Band Notes - Week of November 9

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 all the way down. Feel free to contact a director if you have any questions. Our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter. Thanks for reading!

Following nearly four months of dedicated preparation and hard work, 42 advanced members of the Belton MS Band traveled to College Station on Saturday to audition for the prestigious TMEA All-Region Band. As the most individually competitive event of the school year, our students demonstrated exceptional commitment - completing pass-off objectives, mastering complex passages, and spending countless hours refining their tone, technique, and musicianship.

Following a highly rigorous audition process, we are proud to announce that 12 students earned places in the All-Region Band, while an additional 4 students were named first alternates. Please join us in recognizing and congratulating the following students for their outstanding accomplishment:

1. Elizabeth Michel placed 16th out 44 clarinets, earning 6th Chair Concert Band

2. David Wilson placed 17th in the clarinet section, earning 7th Chair Concert Band

3. Cash Smith placed 1st out of 7 baritone saxophones, earning 1st Chair Symphonic Band, and is a 2-Year All-Region member

4. Ava Smith placed 4th out of 43 trumpets, earning 4th Chair Symphonic Band, and is a 2-Year All-Region member

5. Liam Henderson placed 3rd out of 38 trombones, earning 3rd Chair Symphonic Band, and is a 2-Year All-Region member

6. Asher Besst placed 9th in the trombone section, earning 3rd Chair Concert Band

7. Aryan Shrestha placed 10th in the trombones, earning 4th Chair Concert Band

8. Leo Gallegos placed 4th out of 21 tubas, earning 4th Chair Symphonic Band

9. Hudson Mills placed 8th in the tuba section, earning 4th Chair Concert Band

10. Micah Stewart placed 4th out of 49 percussionists, earning 4th Chair Symphonic Band

11. Preston Kirkpatrick placed 6th in the percussion section, earning 6th Chair Symphonic Band

12. Cassie Nickerson placed 10th in percussion, earning 3rd Chair Concert Band

1. Ethan Hovland placed 23rd out of 44 clarinets, and serves as the 1st Alternate

2. Quinn Mauterstock placed 10th out of 24 alto saxophones, and serves as the 1st Alternate

3. Brooks Lufburrow placed 4th out of 6 tenor saxophones, and serves as the 1st Alternate

4. Avery Payeur placed 15th out of 31 horns, and serves as the 1st Alternate

Our students have worked hard this year, and now it’s time to celebrate with an epic night of fun, food, and games! All current Belton MS Band members are invited to our annual Band Social, and family and friends are welcome to join in on the fun.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, November 17

• Time: 5:00–8:00pm

• Location: Spare Time in Temple

• Attire: Casual clothing (no school uniforms or student IDs required).

Important Information for Families

• Check-In & Wristbands: Upon arrival, students must check in with a director at the front entrance to receive their wristband for food and drinks.

• Food & Drinks: Free pizza and unlimited drinks will be provided for all BMS Band students and registered chaperones in our reserved party room. Friends and family members are welcome to attend the social, but complimentary food and drinks are reserved strictly for band students and registered chaperones.

• Arcade & Activity Funds: Students need to bring their own money to convert to a Spare Time Blitz Card to play arcade games and participate in activities.

• Chaperone Registration: We currently have 2 remaining chaperone spots available in CutTime under Events. Please ensure you are an approved district volunteer before registering.

• Pickup Policy: Per Spare Time rules, all students must be picked up by a parent or guardian no later than 8:00pm. Late pickups may affect a student's eligibility to attend future events, including our Spring Trip to Typhoon Texas in May.

We look forward to spending a fun evening together bonding before the holidays!

As the weather cools down, it’s time for our annual Jazz Band Hoodie sale! Hoodies are $30 each and available to everyone. You may also use available band account credit in CutTime toward your purchase.

Order & Payment Deadline: Friday, November 20 at 4:00pm

Please follow both these steps to place your order:

1. Submit Size Here. Please complete a separate submission form for each hoodie ordered.
2. Submit Payment: If you are not using CutTime credit, submit your $30 payment via cash, check, or online using this link by November 20 at 4:00pm.

🎷 Special Roster Edition: Current Jazz Band members will receive an exclusive edition featuring this year's roster on the back! Thank you for supporting the BMS Band program!

Please click here to see all of the Band Events for this new school year in order to plan your family's activities. Remember, performances are a required part of our curriculum, so please contact a director ASAP for any conflicts.

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.

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

Students should take their instruments home daily and we expect them to practice 5 days a week for at least 25 minutes. Parents, we implore you to help set up a consistent practice routine at home for your student. Students will not improve their musical skills on their instrument without practice outside of regular class time. The directors, we will teach your student what and how to practice, but we need your help in establishing when and how much they practice. The more they practice, the better they will get faster. Please review the How To Practice and Weekly XP Chart attached

We are excited for our first Jazz Band performance of the 2026-2027 school year this Tuesday! Students should come to school already dressed. This will be considered an excused absence from school, but students are still required to visit with their teacher before the performance in order to get make-up work that will be missed. Students will be missing periods 1-4 that day.

• 8:15am: Report to Band Hall dressed and ready for uniform inspection - shirt tucked into black pants with black calf-length socks, black closed-toed shoes, and gentlemen wear a black belt.

• 8:30am: Uniform inspection and load parent vehicles

• 8:45am: Bus arrives and load

• 9:00am: Leave for the VA Hospital (1901 S. Veterans Memorial Drive in Temple 76504) - Click Here to See Map

• 9:20am: Arrive and Unload at Hospital

• 9:30am: Warm-Up Begins

• 10:00am: Performance Starts

• 10:15am: Performance Ends and Load Bus

• 10:30am: Leave for Raising Cane's

• 10:45am: Arrive at Raising Cane’s and eat good food (provided by the band program)

• 11:30am: Load up bus and leave

• 12:00pm: Arrive at BMS and unload - change clothes if you want

• 12:20pm: Report RLA Benchmark Testing

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

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

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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YouTube: youtube.com/beltonmsband

Instagram: instagram.com/beltonmsband