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Last Updated: 05/31/2011 |
Please Refer to This Information as Necessary
Horn Boot Camp Info (Posted 5-31-11) For French Horn players only - View Flyer here
Jazz Camp Info (Posted 5-31-11) The information below is about a jazz camp happening this summer. ________________________________ From: Keith Davis [kbob42@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 5:15 PM Subject: Jazz Camp Hello,
I am presenting a Jazz Camp for kids this summer, and would like to ask you to pass this information along to any students or parents who might be interested. This link will take you to a page on my website with a flyer about the camp.
Thank you,
Keith Davis Instructor of Jazz Piano Furman University
http://www.innergroovemusic.com/Summer_Jazz_Camp.html
-- www.innergroovemusic.com <http://www.innergroovemusic.com>
Band Notes (5-22-11) Spring Concert The Northwest Middle School Bands will present a concert at 7:00pm on Thursday, May 26 at the Travelers Rest High School Auditorium. The call time for students is 6:00pm. 7th and 8th Grade students should be in the auditorium at 6:00pm ready for warm-up and rehearsal. 6th Grade students should be in the high school band room at 6:00pm ready for warm-up and rehearsal. Concert attire as outlined in the handbook should be worn. Gentlemen should pick up ties from Mr. Powell on Thursday after school. Please make every attempt to have the tie already tied upon arrival at TRHS. Some concert etiquette reminders:
Expenses We still have some unpaid money from the Chicago trip. Please do everything you can to correct that. Students have received and will continue to receive balance information in sealed envelopes. Also, we will be making other attempts to collect this money in the next two weeks. A brief explanation of expenses throughout the year follows. The Chicago expenses have been omitted as the Honor Band students and parents have covered that extensively. Reeds are between $1.50 and $5. depending on the brand and designated instrument. Most students bought reeds this year for $2.50. This is less expensive than most, if not all, music stores in the area. Middle School Orchestra Festival costs $10. Greenville County School District uses this money to purchase music and pay clinicians. Auditions for All County and All Region were $10. The South Carolina Band Directors Association uses this money to purchase music and pay adjudicators/clinicians. Solo and Ensemble costs $6 for a solo and $3 per member of an ensemble. The South Carolina Band Directors Association uses this money to pay the adjudicators at the event. All other expenses are covered by the band.
Reflections (a brief run-down of our year) Despite a much more difficult schedule this year (having one band class per grade rather than split classes), the Northwest Band has made its usual mark on the world of music education once again. 6th Grade students filled the band room early this year having no idea how to read music and certainly knowing nothing of playing an instrument. Now, many of them are accomplished musicians. 7th and 8th Grade students filled the band room and moved from the basics of the previous year to new and exciting capabilities. Several band students were selected to the Greenville All County Middle School Orchestra and presented a concert in November. All of the bands presented a wonderful winter concert at Wade Hampton High School in December. In January, February, and March, many of our students were selected to All County or All Region Bands and presented concerts with the best of the best from across the county and the upstate. On March 31, the Honor Band brought home "the big piece of cake"...Superior ratings from South Carolina's biggest concert event for school bands. The bus ride back from Camden was filled with joy as we received the highest rating in every category, from every judge. April 5-10, the Honor Band traveled to Chicago...our third national festival, our third Gold Award! Many of our students performed at the South Carolina Band Directors Association State Solo and Ensemble Festival on April 30 at Westside High School in Anderson, SC. Our students scored approximately 24 Superior ratings and 4 Excellent ratings to put Northwest at the top of the heap for participating bands. Once again, Northwest has fulfilled the requirements for the Outstanding Performance Award from the South Carolina Band Directors Association. Our year has come to a close in a peculiar fashion. Tragically, we lost former Northwest Band member Andrea Hayes in a terrible accident on May 15. We felt (and continue to feel) the sting of death. However, the band has wrapped its arms around her family and around each other as we move from the joy of her presence to the remembrance of her legacy. There will be a piece on the Spring Concert performed in her memory.
In Closing I want to thank you for another year of music making with the Northwest Bands. Parents often look at me like I have lost my mind when they find me still at the school late into the evening, or when they learn of the weekend schedule I keep, or when I buy instruments and supplies for thousands of my own dollars. 70-80 hour work weeks, mountains of paper work, fundraising, logistics that boggle the mind, fundraising, the insanity of teaching 11-14 year olds, unreasonable people (of all ages), have I mentioned fundraising....no wonder I get that wild-eyed "are you crazy" look from Jill Rohrer! Here is the thing though...when I see and hear the students perform and experience the joy of our art, I am so ready to do it all over again! Last, but never least...without the help of some of our wonderful band parents, our program would not function at all. There are no small tasks when it comes to running a band program, and we have a nucleus of involved parents who are interested not in watching things happen, but making things happen! At our concert, I will make an attempt to give you some well deserved credit. Please know that you have my deepest gratitude for all you do! See you May 26!
This is a reminder of the Awards Night Pot Luck Dinner this Monday, May, 23 at 6:30 PM. Below are suggested pot luck items needed: Guard: Salads and/or Dessert Flutes: Paper goods, cups, plates, forks, napkins Clarinets/Saxes: Beverages Trumpets/Mellophones: Hot Food Items Trombones: Dessert Baritones/Sousaphones: Hot Food Items Percussion: Hot Food Items RSVP via email to Jennifer Deaver (DeaverJenn@aol.com<mailto:DeaverJenn@aol.com>) or Elaine Washington (elaine731@bellsouth.net<mailto:elaine731@bellsouth.net>) if you plan to attend and if you plan to bring a pot luck item.
(4-27-11) Directions to Solo and Ensemble 2011
Westside High School 806 Pearman Dairy Road Anderson, SC 29625
From Northwest Middle School:
Take Old White Horse Road to Highway 25 (6.6 miles)
Turn right on Highway 25 to go south (8.8 miles)
Take exit ramp for I-185 South / US Highway 29
At exit 14B, take exit for I-85 South / US Highway 29 South toward Atlanta (21 miles)
At exit 21, take exit for US-178 toward Anderson
Bear right, turn right onto US-178 / Liberty Highway
Keep bearing right on Liberty Highway
Road name changes to SR-28 Bypass / Pearman Dairy Road (3 miles)
Arrive Westside High School
(3-29-11) View/Download Chicago Packet HERE: Enclosed:
March Events for Everyone (Posted 3-8-11):
Honor Band Rehearsals and Performances: Tuesday, March 8, 3:30pm-5:30pm Thursday, March 10, 7:00pm-8:30pm (at TRHS Band Room with Greenville Concert Band, time may be shorter) Friday, March 11, 3:30pm-4:30pm Wednesday, March 16, 3:30pm-4:30pm Thursday, March 17, 7:00pm-8:30pm (at TRHS Band Room with Greenville Concert Band, time may be shorter) Friday, March 18, 7:00pm call time for 8:00pm concert (at TRHS) Tuesday, March 22, 3:30pm-5:30pm Thursday, March 24, 3:30pm-5:30pm Tuesday, March 29, 3:30pm-5:30pm Wednesday, March 30, 3:30pm-4:30pm Thursday, March 31, Concert Festival (2:30pm departure, 10:30pm-ish return)
Arts for a Lifetime Concert The Northwest Middle School Band Program will be joining forces with the Greenville Concert Band (an adult community band) to present the "Arts for a Life Time" concert. While the Honor Band will make up the core of the ensemble, we will be including as many students as possible from the entire Band Program. Students will be invited to participate based on their ability to perform the required music and their desire to participate (which should be expressed to Mr. Powell by the student, preferably face to face). Students are strongly encouraged to check their calendars carefully before committing to this concert. Most of the work will be done in class, but there are two evening rehearsals. These rehearsals have been scheduled by the Greenville Concert Band. March 10, 7pm to 8:15pm (TRHS Band Room) March 17, 7pm to 9pm (TRHS Band Room, will try to dismiss NWMS students before 9pm) The concert will be on March 18 at 8pm in the TRHS Auditorium. Call time will be 7pm. In addition to the concert, the Greenville Concert Band has provided for us the opportunity to have renowned composer and conductor Jim Curnow as a guest clinician during the school day on Friday, March 18. He will be working with the ensemble that will be performing that night. This comes at no financial cost to the students as the fee for Mr. Curnow's appearance has already been paid.
Band Notes - January 11, 2011 Heritage Elementary School Performance The Band's performance at Heritage Elementary School has been postponed. We will go to Heritage on January 21. This performance includes all Honor Band students plus several students from the 8th Grade Band and the 7th Grade Band. The dress for the performance is the usual concert attire. Students should report to the Northwest Band Room at 7:30am on Friday, January 21. We will warm up and rehearse from 7:40am to 8:00am. At 8:00am, we will go across the street to Heritage. Once there, we will set up and check a few spots in the music before our performance at 8:45am. We will conclude our performance at 9:15am, take all of our equipment back to Northwest, and students will be dismissed to 3rd period. As always, parents are welcome to attend this concert. If you are still around after we perform, we can always use some extra hands (and a truck) to help with equipment. Remember that the call time for Friday, January 21 is 7:30am. Students, please be ON TIME. Region Band Auditions Congratulations to all students who auditioned this past Saturday. Generally, our students did very well amongst very stiff competition. At this time, I have contacted almost all the students who made it into the Region Band and/or made the All State call back audition. A very special congratulations to the students who made the band...these students came after school many times for help and were very well prepared for the audition! The Region Band clinic will be held at Furman University on February 25 and 26. All details for the Region Band clinic and the All State Audition will be given to students when the snow melts and we return to school. All County Band Auditions The All County Band auditions will be held at Mauldin Middle School on the evening of January 25. Students will be given audition times as soon as I get them from the All County Coordinator. Students should continue to come for help so they can do as well as possible at these auditions. For those who make the band, the clinic will be held on the evening of February 10 and all day on February 11.
DIRECTIONS TO ALL COUNTY AUDITIONS Mauldin Middle School 1190 Holland Road Simpsonville, SC 29681 I-385 SOUTH: Take I-385 S to Exit 34 - Butler Road. Turn left and cross bridge over interstate. Turn right on Holland Road just before the Golden Strip Career Center.
Chicago...money We are still planning to go to Chicago to compete in a National Music Festival. The trip dates are April 5-10. I am trying to keep the cost of this trip to $350.00 per person. This is much less than the actual cost, but I have always tried to charge no more than that for a trip. We may have to ask for more money...up to $425.00 (still well under what it actually costs). Once we return from the snow break, please send in money as you are financially able. If you need to work out a long term payment plan, contact me. Otherwise, I would like for you to send as much money as you can, as soon as you can, with an indication of when you will be sending the remainder of the money (350 for now). With regard to money...a group 10-15 of our band parents, a group of 20-30 students, and I work very hard to secure money and opportunity for the Northwest Band. Some of our band parents work tirelessly on organizing and running fundraisers and events. A relatively small group of our students (for a program of our size) sell cookie dough, fruit, and chicken biscuits. Students, parents, and I secure donations (funding and equipment). I acquire reeds / music / equipment and have instruments repaired at significantly reduced prices. We are going to be launching many efforts in this 2nd semester to raise money. Join us in supporting our kids! A separate fundraising email will be sent later today or tomorrow. Special February 9 Rehearsal Generally, I try to avoid Wednesday rehearsals. However, I do want to make you aware of at least one that will be VERY important for our Band. The Honor Band will be rehearsing on Wednesday, February 9, and we will have a very special guest. Quincey C. Hilliard is one of the most renowned composers and music educators in the country. If you look in our music library, he wrote at least 20 of the pieces in it. It is a thrill to announce that he will be rehearsing the Northwest Middle School Honor Band from 3:30 to 5:30 on February 9. On a personal note, I performed as a 7th grade trombonist under Dr. Hilliard when he was the All State Band Clinician. I still have my autographed program!
Band Notes - October 31, 2010 Upcoming Events and Deadlines: Friday, November 5 is the last day to turn in registration fees for county and region auditions. The fee is $20 to do both auditions. This must be turned in to Mr. Powell by 8:30am Friday morning. Middle School Orchestra Festival is taking place Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6. Participating students will receive a schedule. Mr. Powell will be paying the registration fee for all participating students. The 8th Grade Band has two Veterans Day Concerts...Thursday, November 11 at NWMS at 9:30am and Saturday, November 13 at Slater Hall at 12:00pm. Our hot dog sale is November 13 at Slater Hall as well. Thursday, November 11 is the last day to turn in Band Fruit orders. This is a really important fundraiser for us, so please participate. The Winter Concert for the NWMS Bands will be December 14 at 7:00pm. We are finalizing the location this week, but we are hopeful that Wade Hampton High School will be able to provide a venue for our concert. Region Auditions are Saturday, January 8. More details will be given in class. County Auditions are Tuesday, January 25. More details will be given in class. A note about concert attire: Please note from the website that NWMS Band members must adhere to our concert attire rules. Ladies are to wear black dress shoes or sandals, black dress pants, and a white dress top. Jewelry and make-up are to be kept to a minimum. Gentlemen are to wear black dress shoes, black dress pants, a long-sleeved white button down dress shirt, and a black tie (provided by the band). A note about practice at home: The Northwest Band is one of the most widely respected programs of its kind. Stepping into the band room at Northwest means stepping into a place where great things have been done. Years of students before the current students worked hard to earn the reputation we have. The students in the band have the RESPONSIBILITY of maintaining that reputation. The Band Handbook (that students and parents must sign) has several statements about the responsibilities of students and parents. Please revisit these if need be. We will be continuing to "raise the bar" in the band room, and some students are going to find it difficult to keep up given their current practice habits. We do a lot in class, and I am always there to help before and after school. However, good practice habits are a must. Students should be practicing anywhere between 20 and 45 minutes on 5 days of the week. Pageant: The pageant is upon us. By the time you read this email, I will be sending the pageant packet to the NWMS webmaster to post. If you would like to serve on the pageant staff, please let me know. The pageant will be January 20 and 21 at Berea High School.
Band Notes - October 10, 2010 First things first...CONGRATULATIONS to the Travelers Rest High School Golden Regiment! The Marching Band won 1st place in their class AND 1st place in the Silver Division of the Mauldin Tournament of Bands that took place on Saturday, October 9. We have several 8th Grade students who are in the Marching Band, and we also have some 6th and 7th Graders who take part in the show as "Hobbit" actors. The excitement after the competition was explosive as the Band members celebrated their well deserved victory! Congratulatory emails / letters may be sent to TRHS Director of Bands, Carl Wylie. If you would like to copy the email / letter to the prinicpal of the school, please copy to Louis E. Lavely, Jr. Middle School Band Night At the TRHS Football game on October 8, members of the Northwest Middle School Band joined the Travelers Rest High School Golden Regiment to play and cheer in the stands. Although the Varsity Football Team suffered a loss to Wade Hampton, the spirits of the 108 middle schoolers and the Golden Regiment were not dampened. Everyone had a great time...especially during the 4th quarter "Booty Cheer!" Please take note that even though this event has passed, I still need the letter that was sent out for record keeping. Thank you in advance for returning it to me promptly if you have not done so already. Fundraisers The cookie dough is here! Per the announcements in class and the posting on the board, the cookie dough from our recent fundraiser will be deilvered to Northwest on Monday, October 11. The cookie dough must be picked up from the Band room that day by 5:30pm. Please call the bBand office at 355-6952 if you feel this is not possible. Our next fundraiser will be the fruit fundraiser (kicking off this coming week). Please remember all the benefits of which every Band member takes advantage throughout their time at Northwest (if you need a list, just ask). All Band members are expected to participate in supporting the goals of the Band Program. Auditions There are several deadlines in the near future for audition participation. County and Region auditions take place in January, but the registration for those events happens in the week of November. There is a ten dollar fee per audition. Students will be given MANY reminders in class about this. Also, Honor Band auditions will take place in November (no fee). The Honor Band auditions will be open to 7th and 8th Grade students. 6th Graders may enter the Honor Band by invitation only. Website Please view the Band website for other important dates on the calendar. Help We will need volunteers to help with the hot dog sale at our Veterans Day Program at Slater Hall on November 13. We are also tentatively planning a yard sale fundraiser on November 20. If you would like to be a part of it, please contact me. Practice Parents, please encourage your child to practice at home. We continue to raise the bar for our Band Program, and the students have homework on a regular basis.
Start of the Year Memo - September 2010 Hello Everyone! This has been our best beginning to a school year yet! Approximately 233 students come to the Band Room each day to learn. 80ish of these come for my new general music class in which I teach music history, all genres of music from Gregorian Chant to hip hop, music industry, and music theory. The rest come to be a part of our award winning Band Program. We also have more students wanting to get into the band in all grades than ever before. While I am definitely in the "quality over quantity" school of thought, this does demonstrate that we are doing the right thing in the Band Program. After all, success breeds success. Fundraising: Band students and I stood in the car line on August 27 selling chicken biscuits for an hour before school. It was an early start to the day, but it was worth it. 150 chicken biscuits later, we had more money than before. We will be repeating this fundraiser many times throughout the year. September 10 is the next morning for the chicken biscuit sale. I have decided to take less profit and sell the biscuits for $2.00 in the future. Thanks to our friends at Chick-fil-a for helping us with this! On September 7, we will kick off our cookie dough fundraiser with Cobb Enterprises. Finally, the best fundraiser any organization can have is a supportive parent group and a community willing to make direct donations. If you or someone you know would like to donate to a worthy cause, look no further than our students in the Band! Travel: One of the best aspects of Northwest Band membership is the opportunity to travel. We are among a few middle school bands anywhere to travel as extensively as we do. Sometimes, the trip is a local one...like our upcoming performance in November at Slater Hall. Other times, we may be traveling much further as we have in the past (Orlando, New York, Dallas). Trips are listed below.
Concert Attire:
Instrument Repair: We have had the pleasure of having our instruments repaired by Jerry Nelson for the past several years. Mr. Nelson did a wonderful job at an incredibly low price, and his "turn around" time was three days or less. Mr. Nelson has retired from repairing instruments. I am strongly encouraging students to be especially careful with instruments this year. The days of getting your instrument back and paying $25.00 for the repair are over. The days of waiting 2 weeks and paying $100.00 are in. Obviously, I will continue to do many repairs myself or pass them on to "Papa Powell." When we do the repairs, it is without cost to the student. However, repairs that require a technician will be much more costly than before. Handbook Signature Pages: For the 7th and 8th Grade Bands, handbook signature pages were due on Tuesday, August 31. I accepted them until Friday, September 3 without penalty. I need any remaining signature pages immediately. 6th Grade Band members will be turning them in at Instrument Night on September 14 or in class on September 15. Honor Band Honor Band auditions will be held in November. All 7th and 8th Grade Band members must earn a spot in the Honor Band through the audition process. 6th Grade Band members come into the Honor Band by Director invitation only. Audition material will include all major scales required in middle school, knowledge of music terms, technical exercises, sightreading, and consideration of the student's character and work ethic. Scale and term sheets are on the student page of the website.
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