PSMS Panther Band Weekly Update

Band Families,

We are coming up on our December Winter Concert this week! (12/9 - 6th Graders @ 6:00pm; 7th & 8th Grades @ 7:15pm)

Students in 6th grade will have a combined rehearsal with all 6th grade band students during 4th hour on Tuesday. 7th Graders will have a combined rehearsal on Wednesday during 2nd hour. Students please make sure to remind your teacher you will be missing class on your combined rehearsal day and follow through with your teacher to check for work that needs to be turned in or assignments that you may miss. It's a privilege to be able to have a combined rehearsal during the day, and we need to make sure we are being responsible with our work commitments.

Thursday we will be taking year book pictures prior to our performance(s). 6th grade will have their picture at 5:30pm in the commons, and 7th and 8th grade will have their picture at 6:30pm in the commons. If you would like to purchase a picture from Scholastic, I have order forms here in the band room and you can pick one up from me any time before Thursday.

Finally, our 8th graders will be performing for the 8th Grade music assembly on Wednesday 12/8 during the day! Each of the 8th grade classes (band, choir, and orchestra) will each be performing both individually, and also we will be performing as a combined group on a great piece called "It's the Holiday Season". We rehearsed today for the first time together, and it's going to be awesome! If you would like to attend, the performance will be in the PSMS Gym from 12:30pm - 1:25pm!

Two more weeks (and 1.5 days) before the end of the semester. Push hard and finish strong!

Mr. Aubrey, Band Director

Jazz Band this week and next week - leading up to our concert performance on 12/9, will be EVERYONE on both Tuesday and Thursday @ 7am.
Please be early so we can start on time. "If you're early, you're on time. If you're on-time, you're late!"

Here is a handy list of 1st semester performance dates and times. The full year can be found in the band handbook More details forthcoming as the date approaches for each event.

• December 8 (Wed.) 8th Grade Band PSMS School performance (daytime tba)
• December 9 (Thurs) 6, 7, 8, Jazz Winter Band Concert @ PSMS. 6th Grade - 6pm; Jazz, 7th & 8th Grades 7:15pm

Just a reminder that our bands have their next (and FIRST for 6th Grade!!!) coming up on December 9th. We have a specific concert uniform that students wear for performances. The goal is to look "uniform" and professional.

Regardless of student gender: long black slacks, black long-sleeved button down shirt, black dress shoes and black socks; or black dress, skirt and solid black top, or solid black top and slacks with black shoes. If a skirt or dress is worn it must be below knees while seated with SOLID black tights, no patterns. Avoid “spaghetti” straps or bare shoulders. **YOGA pants and sweat pants are not dressy; feel free to wear those for PE or for an athletic event but not a concert performance such as this.

Stores such as Kohls, Wal Mart, Target, Marshalls, TJ Max, etc., should be able to assist with this sort of attire. Plan now to avoid stressful situations later.

Especially this time of year, one can find a lot of family friendly musical events going on throughout the Kansas City area. We are so fortunate to have the world-class Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in our city - they often host these events around the holiday season. If you would like to see a listing of events they are hosting through the month of December (and beyond), check out this link: KAUFFMAN CENTER - DECEMBER

As we move into the holiday season, don’t forget your student musician! There are many things – big and small – that can make a difference in their enjoyment and success as a musician. If you have any questions, just ask me! Here are some gift ideas:

~ private lesson sessions possibly the best gift you could give a young musician!
~ upgraded instrument or mouthpiece (PLEASE) consult Mr. Aubrey or a private instructor about this before purchasing- see below for some specifics.

~ ACCESSORIES – instrument stand, music stand, stand light, new reeds, new saxophone padded neck strap, valve lubricants, slide lubricants, polishing rags, name tags, mouthpiece patch, thumb rest cushion, mallets, drumsticks, practice pads, Yamaha Silent Brass System, Flute Thumb port
~ tickets to the KC Symphony, jazz artists, Folly Jazz Series, Herriman-Jewell Series
~ music books – pop music, movie music, TV show music, Music minus One Series (Look at Amazon for many, many options on this)

~ upgraded instrument case or stick bag.
~ metronome / tuner (Tonal Energy app)

UPGRADE YOUR INSTRUMENT TO A STEP-UP:

Flutes: Azumi, Trevor James (intermediate models)
Clarinets: Buffet E11 (intermediate), Buffet R13 (professional)
Alto Sax: Yamaha 62, Eastman 52nd St. (both intermediate models)
Trumpet: Bach Stradivarius #37, Yamaha Xeno 8335, Jupiter XO 1602 (professional)
Trombone: BAC (intermediate) Bach Stradivarius 42 BO (professional)

Mouthpiece Suggestions:
Clarinet – Vandoren 5RV LYRE
Alto / Tenor Sax – Selmer S80 C*
Trumpet – Bach 3C
Trombone / Euphonium – Bach 6 ½ AL

There are many brands of quality step-up instruments that are on the market; both new and used. You can get some great quality used instruments that work just as well as new and pay a lot less! There can also be some good deals found online if you know what you are looking for….but PLEASE ask a music teacher or a private instructor for recommendations!

If a step-up instrument isn’t in the budget or if you already have an upgraded instrument; another way to upgrade an existing instrument (specifically saxophones, clarinets) is to upgrade the mouthpiece, which can make a huge difference in the sound quality a student is able to produce. Again, I can provide some brands and models if you ask.

STEP-UP INSTRUMENTS

If you would like some additional information about step-up instruments for your student, please don't hesitate to ask! Here is a link for additional information
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ppKQvqIaHOY_LaVoOpRdEDUAlS5LK3M4QM-v0C4Y5Mk/edit?usp=sharing

BVHS Recommended Instrument and Mouthpiece List
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hJ2UncKKSAFfv722v09E9scsoiiVOsfE/view?usp=sharing

Email: paubrey@bluevalleyk12.org
Location: 14201 Mission Road, Leawood, KS, USA
Phone: 913.239.5691
Twitter: @PSMSBand