October...

Dear Parents,

We are now beginning the month of our first concert and the Nevada Day Parade!  Students now have all their fall concert music. The popcorn fundraiser has ended with incredible results. We have new shirts going out to your students this week.  Looking at all that, we are in good shape with over 3 weeks to go until our first events.

New Event Calendar
I have upgraded to a Google calendar for our upcoming events.  Everything I announce will now be included on this calendar.  All mandatory events will be in all caps and I will include the participating groups in the event details. You may access the calendar by clicking "Event Calendar" at the top of this page on the navigation bar.

Fall Concert Coming Up!
Save the date: our fall concert is on October 24 in the gym. Attendance is mandatory for all students in all ensembles. The concert starts at 6 PM and I will have call time and other information by next week.

CLASS UPDATES
Beginning Bands can play Hot Cross Buns, which combines their first 3 notes with whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes. Their next step: learning their fourth and fifth notes that will set them up for everything you will hear at the fall concert.
Concert Band received First Concert March and High Adventure, and they can also play through #48 in the method book. They will try out some other music this week and continue working on learning how to play as an ensemble (all 53 of them!).
Intermediate Band is beginning work on their fall concert songs, Rocky Mountain Romp and Declaration and Dance. These two songs will be added to Patriotic Bits and Pieces and American Spirit March, which will be performed alongside the Advanced Band.
Advanced Band can play American Spirit March from memory. They will be playing this and Patriotic Bits and Pieces with the Intermediate Band. They are almost ready to perform Due North and they're starting work on Remember Me.
Jazz Band performed their first Jazz in the Commons on Friday, which was a big hit among staff and students. We will be adding 1-2 more songs for the fall concert and they will get a head start on their winter concert music.
Marching Band has 3 new drum majors: Jake, Yaki, and Tierney. The drumline can play their cadences, and the band has begun marching through the neighborhoods.  We are about 2 weeks away from knowing our entry and division numbers for the Nevada Day Parade.

Popcorn Wrap-Up
After collecting all the money and calculating our profit, students raised $7,494!!  I have already purchased new concert dresses for the girls, Advanced Band and Jazz Band folders, flags for the colorguard, as well as a few accessories for our marching instruments. The big purchase, however, will be additional storage cabinets.  Thank you to everyone who purchased popcorn or donated to the band!  Your support goes a long way.

Playing Tests
Beginning Band and Intermediate Band had playing tests last week.  On Wednesday, Advanced Band will have their playing test and on Thursday, Concert Band will have theirs. Students can always come in at lunch to make up a test.

Let me know if you have any questions.

-Mr. Jacques-