Monday, January 17, 2005

MLK Day Blog:

Greeting Band Folk throughout this great community of Howell. Let us first take a moment to think about what this day means. When I think of Martin Luther King Jr, I think of a man that helped to set great changes in motion. Great changes in tolerance, love, and equality for all people in the United States of America. I think that things are much better than they were in the struggle for civil rights, but I think we still have work to do. Recently our community has been the object of scrutiny again due to it's past transgressions and an act of what I consider to be poor taste. Once again, the misjudgement of a few has put the burden on all of us. If we want our town to be respected and judged as safe and fair, we need to continue to show tolerance, civility, and compassion to everyone we meet. I know I am preaching to the choir, it's just that I know Howell is a wonderful place to live, work, and raise a family. It frustrates me when people from outside the community judge us because of a few isolated incedents.

Anyway, here is the next few days outlined for the band program.

Bands: We will rehearse on Tuesday, and for a portion of the final exam. If you have successfully passed your audition (for band) or end of the semester playing exam (for percussion), then you may be exempt from coming to the final. Talk with Mr. Smigell for more details.

Perc:We will be finishing up Playing exams, then on the day of the final, we will hopefully be working on blue man group.

SOLO AND ENSEMBLE IS COMING UP FEB. 5... DO YOU HAVE YOUR MUSIC PICKED OUT YET?

NEXT CONCERT FOR THE BANDS IS ON FEB 24th. THERE WILL BE NO JAZZ BAND OR PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE AT THIS CONCERT.

BAND CAMP IS LOOKING TO BE THE WEEK OF AUGUST 8th... BUT DON't QUOTE ME!!! THERE WILL DETAILS ON THIS VERY SOON. EXPECT A SMALL PRICE HIKE (SORRY!!)

ok... that's it for now,

Mr. Smigell

Friday, January 07, 2005

Welcome Bliggity Blogs!


This is a post in accordance with my new resolution to blog more often (I am determined to keep at least one of my new year's resolutions).


Here are some of the happenings in the Howell High School Band program right now:


-Jazz band will begin rehearsal as usual on monday, jan 10th for ALL members (Woodwinds included) from 2:45-4:45. All members will go from 2:45-3:45, then it will be just the big band for the last hour.

-The first rehearsal of the Livingston County honors band will also be on jan 10th, 2005 from 7-9pm. The second LCHB rehearsal will be from 8am-4 pm jan 29th at three fires middle school, and the last rehearsal will be all day jan 31st. The concert starts at 7:30 pm on Jan 31st.

-Solo and ensemble Festival is coming up! In fact, it is about a month away! Location tba, and times will be given out soon, but the festival itself happens on februrary 5th, 2005 (a Saturday)

well.... I think that is it for now.

Smigell

Sunday, January 02, 2005

Happy New Year Blog!!!


Hey everyone, It's been a long time, so tell everyone who craves the blog to check it!!!


Let's get the business out of the way first!!

Schedule for the next few days....


Monday:

-Start of new technical exercises for all bands! Perc ensemble will have a new test piece for thier final exam.

-Bands will warm up with the tech exercises, a touch of chorales perhaps, then there will be time to practice audition pieces for the rest of the hour. Wind ensemble will have a bit of sightreading today instead, then have a practice day on tuesday.

perc ensemble will have the new test piece distributed to them on monday for the final exam. The planning will also begin for the green man group action

THERE WILL BE NO JAZZ BAND ON MONDAY!!!


Tuesday:

Freshman and Symphonic band: Auditions begin!
W.E. Practice day for auds
Perc: Major planning session for green man group


Wednesday:

Auds All bands
Perc begin testing for volunteers.

A couple of my new year's resolutions for the band program:

-I will practice at least 3 hours a week on my instrument or on score study
-I will have better and more worthwhile technical exercises for my groups to help prepare them for festival
-I willl do 2 hours of paper work a week whether I need to or not
-I will post on the blog twice a week whether I need to or not

Coming up in the next blog: Mitch Ryder and Spyder Turner!!! WOWWWWWOOWOWOWWOWWOW... WOW!!!