7/8 March Concert and Dress Rehearsal Details

7th and 8th Grade March Concert

The March concert is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20 at 7pm.  Call time is 6 pm. Please note that the snow date is Wednesday, March 27. This is a special 7th and 8th grade concert that celebrates a different theme each year. In preparation, students have been empowered to choose their music, rehearse collaboratively, create a narrated story to connect to our music, and make costume and choreography decisions.  

In order to be ready to perform on concert day, we will be in dress rehearsal from 8:15-dismissal on Tuesday, 3/19. Please make this rehearsal time a priority in your schedule.

      

All musicians need:

Black pants , black shirt and our blue WCS Performing Arts t-shirt

CVU Band

Mr. Miskavage and the CVU Symphonic Winds met with our 7th and 8th graders this week. We played music together, they played music for us, and we learned a lot about band at CVU. If you have questions about the program, please ask Mrs. Thompson.

Highlights from the District III Music Festival

Congratulations!

  

Looking for  holiday gift ideas for your band student?

Consider the following:

• Reed players can always boost their reed supply. (generally speaking, grades 4 and 5 use strength 2 ½, grade 6 uses strength 3 and grades 7 and 8 use strength  3 or 3 1/2) Feel free to check in with Mrs. Thompson if you want some guidance. 
• reed guard or reed case
• a music stand for home practice 
• a collapsible instrument stand. (provides a safe way to put the instrument down when it is not in the case) 
• padded neck strap for sax and bass clarinet players
• silk cleaning swab for woodwind players (these last for years- a great investment!) 
• mouthpiece cushions for sax and clarinet players 
• CD featuring a musician soloing on your child’s instrument (old school!)
•  cork grease for clarinet and sax players
• valve oil for trumpet and baritone players  (something many of our brass players need more of!) 
• slide grease for trombone players
• books containing solos for your child to play (be careful to choose an appropriate difficulty level) Feel free to check in with Mrs. Thompson if you want some guidance. 
• Small electronic metronome 
• electronic tuner
• new drum sticks - so many fun styles available! 
• stick bag for percussionists 
• mutes for brass players (straight mute is the most practical to start with, but they are all useful) 
• upgraded mouthpiece for reed players. Feel free to check in with Mrs. Thompson of you want some guidance. Good choices for alto sax are: Selmer C star, Vandoren AL3

           Tenor sax: Vandoren TL3, Fobes Debut

           Clarinet: Vandoren B45, Vandoren M13, or Fobes Debut,

           Bass clarinet: Fobes Debut

• upgraded ligature (Rovner is great brand) 
• mouthpiece brush for brass players (to clean those mouthpieces!) 
• spitballs for trumpet players. (fun way to clean the inside) 
• mini screwdriver set for woodwind players
• tickets to a concert at the Flynn or local venue

*If  you order a gift from Ellis Music to be delivered to school (free delivery),

let me know and I will hold it for you and NOT give it to your student.  Kim Thompson

Jazz Fest!

District III Fazz festival was a great success!

Beginner Band Demo

Some of our 7th and 8th graders played for 4th graders and shared insight about their instruments and the band program. Their presentation was fun and informative. These musicians did an excellent job demonstrating how rewarding band is both musically and socially. Bravo!

Important Due Dates

5th-8th grade band students have 2 important tasks to complete by Friday, 10/26/18.

1) Order and pay for your t shirt here.  This shirt will be worn at all concerts and field trips and special events.

2) Return the last page of the Performing Arts handbook signed. Handbook