'Twas the Week Before the Concert...

Dear Parents, 

'Twas the week before the concert, when all through the town,
All the students were stirring up excellent sounds.
The songs were rehearsed in the band room with care, 
In hopes that Mr. Jacques will know we're prepared. 

That's right, folks! The winter concert is 1 week away, and I cannot wait for a fun evening in the Community Center with some of my favorite people. We also have our final playing tests and practice logs due on Friday.

December 15: Elementary School Winter Assembly Tours
On Friday, Advanced Band will finish their week-long tour to various elementary schools to perform a concert for all students and staff. These visits have been taking place during Advanced Band's rehearsal time. This tradition began last year, and it greatly helped our band program grow. We have also been receiving outstanding publicity for the band program. Check out the video that Fremont Elementary School produced after our visit:

Check out these pictures from Monday's stops at Seeliger and Bordewich Bray:

A HUGE thank you to Michelle for chaperoning and taking photos, as well as all teachers/administrators for supporting this new tradition.

December 19: Winter Concert (MANDATORY for all students in all groups)
The concert is just a few days away! Click here for a digital copy. This concert begins at 6:00 PM in the Community Center.  Here's a to-the-minute schedule:

• 4:30 PM: Parents and students who signed up to help set up and decorate will meet.
• 5:00 PM: Stage hands who signed up to help backstage will meet.
• 5:45 PM: Call time for Beginning Band, Handbells, Concert Band. 
• Beginners will warm up on stage, while all others will sit in the audience.
• 6:00 PM: Beginning Band performs to open part 1
• 6:20 PM: Handbells perform
• 6:30 PM: Concert Band performs
• 6:45 PM: Intermission
• 7:00 PM: Jazz Band performs to open part 2
• 7:20 PM: Intermediate Band performs
• 7:40 PM: Advanced Band performs
• 8:00 PM: Approx. end of concert. Students need to help clean up before they leave. 

We need your help with the following items/services:

• Decorating: Arrive around 4:30 pm and bring decorations from home. This can include plastic Christmas trees, lights, poinsettias, empty boxes that are wrapped up and disguised as gifts, etc. Or, if unable to decorate at that time but you want to let us borrow some decorations, you may drop them off at the community center earlier in the day.
• Stage hands - You'll help students in the back-of-the-house with setup, set changes, handbell tables, lights, and tear down at the end. There are 2 shifts.
• Baked goods (anything pre-packaged and not too messy to be sold for $1 each). 
• Light booth tech: You will run various slides on a Powerpoint and project an animation in the background of one of Jazz Band's selections.

Able to help in any of these areas? Please sign up here! See the flyer for additional details such as concert dress, student expectations, etc. 

*Your Jazz Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students will be fitted into their concert dress that includes tuxedo shirts, black dress pants, cummerbund, and bow tie within the next week. This uniform will be allowed to go home.

Final Grades
The end of the semester is only 2 weeks away. Can you believe it?  Students in all classes will have their final practice log due on December 15. Beginning Band had their final playing test last week, and all other classes will be completing theirs on video by Friday of this week.  The last day to retake any playing tests will be Wednesday, December 20.  After that, all scores will be final as grades will be due for the first semester.

After School Rehearsals
We are finished with after school rehearsals for the 1st semester!  Thank you so much to all parents for making it possible for students to have this extra time after school when we needed it most. Looking ahead, here are the extra rehearsals in January:
January 9: Honor Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM
January 16: Jazz Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM
January 23: Jazz Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM
January 30: Jazz Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM

Have a great week, and let me know if you have any questions!

-Mr. Jacques-