That's All, Folks!

Dear Parents,

We did it!  Another outstanding school year is in the books.  I wanted to first talk about promotion:

• This year, approximately 100 band students performed at promotion.
• Every year, I time the performance of Pomp and Circumstance, and it has ranged between 6 and 15 minutes. This year's was 14 minutes, and the students never sounded tired. 
• Everybody helped out with cleaning and organizing the band room, saving me hours of time.

I have NEVER had such a GREAT sounding band at promotion.  When we performed some festival music at the end of the ceremony, the 7th grade Advanced Band members were sight reading!  Oh, did I mention that these were all 6th and 7th graders??  The future looks very bright for our band program!

To all the 8th graders: Don't think I forgot about you!  You played Star Wars extremely well, and the thunderous applause at the end is proof of that.  Your hugs, positive comments, and genuine excitement made me even more sad to say goodbye.  But again, don't think of it as goodbye. Think of it as "See you later!" It has been quite a journey seeing you all grow both as human beings and musicians. Best of luck at CHS!

Hair We Go

Each year's Advanced Band is different. What sets this year's band apart is how quickly they were able to learn music. In February, I made a deal with them. After Bandorama, we had only 2 weeks to learn 3 new songs for our band festivals. Usually, we have over a month, and it pushed this band harder than any other band I've had. As a result, the deal was that I'd dye my hair blue if they were able to earn straight "superior" ratings at the festivals. Well, they did just that. As a matter of fact, they were 1 of only 3 schools to earn "superior" ratings at that festival.  I am so happy that they did well and that I was able to live out the promise I made with them.

The "before" and "after" shot by our very own band parent and stylist, Tracy Caraway, as she gives me a look that you'll never be able to un-see!

The 3rd annual Jazz Camp begins on Wednesday, June 7!  We still have spaces available. The explorer's session will introduce jazz to any student on any instrument. The ensemble session is for experienced jazz musicians. I have a fun set planned, including "25 or 6 to 4," "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy," and "Soul Bossa Nova," as well as 1-2 other songs. Sign up now, and pay registration on the first day of camp. See you Wednesday!

Thank you for a great year, everybody.  Parents: I could not have done all this without you. Have a great summer!

-Mr. Jacques-

Spring Trip 2017

Dear Parents,

This update is a chance for you to all get a glimpse into what we do during our annual spring trip. Of course, to truly experience it, your student has to be there. Keep striving for the best in music and your student will experience an opportunity like this in middle or high school.

Wednesday
After a full day of school, we departed at 3:30 PM and enjoyed a scenic drive through the eastern Sierra, arriving in Anaheim around 1:00 AM.

Thursday
We slept in and woke up to a perfect day for a beach party. Kids roasted hot dogs, s'mores, and swam in the ocean. For some, this was their first ever time seeing the ocean!

The Band

The band, plus all chaperones and siblings

After the beach time, we went to Cerritos College to rehearse and have a clinic compliments of Dr. Betancourt, director of bands. 

Dr. Betancourt working with the band

Our day concluded with a pizza dinner and swim time at the hotel.

Friday

We woke up bring and early, heading to Dale Jr. High for a performance with Mrs. Urquidez, my first band director who taught me how to play alto saxophone when I was 9. We played for her band, she played for my band, we played a few songs together, and then we sight read each other's music! 

The combined band

Me and my first band director, Mrs. Urquidez!

After that, it was off to the park for even more fun! Students and parents spent the day together and rode rides, ate delicious food, drank lots of water, and used gallons of sunscreen! We then went backstage and performed our soundtrack clinic. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take photos. Students sight read through 3 songs and then listened to their masterpieces behind actual film clips!  

Saturday

This day was perhaps the most amazing of them all. The day began warm when we checked out of the hotel, and it only got hotter as it went on. As I was having lunch, I opened up this good omen: 

As I told the nervous students: if they did their best, they'd make me proud. Well, they did just that! The performance on stage was incredible, despite the high temperatures and windy conditions. I absolutely mean it when I say that THEY COULD NOT HAVE PERFORMED BETTER!

Check out the temperature immediately after our performance! 

The performance is on our facebook page, so feel free to like our site and enjoy the concert for yourself! They handed us a plaque backstage and the guide told the band that they were one of the best behaved groups she has ever had. She also said that their performance made her day, and they are  amazing musicians. We will be invited back next year! All we have to do is submit their phenomenal performance to Disney Performing Arts. They presented us with a plaque and we were free to enjoy the rest of the day at the park. 

Even with warm temperatures and the parks at capacity, the students and parents still had a blast. We left at 11 PM for the overnight return trip and got home just this morning. 

Thank you so much to all the parents for supporting this trip. From paying for your student, to chaperoning, to donating items, it wouldn't have been possible without you. We were able to give the students a top-notch experience that they will never forget. 

Look for another update tomorrow with reminders about this week's concerts. We will end the year on a very positive "note." 

-Mr. Jacques

The Final Push...

Dear Parents and Students,

It's strange to think that in less than 3 weeks, the school year will be over.  What a year it has been! Our spring concerts are next week, and we will take some time to share all of this year's celebrations, play some fun music, and hand out a few awards.  Read below, find the ensemble that is important to you and your student, and take a look at their progress, as well as final events. Please note: all concerts are located at CMS.

Jazz Band
This year's jazz band has been a force to be reckoned with. After receiving the highest festival ratings in the history of the band's existence, they have truly become unstoppable! We have a high-energy set of songs to perform for you at their final concert.  Call time on May 24 is 5:45 PM and the concert begins at 6:00 PM.    View additional details here

Intermediate Band
Intermediate Band will be performing one of their festival selections, along with 2 other songs that they have picked up in the last 6 weeks. Their concert is on May 23rd. It begins at 5:30 PM and their call time is 5:30 PM. View additional details here

The 6th and 7th graders in this band will also be performing on June 2 for 8th grade promotion. Call time for that is immediately after school, and they will be done at 2 PM.  Attendance at both functions is mandatory, and I will have a handout with more details shortly.

Beginning Bands
This is the first Beginning Band group to finish the book! They are hard at work preparing the songs that earned them "Superior" ratings at their first ever band festival, plus 1 bonus song that they have prepared over the past 3 weeks. We also include the 5th grade band members, who perform at the beginning of the concert. Their concert is on May 23rd. It begins at 5:30 PM with the 5th grade bands.  Call time is also 5:30 PM.  View additional details here

The 6th and 7th graders in these bands will also be performing on June 2 for 8th grade promotion.  Call time for that is immediately after school, and they will be done at 2 PM. Attendance at both functions is mandatory, and I will have a handout with more details shortly.

Concert Band
This band has performed at a record 3 festivals this year! Concert Band is performing the songs that earned them "superior" ratings at their most recent festival, plus a bonus song that they learned over the last 3 weeks. But wait, there's more! We also include the 5th grade band members, who perform at the beginning of the concert.  Their concert is on May 23rd. It begins at 5:30 PM with the 5th grade bands.  Call time is also 5:30 PM.  View additional details here

This band is also performing on June 2 for 8th grade promotion.  Call time for that is immediately after school, and they will be done at 2 PM. Attendance at both functions is mandatory, and I will have a handout with more details shortly.

Advanced Band
Once again, this band can do it all! They have learned 4 new songs since their festival in March. They will perform these, as well as the songs that earned them "Superior" ratings earlier in the spring, at their spring concert. Their concert is on May 24th. It begins at 6:00 PM and their call time is 5:45 PM.  View additional details here

The 7th graders in this band will also be performing on June 2 for 8th grade promotion. Call time for that is immediately after school, and they will be done at 2 PM.  Attendance at both functions is mandatory, and I will have a handout with more details next week.

On Wednesday, I'm off to southern California for some fun in the sun and great performances with Advanced Band members.  Look for detailed information in handouts, and I'll update everyone once I'm back from the trip.  During the trip, I'll be available through email, so as always, let me know, as always, if you have any questions.

-Mr. Jacques-

The Final Countdown...

Dear Parents,

It's definitely time for an update. We had a couple successful jazz events, and once we return from testing, it will be time for the home stretch of band events to close out the 2016-2017 school year.  Read on for information on our final events of the year.

Northern Zone Jazz Festival wrap-up

On April 25, the Jazz Band performed at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School in Minden. These students performed quite well, and as the only middle school band participating, they hung right in there with the high school groups. We had a great time listening to other local talent, and some students even danced along to the steel drum ensemble!

Reno Jazz Festival wrap-up

First of all, a huge congratulations goes out to the Jazz Band for their best ever performance in the Reno Jazz Festival! They earned 1 "superior" rating and 2 "excellent" ratings! They were also the only jazz band from the northern zone, and performed right alongside the best jazz bands in the country.

Advanced Band Spring Trip

The Spring Trip is approaching fast.  Students are hard at work preparing their music.  Their Code of Conduct form needs to be brought back with a student and parent signature as soon as possible.  They will also need to return a signed grade check form with teacher signatures or they will not be allowed on the trip. This step is to ensure that all teachers support the students missing school and that the students are giving their best efforts in all classes.

We will also have after school rehearsals for all participating students. These rehearsals are mandatory. We will meet at the following times:

Tuesday, May 2: 2:30-4:30 PM
Wednesday, May 3: 2:30-4:30 PM
Thursday, May 4: 2:30-4:30 PM
Tuesday, May 9: 2:30-4:30 PM
Tuesday, May 16: 2:30-4:30 PM

Spring Concerts

These concerts are the final performances of the year for all ensembles.  These performances are mandatory.

May 23: Beginning Band, Concert Band, and Intermediate Band

Concert begins at 5:30 PM in the CMS cafeteria.  Call time will be 5:15 PM.  At 5:30, band members from Fritsch, Mark Twain, and Bordewich Bray Elementary Schools will perform.  Immediately following their performance will be the combined Beginning Band and Concert Band, followed by Intermediate Band.  The concert should be finished by 7:00.  There will also be a bake sale and a special award ceremony for students in all groups that you won't want to miss!

May 24: Jazz Band and Advanced Band

Concert begins at 6:00 PM in the CMS cafeteria.  Call time for both groups is 5:30 PM.  Jazz Band will begin, followed by Advanced Band. This concert will be a tour de force that you will not want to miss!  There will also be a bake sale and a special award ceremony for students in all groups.

Jazz Band Camp

Also this year, I will be hosting a jazz day camp on the mornings of June 7, 8, 9, 12, and 13.  The concert will be on the night of June 13 as they open for the Mile High Jazz Band. I will have more information about this event within the next week.

Advanced Band and Jazz Band auditions

Auditions for Advanced Band and Jazz Band will take place beginning May 25. I will have more information about the audition process within the next week.

Stay tuned!

-Mr. Jacques-

Festivals and Fundraising...

Dear Parents,

April is off to an excellent start, and I owe it all to your hard working students. We are looking to raise a combined total of $10,000 dollars through the Magic Show on April 19 and Chili Bingo Night on April 21.  I also have some news and pictures about the All-State Festival and the Beginning Band Festival from earlier this week.

Magic Show Update
So far, we have sold 66 tickets. We have a total of 700 to sell, for a potential profit of $7000 from ticket sales for this event alone! Continue to sell to everyone you know. This show is a bargain, and we keep every penny!  The show is on April 19 at 7 PM in the Carson City Community Center.
You may also order tickets here.

Chili Bingo Update
Chili Bingo Night is April 21 at 6 PM in the cafeteria. We are still looking for donations in the form of gift cards, hotel stays, or physical items. If you something to donate, let me know ASAP since we are in need of bingo prizes.  We are also holding a chili cook-off. Click here to enter your chili. The cost to enter is free, and prizes are available!

NZNMEA Beginning Band Festival

Congratulations to the Beginning Band and Concert Band on their performance on Tuesday! They took home "Superior" ratings and performed the best concert so far in their young musical lives! As you can see, they were the top performing band, right alongside Silverland Middle School. The future of the band program at CMS in excellent hands with all your talented students!

















All-State Band Festival

The All-State Festival took place from Thursday-Saturday, culminating in a concert for the ages! These students and their guest conductor performed high school-level music in front of thousands of proud parents. What a weekend. A special congratulations goes out to the CMS students who were part of this band: Bahar, Chloe, Madisen, Kyra, Ethan, Kaitlyn, Slade, and Emma.








Look for more news/updates about the fundraising events after the weekend. Happy Easter, everyone!

-Mr. Jacques-

Let the Fundraisers Begin...

Dear Parents,

Let the major fundraisers begin!  We have two events: the Magic Show on April 19, and Chili Bingo Night on April 21.

MAGIC SHOW
The Magic Show is on Wednesday, April 19, in the Carson City Community Center.  For the second year in a row, Garry Carson is providing a show at no cost to us! For $10 each, you can see a world-class performance by a magician who was voted "Family Entertainer of the Year." His Magical Mystery Tour is stopping in Carson City on April 19, and 100% of every ticket sold goes back to our program!  Each student took home 3 tickets on March 31.

• Students with tickets need to bring all money AND unsold tickets no later than April 12. I will redistribute tickets to those who can sell more.
• All parents with connections are asked to request sponsorships from their workplaces to help cover travel expenses for Garry Carson.  We would also like to provide Garry with a 2-night hotel stay. Let me know if you can get this for him.

CHILI BINGO NIGHT
The event itself is on Friday, April 21 in the CMS Cafeteria. 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.  Here is everything you need to know:

On Friday, March 31, each student received an envelope with a prize list and 20 tickets.  They may sell as many as they'd like!  Here are the important facts that students must remember about selling these tickets:

• They MUST collect the money at the time of sale.
• 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 fundraiser is extremely profitable because the profit margin is 100%.  All prizes are donated.  Also, since the band/orchestra is running this by themselves, we will receive every dollar raised through not just the raffle, but through Bingo games, food sales, and the silent auction that are all taking place on April 21.  

This raffle is unique because you can choose which item you want to win.  Your chances of winning what you want will increase, and you won't win anything you don't want. 

Students can come back for as many tickets as they want!  You are encouraged to go to your neighbors, relatives, friends, and coworkers and help your students sell.  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 50 tickets: Receive a coupon for a free sub from Firehouse Subs
• Sell 100 tickets: Receive a coupon for a free pizza. 
• Sell the most tickets in the entire program: Receive a $30 gift card to the business of your choice!
• If each student in a class sells at least 20 tickets, they will all receive an in-class root beer float and movie party at the end of the school year!

Our total fundraising goal is $10,000 and with your support, we can easily surpass that amount.  Last year, we earned $6,000 from Chili Bingo Night alone! 

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

-Mr. Jacques-

Back to Work...

Dear Parents,

Back to work! With March almost behind us, it's time to look ahead to our next events organized by event type: fundraisers, performances, and after school rehearsals. Also, practice logs will be due on Friday and all classes will have their first playing test of the 4th quarter.

March 29 - Instrument Demo/Petting Zoo
From 6-8 PM in the band room, we will be introducing new students to band instruments and getting them excited about choosing band as an elective. Absolute Music will be here, and Mr. Jacques will demonstrate all the instruments to all interested students.

FUNDRAISERS

April 19 - Magic Show featuring Garry Carson
World-renown illusionist Garry Carson will be donating a show to us for the 2nd year in a row! The show begins at 7 PM in the Community Center and tickets are just $10!  More information about Garry Carson may be found here: http://www.carsonentertainment.com/

April 21 - Chili Bingo Night
This community tradition has been hosted by the CMS Bands for at least 8 years, and this event will be just as much fun. From 6-8 PM in the cafeteria, we will have raffle drawings, bingo games, chili tasting, and much more fun!

PERFORMANCES

April 8 - All-State Band performance
Even if your student is not in All-State, you are invited to come watch this concert that features the best performers in our state. The concert begins at 3:00 PM at the Pioneer Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Reno.

April 11 - NZNMEA Music Festival - Mandatory for Beginning/Concert Band
This is Beginning Band's third time attending this festival. This mandatory performance takes place during the school day. Students will perform in front of judges, listen to other beginning bands, and eat lunch on the way back. Click here for the informational handout.

April 25 - NZNMEA Jazz Festival - Mandatory for Jazz Band
Although specific times are TBA, this event will take place after school. Transportation will be provided. Additional details will be made available as soon as I receive them.

April 28 - Reno Jazz Festival - Mandatory for Jazz Band
Although specific times are TBA, this event will take place during school hours. Transportation will be provided. Additional details will be made available as soon as I receive them.

REHEARSALS

March 28, 29, 30 - Extra help after school from 2:30-4:00

April 4 - All State Band Members from 2:30-4:30

April 10 - Beginning and Concert Band rehearsal from 2:30-4:00

April 11 - Advanced Band rehearsal from 2:30-4:30

April 18 - Jazz Band rehearsal from 2:30-4:30

Stay tuned for more information about the fundraisers on Friday.

-Mr. Jacques-