Our next rehearsal is Thursday 3/10 from 6:50-8:30. Your homework, professional recordings, and sheet music are posted on Dashboard.
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**Procrastination Warning** There are 4 weeks remaining until NYSSMA. If your student is participating, they should have a concrete strategy for learning their music, including making significant time to practice at home. We *are* working together in class and in lessons, and Ms. Kluga available by appointment, however the muscle coordination/memory needed to successfully perform a piece of music cannot be learned by cramming. Plan your time now, and you will be thankful in 4 weeks!
On Monday 2/7, Staff Sergeant Hopkins, a percussionist with the “President’s Own” Marine Band, presented an interactive zoom clinic to our Wind Ensemble. Students learned strategies to improve muscle memory; to help learn music faster and more accurately. SSgt. Hopkins also shared personal stories and answered questions. We are very thankful to the Marine Band for this opportunity!
7:00pm in the YHS GYM. More details to follow. Please save the date.
Our Swing Dance planning is taking shape and there are ways to help, if you are interested and able. Many thanks to the parent committee that met with Mrs. Kluga last week!
As part of our Swing Dance, we hold a really amazing raffle. Each year we ask families and local businesses for prize donations, which are then organized into themed baskets. Here is how you can help:
1. Create and donate a basket as a family or a group of families. Themed baskets from 2020 are attached.
2. Donate an item to be used in a themed basket, such as:
a. Gift cards to local businesses
b. New items we could re-gift into a basket
c. Tickets to concerts or sporting events
d. A weekend away at a timeshare
e. A service (personal chef, tutoring, college essay help)
f. Any other business offering or idea
3. If you have a business contact that would like to support our event, a letter is attached (on official YHS Band letterhead) outlining the donation process.
4. We are looking for a team of parents interested in helping the raffle committee. Contact me if you are interested. Thanks for your help!
Preview attachment Swing Dance Business Letter 2022.pdf
Swing Dance Business Letter 2022.pdf268 KB
Preview attachment 2020 SWING DANCE RAFFLE BASKETS.pdf
2020 SWING DANCE RAFFLE BASKETS.pdf146 KB
Our Spring Concert is Wed. 5/18 at 7:00pm in the YHS Auditorium.
Offered weekly and hosted by our junior and senior band members. 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 2/14 | JB Trumpet, Flute with Abbie |
| Tuesday 2/15 | JB Sax p.8, Sax with Will |
| Wednesday 2/16 | JB Trombone |
| Thursday 2/17 | JB Rhythm Section |
Our next rehearsal is Thursday 2/17 from 6:50-8:30. Your homework, professional recordings, and sheet music are posted on Dashboard. New music is posted!
NYSSMA INFO 2021-2022.pdf129 KB
Preview attachment NYSSMA Student Info App 21-22.pdf
NYSSMA forms are due this Wednesday 2/16. Information and forms are attached.
In addition to the musical opportunity NYSSMA provides, students are able to receive honors credit for Concert Band or Wind Ensemble by earning a score of 95 or above on a level 6 solo/ensemble, or a score of 97 or above on a level 5 solo/ensemble.
Audition forms are due this Wednesday 2/16, and are attached. I strongly suggest that interested students also participate in NYSSMA. Auditions will take place at the end of April.
Tomorrow, Staff Sergeant Hopkins – a percussionist with the “President’s Own” Marine Band – will present a zoom clinic titled Reading Music Like an Engineer, to our Wind Ensemble students (period 8). Interested Concert Band students are also welcome to attend, e-mail me for more information. We are thrilled to have this opportunity!
REMINDERS FOR MONDAY:
· Please assemble your instrument Monday morning and place it in the back of the auditorium.
· Please arrive to the auditorium by 12:35 to take your seat and warm up.
· Make sure you have a pencil, headphones, and a device to login to the Zoom.
· You will need 2 music stands – one for your device and one for your sheet music.
· Our clinic will begin at 12:45 and end at 1:30.
Will take place this week. Specific instructions were reviewed in class. Videos are due by Sunday 2/13.
As a fun team building activity, we are bringing back this pre-COVID YHS Band tradition. All students will be randomly assigned a secret valentine this week. Your job is to keep your valentine a secret and to plan to do something nice for them on Monday 2/14.
Some suggestions for your secret valentine are: perform a song, write a poem, draw a picture, or give a small gift ($5 max). All must be school appropriate.
Gifts will be given in class on Monday 2/14 and should be anonymous. In the past students have left the gift on the person’s seat, or have had someone else deliver it. Songs and poems will be performed for the entire class. The fun will be in the guessing and eventual “reveal” of the gift giver, which we will go around the room and experience together.
7:00pm in the YHS GYM. More details to follow. Please save the date.
A group of band parents and Ms. Kluga will be meeting via zoom this Tuesday, February 8th to plan the details of this event. If you are interested in being on this planning committee, please e-mail Ms. Kluga.