Band Updates

Hello Band Family,

We had the SCPS All-County Band festival this weekend with 11 Milwee students representing our school! They had SO MUCH FUN! Congratulations to the hard working students that made some great memories and music this weekend!

We’ve got a few updates this week - here’s the headlines with more details below:
 

• SCPS INVENTORY is TUESDAY - All School owned instruments MUST be returned to the band room for inspection by the county. Drop off is at the front office MONDAY between 8:30am and 4:30pm. Email me if you have any concerns.
  
  
• Solo and Ensemble Festival update  - students attending the festival should be able to play through their entire solo without stopping or hesitating within the next 2 weeks. 
  • For those using a “Milwee Accompanist” - the first rehearsal with the piano player will happen in class during the week of Feb 14th. Be ready by then!
  • Students are encouraged to sign up for a 5-10 minute mini-lesson with me or Mr. Delgado (intern) - a sign up sheet & times will be in the band room on the board.

• Assignments/Grades update below - see more information below for what is happening in your student’s class. ​

• ​Band Booster Meeting on Tuesday night - 6:30pm via WebEx. We’re here to answer any questions you have about the band program and what is going on! All are encouraged to join!  I’ll send a reminder, with a WebEx link and agenda, out on Tuesday.

***More details about the above headlines:

1. Inventory Update - Thank you for making sure your home tuba/euphonium is at school by Monday. If you are unable to get the instrument here tomorrow, I may be able to help if you email me ASAP - Thank you for taking the time to help us with this process.

• This is also a great time for me to make sure that everything is working properly on your home instrument! Instruments may be picked up starting WEDNESDAY, anytime. Email me or just show up during normal school hours to the front office, and I will bring the instrument up to the front for you.

2. Solo and Ensemble Details - the things you need to know at this time:

• Schedule/Times - The schedule is not ready yet, but I will send it out as soon as it is released. Your student will be scheduled for a ten minute slot during the festival on Friday night 5-8:50pm, or Saturday from 9am-5pm.
• Once the schedule is released, if you have a conflict with TSA or another school related function, you will need to email me ASAP to request a time change. I have limited flexibility in requesting schedule changes, but will do my best to accommodate. We may only exchange slots within our own school, accompanist, and adjudicator: I usually can find another student with the same accompanist/judge who is willing to help you out - the sooner I know of a conflict, the quicker we can make adjustments!

• All Solos must be performed with an accompanist - for those using one of the “Milwee Accompanist” that was requested during the sign up process, I will send you an email next week with the name of your accompanist and the day in which you will meet with them in class.
• Please bring $30 (cash or check is fine), to pay your accompanist directly. You will make checks out to their name, not to the school or band boosters. If you need financial assistance, please reach out to me - we will never allow $ to prevent a student from performing - just communicate and we will figure out a solution!

If you are using your own accompanist (like a family member or friend) and need the piano music, please email me! 

3. Assignments/Grades: Beginning Band  

• There are two performance assignments this week: The Chromatic Scale (Descending half notes) and the F Major Scale in the All-State Pattern. 
• Both are posted on eCampus for students to submit their recording online - students who do not submit this recording by Wednesday will be tested in class on Thursday/Friday.
• We are gearing up for passing out our first real “big kid song”: STAR WARS - it’s SO MUCH FUN to play. In order to accomplish this in class, students NEED to master their scales! We are working on scales in class the most, which is tedious but very important to enjoy performing music.
• Parents - Please encourage your student to PLAY their instrument for the appropriate amount of time outside of class - shoot for 1-2 hours of total practice time each week at home!