General information that applies to all students and parents can be found towards the top of every newsletter, while information specific to your child's ensemble can be found in that particular section by scrolling down. Feel free to contact a director if you have any questions and our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter.

In the Belton MS Band, we form a partnership between teacher and student where both share responsibility in their musical development. Our team of teachers include middle school directors, private lesson instructors, high school directors, and even hired clinicians, masterclass teachers, and adjudicators. We also strive to communicate and produce strong partnerships with parents since their support is vital in their student's growth.

To that end, we as the teaching team provide Introduction, Comprehension, and Demonstration to students for their instruction. However, each student has a responsibility as well to facilitate Repetition in the form of practicing daily for at least 25 minutes, 5 days per week.

This means that instruments go home everyday to practice the concepts, patterns, and music that we go over daily in class. This leads to student Mastery of their music and ultimately of their instrument. Students have homework everyday in Band as they practice their instrument in preparation for performances and to continue their musical growth. Reach out to a director if you would like more information on how to better help and support the musical growth of your student.

If your student has their own personal device (such as a cell phone or tablet), we highly recommend they download the Tonal Energy app (TE Tuner) found at this link: https://www.tonalenergy.com/te-mobile.

This app costs between $4-5 and does not require a subscription or wi-fi (or network) to be used. This is the same app many musicians use since it works both as a tuner and a metronome, and is highly beneficial for all our students when they practice. Reach out to a director if you have any questions or if your student needs help getting it set up.

If they don't have their own personal device, there are free websites listed in the Band Schoology Group your student can access under "Free Online Practice Guides" that include metronomes and tuners.

We want to interact with you on social media, so be sure to Like, Follow, and Subscribe on all of the following platforms you use:

• YouTube Channel
• Parent Square Group
• Facebook Page
• Instagram Account
• Band Website
• Google Photos Album
• SoundCloud Channel
• Smore Newsletters

Click on this link to sign up to become a district volunteer and complete the background check. Even if you have done this before, this process must be repeated every school year: Parent Chaperone Sign-Up. Please sign up for volunteer opportunities on your CutTime MagicLink.

Click here to see the Calendar page of our website to find all of the current events, including special rehearsals, contests, and performances for the whole school year. We provide this so you can plan your family's activities. Remember, performances are a required part of our curriculum, so please contact a director ASAP for any conflicts. Be sure to view the List of Band Events that can be found clicking on the link.

On Saturday, Beginning Band members performed solos for judges they have been working on for the past couple of months. Out of 74 events, 56 of our students earned a Division 1 Superior rating and will earn a medal at the end of the year. Division 2 Excellent ratings were earned by an additional 14 students and they will receive a ribbon. Ten students earned an Outstanding Performer medal and please join us in congratulating them:

• Emma Porter, flute
• Benjamin Trimble, clarinet
• David Wilson, clarinet
• Maddie Brown, alto saxophone
• Ava Smith, trumpet
• Liam Henderson, trombone
• Andy Covington, tuba
• Greyson Ilse, snare drum
• Alex May, snare drum
• Preston Kirkpatrick, snare drum and mallets

Thank you for your support of our superior musicians!

Our biggest group contest of the year will happen at Lake Belton HS on Tuesday, March 4 and we need parent chaperones - please sign up in CutTime if you can help and we'll throw in a free meal just for helping out!

This is like our STAAR test for Band and students will report to 3rd period as usual next week on Tuesday. Students will then change into their formal uniform (black pants) that they will bring to school or may just wear it to school that morning. Students will be excused from their 4th-8th period classes for this performance.

Please review the itinerary below for all the details for this major performance and let us know if you can help chaperone. Thanks for your help and support!

Our biggest group contest of the year will happen at Lake Belton HS on Tuesday, March 4 and we need parent chaperones - please sign up in CutTime if you can help and we'll throw in a free meal just for helping out!

This is like our STAAR test for Band and students will report to the Band Hall at the start of 7th period next week on Tuesday. Students will then change into their formal uniform (black pants) that they will bring to school or may just wear it to school that morning. Students will be excused from their 7th & 8th period classes for this performance.

Please review the itinerary below for all the details for this major performance and let us know if you can help chaperone. Thanks for your help and support!

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

Website: beltonmsband.org
Call/Text: 254-262-3050

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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