No Tricks, All Treats...

Dear Parents,

What a fantastic week it has been! Thank you to all the parents who were so helpful with cooking, selling, feeding, cleaning, fitting, chaperoning, organizing, driving, recording, and cheering on at all these events! As you can see, I wouldn't be able to do nearly as much without you.

The Fall Football Game was well-attended, with a record of 26 CMS students in attendance!  They did a great job braving the elements and showing Carson High School how amazing their future students will be!

(photo credit: Jennifer S.)

 This year's Nevada Day Parade featured a CMS Marching Band that was a class act!  They were so well-behaved and played/marched magnificently. Thank you for being there and cheering them on!

Check out those straight rows! 

(photo credit: Keith and Michele T.)

Excellent job marching in step!

(photo credit: Keith and Michele T.)

As an added bonus, the University of Nevada Marching Band performed for us as they made their way down Carson Street!

What's Next?

After School Schedule
Tuesday, Nov. 1: Advanced Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 2: Honor Band flute/oboe help, 2:30-4:00 PM
Thursday, Nov. 3: Honor Band clarinet help, 2:30-4:00 PM
Friday, Nov. 4: Honor Band saxophone help, 2:30-4:00 PM
Monday, Nov. 7: Honor Band trumpet/horn help, 2:30-4:00 PM
Tuesday, Nov. 8: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 9: Honor Band low brass help, 2:30-4:00 PM
Thursday, Nov. 10: Honor Band percussion help, 2:30-4:30 PM

After School Schedule
November 10: Veterans Assembly, Periods 2-3 in the CMS Cafeteria for Intermediate and Advanced Band.
November 11: Veterans Day Parade, 8 AM call time with more information coming once we receive our parade entry information.
November 14-17: Honor Band Auditions

This week in all classes: All students will receive their winter concert music and get to have a fun week of sight reading. There will be a playing test on a simple part of one of these songs on Friday to test their basic reading skills. The Marching Band will also be receiving their Christmas parade music.

I'll update again over the weekend. Thanks again for everything!

-Mr. Jacques-

It's Concert Week!

Dear Parents,

This is a big week! In just a few days, students will put on their first concert of the school year.  The fall football game and Nevada Day Parade will also be taking place later this week.  Also, there are no practice assignments this week.

Fall Concert - October 26
Take a quick look at the details below. This is just a reminder for your students that this is a mandatory, graded performance. Concert Dress is: Band polo shirts or plain blue polo shirts, black dress pants, black socks and black dress shoes.  See your student's handout for more information.

• 5:30 PM: Dinner service begins. Concert Band/Beginning Band members sign in and grab instruments from band room.
• 5:45 PM: Beginning Band and Concert Band members in seats ready to play. Intermediate Band/Advanced Band members sign in and grab instruments from band room. 
• 6:00 PM: Call time for Intermediate and Advanced Bands in the audience. Concert begins with Beginning and Concert Bands and dinner service pauses.
• 6:20 PM: Intermission - dinner service resumes.
• 6:40 PM: Concert resumes with Intermediate and Advanced Bands. Dinner service ends.
• 7:00 PM: Approximate end of concert.  Parents help clean kitchen. Students are not dismissed until they put away instruments and help with clean-up in cafeteria/band room.

Thanks again for being able to bring the following items! If you're bringing sauce, spaghetti, or dessert, please get these to me by Tuesday, if possible.

o   Beginning Band: Dessert Item

o   Concert Band: Bag of salad or loaf of garlic bread

o   Intermediate Band: Box of spaghetti

o   Advanced Band: A can/jar of sauce

Marching Rehearsal Update

After school marching rehearsals continue for Intermediate and Advanced Students on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-4:30 PM.

Marching Rehearsal/Parade Schedule
October 25, 2:30-4:00 (NEW END TIME)
October 27, 2:30-4:30 (CANCELLED; now a football game music rehearsal)
October 29: Nevada Day Parade
November 8, 2:30-4:30
November 11: Veterans Day Parade
November 15: 2:30-4:30 PM
November 22: 2:30-4:30 PM
November 29: 2:30-4:30 PM

December 3: Sparks Christmas Parade

Fall Football Game - October 27
Here's the timeline for the football game:

• 2:45 PM: Rehearsal in CMS Band Room
• 3:45 PM: Pizza and break (Thank you to Bruce for providing the pizza)
• 4:30 PM: Rehearsal in CHS Band Room (must provide own transportation)
• 6:30 PM: Pregame performance with combined HS and MS band members in stadium.
• 7:00 PM: Kickoff! MS and HS students perform together in the stands
• 8:30 PM (approx): MS students watch halftime show and are dismissed.

Students are dismissed after halftime but they may stay longer if accompanied by a parent. Dress warm with Carson spirit wear. See your student's handout for more information. 

Nevada Day Parade - October 29

Read below for official entry information from the parade organizers. Also, don't forget to RSVP to our After Nevada Day Party (slips go to Mr. Jacques or Jasmine).

• 8:00 AM: Call time in the Band Room to change into uniforms, take a photo, and load the bus
• 9:00 AM: Arrive at staging area for warm-ups. Staging location is on East Adams Ave.
• 10:00 AM: Parade begins.  We are entry #81.
• 12:00 PM: Return to CMS to change.
• Approx. 1:00 PM: Dismissal.
• 2:00 PM: Start time for After Nevada Day Party at Justine's house.

This is the week where all your student's hard work and dedication pays off! Thanks for all that you do.

-Mr. Jacques-

A Quick Update...

Dear Parents,

Mr. Jacques here!  It's time for the weekly update. I've reposted all concert, football game information, and Nevada Day Parade information. I also have a new weekly class update. Please note: there are some changes to marching rehearsals next week.

Class Progress:

Jazz Band has been sight reading winter concert music and can now work their way through 3 of our songs. They'll get another one by Friday and continue working in their method book at home. Listen for them playing along to the CD in their book. It's a lot of fun!
Intermediate Band has most of Tribute to America memorized and they're working on their fall concert music. This is the final push to the concert, so please help by encouraging practicing at home.
Beginning Band: Students can now play their first 6 notes, rhythms that include 8th notes, and they're sounding so great that they could put on their concert tomorrow. I'm currently challenging them with sheet music, which they are handling like champs! Just wait until you hear them after another week of preparation!
Concert Band can play through all their songs and sound pretty decent. They are on the verge of being ready for their fall concert, and with a week remaining, they will sound better than you've ever heard them before!
Advanced Band is well on their way to playing the most challenging fall concert music ever attempted in the years I've taught here.  They are preparing two "grade 2" songs, the parade piece, and a couple of songs that they'll play with Intermediate Band. They're going to be unstoppable! 

Marching Rehearsal Update

After school marching rehearsals continue for Intermediate and Advanced Students on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-4:30 PM.  THANK YOU FOR THE EXTRA TIME! Students marched over 1 mile through the neighborhood today, and they're building stamina for the long parade in just 10 days.  Justine is hosting a party after the Nevada Day Parade for all students who have 0 unexcused absences from after school rehearsals! Party handouts were given to all eligible students today. Take a look at these and have students bring RSVP slips back as soon as they know. All students must continue to attend all remaining rehearsals and the parade.

Parade song run-through for parents at end of 10/18 rehearsal.

Marching Rehearsal/Parade Schedule - Revised 10/18
October 25, 2:30-4:00 (NEW END TIME)
October 27, 2:30-4:30 (CANCELLED; now a football game music rehearsal)
October 29: Nevada Day Parade
November 8, 2:30-4:30
November 11: Veterans Day Parade
November 15: 2:30-4:30 PM
November 22: 2:30-4:30 PM
November 29: 2:30-4:30 PM

December 3: Sparks Christmas Parade

Fall Concert - October 26
I have some details about the fall concert on October 26 in the CMS cafeteria.  This event is mandatory for all ensembles except for Jazz Band. All students are expected to remain for the entire concert.  There will also be a spaghetti feed.  Here's the timeline for the evening:

• 5:30 PM: Dinner service begins.
• 5:45 PM: Beginning Band and Concert Band members in seats ready to play.  
• 6:00 PM: Call time for Intermediate and Advanced Bands. Concert begins with Beginning and Concert Bands and dinner service stops.
• 6:20 PM: Intermission - dinner service resumes.
• 6:40 PM: Concert resumes with Intermediate and Advanced Bands. Dinner service ends.
• 7:00 PM: Approximate end of concert.  Students are not dismissed until they put away instruments and help with clean-up.

            We are asking all members to bring one item for the spaghetti feed:

o   Beginning Band: Dessert Item

o   Concert Band: Bag of salad or loaf of garlic bread

o   Intermediate Band: Box of spaghetti

o   Advanced Band: A can/jar of sauce

Concert Dress: Band polo shirts, black dress pants, black socks and black dress shoes.  See your student's handout for more information.

Fall Football Game - October 27
All students who have been involved with the middle school marching band are now invited to the fall football game at Carson High School!  We will rehearse from 2:30-4:00 in the CMS band room. They will have a 2nd call time in the CHS band room at 4:30. They will learn their music, perform it on the sidelines for pregame, play in the stands with the band, and watch the high school band perform their halftime show. This fun event is absolutely free, even for parents who come in with the band! See your student's handout for more information.

Nevada Day Parade - October 29

Here is what I know about the Nevada Day Parade on October 31:

• 8:00 AM: Call time in the Band Room to change into uniforms, take a photo, and load the bus
• 9:00 AM: Arrive at staging area for warm-ups.
• 10:00 AM: Parade begins.  Entry number TBA
• 12:00 PM: Return to CMS to change and eat lunch.
• Approx. 1:00 PM: Dismissal.

Students will receive handouts with further details in class as soon as we know our entry number and staging details (yes, as of 10/18, we're still awaiting these details from the organizing committee).

-Mr. Jacques-

It's Already October??

Dear Parents,

Can you believe it's already October?? Time flies when we're having fun! It's strange when the mind thinks it's September, the weather thinks it's November, and in actuality, it's October.  What a month it will be! I'll outline all October events below, as well as our class progress.

OCTOBER EVENTS 

Jazz Band @ Open House - October 4
This year, the principal invited the Jazz Band to open for the Open House on Tuesday night.  Call time for students is 5:30 PM in SSA. If you're attending, the band will begin performing at 5:45 PM in the gym with the open house officially starting at 6:00.  This will be their debut performance of the year for parents, and we're all excited to perform this special event for our school/community!

Fall Concert - October 26

We are a little over 3 weeks away from our first official concert of the year! The fall concert will take place on October 26 at 6:00 PM in the CMS cafeteria. This concert features all groups, so it is a mandatory, graded performance for your students.  I will have more information on the spaghetti dinner fundraiser, volunteer positions needed, and other details, sometime this week.

Fall Football Game - October 27 
This event is a fun annual tradition for anyone in Advanced Band, as well as 8th graders interested in seeing what marching band at the high school is all about. We will meet at Carson HS around 5:00 PM. Students will have a behind-the-scenes look at how the high school band prepares their halftime shows. They will then have a chance to perform with the band in the stands and watch their show at halftime! This event is FREE for students and their parents. More information on this will follow in the upcoming weeks.

Nevada Day Parade - October 29
This parade is mandatory for all Intermediate and Advanced Band members, and you will need to be available from at least 8:00 AM-1:00 PM.  More information, including exact call times and line-up information, will be available once I receive details from the parade committee. Until then, save the date!

Class Progress

Jazz Band has performed a 2nd Jazz in the Commons concert, and they're prepared to perform on Tuesday night in the gym for Open House.

Intermediate Band has been able to play through half of their parade piece and they have received all their fall concert music. The next step is to practice and perfect their music for the fall concert and the Nevada Day Parade.
Beginning Bands can now play their first song, Hot Cross Buns! They have also learned their first 5 notes! This week is all about them learning the traditional "first songs" that every beginning band around the country is currently starting to learn. What a fun rite of passage for these talented kids.
Concert Band can play through their first two pieces of sheet music. They are also digging deeper into the method book.  The next step is to practice and perfect their music for the fall concert. Students who want an added challenge have received the parade music and honor band music.
Advanced Band is working more deeply with the honor band music, as well as fall concert music. The parade music is sounding great. Just wait 'till you hear them!

Marching Rehearsals

After school marching rehearsals continue for Intermediate and Advanced Students on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30-4:30 PM. Attendance is expected for all Intermediate and Advanced Band students. If they cannot attend, I need a note or email from parents in advance in order to excuse them.  Justine, the same parent who hosted the After Car Wash Barbecue, is hosting a party after the Nevada Day Parade for all students who have 0 unexcused absences from after school rehearsals! Also, students in Concert Band are still invited to join in. If they do not wish to learn the music, I have positions available for banner carriers and flags in the back. If they want to march, I will do my best to include them.

Marching Rehearsal/Parade Schedule
October 4, 2:30-4:30
October 11, 2:30-4:30
October 18, 2:30-4:30
October 25, 2:30-4:30
October 27, 2:30-4:30 (Fall Football Game with CHS band that evening)
October 29: Nevada Day Parade
November 8, 2:30-4:30
November 11: Veterans Day Parade
November 15: 2:30-4:30 PM
November 22: 2:30-4:30 PM
November 29: 2:30-4:30 PM
December 3: Sparks Christmas Parade

-Mr. Jacques-