Weekly Update

Summary

With spring break right around the corner, this week gives me a chance to give your students new music for the spring concert and take a relaxed pace with showing them how to practice during break.  All band classes will get a playing test on a new major scale this week, and the jazz band will be participating in a special performance this Friday in Reno.

Reno Jazz Festival Field Trip and Clinic (Jazz Band only)

On Friday, April 11, the jazz band will be traveling to UNR for the day. They will play at a clinic hosted by a renown jazz educator, and listen to some of the nation's best middle school jazz bands at the Reno Jazz Festival.  Students must get approval from their teachers before going. They will receive a handout on Monday.

Itinerary

7:00 AM: Load bus and depart CMS.

8:00-9:00: Clinic performance at Grand Sierra Resort with Mr. Chuck Wackerman.

9:00-10:00: Free time at the Fun Quest Arcade.

10:00-11:00: Band listens to McAuliffe Middle School Jazz Band rehearsal, Mr. Chuck Wackerman's own group.

11:00: Depart Grand Sierra Resort, lunch at Downunder Cafe on the UNR campus.

1:00-5:00: Listen to other middle and high school jazz bands.

6:00 PM: Approximate return to CMS.

Cost: $20 per student ($10 for lunch and $10 for a jazz festival wristband). It is recommended that students have some spending money for the Fun Quest Arcade and Jazz Festival souvenirs.  

Festival Recordings
I decided to re-post these for anybody who is interested in sharing these with relatives and friends.

Strings - from Washoe County Orchestra Festival, Mar. 13
Lackawanna Locomotive
Bach County Fiddles
Storm Chaser
Beginning Band - from NZNMEA Band Festival, Mar. 20
Morpheus
Concert Band - from NZNMEA Band Festival, Mar. 20
Imperium
Irish Tune from County Derry
Union March
Intermediate Band - from Washoe County Band Festival, Mar. 27
Bryce Canyon Overture
In the Bleak Midwinter
Chester Variations
Advanced Band - from Washoe County Band Festival, Mar. 27
Abracadabra
Jazz Band - from Jazz in the Schools Festival on Feb. 1
Oye Como Va

Advanced Band Spring Trip Final Payment
I am sending letters home on Tuesday with any student who has not completed their payment.  Included will be the outstanding balance.  If you receive one of these, please complete the payment before spring break so we can pay our final bills and solidify the trip.

After School Rehearsals
The next groups and times for after school rehearsals are as follows:
All State Band - April 7, 2:30-4:00 PM

Calendar of Events

April 11: Reno Jazz Festival, UNR, 7 AM-6 PM (Jazz Band)
April 12-20: SPRING BREAK
April 24-26: All State, UNR.
May 3: Jazz Workshop, CMS, 9 AM-1 PM
May 8-11: Spring Advanced Band Trip
May 14: Strings Concert, EVMS Gym, 7:00 PM
May 20: Beginning and Concert Band Concert, Location TBA, 5:30 PM
May 21: Intermediate, Advanced, and Jazz Band Concert, Location TBA, 5:30 PM

Practice Logs
Students from all classes except intermediate band will continue to turn in practice logs by submitting them online. 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/forms/d/1_bEsPWAafghbYSXQlFUD6wtN6wko88YuxcDsTMe8Lxs/viewform 

Each class should put extra emphasis on the following: 
Concert Band: Concert F Major Scale, I'm A Believer
Beginning Band: Concert E Flat Major Scale, 1812 Overture
Intermediate Band: Concert C and A Flat Major Scales, Around the World in 80 Measures
Advanced Band: Concert G Major Scale, Pixar Movie Magic
Strings: Fantasia 2000, Home Means Nevada

-Mr. Jacques-