THREE CHEERS FOR HOWELL BANDS!!!

It's all finished folks! District festival is done (sigh of relief) and ALL OF THE BANDS EARNED A MEDAL for the second year in a row! On top of that, all of the bands' grades were the same or better than last year, even with the reduced rehearsal time and other crazy challenges we have had this year. The last two weeks have been really hairy with the preparation for our new york trip, the musical, and festival. I know that many kids out there have had to set other things aside in order to get all of this music in good shape. Don't think all of your hard work and sacrifice went unnoticed. I am also pleased and relieved that our efforts were reflected in our scores at festival (Because many times life doesn't work that way. Fortunately it did this time!). Words cannot express how proud I am of all our dear Highlander Bandos! Massive thanks and respect goes to those students and parents who helped as equipment crew or chaperones! Special thanks to the "Minions" for all of the pre-festival prep! Special big BIG thanks to Brian Roskamp, who is the only person besides myself to go to all three of our festival events... twice to help out and once to perform!

Continuing with the heaping of praise, I was told by several Groves HS band boosters that our kids were polite and well behaved. Even the sight reading judge said they were friendly and attentive. As I have said before, The conduct of my students off the stage and in the community is just as important (okay, not quite but REALLY close) as their conduct and performance onstage. Kids, keep it up, being nice really does pay off! Parents, the children's good behavior is a wonderful reflection on you. Congratulations!


OK... so below are the scores

(oh, by the way, there are four scores given to each band. Three of them are based on their concert performance, and one of them is for their score in sight reading. Scores are given on a scale of 1-5, with five being a "poor" performance and one being a "superior" performance)


Friday February 29, 2008

HHS Concert Band (MSBOA CLASS D): Concert Scores 2, 2, 2 Sight reading 2 OVERALL RATING *2* (Red Medal) Hooray!

HHS Wind Ensemble (MSBOA CLASS AA) Concert Scores 1, 1, 2 Sight Reading 2 OVERALL RATING *1* (Blue Medal) Hooray!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

HHS Symphonic Band (MSBOA CLASS B) Concert Scores 2,2,2 Sight Reading 2 OVERALL RATING *2* (Red Medal) Hooray!

More blog entries to come with info on New York, The Musical, Lock in, Marching band for next year, and many many other interesting and fast approaching things!

-Oh and did I mention I was proud of everybody?

-Peace,

Smigell

Here is the link to the website for Birmingham Groves HS for Directions to FESTIVAL this weekend -
Get there and cheer 'em on!


http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?formtype=address&addtohistory=&address=20500%20W%2013%20Mile%20Rd&city=Beverly%20Hills&state=MI&zipcode=48025%2d3830&country=US&geodiff=1

Bert S.

Hello all! This is the information for festival!


Concert Band:
Friday Feb 29 2008
Report Time: 4:10pm at Parker HS
Leave Parker at 4:45pm
Arrive Birmingham Groves HS at 6PM
Perform 7pm
8PM Go home
9PM arrive home


Symphonic Band

Sat march 1st 2008
Report time 12:30pm parker hs
depart 1:00pm
Arrive 2:00 at Birmingham groves HS
Perform 3:00
4:45 leave for home
5:45 Arrive at parker HS

Wind ensemble:
Friday feb 29 2008

6:30pm Report time at parker HS
7pm leave for Birmingham Groves HS
8PM Arrive at Birmingham Groves HS
9:10 Perform
10:30 leave for home
11:30 HOME! (Perky HS)

Ok..

IF you did not get to the meeting last week - and you are going to New York - there is an info packet in Mr. Smigell's Office with YOUR name on it - Pick it up! Take it home and bring the forms back into school ASAP - PUT THE FORMS IN THE MAILBOX PLEASE !

Thanks -
Bert S

Hello everyone!

Please read this announcement carefully as I don't want ay mixups...

Rehearsal for New York is ON for tonight (7-8:30PM)

In light of the winter storm watch.. The rehearsal for tomorrow morning is CANCELLED

ok... that's it for now. I was hoping we would get some more snow days (sarcasm)... arrgh!


-Smigell

New York students! If you did not attend the meeting last night, there will be information sent to you.

Also, Mr. Smigell stated last night that there are some required practices for the upcoming trip since representatives from the three bands will be performing together for the first time. He has selected five dates and times and three are required in order to go on the trip. They are as follows:

Monday, February 25, 7-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 26, 6:30-8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, February 27, 6:30-8:00 a.m.
Monday, March 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 11, 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Again, select three from above to attend.

Also, Parents, the information may state they will leave from Howell. It will be from Parker promptly that evening!!!!!!

Any questions, please contact Mr. Smigell at his email at smigellj@howellschools.com.

Julie Dennis

ATTENTION - ANYONE GOING TO NEW YORK or planning on being in band next year - at any Howell High School!

Parents Meeting Thursday - 2-21- at 7 PM - in Band Room at Parker - New York Info and Booster info that you all need !

We will strive for a quick meeting - giving you the stuff you need to know and no more!
But we really need to have you there...

Bert S.

HELLO ALL!

Smigell Here! I am in the band office today but THE STUDENTS ARE ON BREAK!! This means that along with doing a bunch of ProDev (shop-talk for Professional Development... Ha ha) curricular stuff, I am catching up on a bunch of OLD BUSINESS. If you have been trying to get in touch with me.. THIS IS THE DAY!!! Email me at smigellj@howellschools.com. I am checking the email constantly!!! I am sorry if you are on my backlog, I am trying feverishly squeeze every drop out of this day to take care of unfinished business, because although I think kids are WONDERFUL, it is hard to get office work done while they are around. The direct line to my office in the band room is 517 540-8338. I don't check that voicemail very often, but I am in my office all day today, so if I don't pick up, just keep calling (I must be in the bathroom or something). I will pick up. I really want to make sure that folks (students and parents alike) feel like they can contact me because I know sometimes it can be hard to reach me. I do care, I really do. Just lots of stuff going on, and the squeaky... well you know how that goes.

ANYWAY, I have sopme great news for the people in the General Band Classes (Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Ensemble). Mr. Kobylarz recorded the concert (Thanks Dude!) and Brian Roskamp uploaded the video onto YOUTUBE!! (Again, THANKS DUDE!) I would like the students to watch the video and if they have comments on what we can work do to get better to please write a response on Brian's blog. All of the instructions and how to do it is on the POST BELOW THIS ONE!! I really think this will be a good tool in our preparation for festival. 200-some sets of ears and eyes are better than one for listening and critiqueing our music. FOR THAT MATTER, parents, I know a lot of you are former or even current bandos yourself! Even if you are not, if you heard something at the concert that you think we are missing, chime in on the response blog!

-Smigell

Hello, This is Brian Roskamp.

I've uploaded the videos onto YouTube and have set up a blog so we can all post comments. The blog is at hhsbandsetup.blogspot.com

Or you can go directly to YouTube (comments disabled): youtube.com/trekkie1701D
(and while you're there you can check out my other videos :-D )

Please feel free to post comments on all the bands.

Smigell's Snow Day Edition:

Ok folks.. who would have thought we would be missing THIS much school? This obviously puts a bit of a crimp in our festival preperation, but we can only do what we can do. The big thing will be GETTING SOMETHING DONE during class tomorrow (today if you are reading this Friday morning) and not taking forever to get our heads screwed on straight. If we hit the ground running, we should be ok. Just be ready to go and don't be a distraction, be an asset!

couple reminders:

-If you are doing state solo and ensemble, we will need to scramble tomorrow morning to get the check in and send it out. The deadline has not passed and I would not be surprised if the extend it anyway.

-I just read the previous post and it looks like Bert already stole my thunder, which is fine. READ THE POST BELOW.

-WE HAVE A CONCERT NEXT WEDNESDAY... Wear something nice!

-Yes, we will be wearing our formal uniforms. IF you are new to the band program at the high school, that means black pants, a white formal shirt and a black bowtie. We will be quicky placing orders so we can look good for festival. A shirt with a bowtie runs about $18.00.

Festival is going to be feb 29th for Wind Ensemble (in the evening) and March first for Concert Band and Symphonic Band. Permission slips and other knick knacks soon to follow.



OK... that is about it. See you tomorrow!


-Smigell

Happy (?) Snowday - AGAIN!
Ok- one more day off school - But band business must go on....
RAFFLE TICKETS- should have been turned in by now - BUT due to missed days and fog and such, I will take tickets and $ over the weekend or DROP DEAD LAST DAY on Monday - I have more tickets available for anyone that needs them - but call my cell to request them - 517 304 3521

NY $ is also past due - Mrs. Glynn needs your final payment ASAP -

OK- enough business - Go build a snowman or something !

Bert S.

Hello everybody!

Smigell here! Long time no blog! Anyway, thanks for all of the well wishes from people who asked about my health. For those of you who don't know, I sprained my bad falling down as I was walking out of my house. The chiropractor really did a good job, and I should be back on monday. I have some information about solo and ensemble for you!

If you do not know your time (I am not sure how you possibly could not know by now, the sheets have been in the front of the band room for a week), you can call me on my cell and I will help you out. I cannot post it here, but many bandos know it and can give it to you. If you do not know any bandos who have my cell #, you can email me at jsmigell@mac.com and I will call you back.

If you just need directions, goto http://walledlake.k12.mi.us/pdfs/WLNdirect.pfd for a map.

Since I haven't been in school, I haven't been able to do my normal check of people's events to make sure they are qualified. Here are the guidelines or a self check. If you have any questions, call my cell and I will make sure to check my email before then end of tonight as well:

1. Pieces must be a minimum of two minutes long and should not be longer that 5.5 minutes
2. You need to have an original score to give to the judge. It must have both the piano part and the solo pat on the same sheet. If you are playing in an ensemble, you still need the SCORE. A copy of the part will not be sufficient for the judge.
3. Make sure your measures are numbered.
4. Put the name of your school on your music.
5. If you made many many cuts in a piece (to reduce time) please give me a call to make sure that you don't get disqualified for "arranging"
6. Make sure ti show up at least 1/2 hour early, as things will be crazy.
7. Make sure to wear something nice for your performance!
8. DO NOT ACCOST OR APPROACH THE JUDGE IN ANY MANNER! If you disagree with your score, let me deal with it later, there is nothing you will be able to do at that time.

Just a warning, I heard from Rick Pethoud that the proceedings for S&E tonight were cancelled because of the snow, and they are allowing people to come tomorrow and "fit in when they can" It is going to be a MADHOUSE, so show up ready for action.

As for everything else that is band, check back on the blog soon for a "state of the band" address from your's truly. Things are going very well considering all of the challenges we have had o face this year. I will be providing a calendar for the rest of the year and other information that can help some of your questions.

Finally, I wanted to let everyone know (if you haven't already figured this one out) that the howellhighlanderbands.org website is longer current or being updated. I have been trying to get in touch with Mr. Sequin to take the site down. For now, please come directly to this blog for you info to avoid confusion.


Ok... that's it for now!!!
Enjoy the snow day!

-Smigell