Brooks Bands, Week of 9/19-9/23

JAZZ ENSEMBLE AUDITIONS

Thank you to everyone that has auditioned for the Jazz Ensemble this year! I am amazed at the talent of our students!!! Unfortunately I can only take so many students into jazz ensemble. The results will be posted on Monday morning, 9/19 and the first rehearsal starts this Tuesday morning at 8 a.m. We are having callback auditions Monday morning for some of our drum set players before we make our final selections for that position of the jazz ensemble. Everyone should know no later than the end of the day Monday so they can attend our first rehearsal.

We do have two positions open still! We currently only have one pianist and would like to add another. Also, we are in need of a bari. sax player. Mr. Barnard will ask those saxophone students that are next in line first to see if they would like to play bari. sax in our jazz ensemble and then will open it up to any current bari. sax player in the band program. Any student that currently plays piano and would be interested in playing in the jazz ensemble should contact Mr. Barnard. Any student that did not go through the formal audition process will need to prepare on of the audition requirements first before any recommendation into the jazz ensemble is made.

For those students that did not get selected thank you for taking the time to prepare and audition for us! There are a lot of good things happening with all of you!! For the students that did make it into the jazz ensemble, please make sure that you stay committed to our rehearsal and performance schedule. If there is a student that is not committed, they can be dismissed from the jazz program and the slot will be offered to the next student in line for that seat. Before a decision is ever made to dismiss a student, both he/she and their family will be notified to let them correct the problem before being dismissed.

Students that have more than two unexcused rehearsal absences can be dismissed from the jazz program. Students that do perform in other co-curricular and/or athletic activities that may have occasional conflicts must notify the director before each rehearsal.

PERFORMANCE SKILLS TESTING:

All students will be completing their 1st performance skills assessments this week. 6th Graders will be accomplishing this assessment during class and 7th/8th grade students will be completing them during their scheduled band sectional. Students will be performing the following:

Cadet Band: Bb & F Concert Major Scales and Arpeggios

Concert Band: S.E. Bk 2: Ex. 2, 4, 6, 8 (Bb & Eb scales/arpeggios/technique exercises)

Symphonic Band: IMEA Jr. High Scale Sheet (lines 2-6) and IMEA Audition Etude excerpt.

Wind Ensemble: IMEA Jr. High Scale Sheet (All) and IMEA Audition Etude excerpt.

All 7th/8th graders will only be assessed on the IMEA Jr. High Scale Sheet for a grade. The IMEA Audition Etude excerpt is an additional item that will be used to determine seating placement for the fall concert. The next seating placement assessment will happen before Thanksgiving break.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Record Journals (Due every Monday)

Week 4 Due Monday, 9/19

All students, 6th-8th grade are now aiming for 150 minutes a week for an A on the practice record.

Students need to have the Practice Record (outside cover) Practice Journal and Weekly Assignments and Goals filled out for full credit. Parents need to sign two signatures, one on the outside cover and one in the Weekly Assignments and Goals is required for credit.

Practice records that are not turned in on time do receive a 10 point penalty each day it is late and will not receive credit if it is not turned in within the week. Make sure that both the cover as well as the assignments and goals page are signed to receive credit.

Music Theory: (Wed.)

6th Graders: Alfred's Music Theory Lesson 4, Activity Worksheet 1-1

7th/8th Graders: 16th notes/rests supplement

All students need to have their required Alfred's Essentials of Music Theory Book in order to complete this assignment in class. If students use their class time wisely, they will not have music theory homework. Students will need to show Mr. Barnard their completed work in class or by the next class day in order to be received on time. A late penalty of 10 points per day will be assessed to any late assignment.

BAND HANDBOOKS:

All students have received the Band Handbook to help them and their families understand the grading policies, required supplies, concert dress requirements and responsibilities of the students, parents and their band director. There is also helpful information on practicing, music enrichment opportunities available and sample forms for students and parents to copy from if needed.

Students also received a band handbook contract/video usage agreement form that needs to be signed by both students and their family. Due to recent district policy, teachers must have written parental permission to show video/movie clips as part of their curriculum. If a student does not have written permission from a parent an alternative assignment must be given. Periodically we use video clips of music performances from both school and professional level musicians to use for critique and comparison of what we are doing with our band program. We also use video clips of music educational/history series such as Marsalis on Music, Ken Burns JAZZ and Blast to name a few. These clips are also supplemented with activity sheets to help student comprehension and retaining information.

This band handbook contract/video permission slip was due on Tuesday, Sep. 13th. Please check powerschool to see if your student has turned in this form. A green check mark should show you that I have received it.

JAZZ PROGRAM

Jazz Ensemble (7th/8th Graders):

Audition results are posted on Monday, 9/19.

Tuesday 8 a.m.: 1st rehearsal

Thursday 8:00 a.m. rehearsal

Jazz Lab Band: Is primarily our 6th grade jazz band and is open to all band students. Students that play oboe and french horn are encouraged to join jazz lab band on another instrument (i.e. piano, bass, guitar, etc.) Since this is an introductory level jazz band, students do not audition in order to participate. The jazz lab band rehearses every Friday morning from 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. and will start on Sep. 23rd.

All students that want to participate will need to have a signed permission slip in order to participate.

All jazz students, 6th-8th grade, will need to have the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble book which will be used all three years of their jazz experience at brooks.

The jazz participation flyers are available for pick up in the band room (D110) and I will also email this form out to parents to download. Please contact Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org if you have any questions regarding the jazz program.

If students or families have any questions or concerns please contact Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org.