Dear YHS Band Parents and Students,
March is Music in Our Schools Month! In celebration, our YHS musical The Wizard of Oz is this coming weekend, and I sincerely hope you are able to catch one of their performances. BREAK A LEG to the cast, pit, and crew!
Also in celebration, I am honored to represent Yorktown this coming weekend at the NY State Band Directors Association conference in Syracuse. I have been invited to present a clinic about our Swing Dance Concert as an effective and immersive jazz education experience. Wish me luck!
EVENTS THIS WEEK:
DAILY: BRING HEADPHONES TO CLASS
We will be using some of our class time to study your individual NYSSMA Solo. Please pack headphones for the next 6 weeks. Thanks!
MARCH LESSON CALENDAR ATTACHED
FYI
MAKE TIME TO PRACTICE
It’s time to reinforce the practice habits we have been speaking about all year!!
Step 1: Bring your instrument home
Step 2: Take it out of the case 🙂
Step 3: Practice!
Assignments are posted on Classroom and all materials are available on Dashboard. If you are unable to practice at home, practice rooms are available every day from 7:15am-3pm.
THURSDAY 3/6: JAZZ BAND REHEARSAL ~ 6:50-8:30pm
Our music and recordings are posted on Dashboard. Happy practicing!
*Please also sign and return your Jazz Band calendar (attached), and attend your sectional
| Monday 3/2 | JB Trumpet p.9, JB Rhythm p.10 |
| Tuesday 3/3 | JB Trombone p.9 |
| Wednesday 3/4 | JB Sax |
| Thursday 3/5 |
YHS BAND SPRING DATE REMINDERS
Spring will be here before we know it, and so will our fun performances and opportunities! Please mark your calendars.
3/26 (Thurs) @5pm Bandapalooza – District Band Festival – 2 CONCERTS!
4/20-22 (Mon-Wed) Wind Ensemble Festival Trip to Boston
4/27-5/1 (Mon-Fri) ’26-‘27 Wind Ensemble Auditions
5/9 (Sat) YHS Concert Band, Orchestra, Choir Festival Trip to Six Flags NJ
5/12 (Tues) @7pm YHS Spring Band Concert
5/25 (Mon) @10am Memorial Day Parade and Annual YHS Band BBQ
5/29 (Fri) Jazz Band performs at Relay for Life (Evening)
5/29-30 (Fri-Sat) Up-County NYSSMA Solo Festival @ Somers HS
BANDAPALOOZA XI
On Thursday, March 26th the YCSD Band Program will host our 11th Annual District Band Concert in the YHS Gym. All band students grades 5-12 will participate. There is a new two-concert format this year. Please see this letter from Dr. Hattar with important information.
Our goal is to create a safe, successful and inspiring experience for all YCSD Band students and their families; fostering positive relationships and allowing our youngest Band students and their parents to see the full progression of our Band program. Please contact me with any questions.
Parent and student volunteers will be needed to make this event a success. Look for an e-mail in the coming weeks with how you can help.
WIND ENSEMBLE BOSTON FESTIVAL – PAYMENT #2 DUE Friday 3/6
Please send in a check for $250, made payable to the YHS Music Boosters. Updated paperwork will be distributed this week. Thank you!
CONCERT BAND FESTIVAL & TRIP TO SIX FLAGS – FINAL PAYMENT DUE Friday 3/13
We are looking for parent chaperones to spend the day with us! If you are interested, please e-mail me. Itinerary details and paperwork for payment #2 will be distributed next week.
2026 NYSSMA SOLO FESTIVAL INFORMATION
NYSSMA information was reviewed in class before break. The NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) solo festival is a wonderful opportunity for your student to grow as a musician! 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.
This week, all YHS Band students will begin learning NYSSMA skills as part of their lesson homework. If your student is interested in participating in NYSSMA, or auditioning for Wind Ensemble, they will have the necessary tools to do so.
Additional information and forms are attached. The due date for NYSSMA forms and payments is FRIDAY, 3/13.
HONORS CREDIT AVAILABLE
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.
WIND ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS – APPLICATION DUE 3/13
Auditions for the 2026-2027 Wind Ensemble will take place the last week of April. Students wishing to audition should review the audition information sheet (attached). I strongly suggest 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.
*Students currently in the ’25-’26 Wind Ensemble do not need to re-audition. Please fill out and return the attached form and be sure your guidance counselor adds Wind Ensemble to your class schedule.*
MUSIC & DANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Flyers are attached for your review and listed below. Some interesting musical opportunities for our students!
· Swing Dance Lessons in Peekskill with Kelly and Tank (for parents), student class TBD!
· Bennett Conservatory – Summer Jazz Institute
· Summer Music Camps
· Jazz Forum – Westchester’s premier Jazz club, located in Tarrytown, NY. Free tickets for students – use the code STFREE at checkout to redeem the tickets at www.jazzforumarts.org/events.
Please contact me with any questions and thank you for your help and support!
Always Musically Yours,
Ms. Kluga