A Busy March...

Dear Parents,

The entire school year in our band program tends to build up to festival season and spring trips.  March is the beginning of these events, and students will experience all their hard work paying off in ways they can't yet imagine.  Here are our March events:

CHILI BINGO NIGHT - MARCH 1
Chili Bingo Night is on Friday from 6-8 PM!  How is your student doing with raffle ticket sales? I will accept raffle tickets until the morning of the event, but I'm encouraging students to get them into me ASAP so it makes the collection process easier.

We only have 6 chili entries as of the time of this newsletter.  WE NEED MORE ENTRIES and with this lower number, your chances of winning cash prizes are even higher! To enter and for all other contest rules, click this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6C16P-9If4xig7QHhXqXN6CIw0JKWG_ivVQrNusakGfdgdQ/viewform

We still need volunteers to help run the event. To sign up for a spot, click this link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094eaba82ea6f85-2019

UNR DAY OF PERCUSSION - MARCH 8

Our newly created Percussion Ensemble is sounding great and I am excited to have them performing at UNR's Day of Percussion!  We added a rehearsal on Friday, March 1 from 2:30-4:00.  We are also rehearsing on March 5 from 2:30-4:30 in preparation for Day of Percussion. All students received a handout with trip details. If you're free that day, we perform at 10:00 AM in Nightingale Concert Hall on the campus of UNR.

CAPITAL CITY COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT - MARCH 17

On March 17, the Capital City Community Band will be performing a concert at the Community Center at 3 PM. The concert will also be a salute to young musicians. We will feature the CMS Percussion Ensemble, clarinet choirs from CMS and CHS, and 2 chamber ensembles from the CMS and CHS orchestras.  All participating students will also attend the dress rehearsal on the evening of March 14. I will have more information about this performance next week.

WASHOE COUNTY BAND FESTIVAL - MARCH 19
Advanced Band will travel to UNR on March 19 to perform in front of judges and other bands. They perform at 1:50 PM in Nightingale Concert Hall at UNR. This performance is mandatory for students in this group. Participating students received a handout in class, and we are looking for chaperones to accompany the band to this performance.  Advanced Band will have an after school rehearsal on Tuesday, March 12, from 2:30-4:30 PM.

JAZZ EXTRAVAGANZA - MARCH 19
Save the date! The 6th annual Jazz Extravaganza performance is on March 19.  The CMS Jazz Band will be performing a benefit concert along with the CHS Jazz Band and our professional group in town, the Mile High Jazz Band. This performance is mandatory for students in this group. All proceeds will go to support both of our district's jazz bands. Tickets are $10 each (free for performers) and I will have more information next week.

NORTHERN ZONE BAND FESTIVAL - MARCH 26
Intermediate Band and Advanced Band will travel to Yerington on March 26 to perform in front of judges and other bands.  This festival is mandatory for students in these groups. We will leave first thing in the morning, and return by the end of the school day. I encourage students to bring work with them for the bus ride so they keep up with their academics. I'll have a handout with more details next week.

BAND-O-RAMA - MARCH 28
Our annual Band-O-Rama is coming up at the end of the month.  This event is mandatory for all students in all ensembles. We will have a rehearsal at CHS that morning, bus everyone back to CMS around 10:30 AM, and call time in the evening will be 6:30 PM. The concert begins at 7:00 PM in the Carson High School gym. I'll have additional information about this next week. In the meantime, save the date!

EVENTS AT-A-GLANCE

March 1: Chili Bingo Night
March 8: UNR Day of Percussion
March 19: Washoe County Band Festival
March 19: Jazz Extravaganza
March 26: Northern Zone Band Festival
March 28: BAND-O-RAMA
April 3-6: All-State Music Festival
April 26: Reno Jazz Festival
April 30: Northern Zone Beginning Band Festival
May 1: Northern Zone Jazz Night
May 11: Intermediate Band Spring Trip (Music in the Parks Festival)
May 15-18: Advanced Band and Jazz Band Spring Trip
May 21: SPRING CONCERT

GRADE NEWS
Video playing tests are due Thursday night. If students do not complete their video by Thursday night, they will perform their playing test on Friday in class. 

Practice logs are also due on Friday.  I will not assign a practice log or playing test for at least a couple weeks so they can focus on the upcoming performances.

There's our upcoming month. Sounds like a lot, doesn't it?  Let's make it through Friday, have a wonderful evening together in the CMS gym for Chili Bingo Night, and kick off March with some family fun and amazing prizes.  See you then!

-Mr. Jacques-

Fe-brrrr-uary...

Dear Parents,

Our cold and snowy February continues, and I have a lot to share. We have a special guest visiting on Wednesday, Chili Bingo Night is less than 2 weeks away, we have a newly created Percussion Ensemble, band festival season is just around the corner, Jazz Extravaganza is just 1 month away, and students will be preparing for their first ever video playing test. And now to break down each of these events.

SPECIAL GUEST and FREE CONCERT
Carson City Symphony is hosting saxophone professor Rhett Bender from Southern Oregon University on February 24 at their next concert. Although admission is $15, parents will receive free tickets if they come with their students (who are always free). Just click the link at the top of this page to download and print the tickets.

Rhett Bender is also visiting CMS on Wednesday to work with the Intermediate and Advanced Band classes! 

CHILI BINGO NIGHT - MARCH 1
Chili Bingo Night is already less than 2 weeks away!  How is your student doing with raffle ticket sales? Students will be selling raffle tickets for fabulous prizes. These tickets are due back to me, filled out with all information, by February 28.

Are you interested in entering your chili in our chili cook-off? To enter and for all other contest rules, click this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe6C16P-9If4xig7QHhXqXN6CIw0JKWG_ivVQrNusakGfdgdQ/viewform

We still need volunteers to help run the event. To sign up for a spot, click this link:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094eaba82ea6f85-2019


PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE

This year, we have a new ensemble! Percussion Ensemble is a small group comprised of just percussionists that meets after school to put together a couple of songs that will be performed at 2 events next month. With most of the honor band comprised of CMS students this year, it's the right time to give them another musical outlet. Here is a little more information about this group:

• Percussion Ensemble will rehearse from 2:30-4:30 PM on the following Tuesdays:
• February 19
• February 26
• March 5
• Our percussion ensemble has been selected to attend UNR's Day of Percussion on Friday, March 8! As the only middle school performing, they will play on stage among other HIGH SCHOOL groups, and receive a 30 minute on-stage clinic from University of Northern Colorado's percussion professor, Gray Barrier. Students will depart CMS at 8:30 AM and return to CMS at 1:30. 
• The Percussion Ensemble is also invited to perform at the Capital City Community Band concert on March 17 at 3:00 PM.  This concert will take place in the Carson City Community Center.

FESTIVAL PERFORMANCES
The months of March and April are also known as "Festival Season," where bands perform for other bands and receive ratings from judges for their performances. This is essentially our version of standardized tests. Students will receive a rating for how well they performed together, and have time to listen to other school bands that are in the same age group and experience level. Here are the dates for the upcoming festivals:

March 19 - Washoe County Band Festival (Advanced Band)
March 26 - Northern Zone Band Festival (Advanced Band, Intermediate Band)
April 26 - Reno Jazz Festival (Jazz Band)
April 30 - Northern Zone Beginning Band Festival (Beginning Band, Concert Band)
May 11 - Music in the Parks festival (Intermediate Band)

JAZZ EXTRAVAGANZA - March 19
Save the date! The 6th annual Jazz Extravaganza performance is on March 19.  The CMS Jazz Band will be performing a benefit concert along with the CHS Jazz Band and our professional group in town, the Mile High Jazz Band. All proceeds will go to support both of our district's jazz bands. Tickets are $10 each (free for performers) and I will have more information in the coming weeks. 

ALL EVENTS

March 1: Chili Bingo Night
March 8: UNR Day of Percussion
March 19: Washoe County Band Festival
March 19: Jazz Extravaganza
March 26: Northern Zone Band Festival
March 28: BAND-O-RAMA
April 3-6: All-State Music Festival
April 26: Reno Jazz Festival
April 30: Northern Zone Beginning Band Festival
May 1: Northern Zone Jazz Night
May 11: Intermediate Band Spring Trip (Music in the Parks Festival)
May 15-18: Advanced Band and Jazz Band Spring Trip
May 21: SPRING CONCERT

GRADE NEWS
This week, I will assign a practice chart that will be due on March 1. This practice chart will be the goal-based practice chart that students are used to, and it will outline their band festival and Band-O-Rama music.

We will also have a video playing test.  Video playing tests allow students to record their performance when they are ready. They can also attempt as many takes as they want until they feel like they are ready to turn in their best product for a grade.  These will be assigned On Friday, and they will be due by February 28. Students who do not create a video playing test will have the same test in class on March 1.

If you've read this far, you've made it to the end. Thank you for supporting your student as we prepare for the busiest time of the year!

-Mr. Jacques-

Chili Bingo Night

Dear Families,

The 10th Annual Family Chili Bingo Night is on Friday, March 1, at CMS. This is the biggest and most profitable fundraiser at CMS, and all proceeds go directly back to the music programs at our school.  A huge thanks goes out to some incredible parents, as well as businesses, who have donated time, goods, and services to make this event a huge hit each year.  This event consists of several parts:

RAFFLE DRAWING

On Monday, February 11, each student received an envelope with a prize list and 10-20 tickets, which students will be selling over the next 2 weeks.  This year, choir and orchestra students are also selling tickets.  With almost 400 participating students this year, we have the potential to raise more than ever.  Students may also come back for as many additional tickets as they like!  Here are the important facts that students must remember about selling these tickets:

• They MUST collect the money at the time of sale. Tickets are $1 each.
• They need to include the following information on each ticket:
• Buyer's name
• Buyer's phone number
• Item number (if the buyer wants their tickets to go towards a specific item)
• They must bring the tickets AND the money back to Mr. Jacques.  (buyer does not keep the tickets)

This raffle is unique because you can choose which item you want to win.  This means that you only have a chance of winning items that you would want, and it increases your odds of winning. 

There are top prizes for students, and they were very excited to know what they might be able to win:

• Sell 10 tickets: Receive 1 free ticket for the item of your choice.
• Sell the 2nd-10th most tickets overall: Receive a gift certificate to one of these places: Papa John's, Pizza Factory, Chili's, In N Out. 
• Sell the most tickets overall: Receive a $30 gift card to an area business of your choice!
• If each student in a class sells at least 10 tickets, they will all receive an in-class root beer float party!

Tickets will be drawn at the event on March 1. Winners do not need to be present to win (but it's more fun when they are present).

CHILI COOKOFF

The chili cook-off is the tastiest part of the event. If you'd like to enter a chili, it's absolutely free, and you will have a chance of winning cash prizes for your creations. We ask that you make at least a crock-pot full so everyone can get a taste and have one person serve for at least the first hour of the event.  

At the event, the cost to taste is only $5 and you will get to vote on your favorite.  Winners are announced during the event.  Last year's winner was a CMS teacher.  Will you be our next winner? If you want to enter a chili, SIGN UP HERE!

BINGO GAMES

At the event, we will have bingo games for additional prizes. Bingo will take place at the event, and there are 12 rounds. Bingo cards are 1 dollar each. The Bingo winners will receive such prizes as restaurant gift certificates, a scenic flight over Lake Tahoe, free pizza for a year, and Disneyland park hoppers!

SNACK BAR

Along with delicious chili tasting, parents from Carson High School's band will have a snack bar with hot dogs, chips, candy, and sodas.  Bring the whole family and have dinner with us on March 1.

Our total fundraising goal is $10,000 and with a record number of participating students, we can easily reach that goal. 

I'll be updating the newsletter again with the usual news and updates later in the week week.  Enjoy the beginning of an amazingly fun and profitable fundraiser!

-Mr. Jacques-