Friday, May 29, 2015

Epilogue

Dear Parents,

We did it!  Another outstanding school year is in the books.  I wanted to first talk about promotion and instrument/uniform turn-ins.  Here are some incredible statistics:
  • All students who were required to be at promotion were either present or accounted for.  Nobody skipped this final performance.
  • 1/3 of Concert Band volunteered to play along and learned the music in just one week!
  • All uniform items were returned by the last day of school.
  • All school instruments were returned or reissued as summer rentals on time and in good repair.
  • Everybody helped out with cleaning and organizing the band room, saving me hours of time.
I have NEVER had such a GREAT sounding band at promotion.  In addition, I have never had such a cooperative group.  We set up the gym in 8 minutes and returned everything to the band room in 5 minutes.  Last year, this took over an hour!  Everyone worked as a team and what is potentially the most chaotic day ended up being one of the most relaxing for all of us.  Thank you students!  

Oh, did I mention that these were all 6th and 7th graders??  The future looks very bright for our band/strings program!

To all the 8th graders reading: Don't think I forgot about you!  I was so proud to have a group of approximately 10 8th graders who tried to come back to visit me before promotion practice.  Your hugs, positive comments, and genuine excitement made me even more sad to say goodbye.  But again, don't think of it as goodbye. Think of it as "See you later!"  Regan and Gillian: your speeches were absolutely wonderful.  It has been quite a journey seeing you all grow both as human beings and musicians since our first day together at CMS.

2014-2015 Highlights
  • There were two strings classes this year, for the first time in CMS history
  • The marching band debuted new uniforms and marched in 3 parades
  • The Dolan Automotive Fundraiser generated over $5,000 from very generous donations
  • 21 students were selected for the NZNMEA Honor Band
  • 6 students were selected for the NMEA All-State Band
  • Chili Bingo Night earned the program approximately $6,300 in profit
  • Concert Band, Intermediate Band, Advanced Band, and Advanced Strings all earned straight "Superior" ratings at the NZNMEA Music Festival
  • For the first time in known history in Carson City, the CMS Jazz Band represented our state capital at the Reno Jazz Festival
  • 6 outstanding 8th grade band members were selected to play in the CHS Wind Ensemble
  • Adelynn and Josie were recipients of scholarships to attend the Lake Tahoe Music Camp

Jazz Camp begins on Monday!  I have room for a couple more people.  If you're not registered and you want to drop in to see if this camp is for you, come on Monday and try it for yourself!  We have a nice group of people signed up in the ensemble camp, and the concert on June 9 is going to be a lot of fun!  

I'll post little updates here and there throughout the summer.  Thank you for a great year, everybody.  Parents, Mrs. Heaton, and Ms. Simkins: I couldn't have done this without you!  In the words of Porky Pig: "That's All, Folks!"

-Mr. Jacques-


Thursday, May 28, 2015

Advanced Band Audition Results

Dear Parents,

After three days of auditions and playing tests, I have a list of the newest members of the 2015-2016 Carson Middle School Advanced Band.  Some of the sections were really competitive, making it a tough decision. Here are the results:

Flute
Emily Cuellar
Bahar Jazani
Maryn Myler

Oboe
Katie Jeffries

Clarinet
Will Contine
Max Fontaine
Jonathan Francone
Chloe Marks
Fiona McDonald
Josephine Payan
Bryce Peterson
Cierra Randall
Chloe Vasquez

Alto Sax
Christina Brase
Lindsay Chowanski
Slade Pronk
Jackie Puett
Emily Wolf

Tenor Sax
Emilie Figueroa

Trumpet
Weston Aldrich
Matt Jones
Owen Lieder
Even Peterson
Ryan Pitman
Adam Richetta

Horn
Nate Amrhein

Trombone
David Barrientos
Spencer Elliott

Tuba
Kayleigh McCain-Thicke

Percussion
Stephen Chandler
Tara Eustis
Kenny Fox

Again, congratulations!

Monday, May 25, 2015

The Final Week

Dear Parents,

Happy Memorial Day!  I hope you're all enjoying the weather and getting in some quality time with your families.  We have just four days of school left, so this update serves as a reminder of what needs to be done to wrap-up the school year.

To-Do Items

Uniform Returns took place last week.  If your student still has one, please have them bring it back ASAP.  I will ask the office to post a fee to student accounts if they aren't returned by this time.

Instrument Returns
All string students: May 27
Band members NOT participating in promotion: May 27
Band members participating in promotion: May 29

Summer Rentals
This offer is returning this year!  Students who want to have an instrument over the summer will be able to keep their instrument until August!  See Mr. Jacques for a summer rental application and return it by the instrument return date listed above.  When you return the instrument in August, you will need to have the instrument taken to a local repair shop for a basic maintenance.

8th Grade Promotion
This is mandatory for all Intermediate and Advanced Band members.  Students will meet in the gym at 12 PM on May 29.  The ceremony begins at 12:30 PM and ends no later than 2:00 PM.  Students will be excused once all equipment has been returned to the band room and all school instruments are either turned in or reissued for the summer.

Final Playing Tests/Audition
Final playing tests are finishing up on Tuesday and Wednesday.  If a student feels like they want to do better, I will have a limited number of spots open at lunch for anyone wishing to retest.

More Band for your Buck!

Jazz Camp
Jazz Camp is right around the corner, and I'm excited to be hosting this for all area student musicians.  Please sign up by May 29 so I know how many copies to make and how many snacks to purchase.   Click here for more information.


Friday, May 15, 2015

The Last 10 Days of School

Dear Parents,

Wow!! What a great couple of concerts! I appreciate all the students working together, especially those who had a concert on the day I wasn't at school.  On Wednesday night after the first concert, Dan Sadler commended the groups on a great performance. On Friday morning, Dr. Ward (assistant principal) made an announcement congratulating all your students to the entire school!   Congratulations to all students in all groups on a fine performance to end the year!

To-Do Items

With 10 days until the end of the school year, we have a few housekeeping items to cover:

Uniform Returns will take place on Wednesday, May 20.  Anyone who borrowed shoes, tuxedo pants, cummerbunds, bow ties, or tuxedo shirts must return them by this time.  Students who purchased polos, shoes, or tuxedo shirts get to keep them or have the option to trade next fall.

Instrument Returns
All string students: May 27
Band members NOT participating in promotion: May 27
Band members participating in promotion: May 29

Summer Rentals
This offer is returning this year!  Students who want to have an instrument over the summer will be able to keep their instrument until August!  See Mr. Jacques for a summer rental application and return it by the instrument return date listed above.  When you return the instrument in August, you will need to have the instrument taken to a local repair shop for a basic maintenance.

8th Grade Promotion
This year, all 7th grade band members in Intermediate and Advanced Band will be playing for the 8th grade promotion on May 29 at noon.  I will also open this up to any other band member volunteers.  Attire for this performance will be SSA.  We'll be learning the song next week in preparation for this special performance.  Students will return their school instruments immediately following this ceremony.

Final Playing Tests/Audition
I have sent band students home with a list of music that they need to prepare for their final playing test.  This test will also double as an audition for advanced band, if they wish to be considered.  These tests will take place in class on May 25-27.

More Band for your Buck!

Documentary
I am putting together a 2014-2015 Band and Strings documentary DVD that includes select concerts, pictures, and other memories from this school year. The cost is $12 and I will have order forms available for any student who wishes to purchase a copy.  Please pay in cash or checks payable to Nick Jacques.

Jazz Camp
Jazz Camp will take place from June 1-5.  It includes two sessions: a Jazz Explorers session for first timer middle school students, and a Jazz Ensemble session for current jazz band members or anyone who wants to take a faster pace that ends with a performance at Comma Coffee on June 9.  Click here for more information.

Disneyland Pictures
Would you like a picture of the Advanced Band from Disneyland?  Send your student with $10 by Monday and we will make you a copy!

Sunday, May 10, 2015

This Is It

Dear Parents,

There is so much to celebrate and so much more to look forward to in the next week.  Let's begin with a few reminders about our final concerts of the year.

May 13: Spring Concert, Part 1  Call time is 5:15 PM in the band room in your student's concert attire.  The concert begins at 5:30 PM with the 5th grade bands from the elementary schools.  We will the continue with Beginning Strings, Beginning Band, and Concert Band.  The concert should end around 7:00 PM.  We will also be giving out special awards to certain members of each group, so this one is definitely not to be missed!

May 14: Spring Concert, Part 2  Call time is 5:15 PM in the band room for Advanced Strings and Intermediate Band.  Call time is 5:30 PM in the cafeteria for Advanced Band and Jazz Band.  The concert begins at 5:30 PM.  Please make sure your student is in their concert attire.  We will play music from our band festivals, plus some others that we learned for fun in the last month.  The concert should end around 7:30 PM.  We will also be giving out special awards to certain members of each group.

Wind Ensemble Results

This year, an unprecedented 6 students made it into Carson High School's Wind Ensemble.  Congratulations to Adelynn Puett, Regan Lowe, Rachael Cuellar, Jacob Richetta, Syrena Chowanski, and Gillian Mandel!

Spring Trip 

The 2015 Spring Trip is in the books and it's definitely one that I will never forget!  The chaperones were incredible, our bus driver was on time, friendly, and safe, and the students did very well.  Here are a few photos that highlight parts of the trip.

Heavy snow and chain controls greeted us on the first leg of the trip.


12 hours later, we played in the water and enjoyed this view!


Fun at the pool.


On Friday, we preformed at Dale Jr. High (this conductor was my elementary school band director).  Their school performed for us immediately after.


The band, immediately after performing at the soundtrack recording session.


The band on stage.  Just wait until you get a chance to see a recording of their performance!

Would your student like to be in this ensemble and travel with their best friends?  Final playing tests for band members will take place on the final two weeks of school.  This will include 3 major scales for Beginning Band and Concert Band members, 5 major scales for Intermediate Band and Advanced Band members, and a chromatic scale, as well as a prepared piece of music or all ensembles.  If you'd like to be considered for Advanced Band, I will also be looking at consistent practice logs and work ethic in class.  Best of luck!

One more concert and we're done!  Let's make the most out of it!

Monday, May 4, 2015

The True Test

Dear Parents,

It's hard to believe that we are less than 2 weeks from our final performances of the year!  I know how hard everyone has worked all year, and I know how tired and worn out some of the students are.  Along with the demands of band, students have endured testing, MIU exams, more testing, homework, athletic activities, chores at home, and...oh yeah, more testing!  I realize their workload this time of year is immense, and I really appreciate everything that they do.  The true test is realized when I have seen how well they've been able to manage their time.

Advanced Band Spring Trip

This special trip is this week!  Students should have taken home the detailed itinerary for parents.  We have several mandatory after school rehearsals listed below.  Let me know if your student is unable to make it so we can make other arrangements.  On Wednesday, May 6, we will also have a parent meeting in the band room at 6:00 PM.  This will be mandatory for chaperones, and optional for anyone else wishing to have additional details about the trip.  If you're a parent of a student going on this trip, look for a more detailed email later today.

Rehearsal schedule for Advanced Band:
Friday, May 1 - 2:30-4:30 PM
Monday, May 4 - 2:30-3:40 PM
Tuesday, May 5 - 2:30-3:40 PM
Wednesday, May 6 - 2:30-3:40 PM

SPRING CONCERTS

May 13: Beginning Strings, Beginning Band, and Concert Band

Concert begins at 5:30 PM.  Call time will be 5:15 PM in the band room for attendance and warm-ups.  At 5:30, band members from Fritsch, Mark Twain, and Bordewich Bray Elementary Schools will perform.  Immediately following their performance will be Beginning Strings, followed by Beginning Band, and ending with Concert Band.  The concert should be finished by 7:00.  There will also be a bake sale and a special award ceremony for students in all groups.  If you can provide an item for the bake sale, please sign up HERE.

May 14: Intermediate Band, Advanced Strings, Advanced Band, Jazz Band

Note: Time Change!  
This concert will be held in two parts.  Call time will be 5:15 PM for Intermediate Band and Advanced Strings (part 1).  Part 1 now begins at 5:30 PM.  Call time for Advanced Band and Jazz Band will be 5:30 PM (part 2).  Part 2 now begins at 6:30 PM.  The performance should end around 7:30 PM.  There will also be a bake sale and a special award ceremony for students in all groups.  If you can provide an item for the bake sale, please sign up HERE.

SUMMER CAMPS

Lake Tahoe Music Camp

Here's a reminder about Lake Tahoe Music Camp.  This camp is held from July 5-11 at the 4H Camp near Stateline, right on the shore of Tahoe.  As a staff member of this camp, I will say from personal experience that students develop an even greater love of music.  They are immersed in a full camp environment with kids their age who share a love for music.  I highly recommend this camp to anyone who is available. Parents, this is also a week with no kids!  Here's a link for more information: http://www.unr.edu/ltmc/
Financial aid is still available, and the deadline for this application is May 10: http://www.unr.edu/ltmc/pdfs/LTMC_Scholarship_Absolute.pdf

Jazz Band Camp

It's official!  The proposed Jazz Band Camp is approved.  I will be holding a Jazz Camp from June 1-5 between 9 AM and noon (exact timing TBA).  Students will be divided into two groups and taught either basic concepts, or advanced theory and improvisation.  A snack will be included.  More experienced students will be invited back to open for the Mile High Jazz Band's concert on June 9 at 7:00 PM at Comma Coffee.  Start spreading the word about this unique summer music performance opportunity.  The cost will be somewhere between $30 and $40, with an exact figure to be announced soon.