Brooks Bands, Week of April 11th - 15th

Congratulations to all of our students that participated on Friday's "Brooks Jazz Night". The event was a huge success and our students had a great experience working with our clinicians and performing to such a great audience. That you to all those parents that helped volunteer (18 parents all together) and families and band students that came out and supported their friends performing on the evening concert. The clinicians and the band were very impressed with the caliber of musicianship our students are already gaining and had a wonderful time working with them.

Also thank you to all of our sponsors, E.K. Blessing, Jupiter Band Instruments, Music & Arts, Conn-Selmer and Yamaha, who pitched in a total of $1,750 in grants in order to make this event possible!

PING's AFTERNOON OF JAZZ FUNDRAISER THIS SUNDAY, April 17th

PING is hosting their first annual AFTERNOON OF JAZZ, fundraiser to help support their funding and continue to help students and families that cannot afford band and orchestra instruments in order to participate in Oak Park/River Forest community music programs. The event will be from 1:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Fitzgerald's Night Club, 6615 Roosevelt Rd., and will feature the following groups:

Beye School Jazz Band, Julian Jazz Ensemble, Brooks Jazz Ensemble, OPRF Jazz Combo and OPRF Jazz Ensemble

The Brooks Jazz Ensemble will perform a 20 minute set and members will need to be at Fitzgeralds at 2:15 p.m. Concert attire is Brooks Jazz t-shirts, black slacks, black dress shoes.

Tickets are $10 adults, $5 students and $25 families at the door.

D97 ETHNIC FESTIVAL AND PARADE, Saturday - May 7th @ Percy Julian.

This is a reminder to all 7th & 8th grade band families of our D97 Ethnic Festival and Parade on Saturday, May 7th. The event location has been changed to Percy Julian Middle School and the parade will start and end from PJMS. All 7th & 8th grade band students will need to be at Julian at 9:15 a.m. (specific location TBA) to warm up and line up for the parade (step off at 10 a.m.). Students should complete the parade no later than 11 a.m., families please check your calendars and let Mr. Barnard know immediately if there are any conflicts with important family occasions such as confirmations, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, or spring sports schedules.

This will also be the first year that the Multi-Cultural Department will not be able to provide t-shirts for us as in years past. It is part of the cost saving measures being made in the district. The dress for this performance will be jeans or shorts, gym shoes or closed toe street shoes. I am discussing with Mr. Sindelar how we should represent our school and will get back to everyone very soon.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records:

Week 6 is due on Monday, April 11th

Music Theory:

6th Graders: Will work on lessons 18-20 out of the Alfred Book 1 workbook and complete Activity Worksheets 5-1 & 5-2 (due Friday 4/15).

7th/8th Graders: Due to combined marching band and spring concert repertoire, we are taking a break from the music theory curriculum. Please complete any missing music theory assignments.

3rd Trimester Portfolio Assessment:

Portfolio Assessments for 3rd trimester will be completed on during sectionals/lessons for 7th/8th graders next week (4/18 - 4/20) and on Wednesday, 4/20 in class for all 6th graders. The portfolio assessments are based on their organization of materials each student should have for class everyday and the use of their three ring binder as their organization tool. This assessment is 10% of each student's total band grade. Students need to have the following items in their binders:

1. All current sheet music on three rings, Marching Band Music (7th/8th Gr.) can be in side pockets.

2. Both Standards of Excellence Book and Alfred Essentials of Music Theory Book (with name labeled on them).

3. All current music theory homework worksheets and handouts (on three rings).

4. Practice Record (on three rings).

5. Have a three ring binder with their name and class labeled on the outside cover.

3rd Trimester Outside Concert Summaries:

Due no later than May 27th. All BRAVO music students are required to attend a live performance as an audience member and complete the concert observation form, with parent/guardian signature and a ticket stub or concert program attached. Students may use evening events at Brooks or other schools or events out in the community. A copy of the concert observation form may be downloaded on the upper right hand of the band blog.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsals Tuesday & Thursday at 8:00 a.m.

Performance this Sunday @ Fitzgerald's for the PING Afternoon of Jazz Fundraiser. Please

be at Fitzgeralds no later than 2:15 p.m. and we should be done with our portion of the

afternoon no later than 3:30 p.m.

Jazz Lab Band: Rehearsal Friday at 8:00 a.m.