Update 9.26.16

Dear Students, Families, and Supporters

Congratulations to the band program for achieving our first contest championship!  The I.H. Kempner Band was awarded champion status while also winning the music and general effect captions at the USBands New Caney competition!  Beginning this week there will be a video from Mr. Norman on the website going through the weekly update as well as expanding on items that are important in the future that extend beyond each week.  We hope you find this format more informative and can get more clarity on events and information by using both the video and the written weekly update!  Here are some reminders and info regarding the upcoming schedule.

THIS WEEK

Monday
4-7: brass and percussion rehearsal

Tuesday
4-7: woodwinds and guard rehearsal

Wednesday
4-7: full band rehearsal

Thursday
4:30-6:30 full band rehearsal

Friday
Football @ Austin High School (Away)
Mercer STADIUM, Lexington St, Houston, TX 77098, United States
2:45 - school lets out, get shakos
3:15 - rehearsal with shakos
4:00 - eat, pack, change
5:30 - inspection and meeting
5:45 - depart KHS
6:00 - arrive Mercer Stadium
6:45 - national anthem
7:00 - kickoff time
9:30 - return to KHS
10:00 - uniform check in and dismissal

Saturday
Concert in the Park
Eldridge Park, 2511 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land, TX 77478, USA
1:00 pm - Call time at KHS
1:30 pm - Rehearsal begins
2:30 pm - Rehearsal ends - load, pack, change
3:30 pm - Inspection
3:45 pm - Meet for dismissal
4:00 pm - Depart for Eldridge Park
4:15 pm - Arrive at Eldridge Park, unload
4:30 pm - Set up for concert
6:00 pm - Concert begins!
8:00 pm - Concert ends
Students are expected to help clean up after the event.

ADDRESSES FOR MAILER CAMPAIGN
Every year we mail out a letter asking for support from friends, families, neighbors, coworkers, and others.  This campaign generally helps bring in lots of financial support with only a little bit of work per student in our program.  We are asking that each student submit at least 3 addresses of people you think may be interested in donating to help us reach our dreams!  One of those giant dreams is a 53' semi-trailer for our band equipment!  Please use the google form below to submit.
https://goo.gl/forms/gCKEjOsB8Rrz0wNg1

MUSICFIRST
For wind players involved in the band programs, practice outside of the school day is a requirement for advancement in instrumental mastery.  Like any craft one learns, practice and many hours of hard work sharpening skills will yield the best results.  We have launched our use of MusicFirst software in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th period classes to help assess, give feedback to, and encourage students to practice their instruments to further their mastery.  This is much like the homework done in other classes and the time required varies student to student depending on their current skill level.  The Kempner High School band staff values the journey and process as much as the performance and the practice needed to have a great experience performing an instrument is of utmost importance.  Because of this belief, the MusicFirst assignments will constitute major grades for each student in the grade book in order to reflect our mission and our core beliefs as a program.  Please discuss MusicFirst assignments with your students and you can count on the band staff to communicate with each parent when assignments are not being turned in or are being turned in with less than our best work.  

VOLUNTEER!
I wanted to take a moment and thank all of those who have signed up to volunteer for us on game days so far! I think you will agree it has been a blast and we can't do it without you. As we move into the 3rd week, we will be adding equipment with the front ensemble that is rather heavy and could use a little extra muscle to move to the field. If you are able to come and be part of our "pit crew" please email myself or a band staff member!

Please contact a band director with any questions. Thank you!

Regards,

I.H. Kempner Band Staff