July 2021 Newsletter

Upcoming Events- Mark your calendars

Aug. 2-6

7/8 grade AMS Band Camp! This is for all students who will be enrolled in Wind Ensemble, Symphonic, or Concert Band. We will begin learning our pep tunes for the fall, and end with a super fun social event!

Update:

Hello everyone! We are so excited to see you guys and get started again! I wanted to send you details for our summer band camp as soon as we got them ironed out. Please see below for all the info, and pay special attention to your grade level and section, and please fill out the google form regarding attendance on the fun trip to NRH20! (Note that all times are evening except for Friday)

If you are still waiting on your instrument to come back from summer repair, you will be hearing from us soon, as we are about to have all instruments back on campus.

Monday Aug 2

7^th grade woodwinds 5-6:30

7^th grade brass 6:30-8

7/8 grade percussion 5-7

Tuesday and Wednesday Aug 3-4

7/8 grade woodwinds 5-6:30

7/8 grade brass 6:30-8

7/8 grade percussion 5-7

Thursday Aug 5

FULL BAND 5-7

Friday Aug 6

Full Band warm up 10:00 am

Parent Preview Performance 10:30

Load buses for NRH2O 10:45

Return to AMS 4:30

We want to celebrate our week and school starting again with a group trip to NRH2O! We will need to get a headcount of who is going so we can order buses and an accurate Purchase Order for tickets. If you have a season pass, you may certainly use it, and there is a space to indicate that on the form.

Cost for the trip is as follows:

$17.50 for ticket

$5.00 for bus fee

Money for lunch

Fees may be paid by cash or check (made out to AMS Band) the week of Band Camp. You will also need to fill out and return the travel form attached to this email. Please turn in the travel form with ticket payment.

Thanks and please let me know if you have any questions!

What can you be practicing over the summer??

At the end of the year, all students received a "Summer Packet" with fundamentals, scales, and pep music! So there is plenty to get to work on!

Pro Tips to keep improving over the summer:

*Remember to always do a proper warm up, focusing on air and fundamentals like tone and good tonguing.

*Pick a scale or two a day to focus on. Memorize it and work your speed up. (For students going into Wind Ensemble, one of the best things you can do to be prepared for fall is to have all of your Region scales learned and memorization started by the time school begins. We will hit the ground running with Region Music when school starts! Don't wait to learn your scales. The Region scale page is in your summer packet.)

*Choose a song in the packet that looks fun to play and start learning it! Want to know what it sounds like? Look it up on the internet and listen for your part!

*Keeping your instrument and music stand out where you practice will help you want to pick up your instrument and play it, even if it's only for a few minutes. (Make sure younger siblings or pets won't mess with your instrument!)

*Even a little bit of practice every day can go a LONG way to staying in shape, sounding great, and getting better.

*Any questions? Reach out to your band directors!