Something Jazzy This Way Comes...

Dear Families,

The beginning of the new year is definitely Jazz Band's time in the spotlight, with their concert on Tuesday night. I also have class updates and more.

Jazz Extravaganza: January 30
The Jazz Band has learned 6...yes, 6 songs for this concert! 4 of them are brand new and we can't wait to perform for you. Even if you are not involved with the jazz band, we encourage you to attend.  Tickets are just $10 for adults and free for all students. Best of all, a majority of the admission cost comes right back to the CMS band program. I cannot thank the Mile High Jazz Band enough for their support of our jazz band year after year. Jazz Band parents: For more information, please see the handout sent home with your student.

Honor Band: February 1-2 
One perk of attending honor band: missing some school for 2 full days of music making with the best band students around. That's exactly what our 19 CMS students will be doing on these days.  If you're interested in attending the free concert, it's on February 2 at 7 PM in the Churchill County High School theater in Fallon. Honor Band parents: For more information, please see the handout sent home with your student.

UNR Jazz in the Schools: February 10
On Saturday, February 10, the Reno Jazz Orchestra is hosting a non-competitive jazz festival for area jazz bands. This festival is completely free of charge and it includes a clinic hosted by a professional jazz musician.  Students will also listen to other middle school jazz bands on this fun-filled Saturday.

CLASS UPDATES

Jazz Band is ready for their first of many 2nd semester concerts.  I always promote "quality over quantity" but with a group like this, you'll hear both quality AND quantity with what they've prepared for the Jazz Extravaganza.  I highly recommend this concert to all our families, friends, neighbors, etc.
Advanced Band is working on sight reading skills, along with their Band-o-Rama music. Most of the notes and rhythms are already learned and sections of this music are already sounding musical...in January. No surprises here, of course!
Concert Band is a pleasure to work with. I appreciate their enthusiasm and willingness to try  new things. We've been working on pitch matching by singing our parts and they never complain. They're learning harder music than ever before, and those who practice regularly are experiencing the most success.
Intermediate Band is being pushed by working on the same exact music as Advanced Band, all the way down to what they're doing in the method book. They're rising to the challenge, which will help them be the very best at festivals and beyond. They're getting there!
Beginning Band is also being challenged by working on the exact same Band-O-Rama music as Concert Band, and they're getting the hang of the first of 3 songs they'll be preparing by March 15. Rather than relying on the strongest players, I am challenging each student in this class to BE the strongest player. I think it's working...
CTE Music has been having a great time learning basic percussion skills on the practice pads. They also received their first handbell song for the new year, which will be performed in May.

PRACTICE LOGS and GRADES
Practice logs are due on Friday. Since this is your student's only grade so far, their overall grade during student led conferences will be based entirely upon how well they've been practicing and what work they show me. We will have our first playing tests during the 2nd week of February.

CHILI BINGO UPDATE
Chili Bingo Night, our biggest fundraiser of the year, is February 23. The race is on to follow up with as many area businesses as possible so that we can secure wonderful prizes for our raffles and bingo games. We will be making follow-up phone calls during the week of January 29, and any help would be greatly appreciated.  We will have a meeting on Wednesday, January 31, at 7 PM in the CMS Band Room to coordinate all the other logistics.

Have a great rest of your week!

-Mr. Jacques-

Happy 2018!

Dear Families,

Welcome to a new year and a fresh start in the band program.  We had a hugely successful fall 2017 semester, and it's time to do it all over again as we begin spring 2018!

Jazz Extravaganza - January 30
Each year, the Mile High Jazz Band puts on a benefit concert for the school jazz bands. This year, we are pleased to be a part of this event for the 5th year in a row.  Jazz band students are selling tickets, with proceeds going directly back into their accounts for their spring trip.

• Tickets are $10 for adults, free for kids age 18 and under. 
• Tickets can be purchased from a Jazz Band student, or at the door. 
• The concert is January 30 at 7 PM at the Carson City Community Center

Chili Bingo Night - February 23
Each year, this event generates at least $5,000 to go towards instruments and other essentials for our students. Now in its 10th year, this fundraiser has turned into a much-anticipated CMS tradition. During the event, we need help with the following:

• Running the raffle
• Running/calling Bingo
• Selling food/drinks
• Managing the chili cookoff
• If you can't help but are able to donate, we accept virtually anything in the form of gift cards, gift baskets, handmade items, monetary donations, etc.

The event itself is a night of games, prizes, delicious food, and family-friendly fun, all in the name of supporting the CMS band program.  More information will be announced shortly.

Class Updates

Jazz Band is working on a total of 5 songs for the Jazz Extravaganza on January 30, 3 of which are brand new to them. They are working on more music than any other jazz band over the years. Even better: they're rising to the occasion. Spring trip payment #2 is due ASAP.

Advanced Band has received all their Band-O-Rama music, as well as one of their festival selections.  They're already well on their way towards learning all the notes and rhythms to these songs.  Would you expect anything different from some of the best middle school musicians in Nevada? Spring trip payment #2 is due ASAP.

Concert Band has also received all their Band-O-Rama music, as well as one of their festival selections. These students are focusing heavily on fundamentals in class. With this foundation becoming even more routine, you should start hearing an improvement in how your student sounds at home. 

Intermediate Band has received all their Band-O-Rama music.  They're focusing heavily on fundamentals to improve that foundation that's essential for any great band. This class is improving at an outstanding rate, and they have the potential to play like an advanced band by March if they keep digging deep and working hard. 

CTE Music has just made it to the black belt on their recorders. This means that if they earn their belt, they have officially shown me that they have learned how to read music quite well. We are going to introduce percussion to this group, and continue our adventures on handbells. 

Beginning Bands are working heavily on fundamentals. As these students continue to build their tone and note/rhythm reading skills, they will be able to take on even more challenging and exciting music. They have their Band-O-Rama music, as well.

Practice Logs are due on Friday, January 26. Click above to view this week's assignment for your class. 

Upcoming Events

January 30: Jazz Extravaganza, 7:00 PM, Carson City Community Center
February 2: Honor Band, 7:00 PM, Churchill County High School
February 10: Jazz in the Schools, University of Nevada, Reno (all day)
February 23: Chili Bingo Night, CMS Gym and Cafeteria, 6:00-8:00 PM

March 15: Washoe County Band Festival (Advanced Band), 3:00-6:00 PM

March 15: Band-O-Rama, Carson High School Gym, 7:00 PM

Have a great week!

-Mr. Jacques-