Weekly Newsletter 9/21

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Week 6!  Here is what your students have learned this past week:

• Honor Band audition music was passed out to students in concert band, intermediate band, and advanced band.
• Beginning band students are beginning to sound like an ensemble as all students are developing good tone quality.
• Beginning strings students can now use their bows on simple songs.
• Concert band students received their first sheet music, First Concert March, and can play through it nonstop.  We are also planning other fun and exciting music for the fall concert.
• Intermediate band students are memorizing Battle Born in preparation for Parent Preview on Saturday.
• Advanced band has memorized Battle Born and will be receiving new music.
• Advanced strings can now play 4 songs and will be preparing those pieces for the fall concert.

New Fundraiser - Dolan Automotive's 2014 Class Project - Update

Thank you to the amazing contributions we have received so far.  I cannot thank you enough!  We are 27% to our goal of $2500.

Dolan Automotive Group is matching donations, dollar-for-dollar, in a crowdfunding campaign.  Go to http://classproject2014.dolanautogroup.com/campaigns/carson-middle-school-instrumental-music-help-improve-our-band-room and see for yourself!  I created a video that explains what we need, and anyone's donation will be matched as long as we reach our fundraising goal of $2500 by the end of October.  This fundraiser is a HUGE opportunity for us, and word of mouth will be essential to ensure its success.

Practice Logs

Practice logs are due each Friday.  Students may click the link on the top of the website, or go here.

Beginning this week, students who do not complete a practice log will do a playing test in class each week they don't turn one in.  The material will be chosen from what they have been asked to practice the previous week.  Depending on the results of the playing test, students may earn up to 50% of their grade, rather than receiving a "0".  Students have received a handout with all this information.  Here is how each class did this week, by percentage of students who turned them in:

Concert Band: 77%
Advanced Strings: 75%
Beginning Band: 67%
Advanced Band: 66%
Beginning Strings: 58%
Intermediate Band: 54%

Marching Rehearsals

Marching rehearsals will continue on Tuesdays for all intermediate and advanced band members from 2:45-4:30 PM.  They are doing very well and I appreciate their attendance.  As of now, rehearsal will take place as scheduled, and I will inform you if we have to cancel due to poor air quality.

Upcoming Event: Marching Preview & BBQ - September 27

This event is for all intermediate and advanced band members to show off what they have learned to parents and to give our wonderful volunteers a chance to do final uniform fitting. This is a required event as it has been on the schedule since the beginning of the year. Here is the schedule for the day:

• 9:30 am - Call in the band room. 
• 9:30 - 11:30 am - Music and marching rehearsal (parents are welcome to stick around and see what they do best!)
• 11:30 am - Students will perform for parents and family, followed by a BBQ presented by the boosters.

Students were given an information sheet on Friday. They are required to turn in the bottom portion so we have a correct number for the BBQ.

Upcoming Event: Oktoberfest

On October 11 the Boosters will be hosting an Oktoberfest for the enjoyment of those 21 and older. Tickets will be $20 and will include food, beer/wine tasting, and a souvenir mug. More details to follow after the booster meeting.

Boosters

The first booster meeting took place last week and we discussed some great ideas. The minutes from the meeting are available on the website at: http://www.cmsbands.org/#!boosterminutes/cn9s . Our next meeting will be Monday, September 22 @ 6:00 pm in the band room.  I hope to see you all there.

Thanks, as always!

-Mr. Jacques-