HOWELL HIGH SCHOOL BANDS FAQ SECTION:

#1 Can I still sign up for band camp?

YES YOU CAN!!! bring $165.00 to the high school with name, address, what instrument you play, and what year in high school you will be next year attached on a piece of paper and leave it c/o Jason Smigell, Band Camp!  No form needed!  You can still sign up, Mr. Stimson is writing a few extra spots for the band in anticipation of latecomers.  However, once the spots are gone, you will be unable to march the first show, which this year is half the season.

 
#2. Do I have to go to band camp?
YES!!  There are some exceptions, but you must get in touch with Mr Smigell SOON.  Band camp is going to be especially important this year because we will be learning most of the show for FESTIVAL

#3 Are we going to marching festival? 
YES.  It will october 5th.  We will be learning the show at band camp.  This show will be much longer and complex than our normal shows.  We will be showing a portion of it at the first game, a portion of it at the second game and perhaps the whole thing at homecoming pregame. 

#4 Won't it suck to have only one show all year
See question 5

#5 How many shows are we doing this year?
3 shows: The festival which we will be working on the first half of the season.  A short middle school play along show with the eighth graders, and a super sweet senior show to finish the season.

#5 What are the shows?

Here are the songs:

Festival show: (A Berry Berry Beatles show....  Chuck Berry and the Beatles... get it?)
Magical Mystery tour
Rock and Roll Music
Saw her standing there
Roll over Beethoven

 
Middle school show
TBA

Senior show:
In a Young Man's Mind (Killer rock funk)
The contender (Jump Swing action from Royal Crown Review)
School Days (HOLY SMOKES hot Chuck Berry tune)

 
THESE SHOWS ARE ON FIYUH (fire)!!!  Thanks to Tonia, Shelby,and  Brian the music is copied and you can get a copy during the mass picture taking on July 26th

#6. When is band camp and the schedule and all the other stuff that has been sent out at least 3 times by Mr Smigell, the boosters and word of mouth?

No problem, I will be attaching them as soon as I figure out how to attach things to the blog.

#7 is there another band director this year?

YES, his name Jim Shouldice joins us for band camp and the whole year as another fine addition to the Howell Instrumental Music Program.

 
okay, that's all for now, the information on band camp will be very soon, as soon as I figure out how to attach it.

 

 

Hello bloggers!


Here are some little tidbits of information that is very important:

#1: If you have not turned in your money for band camp, you still can, but YOU MUST DO IT SOON!! If you have not signed up for marching band at all, there is still time but you must do it NOW!!!!


If you are a new marching band member, you need to get your uniform fitted on july 22, 2004 between 9am-12pm or 4pm-7pm

Everybody needs to show up on july 26th for pictures!!! Refits of old members happens between 10am and 12pm. Pictures will be taken at 1pm in the fieldhouse.

any questions, email me at smigellj@howellschools.com

special thanks to sue baker, charlene baker, tonia bragg, noah gordon, kim zepp, brian mulvihill, shelby schmidbauer, luke collier, sherry dingman, vicky kihn, robin keeney and the booster board for all of their fine work during the summer so far!

special thanks to luke, ricky and meghan for helping me move.

OK..... The moment you have all been waiting for....


SQUAD LEADER ANNOUNCEMENT:

These are the PROBATIONARY squad leaders for next year:


Flute:
Charlene Baker
Amanda Reisedge


Clarinet:
Tonia Bragg
Heidi Bensinger (Only if you can make it to all of camp plus the 5th and 6th)
Lara Hubbel
Erin Meyer
Lauren Parker
Amanda Withrow

Saxophone
Chris Joseph
Shayna Kamilar
Jon Langley
Garrett Reinig
Jay Sell
Joe Tyler

Trumpets/Horns
Keegan Cooper
Shell Hopkins
Mischa Cox
Heather Todd

Low Brass
Nicole Bader
Nick Borgelt
Mary Hemond
Eric Major
Ashley Smith

Flag
Lindsay Marsh
Ann Marie Gostomski

Majorette
Amanda Hicks

Percussion
Nick Harlow
Rob Precord
Luke Collier
Bass Leader to be named by Sabin
cymbal Leader to be named by Sabin

Drum Majors:
Brian Mulvhill
Shelby Schmidbauer
Possibly one more to be named

Thanks to everyone who applied and took the test. Everyone listed here will need to be at the Squad Leader seminar on August 5th and the new person seminar on august 6th. Please make proper plans as these dates, along with all of band camp, are MANDATORY for all leadership personnel. All leadership folks are on probation until the conclusion of band camp, where at the conclusion they will become fully commissioned. Obviously there are some sections that have more squad leaders than others. Some of the squad leaders from other sections will be assigned to sections needing help. I chose these people on the basis of their test scores, demonstrated leadership throughout the year, demonstrated responsibility over the year, demonstrated marching skill over the year, and what they wrote on the application.


If you have any questions, feel free to email (smigellj@howellschools.com) or call the office (517 540 8001)

Thanks much!!

Jason Smigell

Hello Band bloggers!

For those of you freaking out about squad leader postings, continue to freak out just a little longer. I will be posting them some time this evening. For those of you also wondering about the show music, I am also working on that as well with Mr. Stimson. All in good time! I wanted to drop everybody a line so they didn't think I was blowing them off! Don't worry very soon you shall have what you seek!

By the way... Because the programs need to get to the printers so early, we are going to be having an emergency photo shoot for marching band pictures on July 26th! Please leave that day open!!!!

Until very soon...

Mr. Smigell

READ AGAIN!!! THE INFORMATION HAS CHANGED AGAIN!!


HOWELL'S PARTICIPATION IN THE ALMA PARADE IS BACK ON!! WE ARE PERFORMING AT ALMA!!! Report time is 7:30 am may 29th in the high school band room. the parade in alma begins at 11:00 am.


Here is some important information about the upcoming parade!


Practices:

This Wednesday 2/26 from 2:30-3:30

This Friday 2/28 from 2:30-3:30




Report time for the parade:

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE:
Report time is 8:30am in the high school band room. Students will put on their uniforms and then proceed to the "BAY" gas station on grand river. Parade steps off at 10:00am. We should be done by 11:00 or 11:30. There is a picnic thrown by the boosters in the city park right after the kids go back to the band room and put their uniforms away. Admission is $1.00 in advance, and $5.00 if you show up and pay (this is because it costs $5.00 per car to get in the park).


Any questions, please email me at smigellj@howellschools.com

thanks!

Jason Smigell

Hello Band brothers and sisters!!!



Here is the layout for the next few days!


Friday May 21, 2002

I will be gone on a Jazz Gig with the Jazz Band

SUB PLANS:

1st hour prep
2nd hour freshman band
3rd hour prep
4th hour concert band
5th hour symphony band
6th hour percussion ensemble

ALL GROUPS HAVE THE SAME OBJECTIVEs:

LISTEN TO THE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

-Remember that there is parade/banquet practice on monday from 4:00-5:30 THe band banquet performance begins at 6:00 Uniform is your green band shirt and a pair of jeans. There are a few banquet tickets available at the door.

PASS IN MUSIC!

Here are the EXACT INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Go one piece of music at a time
2. Call out each instrument type to pass their music to their section rep.
3. then call up the section reps in this order:

FLute/picc
Oboe (some groups do not have oboes, they will let you know)
Clarinets
Bass Clarinet
Bassoon
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet/Cornet
French (F) Horn (some groups do not have french horns)
Trombones
Baritone/Euphonium
Tuba/basses
Percussion

4. Stack the pieces in neat piles on the piano. The librarian will take care of it from there.

After passing in music, please have the students from each class nominate seniors for the john phillip sousa award. This award is given to the most dedicated and skilled student in the band program. The person must be a senior. Have students raise their hands and one at a time tell you the names of seniors they would like to be nominated. Have one student record the names and give the list to a student aide. They will type up a ballot to be used on monday.

PLEASE MAKE SURE THE STUDENTS NOMINATE THE JOHN PHILLIP SOUSA AWARD CANDIDATES BEFORE THE END OF THE HOUR, EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO STOP PASSING IN THE MUSIC EARLY. THEY CAN FINISH UP ON MONDAY.



SUB PLANS FOR MONDAY MAY 24th 2004

See schedule above for which class happens when

During prep: Copy award ballot that has been typed up by the student aides(X240), copy senior information form (x40, and key signature pretest (x240)


ALL GROUPS:

1. MAKE THE SAME ANNOUNCEMENT AS FRIDAY and Finish passing in music if needed.

2. Have students vote on the John phillip Sousa award. They may only vote once. Have students turn in the ballots to you and put them on my desk DO NOT COUNT THEM OR ANNOUNCE A WINNER! Winner will be announced at the banquet monday night.

3. Have any seniors in the class fill out the senior information sheet and place them on my desk

4. Have every single person take the KEY SIGNATURE PRETEST.


If you have any questions, ask one of the "Minions" (They will introduce themselves, very helpful)

If you have problems with individual students, write down their names and they will be DEALT WITH when I get back.

Thanks a lot,

Jason Smigell

Ah readers, here is the layout for the rest of the year (For the moment)......


A MOSTLY COMPLETE CALENDAR FOR THE REST OF THE BAND'S 03-04 SCHOOL YEAR:

Wed 5/12 (TOmorrow) Jazz Band 2:30-4:00 and flag tryouts 4:30-5:15

Thurs 5/13 Jazz gig (small ensemble) for senior honors night

Friday 5/14 Spring fling dance tickets $5.00 prepay and $7.00 at the door 7-11 pm band and choir kids only.

mon 5/17 Jazz Band practice 2:30-4:00

Tue 5/18 Spring concert 7:00 pm in the aud

wed 5/19 MB practice 2:30-3:30 PM

5/21 Large ensemble jazz band gig at 3 fires all day

5/24 parade/banquet practice 4:00-5:30 and then the BANQUET PERFORMANCE AND DINNER at 6:00

5/26 Parade practice 2:30-3:30 (subject to cancellation pending working one's butt off)

5/28 Parade practice 2:30-3:30

5/29 ALMA

5/31 Memorial Day Parade

6/5 Graduation

6/6 through july... BREATHE A SIGH OF RELIEF!!!


Layout for wednesday, May 12 2004


Fresh, concert, and symphony bands:

REcord for percussion

Percussion class...

Play along with recordings!!!

Hello Gentle Readers!

-No Jazz Band monday, may 3rd. There WILL be Jazz band monday, may 10th and may 17th

-Welcome back from New York!

-The trip was a blast!

-Our ratings are being mailed to us and will be here soon

-If you took pictures at New York and would like to have them included in the video, please have them developed and give them to mr. smigell

-Yes, we are going to alma this year. It is the saturday of memorial day.

-More information on Marching band rehearsals will be posted very soon!!!

-The spring concert is coming up on may 18th, and the band banquet/ concert is coming up on may 24th.

Layout for the next few days:

tuesday and thursday May 4th and 6th 2004

concert:
Warm up, Tune

The great steam boat chase
SR the last concert song

Symph:

Warm up, tune

Circus bee
PIrates

Perc:
assign Playing test

Begin to distribute parts for spring concert.


OK... Thats it for now!

If you have questions, email me at smigellj@howellschools.com!

SUPER IMPORTANT! PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS!! IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT NORMALLY CHECK THE BLOG, TELL THEM TO CHECK! IF YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT LOOK ON THE INTERNET, CALL THEM AND TELL THEM ABOUT THIS!


#1. We are no longer going to State Band Festival. Reasons include:
a. Too many choir kids in conflict with their state solo and ensemble
b. too much to get ready with collage and New York Trip
c. Too many kids saying they could not make it
We apologize if this inconveniences anyone. Although it is disapointing, we feel that this will make things a little easier and less crazy.


#2. Dress rehearsal for collage begins at 6pm for Jazz band large ensemble and 7:00pm for symphony band and percussion ensemble

#3. COllage is at 7:30 pm THursday april 22nd in the high school auditorium. Yes, I know all other events in the band universe start at 7:00 pm, but this is a choir hosted event (Howellpallooza was a band hosted event).

#4. There is a mandatory parent/ student meeting in the choir room tomorrow night (tuesday, april 20th) concerning the new york trip. All information and forms will be distributed at that time.

#5. All percussion people involved in cecillia and the central park performance will need to attend a rehearsal with ryan edwards this wednesday afternoon from 3:30pm to 5:30 pm.



OK... that is it for now... plans for the week coming tomorrow

Hey all band folk out there! Long time no blog!! Here is the plan for the next few days and some important announcements!!


Thursday April Fool's Day 2004


Freshman and concert band:

-SERIOUS tuning with smigell

-Sightread FIREDANCE with Pichini


Symphony Band:

-SERIOUS tuning

-SIght read "circus Bee"

-If time, SIght read mallet maniacs

Percussion: TOOL WOrkout, Cecilia planning and mario set work

Announcements:
-POint sheets are due next thursday (point sheets are used to determine if people get thier letter. If there are any questions, ask Ricky Barnes

-Howellpalooza dress rehearsal is 5-7:00 pm next monday night. Don't be late!
Acts in howellpalooza include: Jazz band, percussion extravaganza (secret plan), FANBOY, SIGNAL 107, Flag corp, Majorettes, Classicality, calamity, and highland dancers. Tell your family and friends! It is next wednesday at 7Pm! Tickets just 3$!

- All those interested in becoming the drum major next year should sign up on the black board in the band room.


Friday, april 2 2004

Fresh band and concert band:

Tuning intervals (shorter than yesterday, but more important)

Continue firedance!


Symphony Band;

Interval tuning

Continue the circus bee

if time, sightread mallet maniacs and pirates

Well here it is the postings of the new bands next year. The band names are a little different. Wind ensemble is the top band and symphony band is replacing the concert band. So here it is:
WIND ENSEMBLE
Flutes
Rushlow
Glynn
Pheney
Rossow
Schmidbauer
Reisidge
Prochaska

Oboe
Matznick

Clarinet
Hopkins
Fartell
Parker
Withrow
Dzierwa
Eschelman
Meyer
Bragg

Bass Clarinet
Eric Joseph

Contrabass
Hocking

Bassoon
Webster

Saxophone
Sell
Tyler
Jirasek
Joseph
Michaluk
Langley
McKay
Kamilar

Trumpets
Cox
Warsop
Hershberger
Trickett
Demers
Dingman
Gupte

Horns
Provinzano
Cooper
Hayes

Euphonium
Hemond
Bader

Tuba
Ashley Smith

Trombone
Major
Wright
Borgelt
Jacobs

SYMPHONIC BAND

Flute Trumpet
Sexton Edmonds
Muscoe Sredzinski
Bigham Flierman
Oke Rushlow
Anderson Bortels
Clark Ellison
Kearns Barnard
Jirasek Barrow
McCarty Lofgren
Kennedy Crawford
Clark Knapp
Obrien
Michaluk
Shoner

Clarinet
Hubbel Horn
Slagell Bensinger
Graham Witjes
Pohl Reich
Murphy
Warren
Barrera Euphonium
Arnold Miller
Barnaby Leyder

Saxophone Tuba
Simmerman
Gubala Stephanie Smith
Eubanks
Blankenship
Gorski Trombone
Allison Wright
Trickett Wurster
Buckner Poppe
Taylor Kamilar
Ruff
Galubensky
Shoner
Arold
Passino



Wind Ensemble Probation
Baker
Todd
Bensinger
Gilligan

Yet to Audition
Heslip
Olbrich
Reinig
Halek
Harris
Kamilar
Sidge

Well that's how it is if you have any questions please call me or email me I will be happy to talk to you about anything you need to or want to know.

OK!! Here is the layout for the rest of festival week!


wednesday, march 3, 2004


Freshman band:

Nice warm up and tune

END OF NORMANDY!

Sight reading!


Concert band:

Warm up and tune

Apollo March!

transitions in loch and mountain

Remember you are with percussion 6th hour

Symphony band:

Warm up and tune (very well)

just the beginning of parchutes (flute crispness)

tempered steel run the things that we changed (mp during first saxophone dah dah dah dah, solo sections, finishing phrases, run it!

Sight read!!

Percussion: work with concert band and sight read with them!


Announcements:

Please check the blog for report times on saturday!!! Minions prepare a permission slip and turn in the buss form!

next week will begin auditions for next year!!


LAYOUT FOR THURSDAY march 4, 2004

Freshman:

Warm up and tune

Holiday with pichini

Irish gaurd

normandy

Today you will be coming back 6th hour to practice with the percussion

Concert:

Full run through and sight reading

Symphony:

Full run through and sight reading

Percussion:

Work with freshman and full run through with sight reading


FRIDAY March 5, 2004

FULL CONCERT RUNTHROUGHS and sight reading in all three bands percussion will be coming to the band

Percussion will take sixth hour to prepare equipment for festival.

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