Symphonic Band Newsletter 11/2/26

For the past few years, we’ve invited 5th graders from our feeder schools to campus right before the holiday break. This gives them a chance to experience a middle school campus and see our performing arts programs in action!

Here are the important details:

• Only Symphonic Band and Jazz Band will perform.
• The performance is Thursday, November 19th, DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
• This is right before Thanksgiving break. If your child will be traveling or absent that day, please let me know as soon as possible so I can plan accordingly.
• Students should wear their full performance attire to school (tux shirt, bowtie, cummerbund, etc.). Since we perform shortly after school begins, there will not be time to change beforehand. Students may bring clothes to change into afterward.

The audition schedule for students auditioning for All-County still has not been published yet, but as soon as I receive it, I will send it out to everyone.

To help students prepare, I will be holding optional after-school help sessions after-school until 5:00 PM on the following days.

• Wednesday, 10/21
• Friday, 10/23
• Monday, 10/26
• Friday, 10/30
• Monday, 11/2
• Friday, 11/6
• Monday, 11/9

Please help me encourage your child to practice regularly, both on their prepared piece and their scales. Memorizing scales is a major part of the audition and can make or break a successful audition. To help with sight-reading preparation, I have also assigned an ungraded sight-reading practice activity in eCampus.

Audition Details
Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Time: 4:30 PM – 9:00 PM **specific times are TBD**
Location: Lake Mary High School
Attire: Business casual (no jeans, no tennis shoes)

I will be on campus auditioning the high schoolers. If you need me, go to the media center and someone there will contact me.

Our annual online donation fundraiser is underway!

As I mentioned at the concert, band is expensive, and our program relies on band fees, donations, and fundraising to keep things running. You can help by donating or simply sharing your child’s personalized fundraising link with friends, family, and co-workers.

Students created their campaign pages in class and should have sent you a text or email with their information. Students who completed their registration also received an MKMS Band lanyard and ID holder!

The fundraiser ends November 6th, so let’s finish strong!

Click below for fundraiser details, student rewards, and information on accessing your child’s campaign page.

• Clarinet
  
• Bass Clarinet
  
• Alto Sax
  
• Tenor Sax
  
• Bari Sax

Here is the weight distribution of each grading category.

Assignments = 10% (In class assignments)

Participation = 20% (Behavior during rehearsals, and having required materials)

Tests = 30% (In class playing tests)

Exams = 40% (Concerts)

Most assignments and tests happen during class, and can be made up or retaken as many times as a student would like while within the quarterly grading period. If a student is present and fails to turn in an in class assignment, they will receive a zero until the assignment is received.

Tests are given during class. Retakes must be scheduled before or after school. Blatant refusal to perform an in class playing test will disqualify your child from being able to make up their playing test.

Participation and exam grades can not be made up.

Below is a pdf of the band performance calendar for the year. Unless stated otherwise ALL performances and rehearsals are mandatory. Because band is a performing arts class students are requires to attend all concerts/rehearsals which is a significant portion of your child's grade. If any potential conflicts should arise please reach out to me well in advance so that we can work together to figure out a solution.

Calendar dates are subject to change. This google calendar link will reflect the most accurate dates, times, and locations of all performances.

When I came to Markham in 2020, I set my sights on becoming one of the premier middle school band programs in Seminole County despite the craziness happening at the time. If you know anything about the quality of the bands in Seminole County, you know that we have quite a few stellar programs. Though the competition is stiff, the MKMS band program has made strides in getting better every year. We've maintained excellent and superior ratings in our annual performance assessments, we've ramped up our recruiting efforts, and even traveled to Tennessee and Atlanta to participate in music festivals!

To maintain this positive growth, Symphonic Band members are required to participate in an adjudicated event where they must perform as soloists or in a small ensemble in front of someone other than myself.

Here's how it will work:

• Qualifying events are as follows – see band calendar for specific dates
• Audition for the Florida All-State band
• Audition for the SCPS All-County Band
• Participate in the FBA Solo and Ensemble event
• Students have until the end of the third quarter of the school year to satisfy this requirement
• Registration fees will be paid using the band fees collected at the beginning of the year.
• If students opt to perform a solo for the FBA Solo and Ensemble event, an accompanist (piano player) is required. Accompanist fees are the responsibility of parents and should be paid directly to the accompanist after the event.

Email: andersjm@scps.k12.fl.us

Facebook: facebook.com/markhamwoodsband
Instagram: Instagram.com/mkmsband