I will give confirmed chaperones more information about the trip in the coming weeks.

PTA Meeting

There's a PTA meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 5:30 PM in the CMS Library.  I will make an appearance, and anybody who expressed interest in helping out with seeking donations from the community for Bingo Chili Night are welcome to attend.  There will not be a band meeting this week.

Playing Tests

Each week, students will be assessed on each piece of music that they're playing for festival season.  I will be looking for rhythmic and melodic accuracy.  I will test them on a section of music to be determined the day of the test.  The songs to be tested this week are as follows:

Beginning and Concert Bands: Crater Lake Overture
Intermediate and Advanced Bands: Bryce Canyon Overture
Strings: Bach Country Fiddles

After School Sectionals

This is a heads up to all parents that I am beginning to hold regular sectionals to various members of the bands as needed over the coming weeks.  Last week, I worked with the honor band and the clarinets, and they are benefiting greatly from the extra help. This week, I will be working with the jazz band rhythm section and the advanced band woodwinds.

Calendar of Events

January 27: Honor Band Pre-Rehearsal, Carson HS, 4:30-6:30 PM
January 28: Jazz Extravaganza, Community Center, 7:00 PM (jazz band only)
February 1: Jazz in the Schools, UNR, All Day (jazz band only)
February 20-21: Honor Band in Fallon, All Day
March 8: Solo and Ensemble, Carson HS, All Day (optional event for those wanting to perform solos)
March 17: Jazz Band Concert, Community Center, Times TBA
March 27: NZNMEA Band Festival (revised from a typo that said March 20)


Practice Logs
Last week, 161 out of 185 students in the program turned in their practice logs online!  Students will continue to turn in practice logs by submitting them online through a Google form.  I will only accept practice sheets submitted between 3:00 PM Monday and 3:00 PM Tuesday. The link can be found on the front page of http://www.cmsbands.org, your student's Edmodo account, or right here: https://docs.google.com/a/carson.k12.nv.us/forms/d/1LTn37fNCVgVGIT_JYHXHr5fmbRGJIryN4hbNSx9JGuw/viewform

Students are also free to come in at lunch on non-block days to practice, seek additional help, or make up playing tests.   Here's what your students need to practice this week:

Beginning Band: Crater Lake Overture, Essential Elements #100-121 and page 40, #1-4.
Concert Band: Imperium, Crater Lake Overture, Essential Elements, 122-end (working at your own pace).
Intermediate Band: Chester Variations, Bryce Canyon Overture, In the Bleak Midwinter.
Advanced Band: Chorale and Shaker Dance, Bryce Canyon Overture, Abracadabra,
Strings: "Bach" Country Fiddles, Storm Chaser, Revenge of the Double Bass
Jazz Band: Oye Como Va, Blues Machine, Easy Money, Blues in Hoss Flat

Have a great week!

-Mr. Jacques-