Busy week ahead, lots of schedule notes! Lets see what the band has going on for this first week of April!
Tomorrow – Pep Assembly for Spring Sports and Prom King and Queen. I will send an excused list for everyone on the pep band list to join us tomorrow. Please get out of class at 9:30 to come to the band room, play a couple of tunes and head to the gym. Marching Brass – I just sent tubas and baritones to be cleaned and repaired. Bring your concert euphoniums if yours is not in your locker. I left three sousaphones; we can get a brass if needed. Please cheer on Allison Mehnert and George Walenta for king and queen!
Tomorrow (Monday, April 1) – Solo and Ensemble Recital Night. 6-8p. ALL Solos and Ensemblesgoing to Regional Festival on Saturday, Apr. 13 will perform their piece for a judge that we have hired to give comments to better prepare you for the festival. No ratings will be given, just comments. Parents, you are welcome to watch if you wish. I would suggest everyone dress up to create the same kind of atmosphere you will experience at contest. I would also suggest that students watch and support each other. That gives you a great opportunity to see your friends perform, as well as help them get over any nerves they might have performing in front of an audience. The sign-up sheet is in the front of the band room if you have not yet signed up for a performance time. All performances will take place in the orchestra room. The band room will be the warm-up room.
Thursday, April 4 is the Second Band festival at SM Northwest for the Symphonic Band. I believe you all received an email from Mr. Hupe with your times. I believe it was 6:20 for call time and 7:00p for the start time. All five SMSD bands will perform for each other. You need to take your own instrument and music. Percussion, you will need to take all mallets and hand percussion. Anything you might need that is NOT on wheels in our band room, you will need to make plans to transport to Northwest. Remember dress is Concert Black – black from head to toe.
Wednesday, April 10 – Section Leader Applications are Due There are blank applications in the front of the band room. ALL responses and Letters of Recommendation should be typed. Please hand in your application packet in an envelope. Students writing Reference Letters, you may hand your reference letter to Dr. Thomas or Mr. Hupe directly. If you have never written a letter of reference/recommendation, please Google it. This is a good life skill to know.
Saturday, April 13 – Regional Solo and Ensemble Festival – Olathe South HS – all day I do not yet have the schedule. You will each be responsible for transporting yourselves, music, and your instrument(s) to and from Olathe South. If we took a bus, you would be stuck there all day – nobody wants that. This is the largest music festival in Kansas with over a thousand performances during the day. The building will be packed and busy. You will want to arrive AT LEAST 30 minutes early so you can find parking, find your warm-up and performance rooms, and warm-up. Ratings are usually posted in the commons area 45 minutes to an hour after your performance. Make sure your judges copy has the measurers numbered, and that you, your accompanist, and the judge all have original parts. If any of you have a copy, you will be disqualified and not allowed to perform. If you do not have three original copies, please talk to Dr. Thomas or Mr. Hupe ASAP! *** We do need a couple of parents or students to serve as runners or door monitors on this day for three hours each. It is not hard – you will be trained. If we do not have a couple of volunteers, we will be charged $100. If you have a student performing, you will be allowed to go and watch your student perform. Tri-M students, this is a great opportunity to earn Community Service points – or lettering points (anyone in band). I already see students from other schools signed up. Here is a link to sign up. After signing up, please email Dr. Thomas so he knows. The parents who have helped with this have always enjoyed seeing “how the cake is made.”
Thursday, April 18 – State Large Group Music Festival @ Olathe East (Bands). This will be during the school day. We might need chaperones to ride the bus for Sym. Band. Please check your schedule and see if you could possibly help. We do not yet have this schedule.
Friday, April 19 – Jazz on the Bridge. West has hosted this event for over 30 years. It is a great night of Jazz featuring local high school and middle school bands on the bridge and in the cafeteria. We will set up after school – anyone still need lettering points? The event usually begins around 6p and goes until 9:30p. We will need students/parents to set up and strike. More information to come.
Enough for now. Keep practicing and keep a close eye on your calendar – there is a lot to keep track of in “Band World” plus all your other activities. This is Band Season! Let’s Go!!!!