Band Notes - Week of October 26 | Smore Newsletters for Education

Welcome!

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!

General Information for All

Parent Conference Sign-Ups

District-Wide Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up this Friday, October 30 and you can use this link to sign up for a 15-minute time slot in the Band Hall with a director.

Download the New CutTime Connect App

Band Social at Spare Time - 5 Chaperone Spots Left!

List of Band Events

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.

Parent Chaperone Sign-Up

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.

Check Out Our Socials!

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:

Instruments Come Home Daily!

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

Beginner's Ensemble

Add Your Photos & Video from Sit-In Concert Here

Symphonic Band AND Wind Ensemble

All Pass-Offs for A Major Grade Are Now Due

Last Week of After School Sectionals Until January

Event Information

All-Region Cram Jam

Students who are attending the All-Region Auditions will attend this Cram Jam session (4-8pm, dinner provided) in order to refine their preparation for the auditions on Saturday, November 7 in College Station. We have hired professional music educators to help our students be successful and get the most out of this experience!

When?

Monday, Nov 2, 2026, 04:00 PM

Where?

Belton Middle School, Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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All-Region Auditions - Saturday, November 7

Our students have worked exceptionally hard on their scales and etudes since the start of the school year, and they are now ready to showcase their talent against local competitors.

As the most individually-competitive event of our year, students will compete against middle school musicians from Belton, Bryan, and College Station. Students selected for a Region Band are recognized as state-ranked musicians among Texas middle schools. Those honored with an All-Region selection will rehearse and perform with distinguished music educators at Belton High School on Saturday, November 14.

Parents, please note that the times listed below are estimates. Contest schedules can vary, so we

appreciate your flexibility as we navigate the day's timeline:

6:00am - Students arrive at the Band Hall for complimentary breakfast tacos. Please enter through the side entrance near the parent loop and Cafeteria.
6:40am - Load buses with instruments (including marimba, timpani, and snare drums), accessories (reeds, valve oil, sticks, mallets), and music binders.
6:45am - Depart for College Station Middle School (900 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX).
8:30am - Arrive at CSMS and unload. Assist in setting up our "home base" for cases and parents. Check-in at your assigned audition room around 9:00am to receive your audition sticker.
9:30am - Auditions begin. Good luck to all students!
2:30pm - Approximate conclusion of auditions. Please remain patient while judges tabulate, verify, and input final scores. Public All-Region results will be posted at the school, and individual student ranks will be provided privately to directors.
2:45pm - Buses depart for Grand Station. Students should bring personal funds for arcade games and activities.
4:30pm - Buses depart for DoubleDave's Pizzaworks in Bryan (provided by the Band program).
6:00pm - Departure for Belton.
7:30pm - Approximate arrival back at Belton Middle School.

Important Points to Remember

Wear your official band polo shirt tucked into jeans with closed-toe shoes. Gentlemen must wear a belt.
Some judging panels oversee multiple instruments (e.g., Euphoniums and Tubas share a room; Oboes, Bassoons, and Bass Clarinets share a panel; Saxophones are combined). Check in with the monitor outside your assigned room to confirm your starting time. This is essential to ensure you do not miss your audition performance!
All-Region Band placement quotas: Flutes (14), Oboes (4), Bassoons (4), Clarinets (22), Bass Clarinets (4), Alto Saxophones (9), Tenor Saxophones (3), Baritone Saxophones (2), Trumpets (18), Horns (14), Trombones (14), Euphoniums (8), Tubas (9), and Percussion (14).
Listen carefully and follow instructions from both the hallway and room monitors. They will announce critical details including the audition order, etude cuts, and specific memorized scales required for your performance.
Inspect and maintain your instrument prior to Saturday (oil valves, grease slides, check for leaks). Woodwind players (Double Reeds, Clarinets, Saxes): Bring multiple pre-broken-in reeds on audition day.
Audition fees are fully covered by the BMS Band. Students should bring spending money for concessions and Grand Station activities, or pack personal snacks/lunch if preferred.
Eating is restricted to designated areas, and instruments may only be played in designated Warm-Up areas. Never leave instruments, cases, or music unattended. Pace your warm-up playing to prevent fatigue prior to your audition.
Maintain our program’s reputation for exceptional conduct across all venues, including transit, contest facilities, and recreational stops. You represent your school, family, city, and band program.
As always, your major grade for this performance will be determined using the following rubric:

Be Punctual - Arrive by the call time indicated and don’t be late (25 points)
Be Prepared - Have all of your music, instrument, and supplies ready to go (25 points)
Be Attired - Wear the proper uniform correctly throughout the event (25 points)
Be Disciplined - Both in the practicing of your instrument and in your behavior at all times, even when you are not performing (25 points)

pdf

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All-Region Audition Preparation Summary.pdf

Final Audition Prep.pdf

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All-Region Food Order Results (from survey)

Breakfast Tacos (in priority order)
1. Bacon & Egg
2. Bacon, Potato, & Egg
3. Bacon, Potato, & Cheese
4. Bacon & Cheese
5. Sausage & Egg
6. Beans & Cheese
7. Sausage & Cheese
8. Sausage, Potato, & Egg
9. Sausage, Potato, & Cheese
10. Beans, Potato, & Cheese

Bundlet Cupcakes (in priority order)
1. Oreo Cookies & Cream
2. Red Velvet
3. Chocolate Chip
4. Classic Vanilla
5. Confetti
6. Lemon
7. Gluten Free Chocolate Chip

Jazz Band

First Jazz Performance

Our Jazz Band has been invited to perform for a Veteran's Day ceremony on Tuesday, November 10. Please note this is a change from our original calendar and list of events and all friends and family are invited to attend. We will share more details when they become available.

We need parent chaperones to help with this event so please sign up in CutTime (under Events) if you can help out. We'll even feed you lunch for free!

Band Meme of the Week