Bliggity bliggity blog!

PRACTICE!!!

Did I mention practice?

Okay, here is the layout for Feb 26th, 2004


CONCERT DAY!

-All groups are in the Auditorium for dress rehearsal

-All percussionists are to report for their band's hour for a dress rehearsal (there will be school excused absences via email)

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-Concert tonight: Uniform is: White formal shirt and bowtie with black pants/skirt for Varsity band, same for concert band except wear your concert band skirt if you are a female. Symphony band wears the same as concert band except males wear the tux coat as well.

-Report times are as follows:
Percussionists report at 6:20
Varsity band reports 6:30
Concert band reports 6:40
Symphony band reports 6:45

-Just a reminder that FESTIVAL IS NEXT WEEKEND! (sat, march 6th)

Varsity band reports at 6:50 am in the HOWELL high school band room, goes to brighton, performs at 8:25 am and will be back around 10:00 am

Concert band reports to HOWELL high school at 10:00 am, performs at 11:25 am and returns around 1:15

SYmphony band reports to HOWELL high school at 1:45PM performs at 3:20 PM and will be back around 5:30

Welcome back blog readers!


Well, we are now down to the stretch run of festival time. Things are pretty straight up at this point in time. No frills, just getting the job done.

YOU NEED TO PRACTICE!!!

I know everybody says this and everybody agrees it is a good idea, but if we do not prepare properly, we only have ourselves to blame. LET'S GET THIS JOB DONE!!!

Freshman/Freshwoman Band:

-Serious TUNING

-SERIOUS WORK ON NORMANDY

-Run Irish Guard

Concert Band:

-Serious Tuning!

TODAY WE HAMMER APollo MARCH INTO YOUR SKULL! Hope you enjoy!

Symphony Band:

-Serious Tuning!

TODAY WE Marinate YOUR BRAIN IN TEMPERED STEEL Especially the ending and then we run it!!!


PErcussion:

Everbody need to be accountable for the Keyboard test coming up! If you are ready to take it, have ms. Pichini or myself hear you play it and be done with it!

Today, we work normandy, loch and mountain, and apollo (new march)



Announcements:

PRACTICE! Please practice! Want that nice rating? Do you part!!


The Solo and Ensemble date is March 18th at this point. Let me know what you think.

REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE A CONCERT ON thursday.... this thursday. All perc, varsity, concert, and symphony personell have a concert this thursday at 7 pm. Report time is around 6 30 ish.

Yes, It is a record. Two days in a row!

Layout for thursday, feb 12, 2004


Fresh Band:

Ms. Pichini on the scene with march of irish guard and HOLIDAY (don't whine)


Concert:

MASSSIVE SECTIONAL WORKOUT ON BLOCK M MARCH


Symphony:

Ms. PICHINI on Masque

Perc. We take a slight turn into african drumming!!!


Announcements:
Read yesterday's announcements, they are all still important.

-Pizza money was due today (wednesday)... The order goes out tomorrow(thursday). After that, there is nothing we can do.

NEW YORK MONEY!!! GET IT IN!!!

TAKE THE THEORY CLASS!

BLOG ON BROTHERS AND SISTERS!

Layout for wednesday, feb 11, 2004

Fresh band:

-Articulation exercises via ear to hand

-tune

More work on HOmage to Normandy


CONCERT BAND:

-Articulation exercises through ear to hand

-More work on Anthem for winds and percussion

Symphony Band:

-Articulation exercises through ear to hand

-Tune

Final work on Steel greatest hits:
281-317

169-250
338-364

Percussion:
Anthem for winds and percussion
paratoopers
any other pieces that we missed.

Announcements:

TAKE THE INDIPENDENT THEORY COURSE! ASK YOUR COUNSELOR! TALK TO SMIGELL FOR MORE DETAILS!

HOWELLPALOOZA IS APRIL 7th FOR SURE!!! MARK YOUr CALENDARS!

PERFORMANCE TIMES FOR FESTIVAL:
We are in Brighton on March 6th 2004

Fresh (Varsity) Band performs 8:25am

Concert Band performs 11:25 am

Symphony Band performs 3:20 pm

LET'S GET IT ON!

LOCK IN IS MARCH 19th!

ok... peace out!

Greetings all!

Just so you know, the two themes for the next few weeks are:

"The power of will" and

"I have had enough crap for now, thanks!" (I'll explain in class)

Here's the plan for when I'm gone on monday:

Freshman, concert, and symphony band:

-You will have a worksheet that I will have myself and Ms. Pichini actually GRADE and PUT IN THE GRADE BOOK! It will concern your music for festival.

-Percussion, you will be dealing with african drums during 6th hour and after school (until 5:00 or so) Be ready to soak skins!

JAZZ BAND IS CANCELLED for monday. I have a proposition for jb as well: What if we made the wednesday rehearsal after school? How many people would not be able to make it? Email me at smigellj@howellschools.com with your opinion.

Livingston county honors band participants, you have been school excused already for monday. Report time for all day rehearsal is right now set for 8:00 am BEGIN time at the new hartland high school. Check the blog on sunday night and I will have all of the details. You are responsible for getting to and from the school. Any questions, please email me at smigellj@howellschools.com

IMPORTANT JAZZ BAND CANCEL INFORMATION! PLEASE TELL ALL OF YOUR JAZZ BAND FRIEND TO CHECK THE BLOG OR CALL THEM IF YOU KNOW THEY DON't USE THE INTERNET!!!! DON'T ASSUME!!!


Also, Tell everyone you know on the net (in the band) That the blog is back in business! Bringing you band information faithfully since 2003!

Hey All!

Hope you are enjoying your SNOW DAY!!! Kind of a bummer for the african drum scene, but we will work it out. I thought that I would outline some of the things going on tomorrow (and there will be school tomorrow, don't kid yourself). Well, here goes:


JAZZ BAND 6:30 AM IS CANCELLED! I know there will be school, but it still will be pretty crappy right in the early morning. No need to put people in harm's way.

9th grade band:
Ms. Pichini takes the entire band for the first time! Hooray and hold on tight!

Concert band:
Sectionals on anthem for winds and percussion

Symphony band:
pretend this is tuesday. There will be a sub for this hour. Work in sectionals on the items that you as sections agreed upon. Don't waste time! Make tempered steel shine!!!!

Percussion:
You will take "A" lunch and get ready for african drums. Report down to the band room when you are done with lunch and get ready to have some fun and work hard! This is all contingent upon you having your permission slip signed

Announcements:

-WE ARE SELLING PIZZA AGAIN! There are forms available in the band room. Forms and money are due feb 3 2004

-Hey! There is a PEP BAND gig coming up this friday!! Sign up to play in the band room!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT HONORS BAND CANCELATION BELOW! PASS THIS ON TO ANYONE ELSE YOU KNOW THAT IS IN HONORS BAND!!!!

ATTENTION! HONORS BAND INFORMATION!! ATTENTION!!

We were unable to get in touch with all of the Livingston County band directors. Only Hartland, Brighton, and Howell were able to talk to one another. We all agree that it is a bad idea to have a rehearsal tonight. Unfortunately, there are some kids who are going to be coming simply because no one was able to call them. I suggest NOT GOING. This will make the decision for stopping rehearsal early much easier. The three of us agreed that no one will be penalized for not coming to the rehearsal. So... is it canceled? um... No. Should you go? I SAY NO. Will you be in trouble if you do not go? NO. So... NO, NO, and, NO


Mr. Smigell

Welcome back to Band Blog!

Here we are in the middle of auditions!

-Basically, we are testing and auditioning for the remainder of finals week.

-We are going to try very hard, but auditions may run into Tuesday. If that is the case, chair placements will be posted on wednesday, January 21




Jazz Band Schedule for the next couple of weeks:

-Wednesday, Jan 14, 2004: 6:30 am- 7:30 am Woodwinds only, no rhythm section needed.

-No JB on MLK Jr. Day

-JB Large ensemble on wednesday jan 21, 2004 6:30 am-7:30 am

-JB Large ensemble On Wednesday Jan 26, 2:30-5:00PM

-JB woodwinds WEdnesday Jan 28 6:30-7:30 am


-NEW YORK money is due again! THe second payment of $180 is due. please turn the money in to Mr. Smigell

-Student accounts have been updated (Thank you, Mrs. D!) Please check the board in the band room to see how much you have!

Hey everybody!

Hope you are having a wonderful break (there ARE still 2 days left! ENJOY THEM!) I have had a fantasic one! Let's get ready to hit the ground running!

LAYOUT FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS BACK!

Monday, January 5, 2004


Ninth grade Band, Concert band, Symphony band:

-Nice long warm up!
-Work on some sight reading.

Perc Class: Pass out tests for keyboard and snare. This will be the jury to determine who stays and who goes in the class. Since we are overloaded, everyone must be pulling their share of the weight in order to remain!

NO JB ON MONDAY!!! BAND ROOM WILL BE CLOSED RIGHT AFTER SCHOOL FOR WINTER TURNOVER!!

Announcements:
We will be having Jazz Band Auditions for the second semester next week signups will be coming soon.

There will be no pep band for the boys basketball team this friday! We are still working on getting our act together.

I will be gone this thursday... There will be an assignment! Proper behavior is VERY IMPORTANT!

WE HAVE A STUDENT TEACHER!!! WOW!!! Her name is Ms. Pichini and comes to us from the University of Michigan! Her primary instrument is Trumpet and has experience as a sectional coach and is marching band person as well. Please make her feel welcome and pay attention to her (Or forecast could call for "RAIN OF FIRE")! We all will be able to learn from her as she learns about being a band director.

AUDITIONS FOR ALL ENSEMBLES, INCLUDING JAZZ BAND WILL BEGIN FRIDAY DURING THE DAY!! PLEASE Prepare well for these auditions as they determine your chair placement for the next few months... I can give you limited help on rhythms and other things, but this is mostly meant to see how well you prepare on your own


Tuesday, Jan 6, 2004

Ninth Grade band, Concert band, Symphony band:

-Warm up on Ear to hand, tune

-Work on audition piece

-Sightread festival pieces

Percussion:

-Warm up on test pieces
-Throw serious time into beginning Green man group and other Howellpazlooza stuff!

Hello everybody!
CONCERT TONIGHT!

Report time for Varsity and concert is 6:30PM in the band room.

Report time for Symphony is 6:40

Report time for Jazz bands and percussion is 6:15 (for sound check

Uniform for everyone is white formal shirt on top with black pants or skirt. Symphony band gentlemen wear a tux jacket as well.

We are having a canned food drive during the concert for the livingston county food bank. Please bring a canned food item to help feed the hungry in your area.

Refreshments will be served in the cafeteria after the concert (they are trying to keep the lobby area more clean)

If you are taping the concert, please have your child bring in the tape on wednesday, we would like to watch it!

Mrs. Baker (one of the fabulous uniform ladies) will be around at 6:30 to help with any uniform problems before the concert.

Jazz band rehearsal for 6:30 am tomorrow HAS BEEN CANCELED! If you show up tomorrow, you will be by yourself!

New York Money will not be accepted after today. The trip is almost completely full and we already have enough chaperones.

OK... I think that is it.... See you at the concert tonight!!!

Cancel the 1st hour rehearsal for perc ensemble.

-Also, please refrain from sending emails to the administration regarding the private lesson issue. We are still speaking with them and nothing definite has been worked out yet.

HEY EVERYONE!!! LONG TIME NO BLOG!
Been sick and really busy.... Anyway, Here goes!

Layout for Monday Dec 15, 2003


-There will be a first hour Jammin Jingle rehearsal to help shore things up a bit.

Varsity Band, Symphony Band, Concert Band: we are in the auditorium. We will be working with the percussion.

Percussion class: We will be working on the jingle to get it right!

Jazz band after school Monday FLutes 2:30-3:00, Clarinets 3:00-3:30, Large ensemble 3:30-5:00


Announcements:
The New York Money is due on monday! This is the first payment of $50.00. Parents interested in being chaperones need to turn in their money along with their child. We want to have as close to 110 people going as possible. If we go over, we will unfortunately have to start turning chaperones away, perhaps even those who got their money in on time. If we have to turn away chaperones, we will begin with those who paid last.

Our holiday Concert is Tuesday (dec 16) at 7:00pm
report time for now for all groups isw 6:30

LIvingston county Honors Band rehearsal monday night 7:00-9:00pm at howell high school

There will be no Jazz Band rehearsal wednesday dec 18

Layout for the next few days:

Wednesday, dec 3, 2003

REMEMBER!! JB REHEARSAL (LARGE ENSEMBLE) 6:30-7:30 AM ON WEDNESDAY... CALL AND REMIND YOUR FRIENDS!!

Varsity:

Warmup- Technicises #2 and #3

Tune!

Sight read holiday music


Concert:

First 5 minutes, work with Sara and Amanda on the solo in FUSION

Warmup-Technicise #3, more polished

Tune!

Sight read holiday music

Symphony:

Same as yesterday because we did holiday sight reading yesterday instead.

Perc. COntinue the work on the holiday composition... Brief brainstorming session and then try to put it together. If time, we will work on sabre and fusion


Announcements: Remember that there is a carol band to play at the meadowlands... or something like that, during 6th hour wednesday. Make sure to have the note signing you out!!!

All classes have received the new york flyer! First payment is $50.00 and due dec 15th!

LAyout for thursday:

I WILL NOT BE HERE (I have another one of those nifty second high school meetings all day....

If you need a tux shirt, it is $20.00 (with the bowtie included). The dude fitting it will be here on friday. You must pay on site.

Mrs. Baker will be in concert and symphony band to fit skirts and jackets... BE NICE!

All classes will have the BLUE MAN GROUP to watch for an assignment. The Percussion class is going to be doing a spinoff of this act. You must write a 1/4-1/2 page idea about what part of the DVD performance we could use in the howell version.

Layout for 12/2/03, Tuesday

For the next couple of weeks, we will be focusing on rhythmic stability, internal pulse and precision during warm-ups. Most of our other work will center around preparation for our upcoming holiday concert on 12/16/03 at 7:pm


Varsity Band:

Warm up:
Technicises! Let's try #2 today! This one helps with precision

Tune

Work on: The end of Sabre Dance


Concert.

Technicises! Let's do #2 and perhaps #3. See if you can figure out the rhythms through counting

Tune up!

Work on: Fusion mm 56- the end


Symphony Band:

Technicises in F MAJOR hmm... Could it be a preparation for...

SHEPHERD'S HEY WORKOUT! PREPARE FOR TECHNICAL RUMP KICKING!


Percussion.

BEGIN REHEARSING STUDENT COMPOSITIONS (Rockin around Christmas tree)


ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-Bottle drive this Saturday

-We need some Stalwart young lads and lasses to play for the convalescent center on wednesday. It would be during 6th hour and a little bit after school. No cash, just goodness of your heart.

-Make sure to take the New York Trip Flyer to your parents! It has all of the information about the New York Trip. Bottom line: 592.00 for kids to go. Dates are April 28-may 2, 2004. First payment to show committment is $50.00 by 12/15/03. All band members including Majorettes, Flags, Pipers, and anyone I have forgotten are invited and elligible to go, pending co- curricular academic elligibility.

-Things are looking worse for Solo and Ensemble. This is no one's fault but mine. Here is(are) the bottom line(s)

1. I was originally 2 business days late. I was told that there were no exceptions for turning in the materials late. I told them fine, we will not be hosting state solo and ensemble (a big problem for them). I am waiting for a reply, but it does not look good.

2. If we are not able to send in the forms, we will be doing our own solo and ensemble festival. I will hire a set of judges that are either comparable or better than the judges seen at district S&E, they will not have to go to farmington, it will cost less per kid, and the students will get a longer time to receive comments and help from the clinicians. Actually, not too bad eh?

3. I still feel awful about the whole thing. I humbly apologize for any inconvenience or disapointment this may have caused.

Layout for monday Dec 1, 2003

ALERT! ALERT! Huge band director gaff! REad announcements below!


Fresh, Concert, Symph:

-Introducing.... Technicises! OH YEAH!!! THE ANSWER TO EVERYTHING!! Actually, not really, but they are cool. They are technical exercises designed to help rhythm, technique, and balance. The book has several different levels of difficulty, so different classes will be using different exercises. HOORAY!

-work on the pieces that have been passed out (fresh, sabre dance, concert, fusion, symph, irish tune and sheperd's hey)



Perc: Work on fusion, sabre dance and indi practice on shepherds hey.

Jazz Band: Prepare for THE GREAT READING SESSION!
Woodwind jazz 2:30-3:10 Trad Jazz ensemble 3:15-4:45

Announcements:

HOLY SMOKES DID YOUR BAND DIRECTOR MESS UP! The solo and enselmble dates have already passed us by for signing up. We need to send the info out by monday afternoon or they won't accept us. Don't worry, there is no penalty for the participants, just plenty of penance (sp?) for the band director. If you are reading this prior to monday, you might want to figure out if you want to do S&E and who with in advance so it will be easier on monday. Solo and ensemble districts will be feb 14 (yes valentine's day). Solo events are $7.00 and ensemble events are approx $7.00 per participant per event. Your piece needs to be 2 minutes long to qualify and has to be "classical" music (the judges get really mad if you bring "the little mermaid's greatest hits")


-Pizza Orders are due on monday dec 1 with the money. NO LATE ORDERS BECAUSE WE ARE SENDING OUT THE MONEY THAT DAY!!!!

Layout for thursday, Nov. 20th, 2003


Varsity and concert:

Chorales
TUNE
Carols, and Santa's parade (LAST DAY if they sound good)


Symphony band:

Chorales
TUNE
NEW SIGHTREADING!!!!

Perc: Santa's Parade and retesting.

Friday, Nov. 21, 2003

I'm out of school until mid fifth hour... BE GOOD TO THE SUB!

Perc: Begin work on concert pieces.....


Announcements:

PIT... THE CALL IS 6:30pm for thursday, friday and saturday!!! YOU MUST BE IN THE PIT BY 6:45 or don't bother showing up!!! You're doing a good job, keep it up!

FANTASY OF LIGHTS: Rehearsals for all MB members attending monday and tuesday next week 2:30-4:00 PM

DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING (DAY OF FANTASY OF LIGHTS)
Report time 5:40PM in the band room to pick up uniform. If you are any later, they will close the street and you will not be able to get there! Okay, let's make it 5:30 instead:

5:30 report and put on uniform in the band room
6:15 the bus leaves for citizens band
7:00 parade starts
7:30 ish we step off
9:00 ish we get back to the school , are totally done and people can go home

Start picking up portable x-mas lights to decorate your uniform!

JAZZ BAND, there will be rehearsal from 4:15 until 5:30 next monday! DON't FORGET!!!!!

More information very soon about the bottle drive...

There are more pizza kits sheets available in my office now....

Ok.. Peace out!

Layout for Tuesday, 11/18/03 and Wednesday 11/19/03


Fresh, Concert, Symph, and Perc

Finish Testing...

Couple of chorales...

Tune...

Santa's parade

Carols


Announcements: TBA because we still do not have stepoff times for FOL and do not have signup times for craftshow....

Layout for Monday, Nov 17, 2003


Varsity, Concert, and Symphony:

-Finish up the testing, work on the carols, and work on the fantasy of lights parade piece ("Santa's Parade")


Perc: Finish up the testing, get to work on the big ol' Holiday Piece!

Pit: All personnel rehearse from 2:30-5:00

Announcements:

-Sell the pizza! Remember that there is a pizza kit selling fundraiser that goes through dec 1. There are still sales sheets available! See Mr. Smigell or call Mrs. Dingman for details!

-There is the first stage of the bottle drive this saturday! There are many spaces available on the crews! In stage one we hand out the flyers to specific chunks of the community. It takes about an hour and can be done any time on saturday.

-THE BOOSTER CRAFT SHOW IS THIS SATURDAY!!! Go check it out!. By the way, we need kids to sign up for playing holiday carols at the craft show! For more information, see mr. smigell

Hey all you tech expert, web savvy folks! Please tell everyone that you know over the 'net that the blog is alive and well!!!!

Comin' to ya today from inside the band office.. on SATURDAY (yeah, that's the only real time it's quiet enough around here to get some work done)

Layout for monday, 11/10/2003


Frosh:
Just a bit more of the blues.... Be ready to boogie

Conc:
-Try out the new exercise books
-assign the test for friday
-Fusion

Symph-
-Assign the test
-Prep for Vet's day assembly

Perc-
Work out giraffe snare 1st half, listen to chocobo the second half

Pit: 2:30-5:30 in the band room!

Announcements:
-Remember Symphband that there is a brief after school rehearsal STILL planned (I will continue to try and get us out of it) for 2:30-3:00 in the auditorium monday afternoon)

First Jazz band rehearsal is this coming Wednesday at 6:30am!!! PLease fill out the form to let us know whether you are in or you are out!!! I

-Fantasy of Lights Info: Please remember that there is rehearsal on monday, nov 24 and tuesday, nov.25 from 2:45-4:00pm for Fantasy of lights parade! ALL MB Must attend unless you have specifically spoken with Mr. Smigell and OK'd it with him! THe fantasy of lights parade is the day after thanksgiving. More specific info on report times and stepoffs very soon....

Layout for tuesday, 11/11/03

HaPPY VETERAN's DAY! Thank a veteran for helping to preserve our freedom!

Varsity band :

-assign TEst

-Warm up on some of the new technical exercises!

-Tune

-Sabre DANCE!

3rd hour: Special veterans day assembly featuring (among others) Symphony band!! (More info very soon)

Concert Band:

-Work the test a bit

-Technical exercises

-SIGHTREAD!! HOORAY!

Symph band:
-You have this hour to take tests and things you missed 3rd hour for the assembly. Others may work on their test or practice

Perc: THE BIG PLANNING DAY!!!

Pit: 2:30-5:30 in the pit!! HOORAY!

Wednesday:

Varsity, Concert, Perc: Optional early testing today since we only have a few minutes in each class (half day)

Symphony band: Independant study checkup day!

Pit: TBA. There WILL be some sort of rehearsal after school!


OK... that's it for now... peace out!