We are also looking for parents to donate supplies and/or their time. We will need chaperones, food donations, food preparation, and clean-up help. Please look for an e-mail from parent-organizer Margaret Serafin ([email protected]) to find out how you can help.
One of our first fundraisers of the year is the annual Music Boosters Tag Sale. This is a reminder to please save your stuff to donate!! The sale will take place in the YHS Cafeteria on Saturday 10/27 from 9am-2pm. We will be accepting donations on Friday 10/26 from 3-8pm. Tell your friends and neighbors! Many parent and students volunteers will be needed to make this event a success. Look for an e-mail in the coming weeks to find out how you can help.
Congratulations to our awesome class of 2018 band students! Ms. Kluga says it has been an honor to be your teacher for four years – her love and best wishes to all as you begin your next adventures in life!
Many thanks to all of the band students who performed at the graduation ceremony today, celebrating our 2018 graduates and providing them with music to process onto and off of the stage. Our entire learning community truly appreciates your time and talents! Thank you for your participation and help in creating this special memory for our seniors and their families!
Will be available on Dashboard soon, in case you forgot to pick up a hard copy in the band room.
Mark your calendars! The 17th Annual YHS Band Ice Cream Social will take place Thursday, August 23rd from 6-8pm at YHS. (FYI: Section Leaders and Officers, you will be needed from 4:30 – 6:30pm).
Officers and Section Leaders, mark your calendars! We will meet on Tuesday, September 4th 2018 (the freshmen-only first day of school). First, we will organize our traditional Freshmen welcome breakfast during period 1 (7:00-8:30). Then, from 8:30-10:30, we will participate in a workshop to learn the skills needed to lead a successful sectional.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our core group of band parent helpers, please e-mail Ms. Kluga. We will be meeting in August to start planning next year’s events.
Sincere thanks to this wonderful parent organization for all you have done to support the Performing Arts for our students!! If you are interested in helping the First Nighters, please let Ms. Kluga know and she will forward them your information.
The auditions have been moved to the week of 4/30-5/4. Sign-up sheets will be available later this week.
The final video assessment of the year will take place during your student’s lesson the week of 4/23. This assessment will determine your student’s readiness to attend and successfully participate in our Six Flags music festival. You should hear your students practicing at home. Mrs. Kluga is available for help every day after school by appointment.
On Saturday 4/21, Wind Ensemble students will travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the Rhythms International music festival. Look for a separate e-mail later this week with more detailed information. A few reminders are below:
YHSWE P.9 REHEARSALS THIS WEEK
- Tuesday 4/17, p.9
- Wednesday 4/18, p.9
- Friday 4/20, p.9
CNN SERIES – American Dynasties: The Kennedy’s
This series airs every Sunday evening at 9pm. One of our festival pieces, Elegy for a Young American, was written in 1964 in response to President Kennedy’s assassination. To help us interpret our music, we have been learning about the life, times, and contributions of JFK. If you have time to watch, it may help you add deeper meaning to our performance.
WE HAVE 5 REHEARSALS LEFT (!):
- Are you able to play the details, at the correct tempo?
- Can you focus on balance and intonation? Or, are you occupied only with playing the correct notes, rhythms, and tempo?
- Can you perform your music with meaning and emotion?
- Are you proud of your personal performance?
I hope you enjoyed working hard on our music this weekend, the last weekend before our trip. Mrs. Kluag can’t wait to work with you on Monday!
If any YHSWE Seniors are interested in attending the Six Flags trip to cheer on our Concert Band (and help with equipment!), please e-mail Mrs.Kluga ASAP. The number of WE seniors attending will determine the cost. The trip is Saturday 5/12.
The First Nighters is a parent group whose mission is to support the YCSD Performing Arts programs. Each year they honor our junior and senior students at a Performing Arts awards banquet. Junior and senior students should have received an invitation (please let Mrs. Kluga know if you have not). This year’s banquet will take place on Wednesday, May 23th at 7:00pm at the Putnam National Golf Course, and will include catered dinner, entertainment, and awards presentations. Please look “nice” as this banquet is honoring you and your achievements in the Arts. No jeans or sneakers. PLEASE RSVP BY FRIDAY MAY 4th.
4/21-23 (Sat-Mon) Wind Ensemble Festival Trip to Washington DC
4/24-4/27 (Tue-Fri) ’18-‘19 Wind Ensemble Auditions
4/27-28 (Fri-Sat) NYSSMA Solo Festival @ Westlake HS
5/12 (Sat) Concert Band Hershey Park Festival Trip
5/16 (Wed) YHS Spring Band Concert @ 7:00 pm
5/23 (Wed) First Nighters Awards Dinner (Juniors/Seniors only), Putnam Valley Golf Club @ 7:00pm
6/9 (Fri) Jazz Band performs at Relay for Life @ time TBA
5/28 (Mon) Memorial Day Parade and Annual YHS Band BBQ
6/23 (Sat) YHS Bands perform at Graduation @ SUNY Purchase 10:30am – 3pm
Spring Festival season is upon us! Both the Concert Band (Sat. 5/12) and the Wind Ensemble (Sat thru Mon 4/21-23) will each attend a music festival that I created just for them; each group will perform before a panel of adjudicators AND experience an on-stage clinic with the adjudicators, as they coach the students on how to achieve better musicianship. We are so excited for them to learn from this musical experience!
All students have a homework assignment due at their weekly band lesson. You should hear your student practicing at home. Professional recordings of our festival music are available for download on your student’s YHS Band Dashboard. Mrs. Kluga is always available for help by appointment.