Band Notes - Week of October 27

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!

Due to a scheduling conflict, the Belton MS Band Holiday Concert will now take place on Wednesday, December 17 still at the Belton HS PAC starting at 6:30pm. This event is required for all students and we wanted to let you know about this change in order to mark your calendars at home.

Salado Stroll is one of our biggest kettle corn fundraising events and it’s coming up the first two weekends in December. We are currently looking for a business to partner with on Main Street to host our popcorn trailer/tent. Susan Marie’s has graciously been our host in previous years, but they will not be available this year. If you have any connections or know of a business that would like to partner with us, please email Ray Rastelli at vicepresident@beltonbandboosters.org

Mark your calendars for these upcoming Booster events:

• October 30 - Senior Night for M100 & Magic Belles
• November 3 - Belton Band Booster Meeting at 6:30in the Band Hall
• November 3 - Kettle Corn Holiday Tin & Pop-Up Merch Store Opens
• January 24 - AJ Howard 5K Run

Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram @BeltonBandBoosters

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.

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.

Students should take their instruments home daily and we expect them to practice 5 days a week for at least 25 minutes. Students may also practice before school in the Band Hall starting at 7:30am every school day.

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 attachment below:

Students should take their instruments home daily and we expect them to practice 5 days a week for at least 25 minutes. Students may also practice before school in the Band Hall starting at 7:30am every school day.

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.

Our students have worked very hard on their scales and etudes since the start of school, and now they finally get to see how they measure up to the competition! This is the most individually-competitive event we do all year, and students compete with the middle schools from Belton, Bryan, and College Station. Those who are selected for the honor of All-Region get to rehearse and perform with notable music educators at Belton High School on Saturday, November 15.

We will provide free breakfast tacos, a cupcake treat, and a pizza dinner on this day for both students and parent chaperones. Students will need to bring money for concessions as well as games at Grand Station. Please message us directly if financial help is needed. Students will wear their band polo shirt tucked into jeans with closed-toed shoes and a belt for gentlemen.

Please click on the attachment below for all the details and thank you for your support!

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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