Band Notes - Week of August 18

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!

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.

Lessons are the fastest way students improve on their instrument because they have a quality teacher guiding them in their development of proper tone, rhythm, articulation, and musicality. Students enrolled in lessons usually earn first division superior ratings, make the All-Region Band, the have more fun learning their instrument because they sound better, faster.

Please read this document before deciding whether or not to sign up for lessons since it outlines the benefits of taking lessons that occur during your child's band class! If you have any questions about lessons, please email Mr. Trahan here.

Check out our list of quality lessons teachers by clicking here, AND sign Up for Private Lessons here!

CutTime is a program we use that allows you to stay informed without login hassles and get reminded without inbox clutter. Be on the lookout for a text message from CutTime from 844-385-8463. The message will come to your mobile device phone number we have on file for you (and your student) via a "Magic Link", which is a uniquely personalized to you and secure.

Read the attachment below for instructions on how to add your Magic Link to your smartphone's home screen. Once you receive the message, you will gain access to your CutTime Portal Page where you can:

• View Announcements
• View and Subscribe to Events that involve you and your student
• View and Sign Up for Volunteer Opportunities within these events
• Check Account Balances

If we don't have your contact information, please fill out this Contact Information Update Form ASAP. If you missed or can't find your CutTime Magic Link, go to this link to resend it to your device on file.

Feel free to take 3 minutes to watch this introduction video and see what's in store, and feel free to send us a message if you have any other questions or feedback.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

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

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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