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-
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