WPS High School Band Newsletter

Week of 6/3

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لترجمة هذه الرسالة من المدرسة ، اضغط عليها ثم استخدم الرابط الموجود على اليمين.

Այս տեղեկագիրը թարգմանելու համար կտտացրեք այն, ապա օգտագործեք աջ կողմում գտնվող հղումը:

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Bu bülteni çevirmek için üzerine tıklayın ve ardından sağdaki bağlantıyı kullanın.

Friday 6/8 Graduation

-5:30 call time. 6pm start time

If students are using a school instrument we will be returning it next week. Students are able to sign it out for the summer if they choose.

• If you borrowed a school instrument this year, we recommend checking out the local vendors to see if renting to own may be a viable option for your family. In the section below is more detailed information on where to rent or purchase an instrument.
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If students are renting from a vendor and want to continue next year they should hold on to it and continue paying into the rent-to-own program. Typically, if you return the rental and then start up again next year, you start back at zero invested so I do recommend holding on to it if your child wants to continue.

If students are renting from a vendor and do not want to continue next year it should be returned to the company from which you rent

• Music and Arts: 839 Beacon Street, Newton Centre
• Needham Music: 957 Great Plain Ave, Needham

Rental Companies in the Area (you can also purchase from these companies):

• Needham Music (contact: barry@needhammusic.com)
• Leonards Music (info@leonardsmusic.com)
• Music and Arts (contact: Rob Sousa - Rob.Sousa@musicarts.com)
• David French (contact: Dave Proux - david@davidfrenchmusic.com)

I will always add links to specific events and lessons to the newsletters; however, in order to add these to your personal calendar, you must subscribe to the FAPA calendar (linked above). You can hide the FAPA calendar so your personal cal is not clogged by superfluous events, while only adding the band events to your cal when the links are shared in the newsletters. Let me know if you have any questions about this!

• We are going to be using Remind this year to communicate as well. I would recommend at least one parent and student (if they have a cell phone) to join their respective class.
  

  
  

  HS Band text @watehsband to 81010

  HS Jazz Ensemble text @watjb to 81010

Friends of Watertown Music

The Friends of Watertown Music is a parent organization that has been a major supporter of the fine arts program in Watertown for over ten years. FoWM is beginning to plan for our first MusicFest since 2019 and invites all parents who would like to help in any way. Email HelloWatertownMusic@gmail.com or call Chris Lowry at 617-923-0502 to learn more.

Practicing

We recommend students play their instrument 3+ times a week for at least 100 minutes in total time throughout the week to build muscle memory and reinforce habits taught in class.

Private Lessons

Want to be get better, quicker? PRIVATE LESSONS are the way to go!

Here is a great resource for private lesson instructors in the area. Private lessons are the quickest way for your budding musician to grow!

You can also check out Powers Music School in Belmont (on Concord Street near Belmont Center).

Clarinet and Saxophone Players-Reed Talk!

As we all are getting settled into school, one of the quickest ways for clarinets and saxophones to instantly sound better is to have a set of quality reeds.

Being a saxophone/clarinetist myself, it's important for how good each person sounds so they can work on other things. Having a set of quality reeds makes that easier!

Here are the only type of reeds that I recommend:

Clarinet Reeds

Elementary strength 2.5, 6th Grade strength 3, 7th-12th strength 3.5

Bass Clarinet Reeds

Strength 3

Alto Saxophone Reeds

Elementary/6th strength 2.5, 7th-12th strength 3

Tenor Saxophone Reeds

Elementary/6th strength 2.5, 7th-12th strength 3

Gift Items for the Band Student

Here are some ideas if you are thinking of getting your band student some quality goods.

9/10

9/24

10/8

10/30

11/5

11/27

12/11

12/18

1/3

1/15

2/5

2/26

3/11

4/22

5/6

Maxwell Thew, a Band Director, holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from the University of Idaho and a Master's Degree in Music Education from the American Band College at Central Washington University. He has taught in Oregon for 4 years and in Massachusetts for 5 years. During his time in Oregon, he successfully led his groups to the OSAA state band for 2 years and jazz band for 2 years. He is recognized for his ability to facilitate rapid growth in the programs he oversees. His primary focus is on instructing musicians of all levels to succeed and nurturing the development of well-rounded individuals.

Spencer Klein is primarily the pop music teacher at Watertown high school but is thrilled to return to his concert band roots as a co band teacher with Mr Thew. Originally from Seattle Washington (go hawks), Klein holds degrees in music education and French horn performance from Boston University. Feel free to reach out at spencer.klein@watertown.k12.ma.us!