WF Band E-News: February 5-9, 2018

Please take a moment to read this week’s schedule and announcements below.

The word map of goals lists goals that our ensemble identified after assessment last year. If these ideas were identified after the performance, then they represent our starting point for this year. Let us ensure we are not constantly rebuilding, but instead making progress from our previous success. These ideas apply to every student in our program, no matter your ensemble or level!

Our 2018 goals are heavily focused on individual practice. Reference recordings are on the current member page of our website to assist you with the concert literature. Other tools for general practice are available on the Audition Central portion of our website.

As always, more information is below!

Band Schedule – February 5 – February 9, 2018

Monday, February 5
Band Booster Meeting – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 6
Pizza Fundraiser Begins
Wind Ensemble – 3:45-4:45 p.m.
Thursday, February 8
Jazz Band – 3:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Individual Practicing
There are many resources on our website!
Band room can be used for before- and after-school practice. You must have transportation and check with Mr. Stanley in advance.
In Class
Wind Ensemble – Concert Assessment Preparation
Percussion Ensemble – G and D Scale Test (Wednesday)
Symphonic Band – Ab Scale Test (Thursday)

Announcements, Updates, Information

Jazz Band
Rehearsal will occur on Thursday, February 8 from 3:45-5:00 PM.
A revised schedule will be distributed at this rehearsal to account for some of our missed rehearsals so far.
Spring Trip
We are unable to take the tentative Washington, D.C. Spring Trip on the calendar (April 13-14).
A draft itinerary at the beginning of the year for later in April did not work due to proximity to SOL testing.
The April 13-14 dates did not hold the same opportunities (events) as the later April date, making it difficult to replicate the original itinerary.
There are some possible options. We will discuss these during the Band Booster meeting.
The calendar currently says there is a mandatory trip meeting on Monday, February 5. Since the trip is not yet official, this meeting is postponed. The Band Booster meeting is the only meeting that will occur on Monday, February 5.
Wind Ensemble Concert Assessment
The Concert Assessment memo, itineraries, and forms will be distributed this week. Permission and medical forms are due back on Friday, February 9. All of these documents are available on our website on the calendar and forms pages.
An additional after-school rehearsal has been added on Wednesday, February 14 from 3:45-4:45 p.m. Given the late notice, the attendance requirement is more flexible, however, attendance is expected.
We have only ten in-class rehearsals remaining before Assessment. All stakeholders should be making positive contributions to our final preparation.
Individual Practice
Remember: 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.