Brooks Bands, Week of 3/21 - 3/25

Brooks Jazz Night:

Remember not to forget to order your tickets for this year's Brooks Jazz Night, hosted by BRAVO!, on Friday, April 8th @ 7:00 p.m. in the GBMS Auditorium. Tickets are $5 students 16 yrs./under and $8 adults and can be purchased online through the band blog or by calling the BRAVO! Hotline at 708-524-5621.

This event is featuring our very own Brooks Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble with guest artists, Rob Parton and the Rob Parton Big Band. The day's events will start at 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. with free clinics from members of the Rob Parton Big Band: Rob Parton & Roger Ingram (trumpets), Mark Colby (saxophones), Tom Garling (Trombones) and Bob Rummage (Drumset/Rhythm Section). These clinics were made available through grants from E.K. Blessing, Jupiter Band Instruments, Conn-Selmer, Inc., and Music & Arts Center.

Music & Arts Center will also have an instrument display set up for students and their families to try out intermediate and professional level instruments in our Commons from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This is a great opportunity for those students that are continuing through high school. There will be representatives there to help out and answer any questions families may have about these instruments.

Parent Volunteers: We are still looking for parent volunteers to help out with ticket sales at the door (6:15 - 7:15 p.m.), help serving food (4:30 - 6:00 p.m.), and help supervising the individual clinic sites (3:45 - 5:15 p.m.). Please contact Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org if you can help out or have any questions.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 3 is due on Monday, 3/21. Week 4 Practice Records will be collected on Monday, April 4th, Week 5 will be collected as an extra credit assignment. Even though we are coming on spring break, students need to remember that our jazz concert is the following week and the spring repertoire list is much more demanding with marching band with the 7/8 graders.

Music Theory:

6th Graders: Alfred Book 1: Lessons 17-18, Activity Worksheet 4-2 due on Friday 3/25.

7th/8th Graders: Rhythm Worksheets 19 (Concert Band) and 23 (Symphonic Band) are due on Monday 3/21. This is extended from last week due to our Literacy Week schedule.

Performance Assessments:

6th graders just finished up their scale testing and will receive this week material for our next performance assessment. Both of these assessments, along with other performance assessments will be used for band placements for the 2011-2012 school year.

7th/8th graders need to make sure they have accomplished their major scale test and this past week's seating test assessment. Since last week's schedule disrupted our lesson schedules students will be able to make these assessments up this week during their lessons. All performance assessments needed to be completed by 3/25 for seating placements. All performance assessments this school year will be used for 7th graders for band placements for the 2011-2012 school year. There will be another performance assessment prior to recommendations will be made for the upcoming school year.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Lab Band:

Monday & Friday rehearsals 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

Jazz Ensemble:

Tuesday & Thursday rehearsals 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.

Don't forget to order your tickets for Brooks Jazz Night, Friday April 8th!

BROOKS JAZZ NIGHT, Friday, April 8th @ 7:00 p.m.

BRAVO, will be hosting their annual "Brooks Jazz Night" on Friday, April 8th at 7:00 p.m. in the GBMS Auditorium, featuring the Gwendolyn Brooks Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble with guest artists, Rob Parton and the Rob Parton Big Band. The event will also include featured performances of members of the Rob Parton Big Band with the Brooks Jazz Ensemble as well as a featured performance of Brooks students with the Rob Parton Big Band on the second half of the concert.

Prior to the evening concert, there are free clinics from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Students will be working with trumpeters- Rob Parton and Roger Ingram, saxophonist- Mark Colby, Trombonist- Tom Garling and Drummer- Bob Rummage, made possible through grants from E.K. Blessing, Jupiter Band Instruments, Conn-Selmer, Inc., and Music & Arts Center. The clinics are free and open to the public.

The Rob Parton Big Band (RPBB), a 19 piece jazz ensemble celebrates and represents the best of the big band tradition with a modern and original sound. Through the creative arrangers within the band the vast historical repertoire available today and the plethora of modern writers around the country, the band prides itself on hard swinging virtuoso ensemble playing comprised of Chicago’s finest musicians. Many of the musicians in the band are considered brilliant jazz improvisers and lead groups of their own.

Members of the RPBB have performed, toured and recorded with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Jazz greats such as Maynard Ferguson, Diana Krall, Buddy Rich, Harry Connick, Doc Severinson, Woody Herman, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme’, and can be seen in the movie “Public Enemies.” Parton has performed all over the country as both lead trumpet and trumpet soloist. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Ravinia Festival Orchestra and with the MusicNow ensemble featuring new music of the Chicago Symphony.

In May of 2009, Parton made the decision to break up the long established JAZZTECH Big Band in order to regroup and begin the process of creating a new band with a different focus and personnel. Rob Parton has earned national and international accolades for his seven critically acclaimed compact discs’ on the Sea Breeze Jazz label. The Rob Parton Big Band first CD released 2010!

Tickets for the concert are $5 students 16 yrs./under and $8 adults and may be purchased online at www/brooksbands.blogspot.com or by calling the BRAVO Hotline at 708-524-5621.

Brooks Bands, Week of 3/14 - 3/18

Mr. Danridge, our student teacher, had his last day with us on Friday, Mar. 11th. He will be going on to finish his student teaching at Currie High School. We wish Mr. D the best and will miss having him around!

BRAVO PREVIEW: is on Tuesday, 3/15 in the morning for 5th grade students in our feeder schools. The jazz ensemble and all 6th grade band students will be a part of this event, performing in the auditorium. Students will miss only their 1st period classes on that day.

BROOKS JAZZ NIGHT: Friday April 8th
Just right around the corner will be our annual Brooks Jazz Night, featuring our Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble and guest artists' Rob Parton and the Rob Parton Big Band at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 students 16/under and $8 for adults and can be purchased online. There is a link on the upper right hand side of the band blog.

All of our jazz students will be involved in some clinics starting at 3 p.m. with Rob Parton and some of members of the Rob Parton Big Band. More information on these clinicians will be available soon. The clinics will conclude at 5 p.m. and a pizza dinner will be available for our jazz students so they do not need to rush home between the clinics and the concert.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Records: Week 2 of our 3rd Trimester Practice Records are due on Monday 3/14. Students do not need to fill out Week 1.

Music Theory:
6th Graders: Alfred Essentials of Music Theory, Bk 1, Lessons 14-16, Worksheet 4-1 due by Friday, 3/14.

7th/8th Graders: will need to have their band instruments with them all week. Rhythm worksheets will be passed out throughout the week and will need to be completed and turned in no later than Friday, 3/14. Concert Band: Rhythm Worksheet 19, Symphonic Band: Rhythm Worksheet 23.

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Ensemble:
Tuesday: Rehearsal 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. in auditorium, BRAVO Preview performance in
auditorium
Thursday: Rehearsal 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. in D110

Jazz Lab Band:
Friday, rehearsal 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. in D110

Oak Park Middle School Jazz Camp: Dates are now set for Aug. 1st - 6th @ Julian M.S. with Mr. Kanwischer & Mr. Barnard. Information pamphlets should be available soon!

Brooks Bands, Week of Mar. 8th - 11th

Tuesday, marks the final day of the Mardi Gras Celebrations around the world known as (Fat Tuesday). The jazz ensemble will be performing before school in recognition of this cultural event. Students that received Mardi Gras beads during Pasta Night are encouraged to wear them Tuesday to help celebrate.

D97 Art Show @ OPRFHS, Wed. Mar. 9th
The jazz ensemble will be performing at the D97 Art Show this Wednesday, Mar. 9th from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. in the OPRFHS Students Center. All jazz ensemble members need to wear their Brooks Jazz T-Shirts, black slacks and dress shoes and report at the student center at 5:30 p.m. Please make sure to have your instrument and music. Mr. Barnard will not be taking it to the high school for you. A drum set, vibes, keyboard and amps will be available for the rhythm section.

BROOKS JAZZ NIGHT, Fri. Apr. 8th
This is a reminder that Brooks Jazz Night is on Friday, Apr. 8th with the Jazz Lab Band and Jazz Ensemble with guest artist, Rob Parton and the Rob Parton Big Band. Tickets are on sale now and are $5 for students 16/under and $8 for adults and may be purchased online through the link located on the right hand side of this blog.

This event will also include clinics in the afternoon with Rob Parton and other members of his group. We are very excited to now include trumpeter, Roger Ingram (former lead trumpet player of the Harry Connick Jr. Big Band) as one of our clinicians! The clinics will be from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. in the GBMS Auditorium. More information will be available for jazz students and their families regarding these clinics.

HOMEWORK:
Since we just finished ISAT testing this past week, there will be no practice record requirement for Week 1 of the practice records. Students received new practice records on Friday (GREEN) and should start recording their practice times on Monday (3/7) on Week 2, due the following Monday (3/14).

SCALE TESTING:
All students will be starting scale testing on Tuesday, 3/8. 6th grader will do the testing in class and 7th/8th graders will complete their testing during sectionals this week. 7th/8th graders must check the board for the new sectional days and times for 3rd trimester.

MUSIC THEORY: will start back up next week (3/16). Practice your scales!!!

JAZZ PROGRAM:

Jazz Ensemble: Tuesday, rehearsal 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.
Wednesday, performance for D97 Art Show @ OPRFHS (5:30 - 7:00 p.m.)
Thursday, rehearsal 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.
Jazz Lab Band: Friday, rehearsal 8:00 - 8:50 a.m.