Hello all!
First of all thanks to all of the parents and kids who have stepped up to my call for support! You have no idea how much it means to me! I promise I will do my part, and I won't let you down!
As you know, this is a new year, I have been saying it since we started school, and I mean to keep at it. Here is what you can expect:
-Better communication... MUCH BETTER COMMUNICATION! I PROMISE
-Better use of time in class
-Better thought-out technical exercises and skill development lessons
-Better Planning
-Better goal setting
-More creativity.
-Much better use of technology. There is a wonderful program that we are about to unveil to everyone called CHARMS. It is a web based database that consolidates calendars, forms, email alerts, payments, and registrations all into one place. It might even make the blog obsolete! Kids you will be able to print off your drill sheets for marching band. Parents, you will be able to print off itineraries! Kids and parents you will be able to... wait for it... SEE HOW MUCH MONEY IS IN YOUR STUDENT ACCOUNT (Obviously this part would be visible only to individual students and parents... each family will get a password.
-MORE MUSIC
-More opportunities to perform!
-More help for kids before and after school!
-Better attention paid to each individual student. Better evaluation and more improvement from each individual student
-More fun (Being good at what you do is fun. Having lots of chops is fun. Having significant musical moments are fun. Getting medals at festival is fun, having a sense of self worth is fun, having self confidence is fun, having a sense of accomplishment is fun. Having an aesthetic experience is fun. Rocking out is fun. Being joyous and satisfied is fun, being nice and still getting it done, working hard and having it pay off is fun, proving people wrong in a positive way is fun, helping other people succeed is fun, doing something that is good for everyone is fun etc. etc.)
Having said that, Kids, Parents, I need this from you:
-Better cleanup in the band room
-Stop leaving personal junk in the band room
-More responsibility from parents and kids to read this blog and stay on top of things (It goes both ways, if I am going to invest an hour or two every 3 days to update this thing, I am going to get REALLY ANNOYED if people still feign ignorance when they miss a deadline). While we are on the subject, if there is ever a time where you or your child has a problem getting a ride to practice or a performance, We can almost always work it out if we have enough time. If there is a conflict, we can almost always work it out if it is in advance!
-Kids, stop losing your (Fill in the blank: music, form, uniform part, etc) and claiming that you never got it in the first place.
-Kids, practice more!
-Everybody, if there is someone ANYONE who has a problem with what I am doing in class or on the stage, or is upset about ANYTHING, please talk to me first (Not much I can do about curing HIV or world peace, but everything else, we have a chance!). I am a pretty reasonable guy. Times are tough and we need to stick together. I am on your child's side.
OK.. here is what is happening for the week.
General:
We will be having auditions in all of the concert band classes (Concert, Symphonic, and Wind Ensemble) for grades and chair placement. We have three of these per year; now, in January, and in April. Symphonic band and W.E. was given this music on Thursday and Concert band was given the music on Friday. Boosters will be coming in during classes this week to fit the kids for uniforms (Notice cutting down on wasted class time?).
Our first away pep band gig will be at Milford HS this week on Friday, Sept 12, 2008. Anyone in the Band Program is eligible to participate. The activity is completely optional, and you have to get your own transportation to and from the performance. You get in the game for free, and the kids have a blast. I will be on site running our portion of the event as will at least one administrator, so you can rest assured they will be supervised.
If you are a late joiner to marching band, you must begin attending rehearsals starting monday. I also need to know the exact number so that I can properly write the drill for the rest of the season.
Parents: Please try and schedule your child's doctor appointments after 3:30 if they are in marching band. It is a class and they receive a grade for it.
Many of you asked me if you could get one of those TOTALLY SWEET (Nice Job Bri Wiepert on the design!) shirts that the band has been wearing. The answer is Yes! They are $15.00 and come in all sizes. Stay tuned for an announcement on what to do with the money...
SPECIFICS:
Monday:
Concert band: Ear to hand, tuning, practice for the auditions
Percussion: Music reading exercises, pass out first playing test. Discuss the "stomp Project"
Symphonic and W.E: Auditions! During the week, boosters will be coming in to fit kids for uniforms.
Marching Band: On the field 2:30-3:30 for Basics EVERYBODY
Tuesday-Friday
Concert band, Symphonic, and W.E. : Auditions and uniforms. Those who have already auditioned will be working on their next playing test.
Percussion: Same as Monday but replace the "Stomp" portion with African Drumming, Rhythmic exercises, Ensemble literature sight reading, and a playing test on Friday.
Marching Band: Rehearsal on the field introducing new drill for Peter Gunn and perhaps Get Smart. The exception is Thursday which will be an inside music rehearsal. All MB plans are contingent upon the weather. There will always be practice after school even if it is raining, but it will probably be inside.
I can't tell you all how proud of all the kids in marching band. Actually, I can I AM SO PROUD OF THE KIDS IN THE MARCHING BAND! They played so well on and off the field. Thanks to all the parent help too! holy smokes are things going well. (As a preemptive response to obvious question to follow; Yes of course I am proud of all my kids, but I have only had non marching band kids for 4 days so far. They will see action soon enough!)
The Day Classes are getting off to a great start too! All three concert bands and the perc ensemble have SERIOUSLY GOOD KIDS in them. We will know a lot more about skill levels after auditions, but it looks like all groups have a heck of a lot of potential. I promise to help the kids capitalize on it this year!
And now... As priomised... here is the tentative schedule for the year!
2008
September
12 Football away at Milford
19 " " Pioneer
26 " " Pinckney
October
3 Hartland football at home (Homecoming and homecoming parade, busses needed depending where the parade is)
10 brighton at home (recruiting with the 8th graders)
17 Crossover football at home (senior night)
24 Jackson football away
28 Fall Concert HHS Auditorium 7PM
November
28 Fantasy of lights parade Downtown Howell
December
9 Winter concert HHS auditorium 7pm
Februrary
6-7 MSBOA District solo and ensemble
24 prefestival concert 7pm hhs auditorium
March
13-14 Festival On the road probably at birmingham groves...
May
8,9,10 Spring Musical
21 Final Concert hhs aud 7pm
25 Memorial Day Downtown howell
This does not include the musical because I am just the pit guy. You should ask britney tyl about that. I am pretty sure it is in May.
There is also solo and ensemble feb 6 and 7th
OK folks... that literally is all I got for right now. You now know as much as I do.
-SMIGELL
oops!
One final thing... FYI
THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS BAND (The big one based out of Washington, DC. They are known as the "The President's Own" because they perform a lot at the White House for official state functions) IS COMING TO ANN ARBOR ON OCTOBER 22, 2008!!! WOW!!!
This is the same band that was made famous by none other than JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA (*Pause for a moment of reverence*) in the 1800's. It is still world famous and is regarded as one of the finest wind bands in the country and the world. They are performing for FREE at 7:30pm in Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, MI on 10/22/08
Information is obscure, but here are the facts: The only way to get tickets is to send a SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE along with a written request for tickets (how old school is that?) to this address: MARINE BAND TICKETS, League Ticket Office, 911 N. UNiversity, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1265. Limit 4 per request. You need to show up and be seated by 7:15. I am just throwing this out there as something for people to do. I don't want to make field trip out of it because the way to get tickets is so sketchy. On the other hand, this is a pretty sweet little opportunity so I thought I would pass it along.
Hope to see you there!
-Smigell
