Saturday, December 11, 2010

Brooks Bands, Week of 12/13 - 12/17

This Tuesday evening is our annual BRAVO Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. in the Brooks Auditorium. The concert will feature our Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble and select small ensembles from our Symphonic Band. Students from our Beautyshop, Shoppettes, and Barbershop vocal ensembles, Camerata String Ensemble and ORFF Ensemble will also perform for this event.

The Jazz Lab Band will be presenting a preview at 6:30 p.m. in addition to opening up the concert at 7 p.m. All students need to report to D110 at the following times:

6 p.m. Jazz Lab Band
6:30 p.m. Jazz Ensemble and small ensembles

Concert attire for jazz students are the Brooks Jazz T-Shirts along with black dress pants and shoes. Small ensemble members from Symphonic Band should wear our traditional black and white attire. Students are encouraged to wear festive hats that help present our holidays theme. Please contact Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org if you have any questions.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 3 practice records are due on Monday, 12/13
Over the Winter Break, students may combine weeks 5 and 6 to add up to 150 minutes total. Week 4 will need to be 150 minutes for an A since it is the last week of school before winter break.

Music Theory: will be this Thursday instead of the traditional Wednesday lessons.
6th Graders: Worksheets 2-2 & 2-3
7th/8th Graders: Worksheets 8-1 & 8-2

All music theory assignments are due on Friday. If students used their class time wisely it can be completed during class on Thursday.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Lab Band: Rehearsal this Monday at 8 am. in the auditorium. BRAVO Holiday Concert performance Tuesday Evening at Brooks. NO REHEARSAL THIS FRIDAY!

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsal this Tuesday at 8 a.m. in the auditorium. BRAVO Holiday Concert performance Tuesday Evening at Brooks. NO REHEARSAL THIS THURSDAY!

All students should have a Brooks Jazz T-Shirt to wear for all jazz performances. These may be purchased for $10 and checks can be made out to BRAVO.

UPCOMING EVENTS!

BRAVO Pasta Night and Music Showcase, Sat., Feb. 26th, 4:00 - 9:00 p.m. Specific performance times will be available soon. All band, choral and orchestra students participate in this event. The Pasta Dinners are a fundraiser for the music program and purchasing of dinners are not required in order to see your child perform. Flyers should be available soon after Winter Break.

Oak Park & River Forest Symphony w/ CSO Trumpeter, Chris Martin TOMORROW

Hello Families,

I announced this concert this week in our classes. The concert is at the First United Church on Lake St. tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. All students can attend this concert free and tickets are $20 for adults. Chris Martin is known around the world as one of the best classical trumpet players and is the principal trumpet for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Also, another performance I have brought up isn't so close to Oak Park, but is a great hearing opportunity for our jazz students. The Pete Ellman Big Band will be performing a special Holiday Show with guest trumpeter, Wayne Bergeron, this Thursday, 12/16 at Jilly's, 103 S. Main St., downtown Naperville. The show starts at 7 p.m. with the Naperville Central H.S. Jazz Ensemble and the Pete Ellman Big Band at 8 - 10 p.m. There is no cover charge for this event, but it is recommended that you call to make reservations since it will be packed 630-355-1001. We understand it is a weeknight, but since its a day before Winter Break it wouldn't be the end of the world to stay up late for this one. Wayne Bergeron is one of the most in demand studio musicians and has performed with the Maynard Ferguson and Gordon Goodwin's Phat Pack Big Band and can be heard on the soundtracks to "The Incredibles" and "The Family Guy" as well as numerous other movies and television shows. The Pete Ellman Big Band is one of the newer big bands in Chicago that consists of some of Chicago's best jazz musicians. Some members of the group have performed with Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Count Basie, Harry Connick Jr. just to name a few. This group performs every Tuesday night at Jilly's in Naperville.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Brooks Bands, Week of 12/6 - 12/10

Reminder that the BRAVO Holiday Concert is on Tuesday, Dec. 14th @ 7 p.m. in the GBMS Auditorium. The concert will feature our Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble and select small ensembles from our Symphonic Band. The concert is free and open to the public. Student performers will need to report at the following locations and times.

Jazz Lab Band: 6:00 p.m. D110
Jazz Ensemble: 6:30 p.m. D110
Small Ensembles: 6:30 p.m. D110

More detailed information for small ensemble members will be available next week during rehearsal. All jazz students will wear their Brooks Jazz T-Shirts with black slacks and dress shoes. Small ensembles will wear black and white and all students are encouraged to wear festive hats, scarfs, etc.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 2 is due on Monday 12/6

Music Theory:
6th Graders: Alfred Book 1, Lessons 8 & 9. Activity Worksheet 2-1.

7th/8th Graders: Sharp Key Signatures Supplement

All music theory assignments are due by Friday, 12/10

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Lab Band: Rehearsal Monday & Friday, 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. Rehearsal next Monday, 12/13 @ 8 a.m.

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsal Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

All jazz students will need to purchase a Brooks Jazz t-shirt for $10. This will be worn at all jazz performances. Checks can be made out to BRAVO! Shirts run in adult sizes.

TUBA CHRISTMAS:
The Next Tuba Christmas Rehearsal is Wednesday, Dec. 8th 3:30-4:30 p.m. Permission slips were handed out last week in class for those students interested in performing on the Tuba Christmas event on Saturday, Dec. 18th. The event includes performing in downtown Oak Park and performing at the Chicago Tuba Christmas at the Palmer House Hilton in Downtown Chicago. The day should last approximately 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.