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.

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.

Times are now available to sign up for our Beginner Solo Contest at Belton MS on Saturday, February 22. Students will wear their band uniform and arrive 10 minutes before their scheduled performance time in order to warm up and be fully prepared for their performance.

• Winds Sign Up Here - only beginning woodwinds and brass
• Percussion Sign Up Here - only beginning percussion

After they perform, students are free to leave and will find out their rating online about an hour after performing. In all, this performance will take about 20 minutes from start to finish.

Sectionals begin this week after school for all Symphonic Band students once a week from 4-5pm. These sessions are to refine fundamentals and work on music for UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluation which takes place March 3-4 at Lake Belton HS.

Athletic coaches have already been made aware that students will be going to Band on their particular day with their section. All sectionals are required for a grade and students are expected to Be Punctual and arrive with all materials by 4pm or their grade will be affected. Please be sure to pick up your student at BMS by 5pm as directors are required to stay until all students are picked up for their safety.

• Mondays: Percussion with Mr. Smith in the Band Hall on 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, and 2/24
• Tuesdays: Woodwinds (flutes, bassoon, clarinets, bass clarinet, & alto saxophones) with Mr. Trahan in the Ensemble Room on 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, and 2/25
• Wednesdays: Brass (trumpets, horns, trombones, euphonium, and tuba) with Mr. Trahan in the Ensemble Room on 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, and 2/26

Symphonic Band UIL Program:

1. Capture the Moment March - Owens
2. Dance Celebration - Smith
3. Conviction - Clark

Sectionals begin this week after school for all Wind Ensemble students once a week from 4-5pm. These sessions are to refine fundamentals and work on music for UIL Concert & Sightreading Evaluation which takes place March 3-4 at Lake Belton HS.

Athletic coaches have already been made aware that students will be going to Band on their particular day with their section. All sectionals are required for a grade and students are expected to Be Punctual and arrive with all materials by 4pm or their grade will be affected. Please be sure to pick up your student at BMS by 5pm as directors are required to stay until all students are picked up for their safety.

• Mondays: Percussion with Mr. Smith in the Band Hall on 1/13, 1/27, 2/3, 2/10, and 2/24
• Tuesdays: Brass (trumpets, horns, trombones, euphonium, and tuba) with Mr. Pulley in the Band Hall on 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, and 2/25
• Wednesdays: Woodwinds (flutes, bassoons, clarinets, bass clarinet, and all saxophones) with Mr. Pulley in the Band Hall on 1/15, 1/22, 1/29, 2/5, 2/12, 2/19, and 2/26

Wind Ensemble UIL Program:

1. March to Castle Rock - Hodges
2. Dominion - Standridge
3. Angry Beavers! - Beck

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

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

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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