​Hey Jazz Band!
 
Jazz Music Performance Festival date is Thursday, February 23rd.  This festival is most likely going to be held at a school in Volusia county, but the performance location has not been finalized by the Band District (Seminole and Volusia are in the same district for Band events).
 
Please mark this date as our BIG performance!

Solo and Ensemble Festival is an opportunity for students to perform a solo piece (one student plus piano accompaniment) in front of a judge for feedback and growth.  Performance in this event is a project grade in the 3rd quarter and all Symphonic Band students must participate in the festival, or complete an alternative assignment.  This festival is THE MOST EFFECTIVE way for students to mature on their instruments and improve our sound!

Symphonic Band Students were given a packet of three to four solos from which to choose, and I have told students to please decide by the time we return from the holiday.  Please feel free to email me with the title of the musical piece your student wishes to play, and I will add them to my list.  The final decision day is Friday, January 20th.

Students who are participating in this event must have a piano accompanist to play with them during their solo slot.  Students may arrange to find their own accompanist, or they may request that I find one for them.  The accompanist that I find will charge about $25 which will cover one to two rehearsals and the performance at the festival itself -- this is a very competitive rate for accompanists in the area.  Please communicate any hardships to me directly, and I will work with you to arrange a way to have your student still participate in the festival -- one of the program goals at Milwee is to never hold back a student due to financial hardship -- we will find a solution!

Lastly, here are the dates for the festival -- please add them to your calendar now -- your performance time will be scheduled about two weeks before the event, so keep both dates clear!

District 8 Solo and Ensemble festival at Haggerty High School on Friday, February 24th and Saturday, February 25th.
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Important Dates to schedule:  
​During the spring, the MAJOR event for our band is the Music Performance Assessment.  Think of this music festival as “Band FCAT, or FSA, or whatever they’re calling the testing these days”.   As a band, we will perform for a panel of judges to compete for comments and an overall rating.  This is a BIG deal for our band program and school.
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Due to the high level of music making that needs to be achieved, we will be having after school sectionals and full band rehearsals (just like last year!) to bring in extra help and clinicians to work with our students.  
Please communicate any conflicts with that after school rehearsal to me as soon as possible, email is best.  These are required events, but I will excuse students with an appropriate reason to not attend.

• ​Monday, January 30th -- Woodwind Instrument Sectional (after school until 5:45pm)
• Wednesday, February 1st -- Brass Instrument Sectional (after school until 5:45pm)
• Monday, February 13th -- Woodwind Instrument Sectional (after school until 5:45pm)
• Wednesday, February 15th -- Brass Instrument Sectional (after school until 5:45pm)
•  Tuesday, February 28th -- Full Symphonic Band Rehearsal #1 (after school until 5:45pm)
• Tuesday, March 14th -- Full Symphonic Band Rehearsal #2 (after school until 5:45pm)
• Tuesday, March 28th -- PRE-MPA Performance Rehearsal & Concert (@ Lyman HS) Time: TBD

Music Performance Assessment Dates (Mark all as potential performance dates):  April 6-8th 
Thank you for adding these dates to your calendar!

I am proud to announce that we will be hosting a number of Lyman High School Dividend volunteers after school on every week during the months of January and February.  

This means that every student will have the opportunity to get individual or small group help with their Concert Music, Scales, and Solo and Ensemble Music.  This service is free and will be held every Tuesday from 4pm - 5:30pm.  We have 25-30 Lyman HS students committed to volunteering and they are VERY excited to work with us!  
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Let’s not pass on this opportunity to both build a strong relationship between our feeder high school and build on our musicianship and performance abilities!!!  I hope you are as EXCITED as I am about this!!!!  

​Joshua Autrey
Director of Bands
Milwee Middle School