Let's Celebrate!

Dear Parents,

We have reached the end of our long run of band events, just in time for spring break! As I've been thinking back to what we accomplished, I counted a total of 9 events, not including rehearsals, since mid-January! Even more impressive is the quality of performance at all these events from all groups. Every time students performed, the quality was top-notch.

NZNMEA Band Festival Wrap-Up

I've been sitting here trying to find the right words to describe the festival results, and I'm finding it hard to put it into words  Everything was, once again, really well put together. I'm so pleased with their musicianship, work ethic, professionalism, and dedication. All of our bands performed quite well today, and the journey has been spectacular to see.

• Concert Band/Intermediate Band earned 2 "Excellent" ratings.
• Concert Band/Intermediate Band was the highest performing "apprentice" band at today's festival, and outperformed 3 other school's Advanced Bands.
• Once again, we were the only school to bring 6th graders.
• Advanced Band earned 2 "Superior" ratings. 
• Advanced Band's scores were the highest in the entire festival, also earning the only I+ rating!
• Our student helpers were incredible, as always. They made the festival such a smooth and seamless process!

Here's how all the bands stacked up today. It was also the first festival I remember where none of our area schools received a IV, or a "fair" rating. 

Festival Recordings

Since I know how difficult it is to miss work and make it to these performances, I have uploaded the recordings to YouTube. I encourage Beginning Band members to listen to these as well. This is a great way to see how band will be next year. Enjoy!

Concert Band/Intermediate Band

Glorioso

In the Bleak Midwinter

Imperium

Spirit of the Stallion

Advanced Band

Afterburn

By Dawn's Early Light

Regenesis

Save The Dates!

April 6-8: All-State Band in Reno
April 11: Northern Zone Beginning Band Festival
April 19: Magic Show with illusionist Garry Carson
April 21: Chili Bingo Night
April 25: Northern Zone Jazz Festival
April 28: Reno Jazz Festival

Congratulations to everyone on all performances. Happy Spring Break!

-Mr. Jacques-

4 Down, 1 to go...

Dear Parents,

We are almost through our 6 week run of band events.  Read below for information on our final performance before spring break, as well as upcoming events in April.

Washoe County Band Festival Wrap-Up: 
At the Washoe County Band Festival in Reno on Wednesday, the groups had quite a successful performance!

• Intermediate Band/Concert Band earned two "Excellent" ratings and one "Superior" rating.
• Advanced Band earned three "Superior" ratings.

Here's how the festival rating system works:

I - Superior, the very best performance.  The band executed all aspects of music making very well at all times.
II - Excellent, a great performance.  The band had some minor musical imperfections but was overall very good.
III - Good, an average performance.  The band had several mistakes, but songs are still recognizable.
IV - Fair, a below average performance.  Quite a few errors in notes and rhythms.  Songs sound bad and are hard to recognize.

There are some amazing facts about Wednesday's performance:

• Advanced Band has never done this well at this festival.
• This is Concert Band's first ever performance at this festival.
• We were the only school in the festival to have band members in the 6th grade.
• With 95 band members, I have never taken this many students on a trip at the same time.
• My students helped the host school clean up at the end of the festival.
• We had less than two weeks to prepare new music since Bandorama (the shortest ever turn-around time).

Thank you to the students for attending extra after school rehearsals, parents for being there to shuttle your kids and support practicing at home, and the chaperones for helping ensure a smooth trip. 

 Advanced Band as they completed their performance.

 Combined Intermediate Band/Concert Band

Fun in the audience between performances.

The final event before Spring Break

• March 15: NZNMEA Band Festival   This is the 5th consecutive year of CMS hosting this festival. Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band will perform in a judged band performance with around 20 other middle school bands from our area.  Take a look at the informational handouts below for the performance times. I scheduled the groups so that they do not miss too much school. 
• Concert and Intermediate Band information
• Advanced Band information

Upcoming After School Rehearsal

• March 14: Advanced Band from 2:30-4:00 PM (no longer 4:30 end time)

Save The Dates:

• April 6-8: All-State Festival in Reno, NV
• April 19: Magic Show Fundraiser
• April 21: Chili Bingo Night
• April 25: NZNMEA Jazz Festival
• April 28-29: Reno Jazz Festival

No practice logs will be due this week.

Have a great weekend!

-Mr. Jacques-

'Tis the Festival Season...

Dear Parents,

This is just a quick update to announce the upcoming rehearsals and festival performance times. For those new to band festivals, here's how they work:

• Students travel to a venue to perform for judges that will rate the quality of their performance. Think of it as the band equivalent of standardized testing. 
• The ratings are Superior, Excellent, Good, Fair, and Poor. Judges have handwritten comments and recorded comments that they share as the performance takes place. We listen to and discuss these during the day after the festival. 
• Students also have the opportunity to listen to other bands from other schools.

Upcoming Festivals

• March 8: Washoe County Band Festival  As the only school from outside of Washoe County accepted, this event is a huge honor and we are excited to be participating for the 3rd time! All Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students will take a trip to Reno to perform in a judged band performance with other middle school bands.  For the first time, Concert Band is combining with Intermediate Band to create a mass band. 
• Concert and Intermediate Band information
• Advanced Band information
• March 15: NZNMEA Band Festival   This is the 5th consecutive year of CMS hosting this festival. Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band will perform in a judged band performance with over 20 other middle school bands from our area.  Take a look at the information handouts below for the performance times. I scheduled the groups so that they do not miss too much school. 
• Concert and Intermediate Band information
• Advanced Band information

Upcoming After School Rehearsals

• March 6: Advanced Band from 1:30-4:30 (food provided)
• March 7: Concert Band and Intermediate Band from 2:30-4:30 PM
• March 14: Advanced Band from 2:30-4:30 PM

Practice logs are due next Friday, March 10. 

Have a great week!

-Mr. Jacques-

3 Down, 2 To Go...

Dear Parents,

We have reached the halfway point in our whirlwind 6 weeks of band events.  3 events down and 2 to go! Band festivals are right around the corner.

Bandorama Wrap-Up:  Last Thursday, the 25th annual Bandorama did not disappoint! I am so proud of the CMS and EVMS students for putting it all together and performing so well. What a great tradition, and thank you for being a part of it!

Thursday morning's rehearsal.

A few hours and several thousand people later: Thursday evening's concert.

Upcoming Events

• March 8: Washoe County Band Festival  As the only school from outside of Washoe County accepted, this event is a huge honor and we are excited to be participating for the 3rd time! All Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students will take a trip to Reno to perform in a judged band performance with other middle school bands.
• Concert and Intermediate Band information
• Advanced Band information
• March 10: Chili Bingo Night rescheduled for April 21.  
• March 15: NZNMEA Band Festival   This is the 5th consecutive year of CMS hosting this festival. Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band will perform in a judged band performance with over 20 other middle school bands from our area.
• Concert and Intermediate Band information
• Advanced Band information

Upcoming After School Rehearsals

• February 28: Jazz Band workshop from 2:30-5:30 PM with guest artist Brian Landrus
• March 7: Concert Band and Intermediate Band from 2:30-4:30 PM
• March 14: Advanced Band from 2:30-4:30 PM

Practice logs are due on Friday, March 3. 

Have a great week!

-Mr. Jacques-

2 Down, 4 To Go...

Dear Parents,

2 events down and 4 to go! Well, kind of. Chili Bingo Night is postponed until April 21. All other events are still a go, including Bandorama on Thursday.

Reno Wind Symphony at University of Nevada - Nightingale Concert Hall: Sunday, Feb. 19 at 3:00 PM  This concert will feature Mark Jenkins, euphonium soloist, from the United States Marine Band "President's Own," and it provides students an opportunity to see people from our community that make band a life-long love. As a horn player in this ensemble, I know you and your students will enjoy this concert's musical selections.  Click here for more information.

Honor Band Wrap-Up:  Thursday and Friday were nothing but music, music, music for 19 of our finest! In just 2 days, these students put together 4 songs!

 All smiles as we head to Fallon on day 2!

 The view of rehearsal from the balcony!

The CMS "delegation" at honor band! 

Upcoming Events

• February 23: Band-O-Rama   All Beginning Band, Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students must attend this event where we will perform with all band students from the entire school district! We will have a rehearsal from 7:30-10:30 AM, and the concert will begin that evening at 7:00 PM. Click here for the handout.
• March 8: Washoe County Band Festival  As the only school from outside of Washoe County accepted, this event is a huge honor and we are excited to be participating for the 3rd time! All Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students will take a trip to Reno to perform in a judged band performance with other middle school bands. Performance times will take place in the afternoon, and transportation will be provided. More information will be provided after Bandorama.
• March 10: Chili Bingo Night rescheduled for April 21.  Our biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up! Our next parent volunteer meeting is Tuesday, February 21 rescheduled for Wednesday, February 22, at 6:00 PM in the CMS band room, and all are welcome to attend.
• March 15: NZNMEA Band Festival   This is the 5th consecutive year of CMS hosting this festival. Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band will perform in a judged band performance with over 20 other middle school bands from our area. More information will be provided after Bandorama.

Upcoming After School Rehearsals

• February 21: Intermediate and Advanced Band from 2:30-4:30 PM
• February 23: All Bands from 7:30 AM-10:30 AM at CHS
• February 28: Jazz Band from 2:30-5:30 PM
• March 7: Concert Band and Intermediate Band from 2:30-4:30 PM

Practice logs will resume this Friday, February 24.

See you all at Bandorama! 

-Mr. Jacques-

1 Down, 5 To Go...

Dear Parents,

With Jazz in the Schools behind us, we now have 5 events remaining in the 5 weeks leading to spring break. More on those events below!

Jazz in the Schools Wrap-Up:  The Jazz Band just finished their last of 5 performances over the span of 3 weeks.  The Jazz in the Schools performance/clinic took place at UNR on Saturday, and I received numerous positive comments from colleagues and parents. Their clinician said that this group made his day, and he said that they "killed it!" He also gave outstanding musicianship awards to our very own Marissa, Slade, and Kayla.  Seeing the growth of musicianship that these students have undergone is always so spectacular, especially over such a short span of time.

Jazz Band will not meet on Thursday and Friday, February 16 and 17.

Upcoming Events

• February 16-17: Honor Band in Fallon  19 of our students will represent CMS in the Honor Band as they have 2 full days of rehearsals at Churchill County High School in Fallon, NV. The free concert is on the evening of Feb. 17 at 7 PM (also at CCHS).  Click here for the handout sent home with honor band students on Monday.
• February 23: Band-O-Rama   All Beginning Band, Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students must attend this event where we will perform with all band students from the entire school district! We will have a rehearsal from 7:30-10:30 AM, and the concert will begin that evening at 7:00 PM. Click here for the handout.
• March 8: Washoe County Band Festival  As the only school from outside of Washoe County accepted, this event is a huge honor and we are excited to be participating for the 3rd time! All Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students will take a trip to Reno to perform in a judged band performance with other middle school bands. Performance times will take place in the afternoon, and transportation will be provided. More information will be provided next week.
• March 10: Chili Bingo Night  Our biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up! Our next parent volunteer meeting is on Tuesday, February 21, at 6:00 PM in the CMS band room, and all are welcome to attend.
• March 15: NZNMEA Band Festival   This is the 5th consecutive year of CMS hosting this festival. Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band will perform in a judged band performance with over 20 other middle school bands from our area. More information will be provided next week.

Upcoming After School Rehearsals

• February 13: Honor Band from 5:00-7:00 PM at EVMS
• February 21: Intermediate and Advanced Band from 2:30-4:30 PM
• February 23: All Bands from 7:30 AM-10:30 AM at CHS

More Band For Your Buck! - Extra credit available--show me your program from either of these events!

• February 13: Reno Philharmonic at the Carson City Community Center   This concert is absolutely FREE for all students and $30 for adults. Click here for more information.
• February 19: Reno Wind Symphony at University of Nevada  This concert is absolutely FREE for ALL who attend, and it provides students an opportunity to see people from our community that make band a life-long love. As a horn player in this ensemble, I know you and your students will enjoy this concert's musical selections.  Click here for more information.

Have a great week!

-Mr. Jacques-

6 More Weeks...

Dear Parents,

If you have been following the news, a famous groundhog prognosticated that we will have 6 more weeks of winter. Well, your students will also be having 6 events in the 6 weeks leading up to their spring break!  Read below for details on these 6 unique and fun events, as well as some rehearsals and a couple of free concerts.

Upcoming Events

• February 11: UNR Jazz in the Schools  This will mark our 5th consecutive year performing at this free event!  The Jazz Band will perform a concert at 2:10 PM in Nightingale Concert Hall, followed by a clinic by a member of the Reno Jazz Orchestra. Click here for the handout sent home with students on Friday.
• February 16-17: Honor Band in Fallon  19 of our students will represent CMS in the Honor Band as they have 2 full days of rehearsals at Churchill County High School in Fallon, NV. The free concert is on the evening of Feb. 17 at 7 PM (also at CCHS).  More information will be handed to honor band students this week.
• February 23: Band-O-Rama   All Beginning Band, Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students must attend this event where we will perform with all band students from the entire school district! We will have a rehearsal from 7:30-10:30 AM, and the concert will begin that evening at 7:00 PM. Click here for the handout sent home with students on Friday.
• March 8: Washoe County Band Festival  As the only school from outside of Washoe County accepted, this event is a huge honor and we are excited to be participating for the 3rd time! All Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band students will take a trip to Reno to perform in a judged band performance with other middle school bands. Performance times will take place in the afternoon, and transportation will be provided. More information will be forthcoming.
• March 10: Chili Bingo Night  Our biggest fundraiser of the year is coming up! Our parent volunteer meeting is on Monday, February 6, at 7:00 PM in the CMS band room, and all are welcome to attend. More information will be available once we have had the meeting.
• March 15: NZNMEA Band Festival   This is the 5th consecutive year of CMS hosting this festival. Concert Band, Intermediate Band, and Advanced Band will perform in a judged band performance with over 20 other middle school bands from our area. More information will be forthcoming.

Upcoming After School Rehearsals

• February 7: Jazz Band from 2:30-4:30 PM
• February 13: Honor Band from 5:00-7:00 PM at EVMS
• February 21: Intermediate and Advanced Band from 2:30-4:30 PM
• February 23: All Bands from 7:30 AM-10:30 AM at CHS

More Band For Your Buck! - Extra credit available--show me your program from either of these events!

• February 13: Reno Philharmonic at the Carson City Community Center   This concert is absolutely FREE for all students and $30 for adults. Click here for more information.
• February 19: Reno Wind Symphony at University of Nevada  This concert is absolutely FREE for ALL who attend, and it provides students an opportunity to see people from our community that make band a life-long love. As a horn player in this ensemble, I know you and your students will enjoy this concert's musical selections.  Click here for more information.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, and practice lots!

-Mr. Jacques-