Band Updates/Weekly Newsletters

Hello,

I hope everyone is doing well! So far the school year has been smooth for everyone.  I know this email is long, I am sorry there was a lot to say.  

Band Shirts and Concert Attire: 

We are about to order band shirts for our middle school students. We will be getting sizes from the students tomorrow.  If they are in 7th or 8th grade and their shirt still fits they do not need a new one.  They will wear the shirts at our trips and other outdoor activities.  The shirts will be $10.00 a piece.  

For our big concerts on December 16th, our UIL Contests (for 7th and 8th Grade), and our Spring Concert we try to be as formal as possible and ask our students to wear “Concert Black” which is explained below. 

***** Gentlemen will need to wear a white, long-sleeved dress shirt, black dress pants, black dress belt, black dress socks and black dress shoes, and a nice tie. For ladies, they will need to wear a nice black dress or (black pants, a black blouse, and black shoes.). Dresses should be no shorter than mid-upper calf, which is an appropriate length for school code and for the seated position of all instruments (Must comply with the District’s dress code policy). If the dress is not appropriate length, please wear black leggings underneath your dress.****

Blue Book: 

Also, all 7th and 8th grade students will need a Foundations for Superior Performance book if they do not already have one. I am attaching a picture of what the cover looks like.  They have them at the Tarpley Music Store in Waco.  You can also get them online in many different locations. 

M.S. Band Calendar

Below is the Middle School Band Calendar.  The 8th Grade trip has been changed due to a conflict with another school activity.  

October:

October 20th: Home Football Game vs Grandview 7:30pm 8th Grade Night  (8th Grade Only) 

October 31st: Halloween Concert 6pm (7th & 8th Grade Only)

December 5th: Middle School All Region in Robinson All Day (7th and 8th if the student chooses)

December 16th: Christmas Extravaganza 1pm-6pm (6th-8th Grade)

March 5th: UIL Parent Concert 6pm (7th & 8th Grade)

March 26th/27th:  Middle School Concert and Sight Reading (7th & 8th Grade)

April 19th:  Middle School Trips (6th & 7th Grade)

April 27th:  8th Grade Trip

April 23rd: Outdoor Concert 6pm (6th-8th Grade)

May 4th: Band Banquet (All Bands)

May 7th: Middle School Spring Concert 6pm (6th-8th)

Playing Test: 

Another thing that is about to start happening is we will begin to have playing tests for our middle school students. The purpose of these tests will be to be able to listen to each student, and give constructive feedback.  We are in the bandhall everyday from 7:00am before school, and here until 5pm most days after school to help whoever needs it.  We also give the students plenty of chances to retake their tests if they want to try to get a better grade.  

Band Boosters:

Our Band Boosters do an amazing job of taking care of our students 6th-12th.  They feed, support all of the bands, offer scholarships to graduating seniors and so much more.  If you would like to help,  they meet at 6:30pm every first monday of the month. 

If you have any questions about anything please let us know.  All of the kids are doing a fantastic job, and I could not be prouder of how everyone is working.  Thank you for allowing Mr. Norton and I to teach your children.  We are extremely humbled to be able to teach these outstanding musicians.  

Have a great day.  Thank you. 

Hello, 

I hope all is well, and everyone is having a great day.  The Middle School Band students are all doing great, and Mr. Norton and I are extremely proud of all of the work they are doing. 

I wanted to give updates to everyone about the schedule by grade level for the rest of the semester.  Please let me know if you have any questions we can answer. Thank you. 

6th Grade/ Beginners: 

10/30 5:00pm-6:30pm:   Pumpkin Painting behind the bandhall.  

The boosters will be hosting a pumpkin painting time behind the bandhall for the 6th-12th band kids. Please encourage your kids to come, this will be a great social activity for our entire band program.

12/16:  Christmas Concert at 1pm in the Auditorium. Report time is 12:30 in the Auditorium. 

Dress is “Concert Black”, or festive clothes.  

“Concert Black” will be worn for all concert events, except otherwise instructed by the directors for West ISD. With this dress code, gentlemen will need to wear a white long-sleeved dress shirt, black dress pants, black dress belt, black dress socks and black dress shoes, and a nice tie. For “Concert Black,” ladies will need to wear a nice black dress or a black blouse, black pants, and black shoes.  Dresses should be no shorter than mid-upper calf, which is an appropriate length for school code and for the seated position of all instruments (Must comply with the District’s dress code policy). If the dress is not appropriate length, please wear black leggings underneath your dress. 

7th Grade: 

10/30 5:00pm-6:30pm  Pumpkin Painting behind the bandhall.  

The boosters will be hosting a pumpkin painting time behind the bandhall for 6th-12th the band kids. Please encourage your kids to come, this will be a great social activity for our entire band program.

10/31  6:00pm  Halloween Fall concert.  The 7th grade band will be performing first at 6pm, students will need to be at the school by 5:30pm.  

Dress is their Halloween costume or band shirt and blue jeans. 

12/16:  Christmas Concert at 1:30pm in the Auditorium. Report time is 12:45 in the bandhall. 

Dress is “Concert Black”, or festive clothes.  

“Concert Black” will be worn for all concert events, except otherwise instructed by the directors for West ISD. With this dress code, gentlemen will need to wear a white long-sleeved dress shirt, black dress pants, black dress belt, black dress socks and black dress shoes, and a nice tie. For “Concert Black,” ladies will need to wear a nice black dress or a black blouse, black pants, and black shoes.  Dresses should be no shorter than mid-upper calf, which is an appropriate length for school code and for the seated position of all instruments (Must comply with the District’s dress code policy). If the dress is not appropriate length, please wear black leggings underneath your dress. 

8th Grade:  

10/20  8th Grade Band Night: 8th Grade Band students come to the home football game vs. Grandview, and play in the stands with our High School Band.  Bring a jacket in case it is cold.

10/30 5:00pm-6:30pm  Pumpkin Painting behind the bandhall.  

The boosters will be hosting a pumpkin painting time behind the bandhall for 6th-12th the band kids. Please encourage your kids to come, this will be a great social activity for our entire band program.

10/31  6:00pm  Halloween Fall concert.  The 8th grade band will be performing at 6:30pm, students will need to be at the school by 5:45pm.  

Dress is their Halloween costume or band shirt and blue jeans. 

12/16:  Christmas Concert at 2pm in the Auditorium.  Report time is 1:30 in the bandhall. 

Dress is “Concert Black”, or festive clothes.  

“Concert Black” will be worn for all concert events, except otherwise instructed by the directors for West ISD. With this dress code, gentlemen will need to wear a white long-sleeved dress shirt, black dress pants, black dress belt, black dress socks and black dress shoes, and a nice tie. For “Concert Black,” ladies will need to wear a nice black dress or a black blouse, black pants, and black shoes.  Dresses should be no shorter than mid-upper calf, which is an appropriate length for school code and for the seated position of all instruments (Must comply with the District’s dress code policy). If the dress is not appropriate length, please wear black leggings underneath your dress.

Hello, 

We have a busy two weeks for our band program, and I wanted to let everyone know what is going on.   

Starting with our middle students, we will have a pumpkin painting on October 30th from 5:00pm-6:30pm. Bring your pumpkin and come out and have some fun. We also have a concert for our 7th and and 8th grade students on October 31st, starting at 6:00pm.  Please feel free to wear your Halloween costumes, or band shirt and blue jeans.  

For our high school students, we have the game this Friday 10/27 report time is right after school.  The time for the football game has been pushed up to 7:00pm, so we will be in a mild rush to get there on time. We should be home close to 12:30am.   Monday on the 30th, we will have our pumpkin painting from 5pm-6:30pm.  Please bring your own pumpkin.  Next week is Senior Night, and we will be honoring our seniors during halftime.  

Students 7th-12th who are going to All Region need to be showing up to lessons, and really start to practice.

High School students interested in Solo and Ensemble need to come see us to get music picked out.  Please understand that if you want to be a section leader or drum major you have to do one of the two.  

The Basketball Band will be practicing  on Tuesday’s after school starting at 4:00pm.  I am currently working on getting a game schedule to share.  

Please let me know if you have any questions.  Thank everyone for all that you do, and have a great day.

Hello, 

I am sending out a reminder about our “Amazing All Bands Christmas Concert Spectacular”  next Saturday December 16th.  

Our Band Boosters will be raffling off gift baskets at the concert, and are asking for donations of the following items from each of the grades.  If you can help please have the items at the school by December 14th. 

Below is the list of grades and what kind of items they should bring for the gift baskets.

Beginners and 7th Graders:  Outdoors

8th Grade: Movie Night 

9th Grade: Gift Cards

10th and 11th Grade: Coffee and Chocolate

12th Grade: Baking 

Here is the Schedule for the concert day on December 16th.  

• Our Beginner Band will be performing  at 1:00pm with the 7th Grade Concert Band performing immediately after.  Both the Beginners and the 7th Graders will need to be at the school ready to go at 12:30.  

• The 8th Grade Symphonic Band will be performing at 3:00pm, and these students will need to be here at 2:20.  

• The High School Bands will be performing right after the Choir performs, and will need to be at the school at 3:00pm.  

Dress for the concert is “Concert Black”. With this dress code, gentlemen will need to wear a white long-sleeved dress shirt, black dress pants, black dress belt, black dress socks and black dress shoes, and a nice tie. The ladies will need to wear a nice black dress or a black blouse, black slacks, and black shoes. Dresses should be no shorter than mid-upper calf, which is an appropriate length for school code and for the seated position of all instruments. If the dress is a shorter length, please wear black leggings underneath your dress. The concert is a formal event for our band program, and we want our students to be as professional as possible.  Please no jeans, sweat pants, or just leggings.  However,  we do want our kids to enjoy their time performing.  If they would like to wear something festive such as an ugly sweater, an elf costume, a reindeer costume, or a Santa hat, those are fine with us.   If anyone needs help with any of the clothes please let us know as soon as possible so we can help.

We are extremely proud of all the progress our students have made, and cannot wait for everyone to be able to come and enjoy the show.  Please let us know if you have any questions, thank you.