November 13, 2016

Post date: Nov 13, 2016 9:24:59 PM

Announcements:

• THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! to any of you who had any part of making our state weekend and this last week back a great one for these kids!!! You guys were rocking in the stands at state! A special THANK YOU goes out to our chaperones and pit crew for all of the tireless hours that you have spent with these kids over the last few months! We couldn't do what we do without your help!

• CONGRATULATIONS! to Kaytlan Griffin, Daneca Harrison, Alyssa Hopper, and Maddie Welch for receiving college scholarship offers totaling more than $100,000 at Division I State to various universities! This just shows you that music will pay for itself if you stick with it!

• Fruit/Nut Orders + Money are due TOMORROW! This is our 2nd largest fundraiser of the year behind our competition! Each student was asked to sell at least $75 worth of fruit/nuts or get $30 in donations. There will prizes of $100/$75/$50 for the top 3 sellers. I hope that everyone has done his/her part to make this a successful fundraiser!

• Concert Band begins TOMORROW. Students will begin to be tested over the music that we cover in class as part of their grade for the nine weeks so be sure as we cover something in class that they are practicing it at home. Their grade will also involve coming prepared with instrument, pencil, and music to class each day. Students will also receive their scale sheets tomorrow. Each student in marching band will be required to play a final exam which are their 12 major scales memorized the last week of school before Christmas Break. This grade makes up 20% of their grade for the ENTIRE semester and it also determines chair placement/part assignment for the spring concert band/parade band and also plays a role in part assignments for next fall! Guard members will create a 2-3 minute routine using 2 types of equipment minimum for their final exam. If they play an instrument and are in the guard they have a choice as which one they would like to do for their final exam.

• Band Booster Meeting - TOMORROW NIGHT - 7:00 pm - Band Room - Come be a part!

• Mr. Congiardo will once again be offering private lessons on Mondays at our school starting the Monday we return from Thanksgiving break. The lessons will begin at 1:30 and will run every half hour until every student is taught. Lesson times during the band class time will be reserved for students who have transportation issues. These will be available on a first come first served basis so get your contract (attached) in ASAP if you're interested. For more information on cost and why your student should take lessons see the attached information sheet from Mr. Congiardo. Return the 2nd page of the attached flyer by this Friday if you are interested in your child taking lessons this fall/winter season. As of this past Friday, I had 17 students who signed up saying that they were interested in lessons. THIS IS AWESOME! but with this many students interested, Mr. Congiardo will only be able to offer half hour lessons and no hour long lesson times will be available. Get your contracts turned in so we can get these started right after the Thanksgiving break!

• On Fridays during class we will begin preparing (which involves going outside) for the Dyer Christmas Parade. Students will need to dress accordingly for the weather each Friday. Students will also need proper marching shoes each Friday for band class time.

• There are many ways that your student can letter in band this year. Taking lessons from Mr. Congiardo is just one of those many ways. There are sign up sheets posted on the band room window for jazz band (begins January 9th), brass ensemble (begins January 12th), UT Martin Honor Band (applications available at https://www.utm.edu/departments/music/honorband.php), All-West TN Honor Band (auditions are January 14th at Arlington HS), and percussion ensemble (sign-up sheet will be posted soon).

• At this point all band fees should be paid in full unless payment arrangements have been made! These amounts will be turned over to the office as a debt at Christmas Break if fees are not taken care of by then.

Upcoming Dates:

• November 21-25 - THANKSGIVING BREAK! Students enjoy the week off!

• Saturday, December 3rd - Dyer Christmas Parade (Time: 5; We will meet at 4:15)

• Sunday, December 11th - County-Wide Christmas Concert! Attendance is MANDATORY!

• Monday, December 12th - Band Final Exams BEGIN!