Posts
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Notes from the Podium- April 11th
Wow! A whole bunch of quality music-making has happened since my last post. Congratulations to everyone on great performances! I cannot express to you how proud I am of the music you have been making. It is nice that the ratings have been so high, but it's even nicer that we can sit back and appreciate the art that we create. The talent inside of the Benton Cardinal Bands is truly amazing. I know that Ms. Nelson and I always feel truly blessed in front of you, and we always enjoy the time that we get to work with you.
To make sure that your ratings are known to all-
Performances receiving an Excellent (II) rating at District Solo/Ensemble Contest were:
Danny Evans, trumpet solo
Zach Langdon, French horn solo
Taylor Snider, snare drum solo
Denise Stumpff, clarinet solo
Lindsay Williams, snare drum solo
Performances receiving a Superior (I) rating and qualifying for State included:
Benton Percussion Ensemble- Brittany Boggess, Keegan Cunningham, Taylor Snider, Morgan Wheeler, Lindsay Williams, Kyle Woodruff
Benton Sax Trio- Travis McClatchey, Ally Sexton, Mike Sewell
Benton Trumpet Trio- Jordan Bullimore, Danny Evans, Sam Stephan
Jordan Bullimore, trumpet solo
Ailing Oka, flute solo
Mike Sewell, tenor sax solo
Sean Sherlock, clarinet solo
Taylor Snider, mallet solo
Sam Stephan, trumpet solo
Lindsay Williams, mallet solo
In addition to this, the Benton Concert Band accomplished something very special. For your performance at State Large Group, you received the first overall Superior (I) rating that Benton has received for band in 17 years! I cannot tell you how happy everyone is for your achievement. Of course, I still feel that rating music-making is not a great practice- it sure is nice to get good ratings. Thanks for making the school band look even better on paper to people that do not get to hear you.
There is still so much to do for the rest of the school year. Please clear these dates below:
April 15th- Concert band plays for ROTC Review at Benton High School
April 22nd- Jazz band plays for Teacher's Recognition Dinner
April 29th-30th- Students qualifying for State Solo/Ensemble play in Columbia, MO
May 1st- Marching Band in Apple Blossom Parade as part of All-City Band
May 10th- Jazz Band Concert at Benton High School 7 PM
May 11th- Concert Band Concert at Benton High School 7 PM
May 18th- Band Awards Dinner
May 23rd- Band performs as part of Benton Commencement- 3:30 PM
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
CHANGE IN SCHEDULE- MARCH 16TH TO 23RD
I was a week early for Pre-Contest Concert at Central High School.
Our Pre-Contest Performance is Tuesday, March 23rd not March 16th!!!!!
Our Pre-Contest Performance is Tuesday, March 23rd not March 16th!!!!!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Notes from the Podium- March 2nd
We're about to get really busy again....
DATES TO KNOW COMING UP:
MARCH 11TH - Band Booster Meeting
MARCH 13TH - Jazz Band performs at NWMSU Jazz Festival
MARCH 16TH - Pre-Contest Concert at Central High School
MARCH 20TH - Benton Band Sectional and Olympic Day
MARCH 26TH - Solo/Ensemble Contest at Central High School
APRIL 8TH - State Large Ensemble at NWMSU
APRIL 22ND- Jazz Band performs at Teacher of the Year Dinner
At the next band booster meeting, we will be discussing a possible trip for next year's band. In addition, WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARENTS TO SERVE AS OFFICERS FOR NEXT YEAR'S BAND BOOSTERS! Please help us in these roles. This band benefits from having such a strong band booster organization. The boosters that we have for the band are the envy of most bands in the area.
In our quest to clean up the grades of band students, we currently sit at 24 F's total and 25 students with either an F or a D in one or more classes. Please check with your student about their grades. If you are concerned about your student's grades, please feel free to look them up via the Saint Joseph Public School website or just call I can fill you in!
DATES TO KNOW COMING UP:
MARCH 11TH - Band Booster Meeting
MARCH 13TH - Jazz Band performs at NWMSU Jazz Festival
MARCH 16TH - Pre-Contest Concert at Central High School
MARCH 20TH - Benton Band Sectional and Olympic Day
MARCH 26TH - Solo/Ensemble Contest at Central High School
APRIL 8TH - State Large Ensemble at NWMSU
APRIL 22ND- Jazz Band performs at Teacher of the Year Dinner
At the next band booster meeting, we will be discussing a possible trip for next year's band. In addition, WE ARE LOOKING FOR PARENTS TO SERVE AS OFFICERS FOR NEXT YEAR'S BAND BOOSTERS! Please help us in these roles. This band benefits from having such a strong band booster organization. The boosters that we have for the band are the envy of most bands in the area.
In our quest to clean up the grades of band students, we currently sit at 24 F's total and 25 students with either an F or a D in one or more classes. Please check with your student about their grades. If you are concerned about your student's grades, please feel free to look them up via the Saint Joseph Public School website or just call I can fill you in!
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Notes from the Podium- February 14th
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!
Jazz Band is coming off a very successful performance at the MWSU Jazz Festival. I was very, very proud of the sound that you produced. I hope you were as impressed with the clinicians as I was. There was a lot of great information! It looks like we are down to the fun part- over-exaggerating our dynamics and style! We are moving past just playing the notes!
A quick look at the week ahead:
Monday- No school, but PEP BAND! Meet in the bandroom at 6:30.
Tuesday- No school, but PEP BAND! Meet in band room at 6:30. This is our senior night, so parents of seniors please make plans to attend. We will be recognizing you at this game. In addition, Pride of the Southside drumline will be playing a couple of pieces from the bandstand this game also.
Thursday- Bob Long jazz session will be happening at 6 PM. Also, PEP BAND- this will be our final game. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE. Please let me know if you cannot attend ASAP.
Friday- NO pep band.
Saturday- JAZZ BAND TAKES OFF FOR OMAHA AT 7 AM. Come equipped with money for McBreakfast and road snacks. If you have not paid for your trip yet, please do that as soon as possible.
In case your student has not mentioned it to you, I am now able to access all of their grades on-line. In fact, all parents are able to do it now via PowerSchool. The band is working on improving all of our grades in all of our classes. We're all on the same team!
Jazz Band is coming off a very successful performance at the MWSU Jazz Festival. I was very, very proud of the sound that you produced. I hope you were as impressed with the clinicians as I was. There was a lot of great information! It looks like we are down to the fun part- over-exaggerating our dynamics and style! We are moving past just playing the notes!
A quick look at the week ahead:
Monday- No school, but PEP BAND! Meet in the bandroom at 6:30.
Tuesday- No school, but PEP BAND! Meet in band room at 6:30. This is our senior night, so parents of seniors please make plans to attend. We will be recognizing you at this game. In addition, Pride of the Southside drumline will be playing a couple of pieces from the bandstand this game also.
Thursday- Bob Long jazz session will be happening at 6 PM. Also, PEP BAND- this will be our final game. THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM THE ORIGINAL SCHEDULE. Please let me know if you cannot attend ASAP.
Friday- NO pep band.
Saturday- JAZZ BAND TAKES OFF FOR OMAHA AT 7 AM. Come equipped with money for McBreakfast and road snacks. If you have not paid for your trip yet, please do that as soon as possible.
In case your student has not mentioned it to you, I am now able to access all of their grades on-line. In fact, all parents are able to do it now via PowerSchool. The band is working on improving all of our grades in all of our classes. We're all on the same team!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Notes from the Podium- February 4th
February 4th?!?!?! Sorry. More consistent updates to come.
The jazz band just finished its 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast. Thanks to everyone that volunteered back in the pancake kitchen. I have heard wonders about the taste of your pancakes! Proceeds from the breakfast will be going towards the jazz band's trip to Omaha, Nebraska. Jazzers need to have sold 20 tickets to cover the cost of going. If you did not participate, we will need you to cover the cost of the trip out of pocket.
Dates coming up for the jazzers are:
Pep band games- February 8, 15, 16, 19
Missouri Western Jazz Band Clinic- Saturday, February 13th, 8 AM
Omaha Trip- February 20th and 21st
Please make plans to attend the band booster meeting on February 11th. It will be important to have parents coming to these meetings as we will be using them in the planning of next year's band trip.
Looking forward to seeing you!
The jazz band just finished its 3rd Annual Pancake Breakfast. Thanks to everyone that volunteered back in the pancake kitchen. I have heard wonders about the taste of your pancakes! Proceeds from the breakfast will be going towards the jazz band's trip to Omaha, Nebraska. Jazzers need to have sold 20 tickets to cover the cost of going. If you did not participate, we will need you to cover the cost of the trip out of pocket.
Dates coming up for the jazzers are:
Pep band games- February 8, 15, 16, 19
Missouri Western Jazz Band Clinic- Saturday, February 13th, 8 AM
Omaha Trip- February 20th and 21st
Please make plans to attend the band booster meeting on February 11th. It will be important to have parents coming to these meetings as we will be using them in the planning of next year's band trip.
Looking forward to seeing you!
Monday, November 16, 2009
Notes from the Podium- November 16th
Marching band season is officially over. Thank you for all of your hard work- students, staff, and parents. It's always a great time for me! I know that many memories were made and lots of great musical moments happened! We all have a lot to celebrate.
We have just finished our first round of chair auditions! I was very happy with everyone that played an audition. We will be starting our first round of challenges this week. In addition to listening to challenges, we will be listening to playing tests from all members who do not have a "section" to compete against. Anyone scoring below 50% on their playing exam/chair test is required to have a private lesson with a member of the band staff. It is important that all of us are responsible for raising the quality of the Cardinal band!
I am once again writing a huge thank you to volunteer staff that worked for the financial good of the band. We are currently involved in working with Aramark catering as support staff for some of their bigger functions. In the past, we have been able to use a lot of these events to help individuals pay for trips with the band. This year, we are counting on volunteers to help us with money for equipment. I really appreciate all of your hard work! I am constantly in awe and humbled by the amount of work that comes from our boosters and our students.
It was encouraging also to see many of you at the recent MWSU Jazz Band concert on Sunday. We are coming up on Solo/Ensemble and Jazz Season. It is important to immerse yourself in as much quality music-making as you can take. All of us having a developing vision of what we want to play like will continue to make us re-shape and reach bigger, better goals. Those of you that want to be able to play at a high, professional level should know that there are avenues available to you to get there. You have to provide the work, but there are high-quality private lesson instructors waiting to help you with your improvement. I have and will always strive to make private lessons available to anyone willing to commit the practice time to them. Those wanting to take the next step with their playing need consider private lessons an essential part of moving forward. If you are interested, please take the time to talk with Mr. Siasoco or Ms. Nelson about setting up private lessons- especially those of you wanting to perform solo at District Solo and Ensemble contest.
We have just finished our first round of chair auditions! I was very happy with everyone that played an audition. We will be starting our first round of challenges this week. In addition to listening to challenges, we will be listening to playing tests from all members who do not have a "section" to compete against. Anyone scoring below 50% on their playing exam/chair test is required to have a private lesson with a member of the band staff. It is important that all of us are responsible for raising the quality of the Cardinal band!
I am once again writing a huge thank you to volunteer staff that worked for the financial good of the band. We are currently involved in working with Aramark catering as support staff for some of their bigger functions. In the past, we have been able to use a lot of these events to help individuals pay for trips with the band. This year, we are counting on volunteers to help us with money for equipment. I really appreciate all of your hard work! I am constantly in awe and humbled by the amount of work that comes from our boosters and our students.
It was encouraging also to see many of you at the recent MWSU Jazz Band concert on Sunday. We are coming up on Solo/Ensemble and Jazz Season. It is important to immerse yourself in as much quality music-making as you can take. All of us having a developing vision of what we want to play like will continue to make us re-shape and reach bigger, better goals. Those of you that want to be able to play at a high, professional level should know that there are avenues available to you to get there. You have to provide the work, but there are high-quality private lesson instructors waiting to help you with your improvement. I have and will always strive to make private lessons available to anyone willing to commit the practice time to them. Those wanting to take the next step with their playing need consider private lessons an essential part of moving forward. If you are interested, please take the time to talk with Mr. Siasoco or Ms. Nelson about setting up private lessons- especially those of you wanting to perform solo at District Solo and Ensemble contest.
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