WINTER PARK BAND Weekly Newsletter

Happy New Year Winter Park Band families!

We hope that everyone had a wonderful Winter Break. We're looking forward to seeing everyone back on campus on Tuesday and excited for the fun-filled semester ahead!

Don't forget to make plans to bring your instrument and folder back to school for Tuesday's rehearsals! Ms. O'Rourke and I will be at school during normal school hours Monday 1/5, until 2:45 PM. Instruments and folders can be dropped off in your locker at any time during the day. All classes resume on Tuesday, so you will need your instrument and folder in order to contribute to the ensemble!

LOOKING AHEAD

All students have the performance of their Solo & Ensemble piece at the beginning of February, as well as their parts for the pieces we will perform at the Guest Conductor Workshop and Concert MPA. In addition, jazz students also have music for Jazz MPA to prepare. Continuing from Winter Break, January is a great time to:

• Work on fundamentals on your instrument we don't get to every day in class.
• Practice your scales. (major, minor, harmonic, etc.)
• Take your mouthpiece to a music store and try out different instruments.
• Rehearse with your accompanist.
• Solo & Ensemble Project: Continued practicing of their solos and or chamber ensembles.
• District Jazz MPA (jazz students) - music passed out before we left for break
  
• District Concert MPA - music passed out before we left for break

The Incoming Freshman Student & Parent Informational Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 8 from 6:30 - 7:30 PM in the Band Room. This meeting will cover what it's like to continue in the Winter Park Band after 8th grade "in a nutshell." Please spread the word as much as you can to your neighborhood & community! Infographic below in this newsletter can be copied and distributed.

Let's make it a great week!

Mr. Clemente

WHAT'S NEXT:

Now continues everyone's preparation of their solo and/or ensemble part for the performance coming up on either February 6 or 7. Coming out of Winter Break, students should have their S&E music (along with their Concert MPA music) prepared when we return. The next part of the project is a scan of their sheet music as well as a video check-in assignment due at the end of our first week back.

Links to all forms/lists below can be found at: http://www.winterparkhsband.com/solo--ensemble.html

Hello Band! I hope you had a pleasant winter break.

Make sure you are preparing for Solo and Ensemble and for our big Door 2 Door fundraiser Jan 31. Please see Jennifer Mullins' section about signing up to help. Remember it is mandatory for students and we will need as many adults as possible to help us! All participating students and parent drivers will receive a share of the donations to be applied to their student's account.

There will be a Q&A zoom 1/13 at 7pm.

Laura Cambridge

wphsbandboosterpresident@gmail.com

🧡🖤HAPPY NEW YEAR, SOTW family!🖤🧡

I hope your holiday break was full of rest, joy, and all the good things—and that the New Year is already bringing happiness and excitement your way. As students head back to school, it’s time for us to jump back in… and I’m going to need your attention for just a minute. 🧐

🚗Door to Door Fundraiser – Saturday, January 31

We currently have 33 drivers signed up, which is fantastic—but we are still short. Our goal is 40+ drivers, and we are so close it hurts. A few more volunteers is the difference between “good” and “knocked it out of the park.”

Let me be very clear: this fundraiser only works if we have drivers.

One day. One car. Big impact.

And yes—each driver earns a credit toward their student’s FairShare. I’ll be out there driving too, so you won’t be alone.

If you’ve been waiting for a sign… this is it.

If you’ve been meaning to sign up… today is the day.

If you’re hoping someone else will do it… hi, I’m asking you. 😉

Please sign up before I start making in-person visits and asking if you’ve seen the sign-up yet. 🤣

👉 Sign up to drive:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-59892430-2026

👉 OCPS ADDitions:

https://ocps.samaritan.com/custom/503/opp_details/112867

Let’s start the New Year strong and show our students—once again—what an incredible support system they have. Thank you for always stepping up when it matters most. 🧡🖤

Jennifer Mullins

WPHS Band Volunteer Coordinator

Happy New Year, Band Families!

Door-2-Door is coming up on January 31, and we still need a few drivers. If you were waiting until after the holidays to sign up—now’s the time!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080A49A8AE22A02-59892430-2026

For those new to Door2Door: it’s a well-organized, safe, and fun day. Our district is divided into walkable and drivable maps. Each driver is assigned an AM and PM route with at least four uniformed students. Students walk in pairs through the map area while drivers remain nearby. The police are aware of our presence, neighbors expect us, and everyone is briefed on safety. Lunch is provided between routes.

This is our biggest fundraiser and plays a huge role in keeping fair share fees low. We’re excited to make it another record-breaking year!

Thank you for your support!

Robyn Fodor
Band Fundraising Chair

This time of year, many families consider purchasing a higher quality instrument for their student. While the rental instruments or student instruments many students had during middle school served them well during that time, high school music and musicians need instruments with higher quality make and materials to continue to improve. Please especially do not buy an instrument for your student from discount websites like Amazon. We music teachers refer to instruments sold on those websites as ISOs - Instrument Shaped Objects.

If you are able and considering a "step-up" instrument for your student (sometimes referred to as "intermediate" or "professional" instruments by manufacturers), please feel free to reach out for guidance. We will be happy to point you in the right direction and give options for quality instruments at fair prices.

Local music stores:

Underwood Music - 4949 N Pine Ave, Winter Park, FL 32792

Music Shack - 702 S US Hwy 17 92, Longwood, FL 32750

Allegro Music - 851 E State Rd 434, Longwood, FL 32750

Music & Arts - 4676 Millenia Plaza Way, Orlando, FL 32839

A few websites to peruse:

www.allcountymusic.com

www.musicmaninconline.com

www.musicandarts.com

www.steveweissmusic.com

Whether a student is learning a musical instrument to pursue a career in music, or simply for personal musical fulfillment and recreation, private lessons are one of the best investments that a parent can provide for their musical child. When working with a private teacher, students receive one-on-one instruction from a professional musician who specializes on that instrument.

​Unlike a full band rehearsal experience, studying with a private teacher focuses in on the student’s individual needs. Students who study privately once a week from a professional musician are usually those who excel and find Band more enjoyable. These students frequently earn positions in honor groups like All-State and All-County, and make entry into our more advanced bands like Wind Symphony and Jazz Ensemble I. Some even go on to earn college scholarships, even if they are not majoring in music!

Below is a link to a list of local private teachers. This list is not exhaustive, and there may be other individuals who are not on the list. If you are a private teacher who would like to be added to our list (or deleted), or know a private teacher who should be added, please contact Mr. Clemente at michael.clemente@ocps.net.

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/private-teachers.html

January 14 - 17: All-State/FMEA Conference

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January 19: No School

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January 20, 22-24: All-County Band Rehearsals & Concert, Innovation HS

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January 31: DOOR-2-DOOR ANNUAL FUNDRAISER, mandatory for all students in band, jazz, and color guard classes

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February 5: JAZZ MPA

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February 6-7: SOLO & ENSEMBLE MPA

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February 16: No School

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February 19-21: GUEST CONDUCTOR WORKSHOP

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March 5 - 7: CONCERT MPA

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March 11: Senior Concerto Competition Auditions

http://www.winterparkhsband.com/calendar.html

Since the Cut Time software has been updated, the synced calendar link has changed. Copy the link below to subscribe to the Band public events calendar in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or other calendar app:

• https://app.gocuttime.com/program/calendar/c308b229-e7ac-4762-93ef-6112f6f8daf3/ics
  

PAST DUE BAND PAYMENTS

• WOODWINDS, BRASS, PERCUSSION
• Thursday, July 31, 2025
• Fair Share Payment - $225 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100.00
• Marching Band Shoe (new students and if needed) - $45.00
• Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00
• Wednesday, 8/27
• Fair Share Payment 2 - $75.00
• Wednesday, 10/1
• Jazz Fair Share (jazz students only) - $25.00
• Semester 1 Instrument Maintenance (if applies) - $75.00

• COLOR GUARD
• Thursday, July 31, 2025
• Fall Fair Share Payment - $325 OR Fair Share Payment 1 - $100
• Marching Band Shoe (if needed) - $45.00
• Extra Show Shirt (optional) - $15.00
• Wednesday, 8/27
• Fall Color Guard Fair Share Payment 2 - $125.00
• Wednesday, 10/1
• Fall Color Guard Fair Share Payment 3 - $100.00
• School Equipment Semester 1 Maintenance - $75.00

For questions concerning general Band inquiries, Band financial obligations, or to request a payment plan, contact Mr. Clemente, at Michael.Clemente@ocps.net. For questions regarding your CutTime account or statement, contact the Band Booster Treasurer, Kim Somers, at wphsbandtreasurer@gmail.com.

We've been posting lots of photos our social media platforms, and we will continue to post updates, photos, video, and other media to those pages throughout the year. Follow the Band!

• Facebook: @winterparkhsband
• Instagram: @winterparkhsband @wphs_flutes @wphsclarinets @wpsaxes @wphs_trumpets @wphs.trombones @wphstubas @winterparkhspercussion @winterparkcolorguard @wphs.drumajors
• YouTube: @winterparkhsband
• Twitter: @wphs_bands
• Tik Tok: @winterparkhsband

Email: michael.clemente@ocps.net
Website: www.winterparkhsband.com
Location: 2100 Summerfield Road, Winter Park, FL, USA
Phone: 4076223200
Facebook: www.facebook.com/winterparkhsband