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.

The weather is (finally) starting to get cooler so you know what that means?! It's time to put in this year's order for Jazz Band Hoodies!

The cost is $25 and you do NOT have to be in Jazz Band to order one! This will be a pre-order only, which means you have to pay before we will order you one by clicking here: https://forms.gle/wTGXLCSvSGDgWQh66.

You can pay online using the following link or bring in cash or check made out to BMS: https://bit.ly/bmsjazzhoodie. All orders AND money are due no later than THIS Wednesday, October 30.

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.

Wow, what a great turn out at our first performance! Check out these photos and videos from the concert and feel free to add your own to this online album as well to share with others: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pv5vnehZevFXHaV87.

Thanks for your support!

THIS Monday, October 28 from 4:00-7:00pm we will be having our first-ever Region Cram Jam! Similar to the Region Boot Camp held in August, we have hired professionals on every instrument to help our students make those final adjustments so they can play their best at the upcoming All-Region Auditions on Saturday, November 2 in College Station.

Students who are auditioning for All-Region will meet in the Band Hall after school on Monday and the directors will present a How to Audition Successfully Slideshow to talk about the common pitfalls associated with music auditions. Students will then break up into their sections with their clinician starting at 4:30pm. We will feed students pizza at 5:30pm and have another Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament to find the next champion! Students will work in their sections for another hour starting at 6:00pm and then will be dismissed at 7:00pm.

We want this concentrated time to help our students be at their absolute best and walk into the audition room feeling comfortable, and walk out of the room feeling confident about their performance. Please email Mr. Pulley here if you have any questions or concerns.

Click here to review our Itinerary for Saturday, and be sure to arrive by 6:00am for free breakfast tacos! Students will need to wear their casual uniform of polo shirts tucked into jeans with closed-toed shoes and a belt for gentlemen.

Students will need to bring money for concessions at the auditions, as well as for food and games at Grand Station in College Station. We will provide a cupcake snack and free pizza dinner at Double Dave's in Bryan. If you are planning to pick up your student in College Station and not ride the bus, please fill out and turn in this permission slip no later than Saturday morning before we leave.

THIS Monday, October 28 from 4:00-7:00pm we will be having our first-ever Region Cram Jam! Similar to the Region Boot Camp held in August, we have hired professionals on every instrument to help our students make those final adjustments so they can play their best at the upcoming All-Region Auditions on Saturday, November 2 in College Station.

Students who are auditioning for All-Region will meet in the Band Hall after school on Monday and the directors will present a How to Audition Successfully Slideshow to talk about the common pitfalls associated with music auditions. Students will then break up into their sections with their clinician starting at 4:30pm. We will feed students pizza at 5:30pm and have another Rock, Paper, Scissors Tournament to find the next champion! Students will work in their sections for another hour starting at 6:00pm and then will be dismissed at 7:00pm.

We want this concentrated time to help our students be at their absolute best and walk into the audition room feeling comfortable, and walk out of the room feeling confident about their performance. Please email Mr. Pulley here if you have any questions or concerns.

Click here to review our Itinerary for Saturday, and be sure to arrive by 6:00am for free breakfast tacos! Students will need to wear their casual uniform of polo shirts tucked into jeans with closed-toed shoes and a belt for gentlemen.

Students will need to bring money for concessions at the auditions, as well as for food and games at Grand Station in College Station. We will provide a cupcake snack and free pizza dinner at Double Dave's in Bryan. If you are planning to pick up your student in College Station and not ride the bus, please fill out and turn in this permission slip no later than Saturday morning before we leave.

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

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

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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