On Tuesday 2/7, Staff Sergeant Hopkins, a percussionist with the “President’s Own” Marine Band, will present a clinic via zoom to our Wind Ensemble students (period 8). The clinic is part of the band’s educational outreach campaign and is titled Reading Music Like an Engineer. Interested Concert Band students are also welcome to attend, e-mail Ms. Kluga for more information. We are thrilled to have this opportunity!

Was reviewed in class last week. The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo festival is a wonderful opportunity for your student to grow as a musician! As of now NYSSMA will be in-person.

To participate, students prepare scales (or rudiments for snare drummers), a solo and sight-reading.  At the festival, students perform for a judge who will give them a score and comments. 

In February all YHS Band students will be learning a NYSSMA solo as part of their lesson homework; so if they are interested in participating in NYSSMA, or auditioning for Wind Ensemble (see below), they will have the necessary tools to do so.

Information and forms are attached. NYSSMA forms are due by Wednesday 2/16.

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. 

Auditions for the 2022-2023 Wind Ensemble will take place at the end of April.  Students wishing to audition should review the audition information sheet (attached).  Ms. Kluga strongly suggests that interested students also participate in NYSSMA.  The Wind Ensemble audition information sheet/permission slip is attached and is also available in the band room.

Due to many factors associated with the pandemic, our Swing Dance concert performance has been moved to Saturday 4/23/22 at 7:00pm, in the YHS GYM.  More details to follow. Please save the date.

A group of band parents and I will be meeting via zoom on 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. 

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.

The Band Officers have planned a skating outing at Bear Mountain on Sunday 1/30 for the 10:00-11:30am public skating session.  Students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Everyone is responsible for paying for their own skating. Meet at 9:30am to get in line and purchase your tickets. (Parking is $10. Skate rentals are $10. Tickets for skaters and spectators are $5 each). All people entering the rink area need a ticket. All YHS Band students are welcome. A sign-up sheet is available in the Band Room. We hope you will join us!

Our next rehearsal is Thursday 1/20 from 6:50-8:30. Your homework, professional recordings, and sheet music are posted on Dashboard.

Will be reviewed in class this week. The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo festival is a wonderful opportunity for your student to grow as a musician. As of now NYSSMA will be in-person.

To participate, students prepare scales (or rudiments for snare drummers), a solo and sight-reading.  At the festival, students perform for a judge who will give them a score and comments. 

In February all YHS Band students will be learning a NYSSMA solo as part of their lesson homework; so if they are interested in participating in NYSSMA, or auditioning for Wind Ensemble (see below), they will have the necessary tools to do so.

Information and forms are attached. NYSSMA forms are due by Wednesday 2/16.

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. 

Auditions for the 2022-2023 Wind Ensemble will take place at the end of April.  Students wishing to audition should review the audition information sheet (attached).  Ms. Kluga strongly suggests that interested students also participate in NYSSMA.  The Wind Ensemble audition information sheet/permission slip is attached and is also available in the band room.

If your student plays a reed instrument, this is the time of year when their supply usually needs to be refreshed. Please speak to your student about ordering a new box of reeds. If you have questions on what to order, Ms. Kluga happy to help.

Due to many factors associated with the pandemic, our Swing Dance concert performance has been moved to Saturday 4/23/22 at 7:00pm, in the YHS GYM. More details to follow. Please save the date.

A group of band parents and I will be meeting via zoom on Tuesday, February 8th to plan the details of this event. If you are interested in being on this planning committee, please e-mail Mrs. Kluga.

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. Mrs. Kluga is also always available for help by appointment.

Tuesday 1/18:

JB Saxophone Sectional p.8, Bassoon or Saxophone with Will G. p.9

Wednesday 1/19:

Low Brass with Ryan, Flute with Chinmay, Clarinet with Ethan, Trumpet with Shane, JB Rhythm Sectional, JB Tbn Sectional

Thursday 1/20:

Percussion with Drew and Anthony, Low Brass with Will/Samson, JB Trumpet

The Band Officers have planned a skating outing at Bear Mountain on Sunday 1/30 for the 10:00-11:30am public skating session. Students must be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Everyone is responsible for paying for their own skating. Meet at 9:30am to get in line and purchase your tickets. (Parking is $10. Skate rentals are $10. Tickets for skaters and spectators are $5 each). All people entering the rink area need a ticket. All YHS Band students are welcome. A sign-up sheet is available in the Band Room. We hope you will join us!