Our newsletter is created by band students, to give our learning community an overview of the band events (so far) from our year together. Many, many thanks to all students who contributed articles, and especially to Senior Kaitlyn Nuebel for her hard work managing the layout and editing! The newsletter is beautiful and is attached, in case you were not able to secure a copy at the concert. Enjoy!
Was a great success! Using a portion of the profit from this year’s Citrus Sale, we purchased over $200 worth of warm clothing, toiletries, toys and treats for our second grader, Ayden. Thank you so much as well to the families who sent in extra gifts! The students and Mrs Kluga are so happy that we have this opportunity to give back.
All students are required to pick up their ENTIRE order in the YHS Band Room between the hours of 2:30 and 6:30pm. See you then!
Thank you in advance to our many parent volunteers, and to those donating food items throughout the day. Your help is so appreciated and so integral to the success of this very logistically intense event. Special thanks to band parents Adriana Beaudreault and Teresa Ryan-Onatzevitch for organizing the parent volunteers and food donations!
Our next concert performance is Saturday 2/10/17 at 7:00, in the YHS GYM. This is our 10th annual Swing Dance and Concert. All YHS Band students are required to attend. It is both a concert, and a dance, and everyone is invited! (Yes, parents, you are invited! Don’t let your student tell you otherwise J). This is an eagerly anticipated, well-attended and fun evening for our entire Yorktown community (last year we had many senior citizens attend and enjoy the evening with us!). More details to follow.
Our concert is Wednesday 12/13, at 7:30 in the YHS Auditorium. Students will need to arrive by 7:00 to warm up.
Please review the dress requirements below for our concert (as found in the Band Handbook, which you all received back in September). Our professional and unified visual appearance is an important part of each performance. Hopefully some items are already part of your student’s wardrobe, and all are available at your local department store. Please contact Mrs Kluga with any questions.
*In particular, ladies’ skirts must fall below the knee. Please wear black dress pants if you can’t find a skirt that falls below the knee*
Concert Dress – (as found in the YHS Band Handbook).
Photos of good examples of concert dress for boys and girls are attached.
Ladies:
· Black dress pants or LONG black skirt. LADIES, LONG MEANS YOUR SKIRT FALLS BELOW THE KNEE. (no black jeans/jeggings/tights/yoga pants)
· Black Blouse– longish sleeves (no sleeveless shirts or spaghetti straps)
· Black stockings
· Black Shoes (no flip flops)
Gentlemen:
· Black Dress Pants (no black jeans/track pants/sweat pants)
· Black, Button-Down, Long Sleeved Shirt
· Black Socks.
· Black Shoes
To celebrate our student’s performance, we will host a reception in the cafeteria. Look for an e-mail in the coming week from Band Aid Core Helper (BACH) Mrs. Serafin with info as to how to donate a food item, or to help us set up/clean up. Thank you!
As you know from the JB Calendar, this week our rehearsal is WEDNESDAY from 7:30-9:00. This is our final rehearsal before our concert, and will take place with the Tech Crew in the auditorium. Please be ready to help set up the stage.
As noted above, our Winter Concert is Wed. 12/13. Please arrive to the auditorium by 6:20 so we can successfully complete our sound check. Thank you in advance for being prompt.
Forms and payment info were distributed in class last week (many thanks to our YHS Band Treasurer, senior Michael Blaney, for his work preparing this information!). If possible, the down payment and permission slip are requested by Friday 12/8.
Similar to NYSSMA, YHS Jazz Band students are eligible to audition for our Westchester All County Jazz Band. Being selected is an elite musical honor and a fantastic opportunity to perform with some of Westchester’s most talented student jazz musicians! Interested students should prepare a jazz solo, fill out an application and attend the audition. Please see Mrs Kluga for solo literature and an application. The application is DUE to Mrs Kluga by Friday, 12/15.
The citrus delivery date is Monday 12/18. All students are required to pick up their ENTIRE order on this day. Please mark your calendars! Please note the pick-up time is from 2:30 – 7:00pm. The start time of 2:30 will not disrupt the middle school buses.
WE ARE IN NEED OF PARENT & STUDENT VOLUNTEERS FROM 2:30 – 7:00pm to help students assemble and pick up their orders. Please see the e-mail from Mrs. Ryan-Onatzevitch for information on how to sign up. Thank you!
A unique and fun performance opportunity for our euphonium and tuba students! Perform in a public concert on the Rockefeller Center Ice Rink with hundreds of fellow low-brass musicians! 2017 is the 44th anniversary of this event. Flyer is attached with more info. Questions? Speak to Ms. Kluga.
Again this year, the YHS Band program is sponsoring a needy child for the holidays. Her name is Ayden and she is in 2nd Grade. Using the money we have raised from our various fundraisers, the band officers have purchased items from her list to Santa. If you are interested in donating additional items, please contact me. Items are needed by Friday 12/8. Ayden wears a size 3-4 Youth shoe,and 8-10M shirt/pants. She particularly likes sparkly items.
A YHS Band tradition! All band students are invited to attend. Students will spread holiday cheer by caroling around the businesses of Yorktown Center. Students will meet at ACME @ 3PM.Bring your instrument, lyre and dress warmly (and festively). Music will be provided. Interested students should sign up in the band room. Afterwards all band students will head to the diner – please bring money to buy yourself a snack. Questions? Please contact Mrs Kluga.
Many thanks to the 45 Pep Band students who traveled to Syracuse to support our Huskers! We are SO PROUD of our team, and so thankful for the opportunity to support them all the way to the State Finals! CONGRATULATIONS to Coach Rescigno and the Varsity Football team on an amazing season!! Photos are attached.
And, a big thank you also to Dr. Hattar, who traveled with the Pep Band to Syracuse and treated the us to dinner on the way home. Thank you so much for your generosity and support!
At this week’s band lesson, students will have their second video assessment. Using the music for our upcoming Winter Concert, students will be assessed on their ability to demonstrate the musical concepts we have been studying so far this year: performing the correct notes and rhythms at a steady tempo with a metronome, playing with good posture, using dynamics, and using correct articulation.
You should hear your student practicing at home (and you should hear improvement!). Students are always welcome to practice during their free periods or after school. If your student has questions, Ms. Kluga would love to help! Please have them see me for an appointment.