This is your weekly MUSIC DEPARTMENT update!
Hello Folks!
I want to take a second once again to give you all some praise. You guys have had a very busy couple of weeks. I'm very proud of the steadfast manner in which you all have conducted yourselves through the very band- heavy month that is October. October is always very hard on everyone, but I think so far we have kept it together pretty well and now we are entering our LAST WEEK of marching season.
I hope this Saturday is an accurate reflection of all the hard work you and your peers have put into to this fun show and the dedication you all have towards one another. As a reminder, it doesn't matter to me what you earn at MPA as long as you do your very best. If your very best happens to be an Excellent, that's fine. I only want you all to give a performance that YOU are proud of. As you've heard me say all season, give me only your best this week and especially in your MPA performance.
As we get ready to close out this season, we also will get to enjoy several end of season traditions! Please take this week to celebrate one another as we finish preparations for our marching show. This week is mostly going to be about reps and polish. Push all the way through your season, and be thorough, cats!
As a reminder,
There are 2 rehearsals remaining until Music Performance Assessment. You need to be present.
YOU NEED TO BE PRESENT.
Your presence makes a difference at these rehearsals, people. We want to be really polished so that we can earn our desired ratings at MPA. This is only possible if we are present to get the job done.
End of Year Trip!
Parents! The end of the year trip has been decided and you are now able to make payments toward the trip.
Please let Mrs. Luke know if you have any questions by emailing her at president@bakercountybands.org.
Baker County Fair Concession Stand
BAND PARENTS, WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Please take a look at the schedule and sign up for a time slot (or two, we won't limit you 😉 )The high school students usually help out ALOT during the fair, but as you know their schedule, and the shortened fair schedule isn't allowing much of an opportunity for them to do so. Parents are really needed to help make sure that we meet our expected profits!
Senior Wills
Seniors, each year, a publication of the Senior Wills goes out for students to read on the bus ride to MPA. You should submit your Senior Will using the link on the band app (or the link HERE). You can leave funny or meaningful things to any student or staff member in the band. What you bequeath does not have to be a real item—it can be a joke, or a sort role you played in the band (ie. The math wiz, or the comedian).
You may resubmit this form as many times as you need, but only the MOST RECENTLY SUBMITTED form will be published.
Playing Tests this Week
Wind Ensemble:
Chair Tests are this week! To Include:
Major Scales: G, C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db (performed within 2 minutes) (Can be found HERE)
Chromatic Scale
North Florida Honor Band Prepared Piece (Printed and can be found in the hallway OR in the Music Folder HERE)
No tests this week
Symphonic Band:
None
Percussion:
None
Countdowns
Weekly Walkthrough
Monday, there are no after school activities in particular, though we do need people to sign up to work the Baker County Fair concession stand. Sign Up Here!
Tuesday, we have an After School Rehearsal from 4pm to 7pm.
Wednesday, there are no after school activities in particular, though we do need people to sign up to work the Baker County Fair concession stand. Sign Up Here!
Thursday, we have an After School Rehearsal from 4pm to 7pm.
Friday, there are no after school activities in particular, though we do need people to sign up to work the Baker County Fair concession stand. Sign Up Here!
Saturday, we have Marching Music Performance Assessment. The itinerary for this event is posted HERE. You should plan to bring money to spend on concessions. About $20 to $30 is plenty. I have not received a concessions menu from Santa Fe. Chaperone spots are limited and will be going first to parents who volunteer at the band concession stand. I believe ticket purchases will be done in person.
MPA is important because there are so many traditions that happen that day. We will be spending a lot of time together as a band that day, so please plan to be present the whole day.
PARENTS-- YOU SHOULD PLAN TO SUPPORT YOUR CHILD AT THIS EVENT. THIS IS THE PERFORMANCE THEY HAVE BEEN WORKING ALL YEAR FOR. IF YOU ARE ABLE, GO WATCH YOUR CHILD PERFORM. Ticket/Wristband information will be made available as soon as it is released.
Pasta Potluck—Please sign up HERE to bring something to the Pasta Potluck! This is staple MPA tradition where our band families bring pasta and desserts for us all to enjoy together. It connects our households and our hearts. Please be sure to sign up if you plan to bring something. We would like to avoid too much of the same thing being brought to the potluck. A reminder: You don’t need to bring a band sized portion of pasta. Just cook enough for your family and maybe just a little more than that. If the sign up fills up, that should be plenty of food. If you sign up to bring bread, bring enough for 2 families (we like to eat bread). If you sign up to bring soda bring at least two 2 liters or 2 boxes of cans. If you sign up to bring dessert, bring enough for 1 family. If you sign up to bring paper products, bring enough for 1 family.
Senior Speeches—Seniors, each year, each student in the band’s the senior class gives a speech to the band. These speeches can be funny or sentimental. It’s our seniors’ last opportunity to address the band and say something meaningful. The only rule is that you may not be disrespectful. Take the time to think about what you want to say. You can write it down. Don’t plan on not doing a speech—the band probably won’t let you not speak. Parents, please understand that if individual Seniors wish to kick adults out of the room, that is a courtesy that has always been extended to them, and we will respect it if they wish.
Senior Wills-- Seniors, each year, a publication of the Senior Wills goes out for students to read on the bus ride to MPA. You should submit your Senior Will using the link on the band app (or the link HERE). You can leave funny or meaningful things to any student or staff member in the band. What you bequeath does not have to be a real item—it can be a joke, or a sort role you played in the band (ie. The math wiz, or the comedian). Be sure you submit this before Friday!
Leadership Meeting Info
Please communicate matter you want to discuss with the QM BEFORE the day of the meeting so we can discuss it altogether. This just helps everything run more smoothly.
October at- a- glance
Events:
Wind Ensemble Chair Tests – October 23rd- 27th
Baker County Fair Fundraiser – October 23rd- 29th
Leadership Meeting – October 26th- 2:45pm- 3:30pm
Leadership Meeting – November 2nd- 2:45pm- 3:30pm
Rehearsals
After School Rehearsal – October 24th- 4pm- 7pm
After School Rehearsal – October 26th- 4pm- 7pm
Wind Ensemble Rehearsal – November 2nd- 4pm- 6pm
Performances:
MARCHING MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT (Link to Itinerary)– October 28th- 9am
Things to Note 🎵:
FSU Prism Concert- PAYMENT DUE NOVEMBER 10TH
Information/ Permission slips for FSU Prism Concert on Thursday, November 30th can be found on the bottom box of my door.
There are 50 available spots. Spots are first come first served. You must turn in monies and form at the same time.
Price is $85 per student. Includes Ticket, Charter Bus, and Dinner on campus at FSU. Price remains the same even if, for example, a chaperone does not ride the bus or do seminole dining.
Go Noles!
FSU Band Day- PAYMENT DUE NOVEMBER 10TH
FSU Band Day (A separate event from FSU Prism Concert) is Saturday, November 18th.
FSU Band Day is different from UF Band Day in that there will not be any element of performance, but you will get to watch the FSU Band and go to an FSU Football Game (vs. North Alabama). It's a good time!
Like UF Band Day, to sign up to go to FSU Band Day, you will need to pay a $20 Commitment Fee to the band. We have 80 spots available, that are first come first served. Everyone in the band could go!
THIS LINK is where an itinerary will eventually be posted. Itinerary will be posted whenever the time for the game is released by athletics.
Student Meals @ Home FB Games
Parents/Students-- This year we are offering student meals for $5. These meals will include either a hot dog or a hamburger, chips and a drink. We wanted to try something new this season, in the past some students weren't able to get food because the concession lines were so long that they would be late getting back to the stands. We are pre-selling these meals until noon the day of the game. You may prepay for a meal by going to the band website bakercountybands.org/events. If you go to the website to order make sure you are purchasing under the high school band.
You will have the choice to buy a ticket for a meal for each game if you would like. Unfortunately, you will have to purchase each game meal individually. Each week, we will have a list of the students that have purchased meals and pack them up and deliver them to the stands during 3rd quarter. Each week I will put out a reminder to give everyone a chance to purchase a meal. Students, if you purchase a meal, please make sure you send me a message or leave a comment on the reminder of what you would like to have as your drink. If you have any questions please reach out.
After School Activities this Week:
Monday
Baker County Fair Fundraiser (Sign Up for a Shift Here!)
Tuesday
Wednesday
Baker County Fair Fundraiser (Sign Up for a Shift Here!)
Thursday
After School Rehearsal – 4pm- 7pm
Friday
Baker County Fair Fundraiser (Sign Up for a Shift Here!)
Saturday
MARCHING MUSIC PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT (Link to Itinerary)– 9am
Birthday Announcements!
By the way, I base birthday announcements on what I can see on the Band App, so if you would like to be recognized for your birthday on the weekly announcements, please make sure your Birthday is set to PUBLIC on the Band App.
According to Band App, there is one birthday this week!
Happy Birthday to Kierra Martin (10/24)!
Let's have a great week everyone!
And GOOOOOO WILDCATS!