Brooks Bands, Week of 1/31 - 2/4 -Updated

FRIDAY, 2/4

There will still be Jazz Lab Band rehearsal at 8 a.m. Those families that cannot get transportation to rehearsal and must rely on bus service can be excused.

Periods 5, 8, 9 Students need to bring instruments and music for regular rehearsals. There is no 3rd period due to the 1/2 day schedule.

PASTA NIGHT, Sat. Feb. 26th:

Families, do not forget to make reservations for the Pasta Dinner fundraiser for the Annual BRAVO Pasta Night and Music Showcase. All band families that would like to participate should make reservations for either the 5:00 p.m. or 7:15 p.m. seatings since the Band Showcase is at 6:00 p.m.

The 5:00 p.m. seating will feature small ensembles from our Symphonic Band and the 7:15 p.m. seating will feature our Jazz Ensemble. To make reservations online click on the link on the upper right side of the band blog.

The Band Showcase will feature our 6th grade bands, Concert Band and Symphonic Band in the auditorium. We are encouraging all band members and their families to stay for the band showcase to help support our students. The report times for these ensembles will be the following:

6th Grade Bands: 5:30 p.m. D110

Concert Band: 5:45 p.m. D105

Symphonic Band: 5:45 p.m. C Wing Hallway

Student need to leave valuables with a family member (i.e. cell phones, electronic devices, purses, etc.). Only coats and instrument cases should be left in the warm up areas.

Concert Attire:

Boys: White button down dress shirt, black dress pants, black dress shoes.

Girls: White blouse top w/sleeves, black dress pants or black skirt that is knee length, black dress shoes.

Jazz Ensemble members will discuss if we will be changing into our Brooks Jazz T-Shirts.

Volunteers: Mr. Barnard will need parent volunteers to help out with student supervision for Pasta Night. We will need 2-3 parents per band to help out with supervision and attendance. These parents will still be able to hear their child perform during the band Showcase. If you are able to help with supervision please email Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org.

Also, the BRAVO advisory board will need help with volunteers with the Pasta Dinner fundraiser. If you would like to volunteer please contact Tina Reynolds at treynolds@op97.org or Daphanee Lewis at dlewis@op97.org

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Since Mr. Barnard was out most of last week, students need to turn in Weeks 9 & 10 on Monday, 1/31.

Because of the two snow days we will resume music theory next week!

PERFORMANCE SKILLS TESTING:

6th Graders will be performing the following major scales in Concert Pitch for memory (due the week of Feb. 28th- Mar. 4th): Bb, Eb, F, Ab, C and perform Eb Chromatic Scale not for memory. These scales may be found in the Standards of Excellence Bk 2, pages 42-43.

7th/8th Graders will be performing all 12 major scales through the Circle of 4ths (due the week of Feb. 28th - Mar. 4th).

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Lab Band: Rehearsals on Monday and Friday this week 8:00-8:50 a.m.

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday 8:00-8:50 a.m.

Upcoming performances:

Jazz Ensemble performance for Black History Month Assemblies (2/24)

Jazz Ensemble performance for Pasta Night @ 7:15 p.m. (2/26)

Jazz Ensemble performance for the D97 Art Show at OPRFHS @ 6:00 p.m. (3/9)

JAZZ NIGHT w/ Rob Parton Big Band (both Jazz Lab and Jazz Ensemble) @ 7 p.m. (4/8)

Brooks Bands, Week of 1/25-1/28

We welcome to the band program Mr. Vernon Danridge, who will be our student teacher for the next 8 weeks. Mr. Danridge is working on completing his teaching degree from Chicago StateUniversity and specializes in percussion. Mr. Danridge has already been with us for one week and has been helpful pitching in and working with our students.

Mr. Barnard will be out this Wednesday-Friday attending the Illinois Music Educators Conference in Peoria. Mr. Barnard will be performing for the Conferences Opening Concert with the Air National Guard Band of the Midwest/United States Air Force Band of Mid-America on Wednesday evening and representing the USAF Band Program and attending workshops the remainder of the week.

PASTA NIGHT:

Reminder of our Annual Pasta Night and Music Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 26th. Flyers were passed out last week for family members to make reservations for the dinner seatings if they would like to participate in the family dinner. Remember to make reservations for either the 5:00 p.m. or 7:15 p.m. dinner seatings since the Band Showcase will be in the auditorium at 6:00 p.m. that evening.

Tickets are $8 students, $10 adults and $40 families up to 6 people. Reservations may also be made online by clicking on the link on the upper right hand corner of this blog. More information regarding performances are on the previous posting. Please contact the BRAVO office at 708-524-5621 if you have any questions regarding dinner reservations or volunteering.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Since Mr. Barnard will be out most of the week it has been decided to turn in both Week 9 & Week 10 Practice Records next Monday, 1/31.

Music Theory: Wed./Thurs.

6th Graders: Alfred Music Theory, Bk 1, Lessons 10-12, Activity Worksheets 3-1, 3-2.

7th/8th Graders: Will start a month long unit on the history of Jazz. Students will view an abbreviated video of Ken Burn's JAZZ video on Wed. and Thurs. covering Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and the Swing Period. Students will also listen to recordings from Armstrong, Ellington and Benny Goodman and complete worksheets while watching the video. There will also be an in class listening assignment. Students and families are encouraged to check out the Ken Burns JAZZ link from PBS on the right side of the the blog.

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: Thurs., Feb. 3rd

This Friday, students will be putting together their materials from all of their classes in preparation of parent teacher conferences next week. Since Mr. Barnard has students from several different teams, families are encouraged to stop by from 1-5 p.m. or 6-8p.m. for a quick conference to go over your child's progress in band if there are any concerns.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsal on Tuesday only this week.

Jazz Lab Band: No rehearsal this Friday due to Mr. Barnard being out of town. Next week we will rehearse on Monday 1/31 and Friday 2/4.

Brooks Bands, Week of Jan. 18th-21st

PASTA NIGHT, Sat. Feb. 26th:
Flyers for our annual Pasta Night fundraiser and BRAVO Music Showcase should be available shortly for any family members that would like to participate in the Pasta Dinner fundraiser. The money raised from this event helps the music program purchase much needed equipment and instruments that would not otherwise be provided for our students. The event schedule for that evening is the following:

4:00 p.m. Orchestra Showcase in the Auditorium
5:00 p.m. Symphonic Band Small Ensembles in the Commons
6:00 p.m. Band Showcase in the Auditorium
7:15 p.m. Choir Showcase in the Auditorium
7:15 p.m. Jazz Ensemble Performance in the Commons

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 8 is due Tuesday, 1/18

Music Theory:

6th Graders will be taking their Unit 2 Music Theory Test this Friday 1/21. Students will need to bring their instruments on Wednesday which is our normal music theory day.

7th/8th Graders will work on Lesson 35 out of their Alfred Essentials of Music Theory, Bk2 and complete Activity Worksheet 8-5 which is due on Friday 1/21.

Jazz Program:

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsals Tuesday and Thursday 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

Jazz Lab Band: Rehearsal on Friday 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

Our Jazz Ensemble will be participating on this year's Black History Month Assembly on Thursday, Feb. 24th, performing the music of Scott Joplin, Jelly Roll Morton, W.C. Handy, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. This year's theme is African American music's contribution to our American and World-Wide culture.

Jazz Night, April 8th:

A reminder that our Annual Jazz Night Concert has been moved from April 7th to Friday, April 8th with guest artist Rob Parton and the Rob Parton Big Band. Information about tickets will be available soon.

Brooks Bands, Week of Jan. 10th - 14th

JAZZ NIGHT, FRIDAY APRIL 8TH @ 7 P.M.

We are proud to announce that our guest artist/band for this year's annual Jazz Night will be trumpeter, Rob Parton and the Rob Parton Big Band. The Jazz Night has been moved to Friday, April 8th at 7 p.m. so families that have students in the jazz program please make adjustments accordingly. We are currently working on sponsorship for our afternoon clinics that day so more information regarding that aspect of the event will be available shortly.

The evening concert will feature the Brooks Jazz Lab Band & Jazz Ensemble followed by our guest band that evening. Tickets will be $8 for adults and $6 for students 16 and under. Tickets may be purchased online shortly. Please invite any of your jazz loving family, friends and neighbors. The will be really glad they came!

Rob Parton is one of Chicago's finer trumpet players and is currently assistant professor of applied trumpet/Jazz Studies at Capitol University in Ohio and was formerly the professor of applied trumpet/Jazz Studies at Roosevelt University. Rob's band is one of the best big bands in the Chicago area and the roster of musicians rivals many nationally acclaimed groups. You can also catch the Rob Parton Big Band once a month at Fitzgerald's in Berwyn.

PASTA NIGHT, Sat. Feb. 26th:
Flyers for our annual Pasta Night fundraiser and BRAVO Music Showcase should be available shortly for any family members that would like to participate in the Pasta Dinner fundraiser. The money raised from this event helps the music program purchase much needed equipment and instruments that would not otherwise be provided for our students. The event schedule for that evening is the following:

4:00 p.m. Orchestra Showcase in the Auditorium
5:00 p.m. Symphonic Band Small Ensembles in the Commons
6:00 p.m. Band Showcase in the Auditorium
7:15 p.m. Choir Showcase in the Auditorium
7:15 p.m. Jazz Ensemble Performance in the Commons

There will also be performances by the ORFF Ensemble and the Camerata String Ensemble in the Commons just prior to and during the Band Showcase in the Commons.

More information regarding report times and other details will be available shortly.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 7 is due on Monday

Music Theory: Will be Monday this week.
6th Graders: Alfred Book 1, Ear Training Test for Unit 2 and Unit 2 review.
7th/8th Graders: Alfred Book 2, Lesson 32, Activity Worksheet 8-3

All assignments will be due by Wednesday, 1/12.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsals on Tuesday and Thursday.
Jazz Lab Band: No rehearsal this week due to a prior commitment Mr. Barnard needs to attend to. SORRY :( We'll start back up the following week! )

Brooks Bands, Week of 1/2 - 1/6

Welcome back and Happy New Years to all of our students and families! We are looking forward to some great events that will be happening this winter and early spring including our Annual Pasta Night Fundraiser Dinner and Music Showcase on Saturday, Feb. 26th.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 4 and Weeks 5/6 combined are due on Monday 1/2. Week 4 was the week before Winter Break and weeks 5/6 were during the break. Students are able to combine the two weeks to equal 150 minutes and distribute the minutes however they wanted depending on vacations and taking time off for the holidays. If there are any students that were out of town for the entire or majority of the Winter Break please note so on the practice record for weeks 5/6 and it will be marked excused.

Music Theory: There will be no music theory this week. However, next week students will have their music theory lesson on Monday, 1/9 due to Mr. Barnard performing for the Governor's Inauguration.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Ensemble: Rehearsals on Tuesday & Thursday, 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

Jazz Lab Band: Rehearsal on Friday, 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.