Monday, January 26, 2015

Extravaganza

Dear Parents,

The Jazz Workshop was a great success.  18 CMS students participated and we even had three high school musicians join us. Students had an opportunity to learn from and play along with professional musicians.  We then got together and rehearsed for the Jazz Extravaganza that will be held on Tuesday.  Thank you to everyone who participated!



Practice Logs 

After seeing an increase in percentages, I am going to continue the trial period of changing practice log due days.  For bands, they are due on Tuesdays, and for strings, they are due on Fridays.  Thank you for your flexibility.

Upcoming Events

January 27: Jazz Extravaganza, 7:00-9:00 PM, Community Center.  This event features the Mile High Jazz Band, Carson High School Jazz Band, and the CMS Jazz Band, all under one roof.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.  Call time is 6:15 PM for jazz band members.  The concert begins at 7:00 PM.  We need help running a raffle table, which we are holding in conjunction with the Carson City Band Boosters. It would be ideal for these parents to not have jazz students performing so they can watch the concert. Please email me if you are able to help (and receive free admission into the last half of the concert!). Admission is free for students and $12 for adults.  Proceeds from ticket sales benefit the Carson High School Jazz Band and raffle drawing sales benefit our own CMS Jazz Band.

February 5-6: Honor Band, All Day in Fallon.  All honor band students will need to be at CMS by 7:00 AM both mornings for the bus.  We will rehearse in Fallon all day that Thursday, arriving back home by 5 PM.  On Friday, students will stay in Fallon all day, with the concert at 7 PM.

February 7: Jazz in the Schools Festival, 10 AM-4 PM, UNR.  Jazz Band students will be performing at UNR with other Northern Nevada middle and high school jazz bands.  Following their performance, they will have a feedback clinic/workshop.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.

February 26: Band-O-Rama, Details TBD. Mandatory for all band members.

March 27: Chili Bingo Night, 6 PM-8 PM, CMS Cafeteria  
After meeting with Mr. Sadler, the band will be running this event exclusively!  Let me know if you can help out with this event either by sending me an email or signing up here: Sign Up Genius We will be holding a meeting shortly to go over details.

May 7-10: Spring Trip (advanced band) This weekend we got the fantastic news – because of our great sounding recording from the winter concert and strong application, Disneyland has decided to invite us back!  Advanced Band parents will be receiving an email, as well as a flyer from their students, with more information.  

What Should Your Student Practice?

Concert Band: Dramatico, Imperium, Band-O-Rama, Sound Innovations #133-144
Intermediate Band: Lip Benders 3-4, Rhythm Chunks, Festivo, Whale Warriors.
Advanced Band: Festivo, Whale Warriors, Band-O-Rama, Sound Innovations Fanfare.
Advanced Strings: Janie Be Good, Fantasia 2000, Concerto Grosso
Beginning Band: Dramatico, Imperium, Band-O-Rama, Sound Innovations #94-99
Beginning Strings: Abigail's Tune, Classic Bits and Pieces, anything in Sound Innovations book.
Jazz Band: Manteca, All Blues, Go Tell It On The Mountain

As we progress on these pieces, I will start to include specific measures and sections of each song in each ensemble as focal points.  In addition to telling them in class, I will post those here.

Charms Office Assistant
New this year, we are using Charms Office Assistant to keep track of all financial transactions, inventory items, and events. This is a special program designed for music programs to help keep parents informed. Your student will be getting a flyer with instructions on how to update personal information soon, but you can also use this link: https://www.charmsoffice.com/charms/parents.asp?username=CarsonMusic. If the district allows, we hope to be able to accept credit cards (through PayPal) using this website in the future.

Monday, January 19, 2015

Practicing, Jazz, and Chili

Dear Parents,

Things happen fast here!  First of all, I have important information on a change in practice logs, details of upcoming events, and a date as well as possible details for Chili Bingo Night.

Practice Logs 

After some student feedback, we are trying something new for practice logs. All band students will now have practice logs due on Tuesday night.  Strings students will still have theirs due on Friday.  Remind your band students to get them in by Tuesday night.  I'm looking for an improvement in percentages.  If there is a positive change in how well they do on Tuesdays, this will become a permanent change for the remainder of the semester.

Upcoming Events

January 24: Jazz Workshop, 9 AM-1 PM, CMS.  This event is sponsored by the Mile High Jazz Band and features clinics from three guests jazz educators in our area: David Bugli, Larry Engstrom, and Lee Warner.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.  Anyone else interested in jazz should also attend.  The event is completely free

January 27: Jazz Extravaganza, 7:00-9:00 PM, Community Center.  This event features the Mile High Jazz Band, Carson High School Jazz Band, and the CMS Jazz Band, all under one roof.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.  Call time is 6:15 PM for jazz band members.  The concert begins at 7:00 PM.  We need help running a raffle table, which we are holding in conjunction with the Carson City Band Boosters. Anyone is welcome to watch!

February 5-6: Honor Band, All Day in Fallon.  All honor band students will need to be at CMS by 7:00 AM both mornings for the bus.  We will rehearse in Fallon all day that Thursday, arriving back home by 5 PM.  On Friday, students will stay in Fallon all day, with the concert at 7 PM.

February 7: Jazz in the Schools Festival, 10 AM-4 PM, UNR.  Jazz Band students will be performing at UNR with other Northern Nevada middle and high school jazz bands.  Following their performance, they will have a feedback clinic/workshop.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.

February 26: Band-O-Rama, Details TBD.

Chili Bingo Night


After meeting with PTA, we have tentatively set the date for March 27.  There is a possibility that the band may be running this event exclusively.  If that happens, we will need to have all hands on deck!  I'll have more information as soon as possible.

Spring Trip

As we await confirmation from Disneyland, I am still collecting payments of $450 if you'd like to pay in full, or three easy payments of $150.  I will set up a payment schedule once we receive confirmation from Disneyland and have a firm date and itinerary.

What Should Your Student Practice?

Concert Band: Dramatico, Imperium, Band-O-Rama (receiving this week), Sound Innovations #133-144
Intermediate Band: Lip Benders 3-4, Rhythm Chunks, Festivo, Whale Warriors (receiving this week)
Advanced Band: Festivo, Whale Warriors, Band-O-Rama
Advanced Strings: Janie Be Good, Fantasia 2000, Concerto Grosso
Beginning Band: Dramatico, Imperium, Band-O-Rama, Sound Innovations #89-99
Beginning Strings: Abigail's Tune, Classic Bits and Pieces
Jazz Band: Manteca, All Blues, Go Tell It On The Mountain

As we progress on these pieces, I will start to include specific measures and sections of each song in each ensemble as focal points.  In addition to telling them in class, I will post those here.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Hittin' the Ground Running

Dear Parents,

We're back!  Did you miss us?  It's time to begin the second half our students' music education with a few reminders and yes, even a couple events.  Also included is a new segment: "What Should Your Student Practice?"

After going to the Midwest Clinic in Chicago, I had a lot to share with the students, and this first week back gave me a chance to share stories and introduce new warm-ups.  I was also reminded through numerous speakers at the clinic that the #1 indicator of student success is how well they practice these skills at home.  Yes, practicing.  This simple, sometimes loathsome task has such an influence on their growth as musicians.  Parents, I appreciate everything you do at home to help your students succeed in their music education.  Your support never goes unnoticed.

Upcoming Events

January 24: Jazz Workshop, 9 AM-1 PM, CMS.  This event is sponsored by the Mile High Jazz Band and features clinics from three guests jazz educators in our area: David Bugli, Larry Engstrom, and Lee Warner.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.  Anyone else interested in jazz should also attend.  The event is completely free

January 27: Jazz Extravaganza, 7:00-9:00 PM, Community Center.  This event features the Mile High Jazz Band, Carson High School Jazz Band, and the CMS Jazz Band, all under one roof.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.  Call time, concert dress, and other details will be discussed shortly.

February 5-6: Honor Band, All Day in Fallon.  All honor band students will need to be at CMS by 7:00 AM both mornings for the bus.  We will rehearse in Fallon all day that Thursday, arriving back home by 5 PM.  On Friday, students will stay in Fallon all day, with the concert at 7 PM.

February 7: Jazz in the Schools Festival, 10 AM-4 PM, UNR.  Jazz Band students will be performing at UNR with other Northern Nevada middle and high school jazz bands.  Following their performance, they will have a feedback clinic/workshop.  This event is mandatory for jazz band.

February 26: Band-O-Rama, Details TBD.

March TBD: Chili Bingo Night - I am attending the PTA meeting this week to get more information, which I will pass on to you shortly.


What Should Your Student Practice?

Concert Band: Dramatico, Imperium, Band-O-Rama, Sound Innovations #133-144
Intermediate Band: Lip Benders 3-4, Rhythm Chunks, Festivo
Advanced Band: Festivo, Whale Warriors, Band-O-Rama
Advanced Strings: Janie Be Good, Fantasia 2000
Beginning Band: Dramatico, Imperium, Band-O-Rama, Sound Innovations #89-99
Beginning Strings: Abigail's Tune, Classic Bits and Pieces
Jazz Band: Manteca, All Blues, Go Tell It On The Mountain

As we progress on these pieces, I will start to include specific measures and sections of each song in each ensemble as focal points.  In addition to telling them in class, I will post those here.

Have a great week!