WF Band This Week: January 15-19, 2018

This week, we have our second jazz band rehearsal on Thursday. Also, three of our students will represent WFHS at the annual Virginia Tech Honor Band, January 19-21. Symphonic Band continues to work on chamber music and Wind Ensemble's count-down to Concert Assessment is moving quickly.

Several students have not yet returned their 2018 expectations contract and pre-scheduling form. These are forms requiring a parent signature that should have been brought home by your student after their first day back in class (packet copied on pink-colored paper). We appreciate your assistance in returning these important documents.

Please continue to encourage musical growth outside of class. Instruments should go home and be played daily. There are ample resources on our website to help with practice. Additionally, Mother Nature often finds a way to provide more practice time during the winter months. We must use that wisely, so that we do not find ourselves below expectations come performance time.

The full schedule and list of announcements are below.

Band Schedule – January 15 - 19, 2018

Monday, January 15
No School - MLK Day
Thursday, January 18
Jazz Band – 3:45-5:00 p.m.

Announcements, Updates, Information

January – May 2018 calendar revision is available online. Please refer to this announcement about the spring semester calendar. Hard copies were distributed in class January 3-4.
Pre-Scheduling Forms and Expectation Contracts have been distributed in a pink packet with an introductory letter. These forms are past-due for a grade.
The expectations contract is a reminder of the policies and procedures used every day in our band program. It is available here.
Scheduling for 2018-19 has begun. It is very important that we receive the pre-scheduling form. It is designed to provide important information that will help ensure your student can continue their band classes in the next academic year. It is available here.
Report cards for the second 9-weeks and first semester were distributed last week. All band students have received this comment: Please encourage at-home practice and no use of cell phones during 2nd semester.
We want to continue the superior work that occurred in the first semester. Collective progress only occurs with individual commitments.
Students, remember that rehearsal occurs in the band room. To be prepared for rehearsal, you must practice outside of class! This is your standing homework assignment for band. Increases in outside practice WILL help us improve.
Parents, please help our program grow in quality by encouraging practice at home and engaged rehearsals at school (this means no cell phones). It is not always easy to listen to a student practice, but creating the expectation and opportunity for this to occur regularly at home is an important show of support for your child’s musical education. Forced practice can result in hating music. However, encouragement is a healthy way to show students you support their efforts to improve natural abilities.
I appreciate everyone’s commitment as we work for excellence in our musical development that enables us to be proud of our organization.
Please make sure you are receiving all band updates. Schedule changes are most likely during winter months. Emails, website blog, Facebook posts, and Remind texts are all important ways to stay connected.
A tentative 2018 Spring Trip is on the revised calendar. At the beginning of the year, a trip was initially planned later in April. However, that date will not work due to proximity to SOL testing. We are working hard to make the revised option work. If it cannot occur, we will plan some type of Spring Trip and will do our best to see that the itinerary contains and overnight stay. Thank you for your patience and please stay tuned.
Jazz Band
A GREAT way to play lots of fun music and get better on your instrument! Open to everyone!
Rehearsals occur after-school on Thursdays.
Second rehearsal: Thursday, January 18, 2018 – 3:45-5:00 PM