2019: Year in Review

Dear Parents, 

Another year is coming to a close, and this year is extra special in many ways. It's time for my annual "year in review" post, highlighting all the major events that took place in 2019.

 February

• The Jazz Band made their 7th appearance at the Jazz in the Schools Clinic at UNR.
• A record of 26 band members proudly represented Carson Middle School in the Northern Zone Honor Band. 

 March

• The Bingo Chili Night fundraiser generated $14,000 for the program!
• Our newly created percussion ensemble performed at UNR's Day of Percussion.

• For the 5th time in the program's history, the CMS Advanced Band traveled to Reno to perform in the Washoe County Band Festival, earning "Excellent" and "Superior" ratings, as well as a "Superior" rating in sight reading.
• Advanced Band earned unanimous "Superior" ratings at the Northern Zone Band Festival! These ratings were also the highest at the entire festival.
• Intermediate Band earned "Excellent" ratings at the Northern Zone Band Festival! 
• The annual Band-O-Rama event was held at Carson High School.

April

• 6 band members proudly represented Carson Middle School in the NMEA All-State Band in Las Vegas.
• Beginning Band and Concert Band combined in a performance at the Northern Zone Beginning Band Festival, earning "Superior" ratings!
• The Jazz Band performed at the Northern Zone Jazz Band Festival at Carson High School.
• The Jazz Band performed at the Reno Jazz Festival, earning "excellent" ratings, and placing 9th overall in the middle school division.
• Mr. Jacques was selected as Carson City School District's teacher of the year!
• Intermediate Band traveled to their second Music in the Parks festival.

May

• Advanced Band and Jazz Band took their annual spring trip, performing in Disneyland,  performing with a local middle school band, and participating in a clinic with Dr. Betancourt.
• All groups performed their spring concerts in the Cafeteria, signaling an end to the 2018-2019 school year.

June

• We hosted the 5th annual Mile High Jazz Camp, which included 5 days of rehearsals and a concert with the Mile High Jazz Band. We also created the first ever Summer Pops Camp in conjunction with the Capital City Community Band.

August

• The school year began with another year of record enrollment in the band program!

October

• The fall concert was held in the CMS gym (once again, there wasn't enough room in the cafeteria!)
• Mr. Jacques was surprised with an assembly that awarded him with a Milken Educator Award!
• The Marching Band performed in the Nevada Day Parade.

November

• The Marching Band performed in the Veterans Day Parade, and once again, our band's performance was in the local news.
• Chili Bingo Night moved to a new date in the fall, so for the second time in 2019, we held the event. This time, we raised a staggering $16,400!
• 20 students were selected for the 2020 Northern Zone Middle School Honor Band!

December

• The Marching Band performed in the Sparks Hometowne Christmas Parade. 
• The Advanced Band performed at 8 holiday events, including the Empty Bowls fundraiser, elementary school concerts, and a school assembly.
• The winter concert was held at the CMS Cafetera, ending our 2019 calendar year on a fun, festive note. 

Thank you to everyone who helped make 2019 another huge success! 

Concerts and Final Grades...

Dear Parents,

Semester 1 is almost done, and with that, the first half of the school year.  We have our winter concert next week, along with some other fun activities.  Grades are also due next week, and I have some important information on how to help be sure all students are ending the semester in the most successful way possible.

WINTER CONCERT - DECEMBER 18

Our winter concert is on December 18 starting at 6:00 PM in the Carson City Community Center. Students must bring home their instruments and all music after school on Wednesday afternoon.
Here is a timeline of the evening:
5:00 PM - Percussion students and parent helpers report to set up.
5:30 PM - Call time for Beginning Band students on stage.
5:45 PM - Call time for Concert Band members; assemble instruments and sit in the audience.
6:00 PM - Part 1 begins with Beginning Band, then Concert Band
6:30 PM - Call time for Jazz Band backstage
6:45 PM - Intermission; Intermediate/Advanced Band call time, Jazz Band sets up.
7:00 PM - Part 2 begins with Jazz Band, Intermediate Band, then Advanced Band.
8:00-8:15 PM - Approximate end of concert. Students will help clean up and load percussion into the truck.

Other important items

• Concert Dress for all groups except Advanced Band and Jazz Band will be the blue band polo, black dress pants, black socks, and black dress shoes. Students are also allowed to wear festive hats, scarves, and jewelry.
• Concert Dress for Jazz Band will be their school-issued blue jacket or vest along with their tuxedo shirt, cummerbund, black tuxedo pants, black socks, and black dress shoes.
• Concert Dress for Advanced Band will be their school-issued full tuxedo outfit (tux shirt, cummerbund, bow tie, and dress pants) or dress with dress shoes and black socks. Girls may wear flats with the dresses. Please note: Students in both Jazz Band and Advanced Band will have time to change backstage while Intermediate Band is getting ready to perform. 
• We will be selling off our old music stands at the concert for $10 each. That's right! The new music stands will be arriving this week, and your student will have a chance to take home a piece of history.  We've had to live with these old stands for years, and now, your student will get a chance to live with them at home!

We need parent volunteers to help make this concert a huge success.  Please sign up for a shift or an item here: https://signup.com/go/KguDZgS

GRADE NEWS

The end of the semester is on Friday, December 20.  Students make retake or make up any playing tests until Thursday, December 19.  I encourage everyone to access InfiniteCampus to see what needs to be retaken and schedule a time with me. I will be here after school every day this week and next week except for Wednesday, and also 2nd lunch each day.

We also have our final Smartmusic practice time of the semester due this Friday, 12/13.  If your student experiences any technical issues, they need to screenshot the problem, email me before the assignment is due, and contact the Smartmusic technical support team. I'm looking forward to a strong finish to your student's practice time this week.

Once we are finished with the winter concert, I will also be passing out Band-O-Rama music for students to study.

OTHER EVENTS

December 12 NOW December 17: Advanced Band Assembly Tour: Bordewich Bray Elementary, 8:45-9:15 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. Students will wear their "it's cool" shirts that day.
December 20: CMS Assembly performance for Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band, 12:30 PM - please note new time and date. Students will wear their "it's cool" shirts that day.
December 20: Jazz in the Commons at 7:15 AM

Just 10 more days until winter break!

-Mr. Jacques-