Dear YHS Band Parents and Students,
It’s Thanksgiving week! I am so thankful for our YHS Band community; for your support and for the Musicianship, Citizenship, and Friendship I witness every day when working with your students. Again, so much of what our students do each day is beyond learning notes and rhythms – it’s building community and character – I am grateful for this work we do together!
TRITOWNS HONOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Congratulations to the TriTowns honor Symphony Orchestra on a beautiful concert performance! YHS was pleased to host this collaborative concert featuring high school band and orchestra musicians from Yorktown, Croton, and Henrick Hudson. Students rehearsed together on Friday evening and Saturday morning, and then presented a concert. Bravo! So thankful for the support of all our districts and parents! Special thanks to the First Nighters for sponsoring a celebratory reception after the concert!
EVENTS THIS WEEK:
GUIDED PRACTICE / JAZZ BAND SECTIONALS
Offered weekly and hosted by our YHS Band elders (thank you!). Students who lead or attend a session receive 1 point of extra credit. Sessions are held period 9, unless noted otherwise. I am also always available for help by appointment.
| Monday 11/24 | JB Rhythm p.10 |
| Tuesday 11/25 | JB Trombone, Saxophone Guided Practice with Sam and Asael |
PERIOD “0” JAZZ JAM!
Please join me before school (from 7:10…or whenever you get off the bus… until the first bell) to practice improvising. Help yourself develop your skills and a plan for success!
JAZZ BAND IS TUESDAY 11/25
We only have 2 rehearsals left until our Winter Concert! Please arrive by 6:50 so we can be warmed up and tuned to start promptly at 7:00. Make time to practice – music, recordings, and this week’s HW are all posted on Dashboard.
“BANDSGIVING” ~ TUES. 11/25
To embrace this season of gratitude and highlight our program goal of friendship, the Band Officers will host a Bandsgiving event during each class. Officers have selected recipes from our YHS Band Cookbook to make and share. (Yes, we have a cookbook! Started years ago, by an enthusiastic student leader, it has been passed down from officer to officer and become a compilation of favorite band event recipes from the past 2 decades).
If students would like to contribute additional supplies (or new recipes!) to our event, a sign-up list is available in the Band Room. Period 1 is breakfast themed. Period 8 is lunch themed. For the safety of all, please NO NUTS. Also, please bring labels/ingredients lists so that we can display them with your dish.
OPERATION SANTA
As part of our program goal of citizenship, again this year we are sponsoring a needy child for the holidays. Her name is Luna and she is 6 years old. Using part of the funds we have raised through our Tag Sale and Citrus Sale, the Band Officers will purchase items from her list to Santa.
If you are interested in donating additional items, please contact me. Luna wears size 13 youth shoes, and size 6/7 youth shirt/pants. We are interested in all clothing items (pj’s, winter outfits, school uniforms (light blue top and navy pants), shoes, and a few toys/treats. She loves plush unicorns, the color pink, LOL surprise, and Barbie dolls. Please send in items (unwrapped) by Wednesday 12/3.
CITRUS SALE – You can still place USPS orders delivered in time for Christmas
Sunday, December 13th is the order deadline for USPS mail-order delivery to your home/customers’ homes (shipping fees apply)
Thursday, December 11th 2:30-6:30PM is FRUIT DELIVERY DAY. In-person pre-orders will be delivered by truck to YHS. Students are responsible for picking up their entire order and delivering to their customers.
Parent and student volunteers will be needed all day (7am-7pm) to help unload and sort our orders.
DECEMBER LESSON SCHEDULE
Is attached, FYI.
WINTER CONCERT REMINDERS
Our YHS Band Winter Concert will take place Tuesday, December 9th at 7pm in the YHS auditorium. Students will be asked to arrive by 6:30pm (Jazz Band at 5:45pm) for sound check.
Concert Reception – Parent help needed, please
To celebrate our students’ performance, we will host a reception in the cafeteria.
Please look out for our SignUp Genius for ways you can help. Your donations are always appreciated! Thank you to Ms. Rindone for managing our SUG!
As outlined in our Band Handbook from September, Students are asked to wear “Concert Black,” which is all black professional, dressy attire.
o Ladies: Black dressy shirt. No sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps. Appropriate necklines, please. Black dressy pants or skirt (below the knee when you sit down, please) and black dress shoes.
o Gentlemen: Black dressy button-down long-sleeved shirt with a collar. Black dress pants. Black dress shoes. Black socks.
MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES
- West Point Band Holiday Show – Saturday 12/6 and Sunday 12/7 @ 2pm: Tickets are free!It is a fantastic concert – my family and I will be attending – hope to see you there! More info herehttps://band.westpoint.edu/event/westpointholiday/
- Mock Audition Day – Sunday 12/14 @ Queens College.
Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for your support!
Ms. Kluga