2.1.2016 update

Dear Students, Families, and Supporters,

Here is your weekly calendar reminder! Full Band rehearsals start this week as well so please take notice.

THIS WEEK

Monday
-Concert Band Upper Woodwinds and Symphonic Band Low Brass 3-4pm
-Saxophone Quartet 4-5 pm
-Concert Band Lower Brass and Symphonic Band Upper Brass 4:15-5:15pm
-Drum Club @SLMS 4:15-5:15pm
-Symphony Orchestra 6:30-8:30pm

Tuesday
-Symphonic Band Lower Woodwinds and Wind Ensemble Upper Brass 3-4pm
-Symphonic Band Percussion 3-4pm
-Brass Quintet/Woodwind Quintet 4-5pm
-CONCERT BAND WINDS AND PERCUSSION 4:15-5:30 pm
-JV and Varsity WinterGuard rehearsal 5-8pm
-Symphony Orchestra rehearsal 6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday
-Concert Band Lower Woodwinds and Wind Ensemble Low Brass 3-4pm
-Wind Ensemble Percussion 3-4pm
-Flute Quartet and Trombone Quartet rehearsal/coaching 4-5pm
-SYMPHONIC BAND WINDS AND PERCUSSION 4:15-5:45 pm
-Open House and Elective Fair 6-8 pm

Thursday
-Concert Band Upper Brass and Symphonic Band Upper Woodwinds 3-4pm
-Concert Band Percussion 3-4pm
-Saxophone Quartet and Woodwind Quintet rehearsal/coaching 4-5pm
-WIND ENSEMBLE WINDS AND PERCUSSION 4:15-6:15 pm
-JV and Varsity WinterGuard rehearsal 5-8pm
-Mandatory WinterGuard parent meeting 7pm in the commons. More info below.

Friday
-Wind Ensemble Lower Woodwinds and Wind Ensemble Upper Woodwinds 3-4pm

Saturday
WinterGuard Varsity 9am-1pm
WinterGuard Junior Varsity 2-6pm


OPEN HOUSE
This Wednesday, we have a great opportunity as a band program.  Incoming 8th grade students who are zoned to enroll at Kempner next year will be at Kempner High School to learn more about high school and see what Kempner has to offer. We will be setting up a table in the commons in order to represent band.  All Kempner band students are welcome to attend this event and those students who are interested in leadership positions in next year's band program are heavily encouraged to attend and make a great impression on incoming 8th graders and help us recruit for next year! 

FULL BAND AND SECTIONALS
This is the first week of full band rehearsals.  The attendance policy for these rehearsals is the same as with sectionals and contribute to our success in preparing our literature for this indoor performing season. 

SMARTMUSIC
Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble wind players will have a new set of Smart Music assignments starting tomorrow.  Remember that the iPads and computers that belong to the band program are available for your use if you do not have the software subscription of your own. If one of these items is required please be mindful of the need to not procrastinate with these assignments so that students who need these resources are not waiting to use them the day the assignment is due. Smart Music is meant to help students with practicing their literature and learning their individual parts with a multitude of tools.  These assignments help set goals for check points to preparing major literary works in the wind band repertoire.  Because of the nature of the difficulty of the literature, it is necessary for each student to learn their notes and rhythms outside of class and continue to practice their instruments outside of school in order to develop and continue to grow as musicians.  Goal setting is a very important life skill and Smart Music helps our band program learn to "divide and conquer" a major music project all the while working to develop each individual's musical skills and ability to set check points of growth.  Thank you for your continued support!

A MESSAGE FROM MR. G CONCERNING WINTERGUARD
As per my email sent recently, I am organizing a MANDATORY parent meeting on Thursday, February 4th, 2016 at 7:00 P.M. in the Kempner High School Commons. The purpose of the meeting is to collect the first payment of dues and to discuss your involvement as a volunteer to clean and repair the color guard flags and costumes. In addition, I would like to encourage you to volunteer as a chaperone for one or more of our 2016 competitions. See you there!

SPRING TRIP REFUNDS
Starting this week, the band directors will be available to provide refunds to those who paid for a portion of the Spring trip.  In order to receive the refunded amount, parents need to email Mr. Norman or Mr. Muths requesting that their student be allowed to pick up the refund.  If this is not favorable, a parent can come pick up the refund after school during our rehearsal hours. In order to ensure security, the person picking up the refund must sign for the disbursement of money and if students are to pick up money, a parent needs to request this via email BEFORE a student will be allowed to handle money and sign for it.

SENIORS AND LEADERSHIP
Seniors and leadership members will have a short banquet planning meeting this Tuesday at 4 pm with Mrs. Charo in order to plan some of this year's end of the year banquet items.  Families please be on the look out for information regarding purchasing tickets for this year's end of the year band banquet!

Have a great week and be on the lookout for more emails for communication!

Sincerely,

The IH Kempner Band Staff