Hello all fabulous Miller band students and families! My apologies for the delay in getting this update out — between the concert, grading, and getting sick yet again, it’s been a bit of a marathon over here. There are a significant number of updates here, so please read in full and let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
🎥 Fall Concert Video
The Fall Concert was such a great night! The students performed beautifully, and the music was absolutely worth celebrating. I really enjoyed this one and I know you guys did too!
Feel free to watch and share the full concert video here: (maybe explore our site too!)👉 MMS Band Website - Concerts
This is now about the fifth time I’ve been sick since the start of the year, so it’s time for a quick reality check. Please help remind students about the basics — wash hands, cover coughs and sneezes, stay hydrated, get rest, and wear a mask if they’re sick.
I need to be healthy to do my job, and our band only works when everyone takes care of themselves and each other. We have masks for students to wear in band class as well as masks for instruments, so please help do your part to keep Post safe.
The music itself has been lovely — the progress everyone is making has been jaw-dropping! But, the talking has gotten out of hand. Our community and friendships are strong (which is awesome), but 8th Band in particular has not been quiet for instruction all week. I've spent some time reviewing this so that rehearsals can stay focused and productive, but so far, the talking hasn't stopped or lessened. Immediately following the concert, I re-taught and re-clarified our class expectations. Students reviewed them together and then signed our expectations poster as a commitment to holding themselves to those standards. These are not punishments — they’re reminders of what it takes to make our program successful and enjoyable for everyone.
This is not every class or every student — some groups, like 7th Band and the 6th Grade Day 1 period 3 Clarinet/Trumpet/Percussion group, are absolutely crushing it. But everyone needs to reset these expectations so we can continue to have a successful year.
Here’s the expectations each group is currently working with:
6th Grade Band Expectations
Have respect for yourself, one another, and everything in the classroom.
Give your best performance in any and every situation.
Be present, be resourceful, and be family.
7th Grade Band Expectations
We will have celebrations, but we will use respect, responsibility, and reasonable volume to make it fun for everyone.
Community is the key to having fun.
We will manage our time well so we can learn as much as possible with practice.
We will be kind and respectful in our “band family.”
We will recognize when we are doing good (and not-so-good) things.
8th Grade Band Expectations
We will have fun, but we will use respect, responsibility, and reasonable volume to make it fun for everyone.
Know what you need to work on and put effort into your practice.
The way we make concerts cool is by playing our music well to form an epic aura.
Please take a few minutes to review your student’s expectations at home and talk with them about why focus and respect matter so much — especially when I’m not feeling well. When I’m sick, it’s important that our students understand that being kind and respectful is more necessary.
Below are some general guides that apply to all bands. These are versions I found online from both a college group and a professional symphony. Though we don't play the same difficulty of music, we certainly are held to the same expectations.
Youth Orchestra Expectations
There is absolutely no talking when the conductors are speaking. This should be a given.
Please do not "practice" during rehearsal by "silently" plucking or playing while the conductor is working with another section. You are causing premature balding for many others. In the words of your 6th grade music teacher, "practicing is for home."
Any questions about misprints should be saved for after rehearsal ends if at all possible. Those 2 minutes each rehearsal add up to 2 hours in an entire lifetime. (True fact.)
Respect your neighbors. This means no showing off, loudly practicing a solo when you aren't the principal, or perfectly playing something your neighbor is clearly working on. We're all here as friends!
Stop playing immediately when the conductor puts their hands down. There is nothing more irritating than hearing a loud, out-of-tune flourish from someone hanging over the edge and playing just as everyone stops.
Acknowledge the conductor when they give you direction. This means penciling down any corrections or instructions in the music, not staring with glazed eyes because it’s 7pm.
Do not whip your head and stare when someone makes a mistake. Carry on — we are all human.
Always come prepared. This criteria varies based on what instrument you play.
Arrive 15 minutes early to rehearsals. If you are walking through the door at 6pm, you are late. If this cannot be avoided, please email and let us know.
Be polite to your neighbor. Ask before writing on someone’s music, make sure the stand is positioned so both can see, etc.
College Group
Arrive early. Musicians should be warmed up before tuning begins. Aim to arrive 15 minutes early at the latest.
(Many professionals arrive 30 minutes early to orchestra rehearsals.)
Bring your stuff. Before arriving at the rehearsal, make sure you have the proper music, instrument, folding music
stand, pencil, bow, rosin, reeds, and any necessary accessories.
Clearly mark the music. Write down bowings and any instructions given by the conductor in pencil. Be sure to clearly
mark indications so others can easily read it, and so they don’t cover up the notes. Do not use pen, colored pencil, or
highlighters on rehearsal or performance music as it may distract your stand partner. (It is OK to make an additional
copy of the music for personal practice and mark it however you like, but be prepared to play the concert on music
without colorful markings.)
Be courteous to your colleagues. Place your chair and stand with enough room to not be in the way of the musicians
around you. When in doubt, ask!
Stay quiet. If you need to communicate something to your stand partner, do so inconspicuously and quietly. Save
personal conversations for break time.
Ask questions. Approach the Principal Player during breaks or raise your hand to ask the conductor a question.
Be kind and courteous. Members of the orchestra are part of a team. Avoid bragging about your latest competition
victory or solo performance. When warming up, avoid showing off your fastest and loudest passages.
If at all possible, don’t miss any rehearsals leading up to a concert. It is a sign of disrespect to both the conductor
and your orchestra members if you double book yourself. Make sure you keep a calendar of all of your commitments
and prioritize your orchestra membership.
Take excellent care of the sheet music. Keep it safe in its music folder whenever you take it off of a music stand. This
music is expensive and often difficult to replace.
Stop playing when the conductor stops. Playing after the conductor stops shows everyone you weren’t paying
attention.
Don’t eat or bring food into rehearsal. Bottles of water with lids are acceptable.
Don’t question the conductor’s choices or treat him/her with disrespect. Even if you might do it differently, trust
that the conductor is making musical choices that are worth making and support them by playing your best.
Don’t complain about where you sit. Auditions are tough. Everyone wants to do well. By accepting your position, you
signal your respect to everyone in the orchestra. Work hard to do your best and listen to the advice of your private
instructor and music teachers.
Enjoy the experience. Be a positive and productive member of the orchestra. We’re glad you’re here!
Professional Symphony Expectations
Rehearsal Etiquette – Rehearsal is hard work; intensely focused on preparing for the best
possible performance for upcoming concerts. Members can expect the Music Director to be
well-prepared for rehearsals, both in terms of his own study of the music and his plan for the
efficient conduct of the rehearsal.
Be punctual: Rehearsals are held Tuesday evenings at Joppa Hall on the Harford
Community College campus from 7 – 9:30 pm from the last week in August through the
first week in June, with a break after the December concert. Allow time to unpack
instruments, warm-up, and get your music in order.
Attendance: Notify the Personnel Manager (or Student Personnel Manager) in
advance if you cannot attend a rehearsal. Missing two or more rehearsals impairs your
ability to catch directions, bowing changes, etc. and you may be unprepared for the
concert. The Music Director may deny an individual the privilege of playing if, in his
opinion, that individual has missed too many rehearsals to be adequately prepared for
the concert.
Sectionals: Upon occasion, sectionals will be held by principals. These will be announced
well in advance.
Music: All music is expected to be at each rehearsal; if a member cannot attend a
specific rehearsal, he or she must make arrangements to get that music to the
rehearsal.
Practice: Practice the music at home so that rehearsal time can be spent on ensemble
considerations rather than on “note-pounding”. Do not “practice” during rehearsal.
Please Do Not: Chew gum; Text or take phone calls – phones should be on SILENT (If
there is an emergency, you may leave the room to take action in the hall).
Tuning: We most efficiently tune in SILENCE.
Refrain from talking while the Music Director is talking or other members are asking
questions. When the Music Director is rehearsing one section of the orchestra, the
other members should be listening, focusing on what is transpiring, and give support to
the group being rehearsed. While there are obvious and desirable social benefits to
belonging to the orchestra, the actual rehearsal time should be focused on musical
preparation and not on socializing.
It’s Butter Braid season! This is our big door-to-door (and online!) fundraiser of the year, and our goal is to raise $10,000 to support instruments, repairs, and future performances. (hopefully some additional performance opportunities!)
Here’s what you need to know:
Every student needs to register as a seller so they get credit for their sales. (attached!)
Customers can order both the traditional pastries and gluten-free options through the online store. Don't forget online!
We’re aiming for about 5–8 Butter Braids sold per student to reach our goal.
Top seller in each grade will receive a gift card!
Top-selling class earns a free day.
And if we hit the $10,000 goal, I’ll be getting pied in the face by the winning class!
👉Kick-off Butter Braids! Watch me!
Our bassoon is finished at the repair shop in Colorado Springs, and if anyone happens to be heading that way soon and is willing to pick it up from our music store, it will help us save significantly on shipping costs to get it back. Please email me if you’d be willing to help transport it. Bassoons are approximately 12"H x 30"L x 5"W.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support of our band community — and for helping me keep things running smoothly (and germ-free). See you on December 17th!
If you read to end, tell me what you did this weekend for a piece of candy for you or your student!
Sam Post
spos@durangoschools.org
970-247-1418 ext. 2526
she/they
Band and Music Director
Miller Middle School