The students and Ms. Kluga discussed NYSSMA, and reviewed the forms, this week in class. Information is below and forms are attached.

The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo festival is a wonderful opportunity for your student to grow as a musician, gain confidence, earn the full 5 extra credit points for quarter 3, and possibly be selected to perform in an ensemble with the best band students in all of Westchester.  

To participate in the NYSSMA festival, students prepare scales, a solo and sight-reading.  At the festival, students will perform for a judge who will give them a score and comments.  This quarter, all 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).

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 2020-2021 Wind Ensemble will take place 4/27 – 5/1 (Monday- Friday).  Students wishing to audition should review the audition information sheet (attached) with you.  If your student is interested in auditioning, Ms. Kluga strongly suggests that they also participate in NYSSMA.  The Wind Ensemble audition information sheet/permission slip is attached and is also available in the band room.  FORMS ARE DUE WEDNESDAY 3/4.

What: 12^th Annual Valentine’s Swing Dance Concert

When: Saturday 2/8

Time: Dance Lesson 7-8pm / Music and Dancing 8-10:30pm

Where: YHS Gym

Cost: $10 for adults / $5 for students and seniors.  Tickets sold at the door.  YHS Band students are free.

1.     Jazz Band – our sound check is at 5:45. Arrive at 5:30 so you can be ready to play at 5:45.

2.     Students interested in participating in the dance lesson – please arrive at 6:45pm. STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE DANCE LESSON WILL RECEIVE 2 POINTS OF EXTRA CREDIT (!).

3.     Students NOT interested in participating in the dance lesson– please arrive no later than 7:30pm.

Upon arrival ALL STUDENTS should place their instruments/cases/coats/etc. in their designated warm up rooms. A reminder to respect these spaces – do not touch items that are not yours, and clean up after yourself.

WIND ENSEMBLE WU ROOM: Faculty Lunch Room

CONCERT BAND WU ROOM: Room 138

After students put their personal items in the warm up room, THEY SHOULD REPORT TO THE TICKET TABLE AND HAVE THEIR HAND STAMPED FOR FREE ENTRANCE INTO THE DANCE.

In lieu of the usual concert black, Swing Era attire is encouraged!  Here are some ideas. Photos were reviewed in class and are attached for your reference.

Boys 

Usual Concert Attire: Black pants, long sleeved button-down black shirt, black shoes, black socks

AND/OR Swing Additions: fedora hats, suspenders, solid color or pin striped shirts, colorful ties, spats, jackets.

Girls

Usual Concert Attire: Black top (appropriate neck-line, no spaghetti straps or sleeveless tops), black skirt or dress (appropriately below the knee), or black pants.

AND/OR Swing Additions: Girls are welcome to wear any color 1940’s style dress as long as it has an appropriate neckline, sleeves, and falls below the knee.  Other ideas are: swing-y skirts, polka dots, pin-curls, a flower in their hair, seamed stockings, saddle shoes, 1940’s style hat and gloves. 

To help organize supplies and decorations Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 1:35-3:00.

To help with tech-crew set up, on Friday 2/8 from 1:30-3pm

To help decorate the gym on Saturday 2/9 from 8:00am – 2:00pm.  PLEASE HELP!

To CLEAN UP from 10:30-12:00am.  PLEASE HELP!

The link for the sign-up form can be found here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0E4AACA623ABFE3-yhsbands1

We are still in need of EVERYTHING – food, drinks, paper goods, other supplies, and volunteers during the day, at the event, and cleanup.  

Questions?  Please contact (Band Aid Core Helper) Karen Menduni ([email protected]) or myself.

In case they haven’t shared, we have all been learning how to swing dance in class one day each week.  ALL YHS band students are now equipped with stunning swing dance moves which I hope they will use at our event!  (All they have to do now is get up the courage to ask someone to dance :). This week, we are looking forward to welcoming and working with the professional dance instructors on Thursday during class!

Everyone knows it takes a lot of guts to ask someone to dance!  (And, it doesn’t matter who does the asking…lady or gentleman).  The correct answer when asked to dance is “Yes.”  As we’ve been learning in class, you should introduce yourself to your partner at the beginning of your dance, and thank them at the end of your dance.

A huge THANK YOU to the First Nighters for hosting a successful Paint Night in support of our students’ participation in Festival Disney! And, thank YOU to those who were able to attend! Through your efforts the event raised $360 ~ we so appreciate your time and support!

And, another huge thank you to all who donated shoes! Through our combined efforts we collected 70 bags of shoes and raised $424 for our Disney Festival trip. Again, we are so grateful for your support!!

A reminder to please send in your payment (made payable to YHS Music Boosters) and permission slip if you have not already done so.

We are still in need of chaperones – if you are interested please contact Ms. Kluga! Our festival trip is Saturday 5/9.

FYI, we will be asking for your student’s final Disney payment by Monday 2/3. Paperwork will be reviewed and sent home in class tomorrow.

Jazz Band students: As discussed at Thursday’s rehearsal, please fill out and return the World Tour permission slip.