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.

Students already received their picture order form last week for band pictures that will take place this Friday, January 31. Students will wear their uniform and have their instruments in a group picture taken in the Competition Gym that day. This is for publication in the school yearbook and is available for parent purchase. We will also have individual photos being taken in the Ensemble Room if you wish to purchase one of your student with their instrument wearing their uniform.

It works best if order forms are filled out ahead of time and money brought that Friday in order to purchase them. However, Photo Texas usually has "Last Chance" order forms that day where students will fill in their parent contact information, including email address and phone number. You can contact Photo Texas directly by visiting phototexasphotography.com or by calling 800-833-6463.

Students who are not wearing their band uniform will not be allowed in the picture. Students must "Be Prepared" and be responsible for having on their uniform on that Friday at the start of class.

Beginners will need to wear their band shirt tucked into jeans with closed-toed shoes and belt for gentlemen. The full Beginner's Ensemble group picture will be taken during 1st Period that starts at 8:10am. Individual Beginner pictures will be taken during their respective band class period.

Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble students will take their pictures during their 2nd and 3rd period class, respectively. These students need to wear their formal band uniform, which includes their polo shirt tucked into black pants, black socks and shoes, as well as a black belt for gentlemen. We will also take an additional All-Region Band group picture during 2nd Period for those students who qualified.

Jazz Band will need to wear their jazz uniform with black pants, black socks and shoes, as well as a black belt for gentlemen. This group picture and any individual pictures will take place during their normal 4th period class. This year, we will also get to take an additional All-Region Jazz Band group picture for those students who qualify since the auditions are earlier this year.

Please contact Mr. Pulley if you have any questions about Picture Day.

Last Friday, 170 middle school band students from Region 8 auditioned for the TMEA All-Region Jazz Band and we are proud to report that 9 BMS students placed! We tied LBMS for the most amount of students from one school, and Belton ISD students won over half of the total 42 spots!

Please congratulate the following students:

1. Phoenix Maynor placed 4th out of 20 tenor saxophones, 2nd Chair in Jazz Band 2. He is also an All-Region Concert Band Member this year.
2. Gia Schweitzer placed 1st out of 11 baritone saxophones, 1st Chair in Jazz Band 1. She is also an All-Region Concert Band Member this year.
3. Dominic Johnson placed 8th out of 30 trumpets, 3rd Chair in Jazz Band 2. He is also an All-Region Concert Band Member this year.
4. Tyler Millington placed 3rd out of 36 trombones, 3rd Chair in Jazz Band 1. He is a 2-Year All-Region Concert Member.
5. Andy Ureste placed 4th in the trombone section, 4th Chair in Jazz Band 1. He is a 2-Year All-Region Jazz Band Member, AND an All-Region Concert Band Member this year.
6. Yeshaya Vasquez placed 6th in the trombone section, 1st Chair in Jazz Band 2. He is an All-Region Concert Band Member this year.
7. Lani Perez placed 3rd out of 12 drummers, 1st Chair in Jazz Band 2. She is a 2-Year All-Region Jazz Band Member, AND an All-Region Concert Band Member in percussion this year.
8. Eli Perrow placed 1st out of 8 pianists, 1st Chair in Jazz Band 1. He is a 2-Year All-Region Concert Band Member on bassoon.
9. Jadyn Jones placed 1st out of 5 vibraphones, 1st Chair in Jazz Band 1.

These students will get to rehearse with a notable jazz educator on Saturday, March 1 at Temple High School, and then perform a concert that evening. Congratulations to these superior jazz musicians!

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.

Email: beltonmsband@gmail.com

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

Address: 1704 Sparta Road, Belton, TX, USA

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