Update Time...

Dear Parents,

This week, I'm announcing some changes to help the band program run more efficiently. I also have the profit from our car wash fundraiser.

Car Wash
Congratulations to all who participated in this year's car wash fundraiser! We had the car wash on a chilly Saturday Morning with several hard-working students from the Advanced Band. We raised a record $1,840 in profit!  We couldn't have done this without all the wonderful parent volunteers who donated time and materials to make this car wash a success.

A Few Changes

I think it's safe to say that this year's switch to block schedule has had an affect on all of us in one way or another.  As a teacher, it has put a noticeable strain on me. Working with record enrollment combined with seeing your students half as often presents a few challenges.  My goal is to streamline things a bit so I can put more focus into what matters most: your students. After researching some ideas, we are going to switch some of our routines up a bit: 

• Practice logs will now be due every 2 weeks. They will still be submitted online during class time, and due by 3 PM on Friday. This will also allow them more time to put focused effort into their practice goals.
• Due this Friday, September 29: Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band
• Due next Friday, October 6: Beginning Bands
• Playing tests will always take place if the class meets on a Friday.  
• Make-up playing tests will be allowed up to the time of the next test. Once a new playing test occurs, the score your student earns from the previous test will be final. Within that window between playing tests (typically 2 weeks), students are always welcome to replay the test during lunch or after school for a better score. 
• I highly recommend that students always practice on days that they do not have band.  This step should help your student retain everything learned in class so less time is spent in class reviewing and reteaching. This should also help them focus time and effort on their other academic classes so their grades don't suffer.

Adjusting these items will open up considerably more time for me to get to the most important part of our time together in class: getting to know and work with your kids and helping them become great musicians. They will also have more time to cover all the goals in their practice charts.

Marching Rehearsals
Marching rehearsals continue every Tuesday!  Advanced Band can already play through the entire parade piece from memory, and Intermediate Band should be able to play the entire song with minimal mistakes by Friday. Students in Concert Band are invited to join and give marching band a shot. We rehearse every Tuesday from 2:30-4:30 PM.

Honor Band
Advanced Band students received honor band audition music last week. Students in Concert Band and Intermediate Band are welcome to copies of this music, and may practice it once they've mastered the content in their practice charts. Auditions will take place in mid-November.

Fall Concert
Can you believe our fall concert is only 1 month away?  We will have our concert on the evening of October 25 in the gym. I'll have more details next week.

If I have any additional updates, I'll let you know. Have a great week!

-Mr. Jacques-