Band Notes - Week of September 15

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 and our contact information is at the bottom of this newsletter. Thanks for reading!

In less than a week after launch, we have raised almost $19,000 which is $4,000 over our initial goal! THANK YOU so much for your continued support with this fundraiser from donating to getting the word out. This by far has been our best fundraiser yet!!

But our campaign doesn't end until Monday, September 22 so please continue sharing out your student's fundraiser link and 80% of the proceeds will go directly in their Band account. This will offset costs associated with our Spring Trip to Typhoon Texas, student medals and ribbons, as well as plaques for our student awards and meals after performances.

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

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.

Starting this week, we will be allowing students to take their instruments home once they learn how to assemble it properly and will expect them to practice 5 days a week for at least 25 minutes. Students may also practice before school in the Band Hall starting at 7:30am every school day.

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 attachment below:

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.

Our first performance of the year is coming up this week! In class, we went over the attached information detailing information about this performance so please read it over.

This Wednesday, we will have our Rehearsal from 5-6pm at the M100 Practice Field. Please pick up your student by 6pm at the BMS Staff Parking Lot by the Cafeteria. On Friday, students will meet at the M100 Practice Field at 5:30pm with their instrument and flip folder/lyre wearing their Future M100 Shirt, black shorts, and athletic shoes. Parents will need to buy a ticket to the game in order to watch their student perform at Halftime, unless they are serving as a chaperone.

After Halftime, ALL parents will need to check out their student with a director at the Ambulance Gate (click here to view the stadium map: http://bit.ly/4ntP3VF). If students are staying for rest of the game, they can leave their instrument in its case underneath the old MS student section bleachers (see map above). If they are leaving after Halftime, they will take their instrument and flip folder/lyre with them and leave with their parents out the Ambulance Gate.

Remember, performances are a required part of our curriculum, a major grade for students, and critical to their success as a musician. Please message Mr. Pulley on ParentSquare if you have any questions.

Students received their Region Pass-Off sheets as they prepare and practice for the upcoming TMEA All-Region Auditions on Saturday, November 8 in College Station. This is our most individually-competitive event we do all year long so we expect students to work diligently in getting their music passed off on a consistent basis.

Each pass-off counts as a major grade and can be done a little at a time. Students may pass their music off with a director, lessons teacher, or (new this year) submit a video via Schoology to the assignment. Here is the list of pass-offs and their respective due dates with the goal of Correct Rhythm, Correct Notes/Fingerings, & Correct Articulation/Stickings:

1. Pass-Off 1 Due September 5: Winds - Memorized Concert Bb, Eb, & F Scales and Percussion - Mallet Etude m. 1-8
2. Pass-Off 2 Due September 12: Winds - Etude 1A (first half of Etude 1) and Percussion - Snare Etude m. 1-20
3. Pass-Off 3 Due September 19: Winds - Memorized Concert Ab & C Scales and Percussion - Timpani Etude m. 1-8
4. Pass-Off 4 Due September 26: Winds - Etude 2A (first half of Etude 2) and Percussion - Mallet Etude m. 9-14
5. Pass-Off 5 Due October 3: Winds - Memorized Chromatic Scale and Percussion - Snare Etude m. 21-35
6. Pass-Off 6 Due October 17: Winds - Etude 1B (second half of Etude 1) and Percussion - Timpani Etude m. 9-18
7. Pass-Off 7 Due October 24: Winds - Etude 2B (second half of Etude 2) and Percussion - Mallet Etude m. 15-20
8. Pass-Off 8 Due November 7: Percussion Only - Snare Etude m. 36-54

Sectionals will start on Monday, August 25 until Friday, November 7 one day after school per week from 4:00-5:00pm. All students in both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are required to attend one sectional per week from 4:00-5:00pm for a weekly grade.

Mondays

• Flutes in Ensemble Room with Trahan

Tuesdays

• Clarinets in Ensemble Room with Trahan
• Tubas in Band Hall with Pulley

Wednesdays

• All Saxophones in Ensemble Room with Trahan
• Percussion in the Band Hall with Smith
• Horns in the Orchestra Room with Pulley

Thursdays

• Trumpets, Trombones, & Euphoniums in Band Hall with Pulley

Oboe, Bassoon, & Bass Clarinet: During regular class with a director - nothing after school required

Students are expected to "Be Punctual" and arrive seated with all materials and ready to rehearse at 4pm sharp or their grade will be affected. Students 1-5 minutes late will have their sectional grade reduced to an 85. Students who are late 5-15 minutes will have their grade reduced to a 70. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will receive a 50.

Our first performance of the year is coming up this week! In class, we went over the attached information detailing information about this performance so please read it over.

This Wednesday, we will have our Rehearsal from 5-6pm at the M100 Practice Field. Please pick up your student by 6pm at the BMS Staff Parking Lot by the Cafeteria. On Friday, students will meet at the M100 Practice Field at 5:30pm with their instrument and flip folder/lyre wearing their Future M100 Shirt, black shorts, and athletic shoes. Parents will need to buy a ticket to the game in order to watch their student perform at Halftime, unless they are serving as a chaperone.

After Halftime, ALL parents will need to check out their student with a director at the Ambulance Gate (click here to view the stadium map: http://bit.ly/4ntP3VF). If students are staying for rest of the game, they can leave their instrument in its case underneath the old MS student section bleachers (see map above). If they are leaving after Halftime, they will take their instrument and flip folder/lyre with them and leave with their parents out the Ambulance Gate.

Remember, performances are a required part of our curriculum, a major grade for students, and critical to their success as a musician. Please message Mr. Pulley on ParentSquare if you have any questions.

Students received their Region Pass-Off sheets as they prepare and practice for the upcoming TMEA All-Region Auditions on Saturday, November 8 in College Station. This is our most individually-competitive event we do all year long so we expect students to work diligently in getting their music passed off on a consistent basis.

Each pass-off counts as a major grade and can be done a little at a time. Students may pass their music off with a director, lessons teacher, or (new this year) submit a video via Schoology to the assignment. Here is the list of pass-offs and their respective due dates with the goal of Correct Rhythm, Correct Notes/Fingerings, & Correct Articulation/Stickings:

1. Pass-Off 1 Due September 5: Winds - Memorized Concert Bb, Eb, & F Scales and Percussion - Mallet Etude m. 1-8
2. Pass-Off 2 Due September 12: Winds - Etude 1A (first half of Etude 1) and Percussion - Snare Etude m. 1-20
3. Pass-Off 3 Due September 19: Winds - Memorized Concert Ab & C Scales and Percussion - Timpani Etude m. 1-8
4. Pass-Off 4 Due September 26: Winds - Etude 2A (first half of Etude 2) and Percussion - Mallet Etude m. 9-14
5. Pass-Off 5 Due October 3: Winds - Memorized Chromatic Scale and Percussion - Snare Etude m. 21-35
6. Pass-Off 6 Due October 17: Winds - Etude 1B (second half of Etude 1) and Percussion - Timpani Etude m. 9-18
7. Pass-Off 7 Due October 24: Winds - Etude 2B (second half of Etude 2) and Percussion - Mallet Etude m. 15-20
8. Pass-Off 8 Due November 7: Percussion Only - Snare Etude m. 36-54

Sectionals will start on Monday, August 25 until Friday, November 7 one day after school per week from 4:00-5:00pm. All students in both Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble are required to attend one sectional per week from 4:00-5:00pm for a weekly grade.

• Flutes in Ensemble Room with Trahan

• Clarinets in Ensemble Room with Trahan
• Tubas in Band Hall with Pulley

Wednesdays

• All Saxophones in Ensemble Room with Trahan
• Percussion in the Band Hall with Smith
• Horns in the Orchestra Room with Pulley

Thursdays

• Trumpets, Trombones, & Euphoniums in Band Hall with Pulley

Students are expected to "Be Punctual" and arrive seated with all materials and ready to rehearse at 4pm sharp or their grade will be affected. Students 1-5 minutes late will have their sectional grade reduced to an 85. Students who are late 5-15 minutes will have their grade reduced to a 70. Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will receive a 50.

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

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

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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