Brooks Bands, Week of 11/21-11/28

Congratulations to the Brooks Jazz Ensemble for an excellent performance at Fitzgerald's this past Sunday evening. Also thank you to all of our fellow band students and families that came out and supported our jazz ensemble students. Both Fitgerald's staff members and members of the Pete Ellman Big Band were very impressed with the level of musicianship of our students!!!

BRAVO 2012 St. Louis Tour (7th/8th Grade Bands, Choirs, Orchestra)

There will be a brief informational meeting on Monday, Nov. 28th at 7:00 p.m. in the GBMS Auditorium. We encourage all students and families interested in participating to attend. The BRAVO staff will review the trip itinerary as well as cover student eligibility requirements, grade and behavior expectations, chaperones, medical & emergency forms and documentation, payment schedule and fundraising opportunities for students. Also linked is important information from the Oak Park River Forest Township Youth Services. If students qualify, the OPRF Township may be able to provide some financial support for this tour. Families need to fill out the "Income Verification Form" and will need to be able to provide proof of income in order to qualify for financial assistance. All applicants must apply through BRAVO, who is the supporting agency through this assistance. NO APPLICATION SHOULD BE SENT DIRECTLY TO THE OPRF TOWNSHIP. Funds may be limited so please submit paperwork no later than Thursday, Dec. 1st.

Families can go ahead and sign the "Letter of Intent" found on the last page of the informational packet along with a check for $100 made out to BRAVO. This will be the deposit needed to secure your child's spot on the tour. The "Letter of Intent" and $100 deposit is due no later than Thursday, Dec. 1st. Families will be able to make payments with credit/debit card through the D97 revtrak online payment store (to be set up very soon). A link will be provided on the BRAVO website as well as your music director's webpage/blog. If anyone has any questions or concerns please contact your child's music director or the BRAVO office.

Informational Packets can be downloaded from the link provided on the right side of the band blog.

We look forward to another great tour for our band, choir and orchestra students.

MUSIC & ARTS INSTRUMENT STEP UP NIGHT

We are still working on another evening for this event with Music & Arts. Mr. Kanwischer has offered to host this event at Julian since we are pretty busy here at Brooks during this time of the year. We will announce the new date as soon as we have a confirmed date.

Upcoming Events:

Monday, Nov. 28th: St. Louis Trip Informational Meeting, 7 p.m., GBMS Auditorium For participating 7th/8th grade band, choir, orchestra students and their families

St. Louis Tour NONREFUNDABLE deposit and Letter of Intent due on Thursday, Dec. 1st.

Tuesday, Dec. 13th: BRAVO Annual Holiday Concert, 7 p.m., GBMS Auditorium

Jazz Lab Band, Jazz Ensemble and select small ensembles from Wind Ensemble will be

performing.

*Saturday, Feb. 25th: BRAVO Annual Pasta Night and Music Showcase, 4-9 p.m., GBMS Auditorium and Commons (specific performance times TBA). Cadet &

Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble and select small ensembles

from Wind Ensemble. (Jazz Lab Band may perform as well, confirmation to come!)

*This event is the required performance event for 2nd trimester for all academic bands. Please contact Mr. Barnard in writing (email preferred) no later than two weeks before this event if there is an important family conflict.

HOMEWORK:

Practice Record Journals (BLUE BOOKLET)

Week 13 Due Monday, 11/21

Since it is Thanksgiving week, the goals this week will be the following: 90+ min. A, 60-89 B, 30-59 C, below 30 minutes D.

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.

Week 13 will be counted towards the 2nd trimester band grades.

Music Theory: No music theory this week due to the shortened school week.

STUDENT DATA FORMS/HANDBOOK CONTRACT & VIDEO PERMISSION SLIPS:

Thank you to all the students that have already turned in their Student Data sheets and Handbook Contract/Video Permission slips. Please check powerschool to see if you do have these forms marked as turned in. You should see a green check mark which will indicate that Mr. Barnard has received it and is on file.

Both forms are very important in order to have the most up to date information on contact information, instrument information and parental permission to use educational video clips as part of the band curriculum, per D97's video usage policy made last school year.

If you need a copy of any of these forms please contact Mr. Barnard for a new form.

JAZZ PROGRAM

Order forms for the "Brooks Jazz T-Shirts" have gone out. All students in the jazz program will wear these t-shirts for jazz performances throughout the school year.

Jazz Ensemble (7th/8th Graders):

No rehearsals this week!

Jazz Lab Band:

No rehearsals this week! Parents, please note that we will be having Monday morning rehearsals @ 8 a.m. on Dec. 5th & 12th in addition to our regular Friday rehearsals in preparation for the BRAVO Holiday Concert.

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.

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