Monday, May 21, 2012

Brooks Bands, Week of May 21st-25th

Congratulations to all of our band students for a fantastic week of concerts and the St. Louis Music Tour this past weekend.  We are proud to announce that our combined 7th/8th grade bands received an "Excellent" rating and was placed 2nd overall in the Music in the Parks National Music Festival in St. Louis!  Even though we are only 9 days away from the end of the year there is still a lot of information to get out to parents.  Please read through this blog for all the information you will need for the remainder of the school year!

HOMEWORK: 

Practice Journals:  Week 11 is due on Monday, May 21st.  This is the last week to collect all practice journals.  No practice journals will be collected after May 25th.

Outside Concert Summaries:  are due no later than this Friday, May 25th.  If you are looking for any last minute concert opportunities there are two concerts this week, Tuesday Orchestra Concert and Thursday Choir Concert.  Again, no concert summaries will not be collected after May 25th.

GRADUATION BAND:
The 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony is next Thursday, May 31st at 7:30 p.m. in the OPRFHS Auditorium.  The band program provides a group for this very important district event!  The band that performs for this event consist of 6th & 7th grade volunteers from all of our bands.  Students will report to the OPRFHS Auditorium (back stage) no later than 6:40 p.m. to set up and get ready for this important performance.  The event will finish at approximately 8:45 p.m.  Dress for this event is formal but students do not need to wear our standard black and white concert attire.
 
Students interested in being a part of the graduation band will need to sign up on the Graduation Band List located in the front of the band room!  A one time combined rehearsal will happen on Tuesday, May 29th during 3rd & 4th periods.  6th graders will eat lunch at the beginning of 5th period and are encouraged to bring a sack lunch that day.

JAZZ PROGRAM:
Congratulations the the Jazz Lab Band & Jazz Ensemble for a successful 2011-2012 school year!  Last week wrapped up our rehearsals for the school year.  Students interested in auditioning for next year's jazz ensemble should pick up an audition packet from Mr. Barnard before the end of the school year.    6th & 7th graders should hold onto their Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble books for next year.

LAST DAY FOR INSTRUMENTS FOR CLASS:
Tuesday, May 29th due to grade level field trips and our school wide PBIS activity on May 30th & 31st.  Students will need to make sure that their band lockers are cleaned out by May 29th.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Brooks Bands, Week of May 14th - 18th

SPRING BAND CONCERTS THIS WEEK!

*7th/8th Grade Spring Band Concert
, Tuesday, May 15th @ 7 p.m., GBMS Auditorium.
This is a required performance for Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble
students.

     5:30 p.m.  Jazz Ensemble Soundcheck in Auditorium
     6:30 p.m.  Symphonic Band Report in Room D105 (choir room)
                     Wind Ensemble Report in Room D110 (band/orchestra room)

*6th Grade Spring Band Concert, Thursday, May 17th @ 7 p.m., GBMS Auditorium. This
is a required performance for Cadet Band, Concert Band and Jazz Lab Band students.





This concert also includes our elementary bands which will start at 6:30 p.m.  All 6th graders need to be in room D110 ready to go no later than 7:00 p.m.  The 6th grade portion of the concert will start at approximately 7:15 p.m.

CONCERT ATTIRE THIS WEEK:

Boys:  White button down dress shirt, black necktie, black dress pants, black dress shoes
Girls:  White blouse top covering the shoulders, black dress pants, black dress shoes

No Jeans or Gym Shoes,  No skirts
 
All jazz students will not wear the "Brooks Jazz T-Shirts" for these events.
 
*These events are required performance events for 3rd trimester for all academic bands. Contact Mr. Barnard in writing (email preferred) no later than two weeks before this event if there is an important family conflict. Refer to the Band Handbook for more information.
 
BRAVO ST. LOUIS MUSIC TOUR, May 18th-20th, 7th/8th Graders

Don't forget to check your packing list so you don't forget anything!  All students should take their instruments home on Thursday so they do not need to go into the school building.  Parents please do not park on Washington Blvd. along the school so our Motor Coach Buses can pull up to load equipment and students.  If anyone has any questions please refer to the Final Itinerary Packet or contact Mr. Barnard at jbarnard@op97.org.

5:15 a.m. report time on Friday, May 18th. 
  • Make sure to pack only a carry on size luggage bag and bring a carry on bag that can fit in under your seat.  Make sure you use the luggage tag that was provided to you for the trip.
  • All band and orchestra instruments must have the tag provided to you on the case.  Make sure that if your instrument is not a carry on instrument that it is dropped off at the appropriate bus first thing in the morning.  BAND:  Bus 1 Blue,  ORCHESTRA:  Bus 2 Yellow.
  • Any student that requires medicine will need to make sure they see Mr. Sindelar with your medication in a zip lock bag in the original container the medicine came in.
  • Make sure to have your sack lunch!
  • Make sure you have your money for meals not provided for the weekend!
 Arrive back to Brooks at approx. 4:00 p.m.
  • Make sure you have everything with you!
  • Check in with your chaperone before leaving!
  • GO TO SCHOOL ON MAY 21st!
UPCOMING EVENTS:
 
8th Grade Graduation Ceremony, Thursday, May 31st, 7:30, OPRF Auditorium.
This performance is for select 6th/7th grade band students. Sign up sheet will be available this week.

HOMEWORK:
Practice Record Journals
Week 10 Due Monday, 5/14. Please make sure that the practice journal is also signed on the inside of the booklet as well as the front cover.

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 11 will be the last week collected for the school year, due May 21st!


MUSIC THEORY:
No Music Theory This Week! Practice for your upcoming performances!

3rd TRIMESTER OUTSIDE CONCERT SUMMARIES, Due May 25th
Students in any academic music elective are required to attend one live performance of a music, dance or theatrical event each trimester and fill out the Concert Observation Form based on what they saw at the event. A copy of the program or ticket stub from the event will need to be attached and the form requires a parent signature for credit.

Students can attend any event that is school related or out in the community (i.e. OPRF Concerts, community concerts and recitals, events in downtown Chicago such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Broadway in Chicago productions, etc.). Copies of this form can be downloaded from the link provided in the upper right hand corner of the band blog.

Concert Summaries are 5% of the total band grade so please do not forget to accomplish this assignment.

JAZZ PROGRAM

Jazz Ensemble (7th/8th Graders):
Tuesday 8:00-8:50 a.m. rehearsal
              5:30 p.m. Soundcheck
              7:00 p.m. Concert

Jazz Lab Band:
Monday 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. rehearsal in Auditorium
Thursday 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. rehearsal in Auditorium


This week will be the last rehearsals for our jazz groups!  Audition material for the 2012-2013 jazz ensemble will be available this week for 6th-7th graders to pick up.

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

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Brooks Bands, Week of 5/7 - 5/11

ST. LOUIS MUSIC TOUR (7TH/8TH Graders)
Final Informational Meeting has been changed to Tuesday, May 8th at 7 p.m. in the GBMS auditorium. At this meeting students and parents will receive the final trip itinerary, important contact information for that weekend, information on D97 medication policy, and an opportunity for students and parents to meet their chaperone for the trip.

Congratulations to all of our 7th/8th Graders for their outstanding performance at the Ethnic Festival Parade on Saturday!!!

UPCOMING EVENTS:

*7th/8th Grade Spring Band Concert
, Tuesday, May 15th @ 7 p.m., GBMS Auditorium.
This is a required performance for Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble
students.

*6th Grade Spring Band Concert, Thursday, May 17th @ 7 p.m., GBMS Auditorium. This
is a required performance for Cadet Band, Concert Band and Jazz Lab Band students.

BRAVO St. Louis Music Tour,
May 18th-20th, 7th/8th Graders
5:15 a.m. report time on Friday, May 18th. Arrive back to Brooks at approx. 4:00 p.m.

8th Grade Graduation Ceremony,
Thursday, May 31st, 7:30, OPRF Auditorium.
This performance is for select 6th/7th grade band students. Sign up sheet will be available shortly.

*These events are required performance events for 3rd trimester for all academic bands. Contact Mr. Barnard in writing (email preferred) no later than two weeks before this event if there is an important family conflict. Refer to the Band Handbook for more information.


HOMEWORK:
Practice Record Journals
Week 9 Due Monday, 5/7. Please make sure that the practice journal is also signed on the inside of the booklet as well as the front cover.

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:
No Music Theory This Week! Practice for your upcoming performances!

3rd TRIMESTER OUTSIDE CONCERT SUMMARIES, Due May 25th
Students in any academic music elective are required to attend one live performance of a music, dance or theatrical event each trimester and fill out the Concert Observation Form based on what they saw at the event. A copy of the program or ticket stub from the event will need to be attached and the form requires a parent signature for credit.

Students can attend any event that is school related or out in the community (i.e. OPRF Concerts, community concerts and recitals, events in downtown Chicago such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Broadway in Chicago productions, etc.). Copies of this form can be downloaded from the link provided in the upper right hand corner of the band blog.

Concert Summaries are 5% of the total band grade so please do not forget to accomplish this assignment.

JAZZ PROGRAM

Jazz Ensemble (7th/8th Graders):
Tuesday 8:00-8:50 a.m. rehearsal
Thursday 8:00-8:50 a.m. rehearsal

Jazz Lab Band:
Friday 8:00 - 8:50 a.m. rehearsal
Additional rehearsals added on Monday, May 14th & Thursday, May 17th @ 8 a.m.

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.