November december newsletter

I.                   Schedule of Events 

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE IS COMING THIS WEEKEND!

II.                Winter Concert Information – Rehearsal Schedule

Winter Concert is Thursday, December 8^th

               (Reference Recording Links listed)

III.             Atlanta Beach Trip Information

Extended deadline for first deposit is December 1^st

IV.            GMHS Jazz – NHS PERFORMANCE IS MONDAY, Nov 21!

Jazz Ensemble Events and Rehearsals Listed

V.               Fundraisers – Poinsettia Order Deadline is November 17^th. Pick up is Dec 1 and 2 in the TLC

·        Coffee Fundraiser due by the end of the MONTH.  Coffee will be ready to pick up on December 8^th

·        MUSIC DAYS Sign up now if you need help raising money for your trip! We have received a tremendous number of jobs! 

VI.            District Band Auditions – CHALLENGE YOUR POTENTIAL!

Saturday, December 10th at West Potomac HS.  Deadline for sign up is by Friday, Nov 18^th.

VII.         VCU FESTIVAL OF WINDS AND PERCUSSION

(10^th, 11^th, 12^th grade) Sign up by Nov 30^th  

Event on January 14^th

    VIII.   Holiday Performances for Chamber Ensembles (Attached)

    IX.  Volunteers Needed for Winter Concert

     X.   Lost your forms?  Look on fallschurchcitybandboosters.weebly.com

This is the band booster website which maintains copies of    all the forms and band information.

I.       SCHEDULE OF EVENTS        

Come and see the amazing performance of Thoroughly Modern Millie with the GMHS Jazz Orchestra!  The performances start at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov 16^th – 19th.

 

GMHS Presents

Wed, Thurs, Fri, and Sat November 16-19

7:30 p.m.

GMHS Auditorium

SCHOOL PERFORMANCE BLOCK 3 on FRIDAY, NOV 18

Come hear some terrific 1920’s Dixieland jazz!  Congratulations to the TMM Orchestra and their amazing progress on this very difficult jazz music!  They have put in hours and hours on the music and have risen to the challenge! 

Flute/Piccolo:  Lia Cattaneo

Bassoon: Virginia Rice

Violin:  Marcia McIntyre

Clarinet:  Lauren Bowling, Nathan Frost, Emma Hannan ,

Emma Washa, Lindsay Williams

Alto Saxophone:  Devin Divecha, Phoebe Galt

Tenor Saxophone:  Katharine Wakely

Baritone Sax:  Matt Earman

Bass Clarinet:  Michael Addo Ashong

Trumpet:  Rachel Croxton, Preston Custer, Austin Gogal, Ada Haensel,

Curt Nette, Jack Ulses

Horn: Susannah Whittle, Sarah Miller

Trombone: Sam Cashin, Sarah Devlin, Claire Schmidt, Rick Schutz

Euphonium:  Max Hendrix

Piano: Carrie Gudenkauf, Jenny Kong

Percussion: Kallen Shea

Drum Set:  David McAllister

Guitar:  Carey Gilmour

Bass:  Matt Abel

                                                TENTATIVE LIST ATTACHED  

Please see attachment with students who have signed up for District Band. Stretch yourself and audition for this highly prestigious group!  You will need $7 check made out to FCC Band Boosters to audition.  Auditions will be on December 10^th at West Potomac HS.  You however MUST be signed up by November 18^th.  Sign up sheets are on the board.  CHALLENGE YOURSELF!!  Auditioning is a great skill that you will use your entire life!  Make sure you receive the etude and know the scales required.  Ask if you need help!

 

Monday, November 21st         Jazz Ensemble performs for NHS Induction Ceremony at 7 pm.  Rehearsal at 6:30 pm.

  

Wednesday, November 30^th     Last date to sign up for VCU Festival of Winds and

                                                Percussion  (SIGN UP SHEET ON BOARD)

 

Thursday, December 8^th           Winter Concert

 

Saturday, December 10th                    District Band Auditions at West Potomac High

            Saturday, January 15^th             Festival of Winds and Percussion at Virginia

Information below.    Deadline to sign up Is November 30^th.

 

II.  WINTER CONCERT REHEARSAL/CONCERT INFORMATION

 

Wind Symphony Rehearsals are on Nov 30^th and Dec. 6^th from 3:15 – 5:30 pm.  Jazz Ensemble rehearsal from 5:30 – 6:30 pm.

 

The Winter Concert is on Thursday, December 8th  

STUDENT SCHEDULE:   Arrive no later than 6:30 pm

• 
  6:15 – 6:30 pm   Change into tuxes and gowns.  Bring your tux shirts/socks/shoes
  
• 
  6:30 pm            CONCERT/SYMPHONIC BAND WARM UP ONSTAGE
  
• 
  6:45 pm            WIND SYMPHONY WARM UP IN BANDROOM
  
• 
  7:15 pm            Seated in AUDITORIUM
  
• 
  7:30 pm            CONCERT BEGINS (Jazz – Concert – Symphonic-Wind
  

• 
  YOU NEED TO STAY FOR THE ENTIRE CONCERT
  

 

DRESS:          GUYS:  You must have your own TUX SHIRT, BLACK DRESS SHOES AND BLACK SOCKS  WITH SCHOOL PROVIDED TUX

                        GIRLS:   Black DRESS shoes – School provided GOWN

Tuxedo SHIRT Order Form - THIS IS DUE BY November 28 

As part of the band uniform, all students wearing tuxedos will need to buy a tux shirt. This is a one time expense if you buy this shirt large enough so it will last throughout your high school years.  If you buy it a little bigger, it will last throughout all your growth spurts!   You do not need to submit a measurement for this tuxedo shirt as Mr. Jong, our tailor, has taken most of your sizes when he measures you for tuxedos.  If you have any questions about your shirt size, let me know. 

The cost for tuxedo shirts is $18.00 made out to FCC Band Boosters.  Please attach a check with your name on it to order a tuxedo shirt.  I will deliver them to you as soon as they arrive.  Questions or concerns, please let me know!  westm@fccps.org

 

Students will be having playing tests on their concert material in the next two weeks.  Attached is a STUDY GUIDE with links to recordings to help their practice.

African Bell Carol 

The Spirit of the Eagle 

Farandole   Georges Bizet

The Music Of the Night

 

Symphonic Band and Contract

Locomotive Chase

http://jwpepper.com/2439396.item

Selections from Chicago

Pachelbel’s Canon

http://jwpepper.com/sheet-music/mp3player.jsp?song_url=http://www.halleonard.com/audio/08724004.mp3&song_title=PACHELBEL S CANON&filename=B_2249035

or go jwpepper.com and search for Pachelbel’s Canon.  It is arr by Calvin Custer

band

orchestra

Original

 

III.      ATLANTA TRIP   (PAYMENTS DUE BY DECEMBER 1^st)

 

The first payment for the Atlanta trip is due by December 1^st for those of you who need an extension.   YOU CAN USE YOUR FUNDRAISING MONEY FOR THE FIRST DEPOSIT!!!!  BY December 1^st, I need to know exactly who is going.  I will be sending a list with the most current information that I have.   See attachment for information already sent home!

 

IV.    GMHS JAZZ

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28th!!! NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY PERFORMANCE

3:15 – 3:30 pm SET UP IN THE CAFETERIA

3:30 – 4:15 pm  REHEARSAL IN THE CAFETERIA

6:30 pm             CHANGE INTO TUXEDOS AND GOWNS

Afterschool rehearsal:

Tuesday, December 6^th  (After symphonic band)

 

POETRY OUTLOUD PERFORMANCE: Friday, December  2nd

IN SCHOOL

Friday, December 16   Set up during block 4/5. You are excused from last block

 

WINTER CONCERT PERFORMANCE:  Thursday, December 8^th

 

Monday, December 19th Confirmed 

Tuxes and Gowns  222 N. Washington St., next to the State Theatre

Arrive 6:00 PM/ PLAY 6:15 - 7:15 PM

 

SENIOR CENTER PERFORMANCE:  Tuesday, December 20^th 

IN SCHOOL

11:30 am  Change into tuxedos and gowns

11:45 am   Bus to senior center

NOON – 12:30 pm   PERFORMANCE AT THE SENIOR CENTER

12:45 pm        PIZZA PARTY WITH THE SENIORS

 

WREATH AND POINSETTIAS SALE

Poinsettia order forms will be accepted until November 17^th.   The exact date of pick up is December 1 from 3 – 8 pm and December 2 from 6 – 8 pm.  Thanks to Mrs Frost and Mrs Divecha coordinating this monumental fundraiser!!  Questions, please contact Sheila Frost. 

M*U*S*I*C DAYS  (Many Useful Students In (our) Community)

DO YOU NEED HELP WITH YOUR LEAVES?  HELP WITH HOLIDAY TASKS?  WHATEVER YOU NEED HELP WITH, we have a GMHS Music student that will work for you!!!   Please email Carol Sly carol.sly@verizon.net  with any jobs where our students can work!!!  We also have plenty of jobs this year!  Thanks to Carol’s amazing work!  If you would like to earn money for your trip, it’s not too late.  Feel free to email Ms Sly or Ms West. 

 

HOLIDAY COFFEE FUNDRAISER

We are once again selling custom-blended gourmet coffee, Mustang Blend, for delivery during the holiday season.  Coffee sales are here again. Profits go towards the Band trip. Orders need to be returned no later than November 30^th 2010. Any questions contact sue earman.  sueearman@verizon.net.  Delivery will be on the night of the Winter concert.

 

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the fundraising activities, please email westm@fccps.org.

VI.  DISTRICT BAND INFORMATION

Every year band students have the privilege of auditioning for district band, a highly prestiguous and challenging ensemble consisting of the top musicians in Northern Virgina .  Following is the information regarding district band.  Students will receive THREE BAND LETTER points for auditioning.  If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  Attached is a spreadsheet of the students who I have signed up.  There will be some expert clinicians coming into rehearsal time to work with district band students. Congratulations to these students who are working to the next level in their musicianship!   

AUDITIONS ARE AT WEST POTOMAC HIGH SCHOOL ON DECEMBER 10^th!  Schedule to be handed out shortly.

 

What will I get out of the experience?

Auditioning for other people is something you will be doing for the rest of your life in many ways.  Entrance to college and getting your first job are types of auditions.  It's a great way for you to practice now.   It will give you the self-confidence to do your best under these types of circumstances.  It will also give you an accurate gauge of how well you played on the audition and how well you play in comparison to other players from other schools. 

 

VII.  VCU FESTIVAL OF WINDS AND PERCUSSION

It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in the Twenty-third annual Virginia Commonwealth University Invitational Festival of Winds, Brass & Percussion.  You can be nominated for this opportunity either by me, your band director or by your private instructor.  This festival gives you the unique opportunity to play in an ensemble of like instruments (clarinet choir, percussion ensemble, etc.), and it leaves ample time during the day for each artist-clinician to address specific instrumental techniques that will be of interest to you as a growing instrumentalist.  The festival ensembles perform challenging music in a strictly non-competitive environment, giving a concert in the evening.

The VCU festival is the oldest and largest of its kind in Virginia and has served as a model for many others across the U.S.   It is on Saturday, January 14, 2011 at the W. E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Avenue in Richmond .  Check-in is between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. in the Singleton Center lobby.  Then, from 9:00 through the rest of the day, we rehearse sections of that evening's concert, which will be given in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall located inside the Singleton Center .  The concert will be open to the public.  The brass and percussion concert begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the woodwind concert at 7:00.  There will be clarinet, flute, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, horn and low brass choirs, and double reed and percussion ensembles, all under the direction of our VCU artist instrumental faculty.

The festival is presented by the VCU Department of Music.  With both lunch and supper provided, the fee for the day’s instruction and materials is $30.00.  Dress for the concert is coats and ties for gentlemen and correspondingly nice dresses or pants outfits for ladies.  There will be a place to change before the concerts. Please bring your own folding music stand, your instrument, and a pencil.   Please sign up on the board if you are interested or fill out the attached sheet. 

VIII.  CHAMBER ENSEMBLES

 

IX. Volunteers NEEDED for Winter Concert

THANKS TO THE TERRIFIC PARENTS WHO CONTINUALLY SUPPORT THE BAND PROGRAM and helped with the fitting of uniforms and dresses.  

·        MRS FROST, MRS SLY, MRS EARMAN, MRS DIVECHA, MR SCHMIDT for ALL THEIR WORK WITH THE FUNDRAISERS. 

·        MR SCHMIDT, MRS EARMAN and MRS HAENSEL for Thoroughly Modern Millie snacks for the orchestra on their long rehearsal days.

·        MRS CASHIN for working with the volunteers and uniforms

 

We need parents to volunteer for the following:

·        Winter Concert Help  Arrive at 6:30 pm to hand out tuxedos and gowns to 160 band students.  Please help before and/or after the concert.  Please email Ms West if you can help with this!  We desperately need parents to help!

 

THANK YOU PARENTS FOR ALL YOU DO TO MAKE THE GMHS BAND PROGRAM A SUCCESS!!! Your support makes all the difference in the world!

Musically yours! J Ms West