MICCA 2017

It'll be the first weekend in April 2017. The final date and time haven't been settled yet.

FYI -- The following info was about MICCA 2016 :

The Blanchard Advanced Band has the opportunity to participate in the Massachusetts Instrumental and Choral Conductors Association (MICCA) Concert Festival. The band has attended MICCA eleven times in the last fourteen years and found it to be a worthwhile and rewarding experience. We polled the band members before winter break and they overwhelmingly voted to attend the festival this spring.

MICCA is a music festival in which nationally known instrumental judges rate performers and give them feedback on their performance. Participants are not competing against each other but are evaluated against established guidelines for gold (superior), silver (excellent), bronze (good), medal of merit (average) and festival participation (needs improvement) ratings. For more information, refer to the MICCA internet link www.miccamusic.org. We decided to attend the festival again this year because the band had an excellent experience last year. Attending the MICCA festival will be an experience that students will not forget. The band’s performance will be at King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, MA on Sunday, April 3rd at 1:30pm. The performance will be followed by a coaching session with a band director/ judge.

Rehearsals

Attending MICCA will bring the band to a new and higher level of performance. Students will need to play more than just correct notes; they will need to be able to interpret the notes in a musical way and in a correct style for the piece. In order to accomplish this, the band will need to put in extra time and effort. Students were aware of the extra commitment when the vote was taken. There will be extra sectional rehearsals for specific sections of the band. It is important that students attend these sectionals in addition to their regular rehearsals on Wednesday mornings. Additionally, there will be three extra rehearsals for the full band on Monday mornings. Students will also need to practice more individually at home.

Attendance

We hope and anticipate that every band member will attend MICCA. Attendance at rehearsals is mandatory for all who are going to go to the festival. Any band member who has more than one unexcused absence from rehearsals will have their participation at the festival reconsidered. Illness and family emergencies are, of course, reasons for absence. If an important situation arises and a student must miss rehearsal, a note must be sent in or the band member will be marked with an unexcused absence.

Schedule

Students will leave Blanchard School by bus at approximately 11:00am on Sunday, April 3rd. They will arrive at King Philip Regional High School in time to warm up for the performance at 1:30 p.m. At 2:00pm the band will be coached by one of the judges who are usually high level college band directors. At the conclusion of the coaching session, students will be transported back to Blanchard via bus. Parents are encouraged to attend the festival and, with a note, may transport their child back to Boxborough. More information will be forthcoming as we draw nearer to April.

Party

The Blanchard Band Parents Organization (BBPO) will have a party for the band members when they return from the festival.

Rehearsals

These are in addition to the regular band rehearsals on Wednesdays. Please put the following dates on your calendars:

Sectional Rehearsals and Extra Band Rehearsal Schedule

Full Band

Monday March 14 8:00 a.m.

Monday March 21 8:00 a.m.

Monday March 28 8:00 a.m.

Clarinets

Monday January 11 7-8 p.m.

Monday February 8 7-8 p.m.

Monday March 7 7-8 p.m.

Tuba, Trombone, Tenor Sax, Bass Clarinet

Monday January 11 6-7 p.m.

Monday February 8 6-7 p.m.

Monday March 7 6-7 p.m.

Flutes and Oboes

Monday February 1 7-8 p.m.

Monday February 29 7-8 p.m.

Monday March 21 7-8 p.m.

Trumpets

Monday February 1 6-7 p.m.

Monday February 29 6-7 p.m.

Monday March 21 6-7 p.m.

Alto Saxes and French Horn

Monday January 25 7-8 p.m.

Monday February 22 7-8 p.m.

Monday March 14 7-8 p.m.

Percussion

Monday January 25 8:00 a.m.

Monday February 22 8:00 a.m.

Monday March 14 6-7 p.m.