Hello Shawnee Mission West Pride Band Students and Parents!
First off – good concert everyone. It is always such fund to see the West Community come together for this concert. The Chili Supper event, is something special and somewhat unique for many bands. I hope you enjoy being able to perform in a more relaxed manner. Sorry it fell this year on a long weekend. Wasn’t my first choice either.
Jazz Lab – your recordings will be posted in the Google Classroom. Please listen to them so you know what to practice as we look forward to the Pitt State Jazz Festival on Friday, March 6.
Wind Ensemble – Your recordings are in your Google Classroom. If you have not signed in yet (and half of you have not), ask Mr. Thomas for your code. Please do log in and listen. It is important that you know WHAT to practice. I know you know your own areas of where you need/want to improve, but it would still be good to compare your ideas to the recording. There were some good moments along with areas for needed improvement.
Symphonic Band and OE – Mr. Hupe will have your recordings for you.
OE & Jazz Lab – Parents, in case you haven’t heard, we will be departing West at about 9a.m. on Friday, March 6 for the PSU Jazz Fest and returning at about midnight. The students have known for several weeks, so hopefully this is not a surprise to you.
Monday Night Percussion – No rehearsal (Feb. 17) since there is no school.
Tuesday (Feb. 18) Night Senior Night Pep Band – Call time is 5:30p in the band room. Many of you have been showing up late. PLEASE be in the room ready to warm-up and run a few tunes at 5:30. We need to be moving to the gym by 5:50. We’ve cut this as close as we can for you already. Remember, you MUST wear your Band T-shirt. Parents of seniors, you will be introduced at halftime of the boys game. Please be ready to line up just west of the main concession stand with 5 minutes left on the play clock. You should probably be in the gym by 7:30p to be safe. Please dress nicely. 🙂
Parents – I’ve been talking about the Kauffman Concert with the Wind Ensemble, but I have secured funding for ALL the concert band students from West to be able to go to the concert and watch and listen. This is really a celebration of the entirety of the West Band program! We received this invitation because of the reputation of the West Bands. Therefore, I want us ALL to share in the glory. We will bus the students to the Kauffman Performing Arts Center and back again. We will depart around 11:00a on the morning of March 11, and return around 5:00p. If you wish to attend, you will have to get your own tickets from this website. The tickets are FREE but are going fast. The floor seating is already sold out. https://tickets.kauffmancenter.org/17312/17314
We will need 2-4 chaperones to ride the buses with us. I already have tickets for those people. If you are interested, please contact Dr. Thomas.
Wind Ensemble – Please be early to class and be ready to rehearse. Remember we have a guest clinician Mrs. (Avian) Bear, retired from Blue Valley H.S. She had a tremendous program while there. She had many national accolades. Mr. (Chris) Kohl will be the Substitute teacher for me while I’m out for all my classes this week.
WE – Our focus this week will be Finest Hour and Purple Carnival. IF, Ms. Bear feels it appropriate to move on, I will have her begin work on Sun Dance. If you want to come to Seminar to get more practice on our Kauffman music, that would be a great thing! If I were here, I would assign rotating sectionals – that’s how important this is right now. See if you can make this work….and be productive. 🙂 Encourage each other. Make plans to come in – together.
Regional Solo and Ensemble registration entries are due March 3. A sign-up list will be coming. I’m sorry I haven’t given you more time, but we are behind with our concert band music at the moment. If you are working on a solo with your private teacher – keep going! You’ll have to find time for the ensembles during seminar, after school, maybe even before school. 🙁
Thank you ALL for what you do to make our bands great. It doesn’t all happen in rehearsal, and it doesn’t all happen because of Mr. Hupe or myself. It happens because of US, linking arms and each doing our part! You are greatly appreciated!
Encourage the color guard members. They begin the audition process starting tomorrow (Monday) Next year’s color guard will be named by Friday!
Next London Payment is due before/by April 17. Your account balance at that time should be $1,350 including all payments and fundraising. How are your grocery coupons going???? There will be a flower sale coming for the spring. It’s not too late to join the trip. We’ll see about a Full London meeting after Spring Break.
Have a great week! Please show our guests the class program that we have. Enjoy getting other peoples perspective. Mr. Hupe WILL be here to answer any questions you might have.
Bill Thomas and Kevin Hupe
Shawnee Mission West H.S.