Thursday, November 14, 2019

"Fun"raising

Dear Parents,

Chili Bingo Night began as a fundraiser that was put on by the PTA. 12 years ago, Mr. Blankenship, previous band director of CMS, needed a new marimba and partnered with the PTA to sell raffle tickets to pay for the instrument. Since then, this event has been handed exclusively to the band program and has become a massively profitable event, so much so that this year, it will be our only major fundraiser!  With how easy it is to sell tickets and how much fun the event is to attend, we should begin calling it a "fun"raiser. This year's goal is $10,000 in total profit, and we can easily exceed that with 100% class participation. Some students have sold so many raffle tickets that they've already paid off their entire spring trip!

Chili Bingo Night Meeting and Volunteer Signup
This amazing tradition would not thrive without the continued support from parents. We are looking for parent volunteers to work in shifts at the event.  Please sign up here.

We will also have a planning meeting for all parents on Tuesday, November 19, at 6:30 PM in the band room. We will go over every shift, discuss where we need additional help, and come up with a plan to make this the best Chili Bingo Night ever.

Chili Cook-off Entry Form
Do you have a delicious recipe for chili? If so, we want you to enter your tasty creation in our annual chili cook-off.  Click here to enter!  Cash prizes are available for the best taste, people's choice, and best name.

Ticket Selling Reminders
So far, we have made about $3,500 in presale ticket profits! Students have 1 more week to finish selling all their raffle tickets. Don't forget that each ticket needs to have the buyer's name, phone number, and item that they want to win. Students need to return the tickets and money to me by Thursday, November 21 and prizes are available to the top selling students in the band program.

Please share this flyer with everyone you know!

HONOR BAND
This year, I have over 50 students auditioning for Honor Band!  These students have been hard at work preparing an audition that will be recorded in my office at lunches and after school between now and the 18th. Advanced Band students are required to play the audition as a playing test (and can choose whether or not to submit their audition for a chance to be in the band). This is your student's final chance to practice (honor band music is uploaded in Smartmusic).  Honor Band results will be posted by November 27. 

GRADE NEWS
Last week, all students completed another week of practicing on Smartmusic and Beginning Band members completed a playing test on #40 (Technique Builder). This Friday, students need to complete at least 30 more minutes of recorded time on Smartmusic. No playing tests will be due this week or next week due to Honor Band auditions that are taking place. 

In addition to those graded assignments, students are all hard at work on their winter concert music. As of today, all students in all classes have all their pieces and they should be bringing home their band folders with these tunes each day. Even though this time isn't part of their weekly grade, it is important that they are working on this music.  Next week, I will introduce a video-based assignment that will test their skills when they're practicing these winter concert tunes. More on that next week.

Spring Trip Meeting
Is your student in Advanced Band or Jazz Band? If so, you and your student should plan to attend our Spring Trip informational meeting on Tuesday, November 19 at 6:00 PM in the band room. We will discuss all information relating to the trip and answer all your questions.

UPCOMING REHEARSALS and EVENTS
November 19: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 (percussion until 6:00)
November 22: Chili Bingo Night, CMS Gym, 5-8 PM
November 26: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM (Cancelled)
December 3: Marching Band Rehearsal, 2:30-4:30 PM
December 5: Advanced Band Assembly Tour: Fritsch Elementary, 10:00-10:30 AM
December 6: Advanced Band Silver & Snowflakes Performance, McFadden Plaza, 7-7:30 PM
December 7: Sparks Christmas Parade (Times TBA)
December 10: Marching Band Perfect Attendance Movie Party, 2:30-4:30 PM
December 12: Advanced Band Assembly Tour: Bordewich Bray Elementary, 10:00-10:30 AM
December 18: CMS Band Winter Concert, Carson City Community Center, 6-8:30 PM
December 19: Advanced Band Assembly Tour: Mark Twain Elementary, 8:45-9:15 AM; Fremont Elementary, 10:00-10:30 AM

That is it for this week!

-Mr. Jacques-

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