Creekland Middle School Band Blog

Wow!  How quickly time flies!  We blinked and it is almost December.  There are lots of events going on these next 2 weeks:

6th Grade (and Jazz Band) Concert is TOMORROW, November 30.  The initial date on the calendar from the beginning of school is incorrect, but it has been corrected in Charms since the beginning of the school year, and it has been on every weekly report that has gone home in the past month.  The performance will be in the cafeteria and begins at 6:30, and students should arrive at 6:00.  Although the t-shirts were scheduled to be here before break, of course they had not arrived as of class time today, but they were delivered after class and will be handed out tomorrow.  The 6th grade uniform is the aforementioned t-shirt, jeans (no holes!), and sneakers.

8th Grade Concert is THURSDAY, December 2.  The initial date on the calendar from the beginning of school is incorrect, but it has been corrected in Charms since the beginning of the school year, and students were notified months ago of the change.  This performance will be at Collins Hill HS, and we just found out today that the performance will begin at 7 and report time will be 6:30.  This concert is shared with all CHHS bands, and we encourage all students to stay through the entire event.

7th Grade Concert is MONDAY, December 6, has not changed since the beginning of the school year.  The performance will be in the cafeteria at 6:30, and students must report at 6.  The uniform is the tux shirt, bowtie, and cummerbund (which were purchased through the band program, and all students who have paid have received them), and black pants and black dress shoes (which are not provided by CMS).

In addition, since the last post we have sent home all fundraiser items and fundraiser prizes.  Many thanks to Molly Gautreaux for helping the events go so smoothly!

Also, 7th and 8th grade students should have turned in their quarterly pass-offs the Friday before Thanksgiving break.  Pass-off projects are worth 30% of a student’s grade in band, and also determine honor band status for the next quarter.  Students now have a week to resubmit items that need fixing, and the second deadline is this coming Friday the 3rd.

District band auditions are this coming Saturday!  Audition times were sent out weeks ago via email, and will be sent again this week.  Auditions will be at A.C. Crews Middle School (1000 Old Snellville Highway Lawrenceville, GA 30044), and students should plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to their audition time to allow for registration and warm-up.

Busy times in the CMS Band!  Please contact us with questions!

Today is the official kick-off of our fall band fundraiser!  Students received information packets in their classes today.  This year we are selling candy, flower bulbs, candles, and chocolates.  Our fundraising goals now are purchasing new instruments, repairing old instruments, hiring guest clinicians and performers, and eventually purchasing Wenger instrument lockers for each student!

We make 40% profit from each item sold, and we will credit every student’s individual band account 25% of proceeds of individual sales.   For instance, if a student sells one $10 item we receive $4 in profit, and $1 will be credited to the student’s band account.  Band accounts can be used to pay for miscellaneous band expenses (books, binders, t-shirts, “Band Packets,” etc.) or can be saved up for big purchases (i.e. step-up instruments).

The text of the letter we sent home says the following:

We are delighted to have the opportunity to conduct a Band and Orchestra fundraiser to provide funds for curriculum materials, enrichment materials, and equipment for our programs.  Since all band and orchestra students will benefit from the proceeds of this sale, every student in one of these programs is encouraged to participate in this fundraiser in some way.

Our Fall Fundraiser will begin on Wednesday, October 13 and will run until Friday, October 22.  Students can start turning in money and orders immediately.  We will need parent help on Friday, October 22 and Monday, October 25 to assist on counting the money to make sure it matches the orders received.   Items ordered will be sent home with the students on early release days in November (Wednesday and Thursday November 10 and 11), and we will also need parent help as we distribute the items.  We appreciate any volunteer help you can give us!  Please see the volunteer slip on the letter or sign up on Charms.

We encourage you and your child to sell these products to family, friends, coworkers, and other acquaintances.  Students should not to go door-to-door to solicit sales from people they do not know. If you choose, it is also permissible to make a donation to the band program in lieu of participating in the fundraiser. The absolute final turn in day is Friday, October 22!!

***PLEASE MAKE ALL FUNDRAISER CHECKS PAYABLE TO CREEKLAND BAND BOOSTERS***

Thank you in advance for your support of this FUNdraiser!  We look forward to the financial  opportunities this fundraiser will provide!

(***please note – there was a typo on the form sent home today regarding pick-up dates for fundraising items.  Pick-up days are the early release days in November – the 10th and 11th, NOT the 11th and 12th as listed on the form!***)

Minutes for Band Booster Meeting 9/13/2010

o   Welcome-Mr. Jacob Sevier started the meeting at 7:05 pm.  Mr. Sevier went over the purpose of this meeting with the parents in attendance.  The purpose of this meeting was to give parents tools to help their children be successful in band, and get a booster organization started.  Mr. Sevier introduced Mr. Richard Irby from CHHS Band booster club.

• Mr. Richard Irby from CHHS

o   Mr. Irby explained that an important role of a booster club is to provide additional monies for the classroom and for additional items, such as additional instruments, money for trips and to help with lessons and expenses when there is a child in need that could benefit.  He advised the school does not give the band money for this and what the district provides is minimal.  He also explained that parental involvement is key-we can support our children not only in fundraising, but by being involved and by being there to witness the child’s successes in their musical education.  They want their parents to see them being successful!

• Officer Duties-Ms. Schaps went over each of the following officer duties and opened the floor for nominations.

o   President – lead meetings, keep close communication with band directors, spearhead and delegate projects and committees

§  Nominees: Jeff Reinhard, Rachel Pinard

o   Vice President – volunteer coordinator for band needs and functions, Rockathon Committee chair, lead meetings when president is absent

§  Nominees: Rachel Pinard

o   Secretary – take minutes at meetings, assist vice president with volunteer communication,  assist band directors with communication

§  Nominees: Shelly Pine, Molly Gautreaux

o   Treasurer – in charge of all money collected and dispersed

§  Nominees: Becky Drescher

• Officer nominations and elections-Ms. Schaps asked the parents in attendance to vote on the ballots provided and collected the ballots.
• Charms tutorial-Mr. Sevier and Ms. Schaps went over some of the features of Charms including public entry (creeklandmsband-then the students school id).  Once you get in charms, you can send emails to the teachers, look for handouts by grade and subject, play pass offs and save them to be graded.  Another feature of Charms is a calendar of all band events.  If you see a hand print on the date, please click on it and volunteer to help!  Also, parents were encouraged to go to their students page and verify the information we have  on file is valid.  Our band directors are working with
  CHHS to see if we have the capability to link with them so that the information transfers with the students as well as any monies raised.
• Blog overview-Ms.Schaps went over the benefits and uses of  our band blog.  It can be accessed by entering creeklandbands.edublogs.org.  There are categories listed on information tags to make it easy to find what you are looking for, including search engine links.  You can download into Audacity, mp3 players and disc resources as another way to hand in pass offs.  Note flight allows a student to enter music and it will play it back to them.
• SmartMusic

o   Student demonstration was provided by Abigail Collins.  She was provided with a song and played along with the music.  Mr. Sevier also asked her to play incorrect notes to show how a child will know how to go back and where to correct their mistakes.  The band boosters have paid $135 for the rights to the music on Smart Music and so our directors have the ability to assign music, help students and to receive pass offs.  The cost of a yearly student subscription is $36.  Smart Music helps the children with sight reading and preparing their requirements for pass offs and even District Band.

• Classroom grading

o   At home practice records are to be turned in any way shape or form at any time.  Mr. Sevier would just like a parent signature to confirm time spent at home with their instrument. Not only does home practice help with strengthening of mouth muscles, it makes the child a better instrument player. Pass-offs and class participation (coming to class with their instruments, binders and any other assigned activities) are also included in their grading requirements.

• Tips for home practice

o   Recording for self-evaluation purposes helps the student hear their mistakes and gives them the opportunity to fix them.

o   Practicing in front of a mirror helps students be aware of their bodies’ relationship with the instrument and can fix lots of issues.

o   Private Lessons are not required but highly encouraged for ANY student to enrich their learning experience!!!

• Additional recommended supplies

o   Metronome, tuner-helps the student with the beat/time of the music and the tuner helps them check their instruments to see if they are in tune.

• Nametags are on order!  All over the country people are waiting on them!  The children will get theirs as soon as the directors receive them!
• The meeting was adjourned by Ms. Schaps at approximately 8:10pm.

The latest news in CMS Band!

-First of all, don’t forget our BAND PARENT MEETING on Monday September 13 at 7pm in the cafeteria!  We will be discussing activities of our band booster program, electing new officers, giving tutorials on Charms, and discussing ways for your child to be successful in our program.  Don’t miss it!

-We had a FANTASTIC time at 8th Grade Night at CHHS last week.  Mr. Bybee told us that these students were the best group of 8th graders he has seen!  We have many pictures and videos that will come in a future post.

-All 7th and 8th grade classes now have their pass-off lists, and pass-offs are due Friday, September 24. Remember that pass-offs can be submitted on any device (tape recorder, cell phone, YouTube, flash drive, CD, SmartMusic, etc.).  If your computer has an external microphone, I recommend using the Charms recording feature or Audacity software (link to the right).  We also have tape recorders available for a 2-day check out.  We will also have before-school sign up sheets beginning next week.

-District Band Audition forms are due TOMORROW!!! We meet every Thursday morning at 8 to help students prepare for their audition.  8th grade honor band students must also turn in their forms, even though the audition is mandatory.

-Jazz band is in full force!  We meet every Wednesday morning at 8.  This year we are happy to welcome orchestra students to our ensemble as well, and look forward to the new sounds and opportunities they will provide.  All students who participate in jazz/pep band must turn in a signed permission form.

Thank you for all you do!  We look forward to seeing you on Monday at our parent meeting!

Wow what a busy week it has been!  Contained in this post is a band-wide update, followed by updates by grade and/or group.

First of all, we finally got our band binders!  Everyone who has purchased a band binder and/or band book should have received their materials yesterday or today.  We will continue to sell materials until every student has what he or she needs, and a copy of our order form can be downloaded from Charms.  Quarterly pass-offs (playing tests) for all classes will also come home early next week.

6th grade:

By now most students have assembled and played the first note(s) on their instruments!  It has been an exciting week getting to share those experiences with your students, and we look forward to polishing those sounds and pushing through to more notes.

7th grade:

We need help fitting our students for uniforms!  If you are available next week Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday from 9:20-10:20 (7A) or 1:10-2:00 (7B), please email us or sign up on Charms.  7B has a concert at the end of September, so we need to get moving on it!

8th grade:

8th grade night permission forms came home on Tuesday and are due on Friday.  This event is mandatory and attendance will be counted for a grade.  Students tell us every year that this night is one of the highlights of their time in middle school band!  They will be receiving a free t-shirt to wear next Friday.  Please check our calendar (or download the permission form) on Charms for more information.

Honor Bands:

7th and 8th grade Honor Bands received information today on auditioning for GMEA District Band and All-State Band.  The first audition costs $2 and the second one costs $18 (for a total of $20).  8th grade is required to take the first audition, and 7th grade is strongly encouraged.  Registration forms are due September 10, and there will be help sessions offered every Thursday morning at 8.  Last year we had a 7th grade student make the all-state band!  Anything is possible!

Jazz Band:

Jazz Band starts next week!  This group is open to any 7th or 8th grader who is interested and willing to make the commitment to rehearsals.  We meet every Wednesday at 8:00.  Later in the semester this group will transition to become the Pep Band and play at all CMS home basketball games.

Don’t forget about our parent meeting on Monday, September 13 at 7pm!  As always, please email us with any questions or concerns.  Thanks for checking in!