Nov/ Dec 2023 Newsletter
Upcoming Events- Mark your calendars
November 14-- All District Band Clinic/ Concert at BNHS for those who were selected to the band. Concert @ 6:00, BNHS PAC
Dec 5 and 11- BEGINNING BAND rehearsal 7:15 am in Band Hall
Dec 6- Wind Ensemble, Symphonic, Concert Band Winter Concert at EHS PAC. Call time 6:30, Concert begins at 7:00.
Dec 7 - EPIC WATERS contest/ trip for Symphonic and Concert Band-- we will need SEVERAL chaperones for this trip.
Dec. 9- All Region Band Clinic/ Concerts for those who were selected to the Bands. Argyle HS
Dec 12- BEGINNING BAND/ JAZZ BAND concert 6:30 pm in AMS Gym
Dec 18- Wind Ensemble Elementary Holiday Tour
CONGRATULATIONS to all of our students who auditioned for the All District, All Region, and All Star Bands! Making one of these groups is a HUGE honor and we're so proud of all of these students. This is an AMAZING number of students from one school to be selected. Go Adams! Come hear them play at their honor band concerts!
All District-- November 14, 6:00 pm, Byron Nelson HS
All Region-- December 10, concerts begin at 4:00, Argyle MS
All Star-- January 30, Eaton HS
7/8 Grade Band News
We are working on our Winter Concert music right now. Students need to be practicing our music and fundamentals daily.
Long tones
Scales and Scale Patterns- EVERYONE must have their "blue book" (Foundations for Superior Performance- instrument specific) for these every day. These books were given to all students at the beginning of the year. If they've lost it, please purchase a new one to replace it.
Music
Symphonic Band and Concert Band are resuming weekly sectionals. (See "calendar" tab for schedules.) Wind Ensemble is taking a break from sectionals and will resume in January. However, we will have "open band hall" where Mrs. Northam will help facilitate students who want to play through music, form Christmas ensembles, read new music, etc. "Open Band Hall" will occur on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 7:45 am.
October was a fun month with lots of pep music and our fall concert performance! We also enjoyed a visit and performance from the Eaton Jazz Band and some of our Wind Ensemble students performed at Berkshire Elementary to honor our Veterans.
BEGINNING BAND NEWS
Beginning Band students received their first FULL band piece of music last week! We will begin preparing for our first full band concert in December. Since our beginning band students are in single instrument classes, we will need to have a couple rehearsals to put all our parts together for the concert. See the calendar highlights above or below.
Students should be practicing daily, which means they need to take their instruments home EVERY DAY, so they can master the concepts they are learning in class. We have weekly playing tests, and daily "down the rows." Please talk with your students about taking instruments home and practicing. Ask them how many Olympics lines they have passed off!
Band OLYMPICS! - We have handed out a "Band Olympics" page where students will earn colorful zip ties to attach to their cases for "passing off" (performing correctly with a metronome) various fundamentals, rhythm charts, and book lines. We have many students who have already completed 1-4x 3w levels! Students may pass off lines in class or send us recordings through a google form which is located in their Band Canvas.
Winter Concert Rehearsal/ Performance Schedule (please mark these on your calendars now and arrange for transportation to morning rehearsals.)
Dec 5 BEGINNING BAND rehearsal 7:15 am in Band Hall
Dec. 11- BEGINNING BAND rehearsal 7:15 am in Band Hall
Dec. 12 - BEGINNING BAND concert 6:30 pm in AMS Gym-- Wear BAND SHIRT and JEANS (students arrive at 6:00, performance begins at 6:30.)
Click HERE for additional details.
XP Chart.pdf
Our Beginning Band students did an awesome job at their demonstration concert! We were so busy we didn't get very many pictures!